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'We're a better team for it': The devastating defeat that made the Reds title frontrunners in Super Rugby AU

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

All year the Queensland Reds have been sticking to a simple theme in their quest to return to the Super Rugby AU final – earn it.

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Having fallen short in the 2020 decider to the Brumbies in Canberra, the Reds used a shot at redemption as their primary motivator this season.

With that achievement ticked off, flanker Angus Scott-Young says there’s a new message as the Reds face the Brumbies in Saturday’s final at Suncorp Stadium.

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“It was a tough night last year. Going down to Canberra and losing the way we did,” Scott-Young said.

“A lot of soul searching after that one, tough reflection, but we’re a better team for it.

“A big theme for us this year has been we’ve got to earn that spot again. We’ve done that throughout the season.

“We’ve earned that spot and we’re in the grand final at home, how good. Now we’ve got to earn it all again.”

Scott-Young knows all about the Reds’ title triumphs at their Brisbane home.

He was a teenage fan in the stands for the 2011 Super Rugby win over the Crusaders.

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A decade later, the 24-year-old still has the ticket stub from that game – a match he said was personally life-changing.

“That was a big moment for me. It was sort of where I decided that I wanted to pursue it as a career,” he said.

“It was just an unreal night to see all the support for Queensland … that’s something I want to replicate in my career.”

The Reds will take on the Brumbies without centre Hunter Paisami, who suffered a broken cheekbone in a loss to the Western Force in Perth.

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Captain Liam Wright said while it was a blow to lose Paisami, he was confident whoever replaced him – with Josh Flook, Hamish Stewart and Jordan Petaia among the contenders – would be up to the task.

“He’s a big loss and we can’t underestimate that but we’ve got plenty of guys to fill in and step into those shoes,” Wright said.

“We’ve got a myriad of different options.”

That 30-27 loss to the Force was the Reds’ only defeat this season.

Queensland twice turned down a penalty straight in front of the posts in order to go for the win against the Force and Scott-Young said that mindset would continue in Saturday’s final.

“In that moment we backed ourselves to get over and score that try and win the game,” he said.

“That’s the decision that was made, it didn’t turn out to be favourable but hindsight’s 20/20 right?

“When it comes to those tight decisions this weekend we’ll look to back ourselves.”

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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