The Western Force did everything but win with Queensland snatching a dramatic 28-24 victory in their Round 3 SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific clash.
Things took a dramatic 79th minute turn at 24-21 with the Reds turning down a chance to equalise and opting for the line out drive before Filipo Daugunu scored a phase later to silence the Sea of Blue
Re-live all the action from Round 3 of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific via Stan Sport.
Here's what we learned:
The Force did everything they possibly could on Saturday night to earn victory - and by all rights probably deserved it - but this Queensland team are different gravy in 2025.
Trailing by three points and offered a chance to equalise from 40m out in the dying minute, stand-in Reds skipper Fraser McReight turned down a penalty kick and pointed at the corner.
It was a gutsy called that ultimately proved the right one as Kalani Thomas scampered through a gap from the maul base and Daugunu powered over a phase after.
The Reds lost five matches exactly like this one last year - tough, gritty single-digit affairs they couldn't close out or reel in.
Les Kiss will be over the moon to see his side turn the tables and win a tough one on the road in just their second outing of the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific season.
Fraser McReight might be the incumbent Wallaby #7 but Carlo Tizzano outplayed the Reds ace from kick-off to full time.
Backing up from his record-breaking 34 tackles against the Brumbies, Tizzano delivered another virtuoso openside performance in topping his side's carries (12) and tries (2) to go with 12 tackles and two tackle busts.
While he didn't garner a trademark turnover, Tizzano almost played like an Australian Rules tagger in defence and hounded McReight all evening.
The Queenslander was still able to exert influence throughout the game with two key breakdown steals but Tizzano was a clear points winner in the countdown to this year's Lions Series.
Darcy Swain, Reesjan Pasitoa and Dylan Pietsch were also among the Force's top performers.
Make no mistake, this loss will cut the Force deeply - and they'll be hungry for revenge.
After building a 14-0 lead, Simon Cron's side had a five-minute lapse that allowed Flook and Lynagh to level proceedings.
Same goes in the final minutes with the Force unable to close things out despite holding possession with three minutes on the clock.
Their next two weeks are now vital with away trips to Sydney and Christchurch but they're a tougher, hungrier and more skilful side than 2024.
After that Brumbies Round 2 upset, it'd take a brave punter to write them off at Allianz Stadium.
The Reds don't win this game without Tate McDermott.
Coach Les Kiss told Stan Sport post-game that he'd considered pulling him early - and good thing for Queensland he didn't.
Each of McDermott's 73 minutes were vital with 48 post-contact metres, two line breaks, two try assists, two tackle busts and a line break assist all sparked from the ruck base.
And while plenty is made of McDermott's running game, that deft grubber for Flook's first try was classy stuff.
It's another salient reminder of his skillset as the race to Lions selection heats up, particularly with that performance coming against Wallabies rivals Nic White and Issak Fines-Leilewasa.
Who could've picked the Brumbies to be bottom of the Australian sides after three weeks?
The unbeaten Reds (2-0, +24) and Waratahs (2-0, +6) have matched their pre-season hype by sitting second and fifth respectively on the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific ladder.
But it's the Western Force (2-1, +9) who continue to impress with their losing bonus point lifting them above the Tahs to fourth overall.
That leaves us - impossibly - with the Brumbies (1-2, -14) in seventh and at the bottom of our nation's sides.
Life doesn't get any easier for the Brumbies or Reds with away trips in New Zealand next week and with an Aussie derby between the Tahs and Force fast approaching, we might well see a new pecking order in Australian rugby.
