Reds v Blues: Five takeaways as All Blacks star sees red while Wallabies hopeful makes two-try statement
Tom Lynagh impressed for the Reds.
Following a deserved 35-21 victory for the Reds over the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific on Friday, here’s our five takeaways from the game at Suncorp Stadium.
The top line
The Reds claimed a first triumph over the Blues since 2019 and were full value for it, crossing five times to the Blues’ two as the champions suffered a seventh defeat.
Tom Lynagh (2), Tate McDermott, Lachie Anderson and Richie Asiata all scored with Lynagh successfully converting all five tries in an assured performance at fly-half.
The Blues, who had benched Beauden Barrett for this away game, could only cross through Kurt Eklund and Sam Nock as their title defence goes from bad to worse.
Compounding their woes today was the red card issued to All Blacks star Mark Tele’a during the first half and with missed chances aplenty it just was not the Blues’ day.
No complaints
Yellow predictably turned to red for Blues and All Blacks wing Tele’a following his tip tackle on Reds opponent Tim Ryan with just half-an-hour on the clock in Brisbane.
It was a straightforward decision for TMO James Leckie and Tele’a looked resigned to the fact that his night’s work was over as he watched from the chair on the sideline.
The initial hit was a thing of beauty as he got his technique right and rocked Ryan backwards but he should not have then lifted the legs and drove him to the ground.
Lynagh double
With the Wallabies number 10 jersey likely to be up for grabs following the news of Noah Lolesio’s impending departure to a Japanese side, Lynagh is pressing his case.
The 22-year-old impressed early on for the Reds, showing a steeliness and eye for the line with his first crossing before he supported well for his second score shortly after.
Continued growth in the fly-half spot for the Reds will do his hopes of leading Australia against the British and Irish Lions under coach Joe Schmidt’s tutelage no harm at all.
Turbo has been awarded the Sellars Dixon Medal judged Player of the Match tonight 👏 pic.twitter.com/9xPFJJsmRo
— Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) April 25, 2025
Blues woes
Several missed opportunities and disallowed tries – rightly so we might add – hurt the Blues but there just feels something not quite right about the defending champions.
Head coach Vern Cotter looked seething at this performance and when the team did finally click late in the fixture there was more than a feeling of it’s all too little too late.
This result leaves them in ninth place after ten rounds and, as we have mentioned, with just three wins to their name as well as those seven losses. That is pretty dismal form.
Tate the great
Always catches the eye due to the tempo he brings to the Reds and Wallabies and today was no different, as a slick combination with Lynagh steered the hosts to victory.
Schmidt could well copy and paste this partnership to the international arena and from this performance they would do an excellent job with McDermott maturing very nicely.
The scrum-half deserved his try which he took well and looks to be helping Lynagh’s progress nicely, with the pair pivotal to the Reds’ Super Rugby Pacific title hopes.
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