Reds rally levels Aust Super Rugby battle

Spurred by embarrassment and nasty surprises, the Queensland Reds have levelled up the Australian Super Rugby conference with their gritty victory over the Western Force.

All five Australian teams have 1-1 records heading into the third round after the Reds and NSW Waratahs both made amends for humbling first round defeats and the Brumbies lost no admirers in a last-gasp away loss to the fancied Chiefs.

Just three teams – New Zealand’s Chiefs and Hurricanes and South Africa’s Stormers are 2-0, and only three teams – South Africa’s Bulls and Lions and Kiwi outfit the Blues are winless.

But no team faced a tougher situation than the Reds.

Battered by injury and humiliated by the Brumbies a week ago, they rallied after vice-captain Karmichael became a late scratching as he faces cocaine supply charges then playmaker James O’Connor was ruled out minutes before kickoff with a knee problem.

Saturday night’s gutsy 18-6 win over the Western Force – conquerors of the Waratahs last week – helped ease the pressure building on coach Richard Graham, who was relieved to give the 14,000 fans something to cheer.

“To repay them with that style of performance, because that style is just toe-to-toe combat, I thought it was excellent,” said Graham.

Skipper James Slipper said the players were inspired by the loyalty of their fans and shut out the Hunt scandal.

“The boys dealt with it fine,” said Slipper. “We moved straight on. It is what it is. It was out of our hands, nothing we could say or do is going to change the outcome.”

In further good news, Lachie Turner gave every indication he can be the long-term replacement at fullback for Hunt that may be needed, handling the position with assurance, scoring the opening try with a great bump off, and even doing the goalkicking.

Having reserve halfback Nick Frisby take over from O’Connor at five-eighth also brought out a much better performance from Wallaby halfback Will Genia, who took greater responsibility for directing the team.

The Force are now a team with some concerns, looking clueless in attack and also losing loosehead prop Francois Van Wyk to a season-ending pectoral injury that will require surgery.

They must regroup to face the in-form Hurricanes in Perth on Friday night.

The Brumbies appear the form Australian team early in the World Cup year.

It took All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden slotting a pressure-cooker penalty goal after the siren to secure a 19-17 win at New Plymouth, denying the Brumbies their first away win against the Chiefs since 2007.

The Brumbies now face a Melbourne Rebels team coming off a bruising 38-28 loss to the defending champion Waratahs who get a bye this week.

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