Reds vs Blues: Ex-All Black missed the mark, Lynagh’s Wallabies statement

The Queensland Reds have made a statement in Super Rugby Pacific by beating the Blues 35-21 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. With only four more matches to play for the Blues, the defending champions are at serious risk of missing the playoffs altogether.

Tom Lynagh helped the Reds race out to an early led, with the fly-half running in two tries inside the first 10 minutes. While the Blues began to dominate possession, the match changed once again after the visitors went down to 14 men.

It was only a seven-point game at the break but the Reds ran away with it, scoring three tries three tries to two. Lynagh and Tate McDermott were among the standouts for the Queenslanders are now 6-3.

Here are three takeaways.

If it’s not Lolesio, Lynagh should start against B&I Lions

James O’Connor hasn’t played Test rugby in three years.

Coach Dave Rennie handed ‘JOC’ the playmaking reins as Australia’s starting fly-half in a TRC Test away to Argentina in 2022. James Slipper and Len Ikitau scored a try each, but the Wallabies were never really in the fight, going down 48-17 at Estadio Bicentenario.

Noah Lolesio, Quade Cooper and Carter Gordon are among those who have worn the Wallabies’ No. 10 jersey since that Test on August 14, 2022. Lolesio is the incumbent in the starting side, but with the playmaker penning a deal overseas, fans have started to talk.

O’Connor surged back into the frame for Wallabies selection after scoring a last-gasp penalty in a win over the Blues last week. That performance was the latest in a series of strong performances for the Crusaders off the bench in 2025.

Rugby World Cup winner Israel Dagg agrees O’Connor should be in the mix to face the British & Irish Lions  in a matter of months. If coach Joe Schmidt does indeed decided to overlook Lolesio for selection, then O’Connor’s experience and influence off the bench would be invaluable.

But, if not Lolesio, who starts?

Enter Tom Lynagh.

Lynagh has been superb all season.

The Reds pivot is composed under pressure, boasts an impressive skillset, and already capped at Test level. Lynagh shot out of the blocks against the Blues with two tries inside the first seven minutes and the No. 10 continued to stand out throughout the match.

It wasn’t surprising to see Lynagh named Player of the Match shortly after the match.

Before the season, it would’ve been a hot take to say Lynagh was ready to start for the Wallabies against the Lions. But now, 11 rounds into the 2025 campaign, the 22-year-old has emerged as the perfect replacement for Lolesio in the run-on side.

Ex-All Black was wrong about the Blues

Stephen Donald missed the mark.

The Blues are not a title contender.

In a recent episode of The Breakdown, the former All Black described this season’s Super Rugby campaign as “a two-and-a-half horse race” for the title. Donald explained the Crusaders and Chiefs were the front-runners ahead of the playoffs, but the Blues also remained a chance.

“You’ve got the Crusaders. You’ve got the Chiefs and it’s half a horse because I’m not sure if they will make the six-team playoffs, but it’s the Blues,” Donald said last week.

“They are your champions in waiting.”

Vern Cotter’s team are the defending champions and many tipped the Blues to challenge for a second successive title in 2025. But to the surprise of everyone, the Blues are looking increasingly less likely of making the playoffs at all.

After Friday’s loss to the Reds, the Blues have a 3-7 record this season. The reigning champions will face the Western Force, Fijian Drua (away), Moana Pasifika (away) and the Waratahs to round out their quest for finals football.

Despite their record, it still doesn’t feel right to draw a line through the Blues’ name as a team that definitely won’t play finals football. But, what we all should agree on is that the Blues are definitely not a contender for the top prize.

Rather, it’s only a two horse race, it seems.

Defence wins matches

The Reds led 14-7 at half-time.

It was a scoreline that probably didn’t reflect how the match had played out, though.

Tom Lynagh helped the Queenslanders get off to a red-hot start with a rapid double inside the first 10 minutes, but it was pretty well all the Blues from there, who had plenty of possession and chances to score as a result.

But the Reds’ defence stood tall.

The visitors were held up over the try line on four occasions during the first half alone, and a knock-on also saw the TMO rule out what would’ve been a game-changing try a few minutes into the second term.

Those efforts on defence laid the foundations for the Reds’ attacking brilliance. Tate McDermott, Lachie Anderson and Richie Asiata scored tries within the final half-hour, but it would’ve been a very different story if the Blues had scored earlier on.

Defence wins matches.