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As we edge ever closer to the playoffs the scramble for the top eight continues to heat up, while the battle for a top two position only gets harder. In Round 11 the Reds finally ended a 25-year draught as the Crusaders continue to languish near the bottom of the table, while the Hurricanes and Blues showed their playoff intentions with huge victories. Read on as we review some of the Super -- and Not So Super -- action from the weekend.
SUPER REDS HOLD THEIR NERVE AND END CHRISTCHURCH HOODOO After succumbing to a midseason slump that saw them lose three matches in a row before they simply ran out of legs last week to the Blues, the Reds have started to show signs of the tenacity and grit they displayed earlier this year in a historic and -- what could be -- season defining win over the Crusaders on Saturday. It's been 25 years since the Reds last won in Christchurch, so long ago some of the players weren't even a twinkle in the eye, while for others they were still in nappies. But with a travelling contingent of close to 100 Reds fans, including former Reds flyhalf Elton Flatley, the game had a distinct feeling Queensland could finally break their hoodoo. The return of Fraser McReight from suspension was immense, adding starch and accuracy at the breakdown as he plucked several turnovers, and his ball carrying added an extra dimension to their game, while his work rate was immense, making 22 tackles, the most of any player on the pitch. His backrow partner Harry Wilson was huge in his own right, making 20 tackles of his own and 48 run metres. While it was his effort late in the match, to charge down a David Havili attempted clearing kick, pick up the loose ball and score in the 61st minute to put the Reds ahead that turned the match on its head. With scores even and Havili making a fist of his first appearance in the No.10 jersey, he got himself in an awkward position, catching himself in two minds, before the towering No.8 hustled his way to knock it down and then finish the move off with the score. It's a moment that will no doubt weigh heavily on Havili who had been solid at fly-half for much of the match, while not particularly standing out in the role, but will have some questioning if it's a long-term option. While for Wilson his efforts would have done his Wallabies aspirations no harm. It was the whole forward pack who stood up for the Reds, with their scrum setting the tone early, holding up against a formidable front-row duo of George Bower and Fletcher Newell, while hooker Matt Faessler was solid at lineout time and back-row Liam Wright and lock Angus Blyth were rock solid in defence. "We knew the physicality was a big part, that's what you need playing away from home: physicality and set-piece," Wright said of the win. "Jeez, we did a great job to hold on, some big moments there by key players which is what we spoke about during the week. Just owning our moments. It's a great feeling and a great tour to change it. "Our scrum really stood up against a good pack, as we saw at the end. And then just owning those individual moments. We had a real task focus on just doing our job and closing those small margins and trusting each other." A third win over New Zealand opposition this year, and a second on Kiwi soil, the Reds look like they're over the hump that plagued them through the midseason, but Les Kiss's men need to show consistency if they're to give the playoffs a real crack. TONGA FANS SHOW THERE'S A HEALTHY APPETITE FOR MORE SUPER RUGBY If there's one thing Super Rugby Pacific has got right over the last few years it's been taking the game to the islands. Already over the last three years we've seen huge, boisterous crowds pack out stadiums in Fiji to watch their beloved Fijian Drua -- just a few weeks ago they had a sellout against the Waratahs -- while a strong contingent welcomed Moana Pasifika to Samoa last year for their first ever home game in the Pacific nation. This week it was Tonga, in the capital Nuku'alofa, who got the chance to see Moana play at home for the first time ever and the locals made sure to make the most of the experience, despite the torrential conditions. It was the full pomp and pageantry from the Tongan locals; a full brass band welcomed the players, while the whole Tongan royal family took to the stands to witness the occasion before the players had the chance to meet the Crown Prince and Princess ahead of kick-off. The constant cheers never stopped from the moment the Highlanders threw down the challenge with a haka and Moana responded with their own Sipi Tau welcome chant, with an explosion from the crowd when Moana scored the opening try of the match, while there were still plenty of Highlanders fans making their presence felt through the 80-minutes. It wasn't to be for Moana with the conditions too much to overcome, but the healthy crowd certainly showed there's a strong passion and appetite for more Super Rugby games to come to the islands. REIMER CAMEO A GAME CHANGER Bursting out to 14-point lead after just 10-minutes, it looked like the Brumbies would run home with an easy win against the Drua on Saturday night if not for some poor discipline that let Fiji came right back into the contest. Lucky for the Brumbies a superb cameo off the bench from Luke Reimer saw them home in their crucial clash. Winning two massive on-ball penalties and scoring a try in a match-defining moment. "It got a bit cold on the bench watching," Reimer said after the match. "I just came on and did my job." Forced to wait an extra 10-minutes to come onto the pitch due to a Brumbies yellow card, Reimer made the most of the little time he had on the field, making an immediate impact. "He was good tonight," Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said after the match. "We were talking about making a change with about 30 minutes to go so he had to sit on the bench for another 10 minutes. His first involvement was a steal at the breakdown and then down the other end he gets a try, so he's had a really good night." NOT SO SUPERAUSSIE TEAMS MUST ADDRESS POOR DISCIPLINE Handing out penalty after penalty like they were lollies on Halloween night, it's amazing that the Brumbies managed to scrape home with a win over the Fijian Drua on Saturday night but should leave coach Stephen Larkham and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt very unhappy. After conceding 13 straight penalties and 16 altogether, the Brumbies almost fumbled a 14-0 lead as they left the door wide open for a Drua fight back and succumbed to the pressure of their rampaging forward pack. Meanwhile, the Reds suffered their own disciplinary issues, conceding 14 penalties in what could have easily been another Crusaders victory in Christchurch. They'll be counting their lucky stars they never went down a player after they were repeatedly warned for infringing in their red zone. The same could be said for the Force after they dished out 12 penalties, but for the fact their defence was leaking like a sieve there was no need for the referee to warn them about their infringing on the tryline. Teams like the Hurricanes and the Blues would have a field day if handed all that extra possession, which is exactly what the Chiefs did to a woeful Force outfit, as they ran in nine tries and had many calling for the mercy rule after just 20-minutes. If Australian teams or should I say the Brumbies and Reds are to have a real shot at taking home the Super Rugby Pacific title discipline needs to be cleaned up quickly. BARRETT INJURY A REAL CONCERN Struggling without their captain through much of the season, the Crusaders finally appeared to find their way in their thumping win over the Rebels after Scott Barrett returned to the pitch. But things aren't looking great for the men in red and black with the towering lock yet again coming from the pitch with an injury in the 13th minute in their loss to the Reds. With their captain on the pitch the Crusaders' lineout was solid. They piled the pressure on Reds thrower Matt Faessler and caused several mistakes, but in Barrett's absence their own lineout took a hit, losing three of their own, while their rolling maul was pulled to pieces five metres from the tryline and their bad habits began to creep back in. The sight of Barrett walking straight from the pitch and receiving treatment early in the clash was no doubt enough to have Crusaders and All Blacks fans putting their head in their hands and would have had All Blacks coach Scott Robertson contemplating his options as he watched from the stands. With the Crusaders' playoff chances hanging in the balance the side said it's too early to say how long Barrett's back spasm will keep him sidelined. Is now the time we finally run a line through their chances?
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