The Queensland Reds have finalised preparations for their 2025 Super Rugby Pacific run – prevailing against Les Kiss’ former side Ulster in a see-sawing contest at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast.
The Reds found it much harder to put the URC side away than the Bristol Bears last week, eventually prevailing 38-31.
The visitors started off strongly, with the much-hyped Massimo de Lutiis combining with Sef Fa’agase and Fraser McReight to get the Reds deep into Ulster territory, with a well-orchestrated lineout maul resulting in the first try in the eighth minute to Matt Faessler.
But the early score woke up the crowd and the Ulster side, with the next 15 minutes seeing the hosts ask many questions of the Reds’ defence, eventually breaking through in the 20th minute and converting the try to take the lead.
From there, the floodgates opened.
The Reds crossed through Harry Wilson soon after, but once again the home side struck back as Conor McKee to hand Ulster a 14-12 lead after 25 minutes.
The visitors would regain the lead in the 36th minute thanks to a long-range effort started by Heremaia Murray, with Wilson running away and sending in halfback and captain Tate McDermott to give the Reds a five-point lead at halftime.
Ulster came out firing in the second half, with the Reds forced to defend for the first six minutes of the half before James Hume scored in the corner for the hosts.
As the replacements came on, Ulster would regain the lead again in the 51st minute thanks to a Michael Lowry try off spilt ball.
The replacements kept coming on, with the quality of several Wallabies on the bench in Lukhan Salakia-Loto, Tom Lynagh and Josh Nasser giving the Reds the momentum.
But it was the young guns that regained the lead, as Murray produced another barnstorming carry to break the Ulster line, with Tim Ryan cleaning up to score in the 59th minute.
The Junkyard Dog would have his second two minutes later, cleaning up a nice grubber kick to score – with Lynagh converting to take the Reds out to a 33-24 lead.
The match looked to be signed off in the 68th minute, with Murray capping off a stellar match – and European tour in general – to grab the Reds’ final try of the match to extend the lead out to two converted tries.
The hosts came home with a wet sail, with Stuart Moore scoring in the 71st minute to cut the margin back to seven.
Ulster had one final chance to level the game late in the match as they found themselves with a scrum 15 metres out from the Reds’ line.
However, the Reds’ defence was able to hold out as the visitors secured a confidence-boosting 38-31 victory to end their two-match tour with a perfect record
“It was good to come up against a quality team, big men who gave it to us all game,” said Paisami, who was terrific for the Reds.
“Our game management was crucial to allow us to play our game, which has been a big focus for us this pre-season.
“Knowing that we are coming up against another really physical team in Moana next, tonight was the ideal preparation for that challenge. They really tested our physicality, and we will learn plenty from this.”
The result sees the Reds complete their pre-season preparations and clean sweep their European tour – although this match did expose several underlying issues around the Reds’ defence during the middle of the match.
However, Kiss will likely take a lot of confidence from the quality of intensity shown by his side – and especially, the younger players standing up to take their chances at critical points of the match.
The Reds will now head home, and will have the first round of the regular season off with a bye before kicking off their campaign at home against Moana Pasifika on Friday, 21st February.
Wilson, who had another big showing for the Reds and looks set to continue his rise in 2025 after emerging as the Wallabies’ captain last year, said the tour was a success and they would return home eager to hit the ground running.
“We’re really excited to earn two wins over here, but we know it means nothing come our first game at Suncorp Stadium. We’re excited to see where we can go this year,” Wilson said.
“It’s very cool to wear the Queensland jersey on the world stage and it’s not something many teams get to do. All of the Wallabies boys who returned to pre-season were just so excited to get back in the Queensland group and rip in, and touring this time of the year has been awesome for our connection.
“We’ve been in each other’s pockets for two weeks and while we’re probably due for a bit of time back home away from each other, it’s been such a special tour for us.”
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