A dam of emotions flooded out when the Queensland Reds won on Kiwi soil for the first time in a decade in a boilover few thought was achievable.
The Reds knocked off the previously undefeated Chiefs 25-22 on Friday night to end the undefeated 10-0 run of the Super Rugby Pacific pacesetters.
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Winning at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth was rated only slightly less feasible than landing on the moon because sports bookies listed the Reds as 20-point underdogs.
What did we learn from a memorable night.
1 BIG DEFENCE MEASURES HEART AS WELL AS TECHNIQUE
The Chiefs pounded the Reds for 27 phases and a full three minutes after winning a midfield scrum with time up.
The Reds held firm. Two desperate tackles out wide were key moments from Jock Campbell who relished playing at fullback again.
Tom Lynagh and Tate McDermott, two of the smallest on the field, made an equally desperate grab to fell an attacker on the other side of the field.
Finally, it was Fraser McReight, Sef Fa’agase and a little help from Mac Grealy which foiled the Chiefs final surge at the tryline. Held up on the line was the call.
The desperation extended to flanker Liam Wright gathering a turnover at a late kick-off, Campbell pilfering, fill-in centre Filipo Daugunu setting the standard early with a fine front-on trysaver and replacement Harry Wilson making 13 tackles in just 28 minutes on the field.
2 HISTORY IS SWEET
Winning goal sniper Tom Lynagh wasn’t even at high school in 2013 when the Reds last won on Kiwi soil by toppling the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The Reds had lost 10 in a row to Kiwi opposition and such little success was going to be a lame epitaph for outgoing coach Brad Thorn's final season.
Instead, Thorn can carry one of the finest of Queensland upsets with him for life.
Where does it rank?
For underdog Reds wins on the road in Super Rugby, it’s up there with the superb 14-man effort to topple the Stormers in Cape Town 41-20 in 2003 and a select few other famous outings.
3 SUB LOTTO
The modern trend to feel compelled to give most reserves a run is a handbrake.
It has often meant the Reds replacing key halfback Tate McDermott with 10-15 minutes to go.
Not in this one. McDermott played every second and thoroughly deserved too.
His dummy and dart on half-time for a key try, his composure and his quality play really made all the difference.
Equally, James O’Connor has made a huge difference to the Reds since jumping into inside centre…three wins from four starts.
He takes on the line, he feeds players into gaps, he supports for second touches in plays like in New Plymouth and there’s also juice for a long gallop too. He’s composed and defends stoutly.
4 WHAT DID IT MEAN TO THE REDS?
Flanker Fraser McReight made 15 tackles on top of his work at the breakdown, his excellent link work and his general constructive energy.
When Stan Sport interviewed him post-game, he summed the night up in a nutshell.
“We’ve been building to something like this. To see it come off when we needed it most is exciting,” McReight said of the tight race for play-off spots.
“People wrote us off. It’s good to see the old Queensland fight.”
The Reds jump to sixth spot. The win was invaluable because they have three hard games still to come.
5 JOCK AT FULLBACK
Jock Campbell enjoyed his time back at No.15 in his specialist spot. Players were looking to him to do things and he rose to the occasion.
His trusty boot helped the Reds win the kicking battle, he made a fingertip pick-up in the dewy conditions for a key try, he made a pilfer when the Reds were defending and generally got involved.
His 17 runs for 114m was the workrate the Reds needed plus those two tackles at the death.
