Finals hopes in tatters as Waratahs fall apart against Reds

The Queensland Reds have all but ended NSW’s Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes on a disastrous night for the Waratahs in Sydney.

Superstar fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was knocked out in the first half as the Reds turned a 14-point deficit into a stirring 28-21 derby win at Allianz Stadium.

Suaalii was wiped out after an accidental knee to the jaw from teammate Andrew Kellaway as the pair collided in a tackle on Reds centre Filipo Daugunu.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was among concerned onlookers watching as the code-hopping weapon was treated for several minutes before being taken from the field on a medicab and in a neck brace.

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said initial reports were that Suaalii had suffered a “groggy” dose of concussion.

“He’s gone home with his mum and dad, so he’s improved but, yeah, it’s a concussion,” McKellar said.

“You just want him to be OK and medical staff are on there quickly and carrying the support that he needed.

“So he’ll be OK, obviously just gave everyone a fright. You don’t want to see any player down on the ground, knocked out.”

McKellar was left feeling equally lousy after his Waratahs suffered their first home defeat of the season to remain anchored in third-last position three games out from the finals.

“It’s a tough one. It’s really, really tough. Incredibly frustrating,” he said.

“Some really dumb penalties that hurt us at key moments.”

Adding insult to injury, the friendly fire mishap between Suaalii and Kellaway happened with Queensland on a penalty advantage.

The Reds scored 30 seconds later through hooker Richie Asiata to level the match 14-14 moments before the halftime break.

NSW had made a blazing start, defying driving rain to jump to a 14-0 lead with tries to centre Henry O’Donnell and halfback Jake Gordon in the opening 20 minutes.

Queensland worked their way into the contest when skipper and scrumhalf Tate McDermott danced his way over from a quick tap when the Waratahs were a man down.

Prop Daniel Botha was yellow carded for a tip top tackle on Reds lock Josh Canham.

Canham also found himself yellow-carded early in the second half for a dangerous tackle on returning Waratahs hooker David Porecki.

The Reds also leaked points while a player short, with powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou capping a mighty performance with his first try for the Waratahs that broke the second-half deadlock in the 51st minute.

Tupou’s joy didn’t last long before he, too, was yellow-carded for a head-on-head clash with Queensland centre Dre Pakeho deemed foul play by the TMO.

Again, the one-man advantage proved profitable as replacement hooker Josh Nasser touched down off a driving maul from the ensuing penalty to lock the game up with 11 minutes remaining.

McKellar could only shake his head in disbelief when Kellaway had the chance to put Darby Lancaster over for a potential match-winner, only to send the pass to the replacement winger’s bootlaces.

The coach’s anguish turned to downright despair barely a minute later when Reds winger Lachlan Anderson reeled in a pinpoint cross-field kick from Daugunu to score the winner down the other end.

“Our defensive effort was incredible, really courageous, and that’s what we asked for, but you’ve got to back it up with better execution,” McKellar said.

Queensland’s victory consolidated their fourth-place standing, maintaining hope of a top-three finish and an all-important home final.