Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn has declared they are “not dead yet” after a historic upset in New Zealand rescued their season.
A 25-22 win in New Plymouth on Friday night was the Reds’ first in New Zealand since 2013. It ended a 21-game Super Rugby losing streak in the country and the Chiefs’ 10-game unbeaten run to begin this season.
The Reds defended 27 phases as the Chiefs searched for a match-winning try well beyond the 80th minute, but were eventually held up over the line by a rabid defensive unit. “That’s what the Queensland jersey’s all about, that’s what rugby’s about and what we’ve been about,” Thorn said. “This year that hasn’t quite been there and then tonight it came out.
We’ve been close before ... got the job done tonight but it took everything and we’re not dead yet.” The Reds (5-6) have jumped back to sixth, a huge boost after a loss to the NSW Waratahs last week left them in genuine danger of missing the eight-team finals series.