Queensland Reds No. 8 and Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson is urging his in-form team to push for a home Super Rugby play-off match, improving their chances of avoiding another early exit in the finals.
The Reds climbed from sixth to fourth with a 30-21 home win over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday night, a third successive defeat for the struggling Canberra side, who dropped to sixth.
Both teams scored three converted tries in greasy conditions, but three Reds penalty goals proved the difference, including a successful late shot from Ben Volavola that secured the result.
Trailing 20-7 early in the second half, the Brumbies went ahead through close-range tries to Rob Valetini and David Feliuai, before the home side responded with a try to Seru Uru.
Still a month out from the play-offs, Wilson said the Reds want to avoid the pattern of the last four seasons.
On each occasion, they have finished in a lowly qualifying spot and been eliminated immediately in a finals match away from Brisbane.
Wilson, the Wallabies captain, said the Reds’ sixth win of the season has boosted their hopes of qualifying in the top three for the six-team finals.
He told Stan Sport that they would love to get into the top three and secure a home quarter-final.
He added that this year they have been up and down, but have probably had three consistent performances in a row, and it is a challenge to maintain that form over the next four weeks.
This week, the Reds will face the Chiefs at 9.35pm Friday.
In other matches, the Blues will host the Crusaders at 7.05pm Friday. The NSW Waratahs will meet the Highlanders at 4.35pm Saturday, Moana Pasifika will face the Hurricanes at 7.05pm, and the Force will take on the Brumbies at 9.35pm.
Source: rugby.com.au
