• You are here:
• QR Reds v Crusaders

QR Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper has broken the Reds Super Rugby individual match scoring record, grabbing 31 points in the Reds' 41-20 Investec Bank Super 14 win over the Crusaders.

Cooper scored two tries of the Reds' four tries, kicked three conversions and five penalties to help the Reds to their first Super Rugby win over the seven-time champions since 1999.

The previous individual record was 26 points by Elton Flatley against the Stormers back in 2003.

“It’s such a special win for us and as a group I’m very proud of the boys and coaching staff,” said Cooper, who claimed the win was one the best he has been involved in.

“It’s right up there. Not so much the scoreline but the effort the boys but in for the full 80 and even the week leading up to this.  Coming into this game against the competition front-runners and really putting in a strong effort for the full 80 was something that is really special to me.”

The Reds controlled the tempo of the game and dominated most key statistics, their 57 percent of possession and miserly three handling errors the catalyst for a victory also built on bruising defence and scintillating attack.

Ahead 14-6 at the break, the Reds showed plenty of poise in closing out the Crusaders, only a week after they blew a strong lead to the NSW Waratahs in the dying minutes.

The opening half was a defensive affair, with Cooper’s skilful try in the 34th minute the only five pointer. But an attacking flurry and a mountain of possession in the second half saw Cooper and wingers Rod Davies and Digby Ioane give the Reds a four-try bonus point win.

McKenzie said he was pleased that his side bounced back from the disappointment of last week to put together another strong display.

“We played a physical game last week and we fronted up again in a completely different environment.  The Crusaders are a good side and they made it difficult but we still found ways to play,” he said.

“Will (Genia) and Quade, and I thought Anthony Faingaa had a fantastic game.  We found ways to get through (the Crusaders).  But they don’t lie down and with 20 minutes to go they scored. That was a nervous moment but we came back.

“The Crusaders are hard to beat, no matter get a decent scoreline.  On a six day turnaround and with a couple of changes in the forward pack there was every excuse to say we couldn’t do it, but I thought we did it well.

“The enjoyable part was that we scored three tries off their errors that came from our good defence.”

McKenzie said the challenge was now to continue that form against the Blues at Ballymore in eight days time.

“Our ambition hasn’t changed; we want to win the comp. But at the moment we are focused on winning two games in a row,” he said.

The Reds' joy was tempered by a serious knee injury to captain James Horwill, who was to have scans after the match to determine the severity.

It is a major blow as Horwill was again the leader of a Reds forward pack that turned in a strong performance at the breakdown, with backrowers Daniel Braid, Scott Higginbotham and rookie Jake Schatz all getting through plenty of work.

“I’m not optimistic.  It looks like a pretty serious injury,” McKenzie said of his captain.

“We’re not talking about a one week injury, we are talking long term. That takes a fair bit of gloss off the evening.”

Three of the four Reds tries came from relatively long range, with Cooper starting the movement which gave his side their first try.

An inside ball put Turinui into space and he linked up with Davies, the fastest man in the Reds squad, only to be pulled down metres from the line.  From the ensuing play Genia darted down the blindside, linked up with Hynes, who tip-toed down the touchline, before throwing the ball inside for Cooper to thread the defensive needle and score in the corner.

Davies' try came from another Turinui break. The Crusaders threw an errant pass while on attack that was pounced on by Turinui, who made his way to halfway before dishing the ball onto Davies for the finish.

Off a turnover Anthony Faingaa placed a pinpoint grubber for Ioane to grab his five-pointer, while Cooper capped off a standout performance with an intercept in the concluding stages of the match.

The match was a double celebration for Schatz and replacement hooker James Hanson, who made their Queensland and Super 14 debuts.

QR Reds 41 (Quade Cooper 2, Digby Ioane, Rod Davies tries, Cooper 3 cons, 5 pens) def Crusaders 20 (Andy Ellis, Brad Thorn tries, Dan Carter 2 cons, 2 pens)

Earlier in the day Keebra Park State High School beat Ipswich Grammar School 38-28 in the Queensland Sevens Rugby tournament final.