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Why the Reds aren't happy despite being first to bag Aussie Trans Tasman win

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

After 13 matches between Australian and New Zealand opposition in the Trans Tasman Super Rugby competition, the Queensland Reds finally ended Aussie teams’ losing streak in their 40-34 win over the Waikato Chiefs.

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While making the most of their numerical advantage following Damien McKenzie’s red card, Reds’ captain Liam Wright still believes his side missed a vital opportunity to vindicate their two previous losses by not powering on to a dominant win on Saturday.

The Chiefs rallied from a 30-point first-half deficit, scoring five tries, and came within a hair of snagging a highly unlikely comeback win, something Wright felt was disappointing.

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“This week, we took our lessons from the last two weeks (against the Highlanders and Crusaders) and tried to apply them and we got a good start,” he said.

“But that’s why we found it disappointing to not capitalise and make a statement win.

“We’re happy to get away with that but we would have liked to make a big statement with that performance. We let it slip.”

Two matches remain for the Reds with the Australian champions all but out of finals contention, barring major slip-ups from their Tasman rivals.

A home clash against the Auckland Blues awaits next week before a difficult away trip to Wellington against the Hurricanes in the final round.

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Wright says the lessons from Saturday’s win need to be dealt with swiftly if they’re to finish the season strong, and he hopes his side can return to Townsville for future games.

“We’ve got to put the right foot forward now, make the most of our recovery, take those lessons that we’re going to learn again, hopefully try and apply that faster style and keep our foot on the throat.”

“We really do enjoy it up here and we’re trying to build a quite a good rugby base in Townsville.

“So not being up here in 14 years, it’s pretty awesome… so let’s do it again.”

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R
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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