The Queensland Reds scored a crucial late try to head to the top of the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific ladder thanks to a 28-24 win over the Western Force.
The two teams traded tries in the first half, but the Reds' resolve was enough to take down a Force side that pestered them all night at lineout time.
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So what did we learn?
Given the results of the earlier game, the Reds needed that win as they moved to the top of the ladder.
Les Kiss’s side once again delivered the killer blow in the final minutes and has earned the right to be top of the ladder.
They head to Hamilton to face the second-placed Chiefs in a potential Grand Final preview.
Meanwhile, you have to feel for the Force, losing in the same fashion and the same scoreline as the previous fixture in Perth.
Again, they felt like they did enough to beat the Reds but went away without the win after a late try.
Tom Robertson proved once and for all that you can have all the flashy winger tries, but there’s nothing like a prop in space.
Robertson must’ve spent too much time with former teammate and Force Academy coach Greg Holmes because he produced a brilliant 40-metre burst to score in the wet conditions that replicated the former prop’s effort against Ireland in 2006.
The smartest man in Rugby used all his knowledge of physics to dive early for the line in the wet conditions to propel himself over and score.
Robertson has been an excellent addition to the Force’s squad in 2025 and must be in the reckoning for a Wallabies call-up given his versatility.
Tom Lynagh continues to make a serious case for the Wallabies starting gig.
Lynagh dazzled the Force with a brilliant solo effort in the 23rd minute to step two and offload for Kalani Thomas to set up the try.
His kicking was excellent, and he nailed some big kicks from tough positions, including one late in the game to push the margin beyond a penalty. He outplayed his opposite number, Ben Donaldson, who had an up-and-down night.
If it weren’t a Lions year, Lynagh would have a big chance to start the July Tests, but his lack of experience will be a significant factor in his case compared to Noah Lolesio
Can Lynagh do enough in the next three months to give Joe Schmidt no option?
It’s not even halfway through Super Rugby Pacific, and Carlo Tizzano has the record for most tries in a season for the Force.
The flanker extended his lead on top of the ladder with his ninth and tenth five-pointer of the year in the first half.
The extra muscle Tizzano has put on shows in those close-contact moments as he crossed for the eighth straight game for the Force.
It also puts heavy pressure on Fraser McReight, who will be back next week and could only watch on as his Force counterpart put pressure on his #7 gold jersey.
At what stage do we start considering a Jeremy Williams-Darcy Swain lock partnership for the Wallabies?
The two bully opposition line-outs no matter the hooker and caused NINE lost lineouts by the Reds.
It’s such a valuable skill that is magnified against the British and Irish Lions, who may struggle for cohesion.
At the very least, let these two start together in that first tour game at Optus Stadium on June 28, even with Williams likely in the Wallabies squad, and see what chaos they can create.
