The Queensland Reds may not have made the Super Rugby AUS final, but they signed off in style with an attacking masterclass, brushing aside the Western Force 47-22 in Perth.
Eleven tries were scored on a busy afternoon for the scorekeepers, with the U19 fixture even more of a shootout, with 17 tries and over 100 points scored.
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While the hosts would get up over Victoria in the U16 fixture, the Reds departed with two strong wins in the west, though neither side will play any further part in the U19 and AUS competitions.
So what did we learn?
The Force, up until this point, were proving themselves the benchmark for the new competition, mastering the delicate balance of new blood and experienced heads in their wins over the Waratahs and Brumbies.
However, against the Reds, they were well beaten and will likely consider this match a serious wakeup call for next week’s grand final against New South Wales.
Ben Donaldson struggled with the windy conditions for the entire match, with the scrum also found wanting against the Reds pack.
When the Reds scored four tries in ten minutes, the Force were left shellshocked, and despite their efforts in the second half, they struggled to challenge the visitors across the park.
Capping it off was their discipline, which worsened over the second forty and resulted in Titi Nofoagatatoa being sent to the bin for repeated infringements.
It was a high-scoring afternoon across both fixtures for the Reds, with lots of talent standing out.
Vaiuta Latu continued to shine as one of the finds of the tournament, a brilliant talent in the Reds pack, with his physicality well rewarded with two tries.
However, in a promising sign of the growing back three options in Aussie rugby, Xavier Rubens enjoyed a stellar opening forty minutes, scoring two tries and backing it up with strong defence to give his opposite number, Henry Palmer, plenty of headaches.
This was capped off by a strong halves performance by both Kalani Thomas and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - and with the Australia XV side set to take a fixture to Japan in October, the duo may have put themselves into contention to be on the flight.
Les Kiss’ Reds sides have become renowned for their attacking flair and prowess, and against the Force in the first half, it was back on full display.
Especially when compared with the loss to the Waratahs last week, the contrast was night and day, with their defence suffocating the Force.
Combined, the visitors scored four tries inside ten minutes to leave the hosts shellshocked, opening the game up to a commanding 28-5 lead heading into the final ten minutes.
Around the park, it was a strong display, with the scrum setting a solid foundation for Rubens and McLaughlin-Phillips to work their backline magic, while Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen also grabbed a try for his efforts.
The result bodes well for the Queensland side as they end their Super Rugby AUS season, and continue their busy 2026 preparations when they host Japan's Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights on Saturday, October 18, in Toowoomba.
There have been a lot of standout performers across all four sides in Super Rugby AUS, from the Force’s Max Burey to the Waratahs’ James Hendren, with the Brumbies’ Jarrah McLeod and the Reds’ Vaiuta Latu among the names impressing this weekend.
However, when it comes to quiet achievers, Force Lock Mitch Watts deserves a mention.
His efforts won't make the highlight reel, but partnering alongside Darcy Swain, Watts made an impressive 15 carries, serving as a valuable workhorse for the hosts.
The Force have likely found a strong backup lock option who can grow under Jeremy Williams and Swain, adding to their growing reputation at the lineout.
And with that, the Super Rugby AUS grand final is upon us, and this result has thrown a cat amongst the pigeons as to how the chips may fall next week.
The Waratahs may have lost 24-3 to the Force in the opening round, but their wins over the Reds and Brumbies suggest that result is far behind them.
The Reds’ victory this afternoon could also serve as a valuable blueprint for the Tahs to take down this Western Force outfit.
The hosts, with several Wallabies in their ranks and the home advantage, will likely be favourites.
But coach James Stannard has his work cut out and issues to resolve if his side is to lift the Super Rugby AUS trophy this time next week.
