The Reds were unable to beat their South African hoodoo, going down 32-17 to the Bulls in Pretoria after being unable to maintain possession for any length of time.
Here's what we're talking about after the match.
1. Reds left to rue missed opportunity
Just as was the case when they played the Rebels a fortnight ago, there was a real opportunity for the Reds to advance in the Australian conference had they been able to win against the Bulls. While it was not a conference derby, the points on offer would have allowed the Reds to jump into second place with a win and close the gap on the Rebels, who lost to the Stormers on Friday night.
Instead, they have been leapfrogged by the Brumbies, who won on Saturday, and are in danger of slipping further out of contention if they lose to the Sharks this weekend, with Samu Kerevi likely to be rested.
2. Defence must stand up under pressure
The Reds have made great strides this season under the tutelage of Peter Ryan, becoming a much better defensive outfit, with each man improving his one-on-one skills. That was on display at times against the Bulls, with the Reds able to shut down some raids, especially late in the match with the home side camped on their line.
But there were some particularly poor efforts as well that undid much of the hard work. The Reds missed 29 tackles at Loftus Versfeld and combined with their 14 turnovers and failure to make ground with the ball, they were made to pay the price.
3. Consistency is key to improvement
The Reds have raised their level of play this season and refuse to use the youth of their squad as an excuse for poor performance. Their improvement is commendable but they also need to find consistency if they are to take the next step to become a Super Rugby force.
Phases of brilliant play are too often followed by simple lapses and brain fades that undo the hard work and lead to points for the opposition. The inconsistency can quickly kill momentum and fracture a team and the Reds cannot allow that to happen, especially while on tour.
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in World Cup frame
While Luke Jones has been in outstanding form for the Rebels in his return from France, Salakaia-Loto can't be forgotten regardless of where the Reds finish in the Australian conference. While he missed the Spring Tour to be with his family after the death of his father last year, Salakaia-Loto has been in outstanding form throughout the Super Rugby season and was one of the few Reds that could hold his head high after the Bulls clash.
His break and classy offload under pressure created one of Kerevi's tries and Salakaia-Loto remained busy, finishing with nine carries, six tackles, two turnovers won and two offloads as well as his assist. Versatile and able to play at lock or in the backrow, he will have Michael Cheika and the selectors' interest.
5. Good signs for the future
While they'll be disappointed with their performance in Pretoria, there were good signs for the Reds' future. University of Queensland flyer Jock Campbell made his Super Rugby debut and made some good carries late in the match, while Angus Blyth worked hard to earn a turnover late in the match as the Reds chased points.
A high proportion of Reds players have come through the Queensland Rugby Union's player pathways and while they will endure some short-term pain as their young side struggles to reach the consistency required at Super Rugby level, there are good signs on the horizon for the Reds.
