Source : ABC NEWS
Five returning Wallabies have powered the Queensland Reds to their first win of the Super Rugby Pacific season, capping off a positive day for Australian rugby.
Coming off the bye following a round one loss to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, the Reds opened their 2026 account with a 31-14 win over the Highlanders, hours after the Western Force also recorded their first win of the campaign.
The return of Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and former Australian fly half Carter Gordon boosted the Reds starting 15, with three more returning Wallabies — Josh Nasser, Filipo Daugunu and Kalani Thomas — contributing off the bench.
The Reds ran in five tries at Lang Park, condemning the Highlanders to consecutive losses after stunning the Crusaders in an opening round win.
Wilson’s impact was felt immediately on a humid and wet night in Brisbane, producing a try-saving tackle in the opening minutes, then a pass through the legs to set up the opening score.
The Wallabies captain said Friday’s win was just reward for months of hard work.
“I’m really happy for the boys. We worked hard all preseason, a few tough trials and a round one loss, so it’s been a little while since our last win,” Wilson told Stan Sport after the match.
“We’ve worked really hard over the last few weeks to fix our errors up. Honestly, I thought it was a pretty good performance by us.”
Wilson’s second-minute try-saver, holding up Highlanders lock Will Stodart over the goal line, was the first of three times the visitors crossed the line without scoring.
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson returned for the Queensland Reds and played a big role in the round three win. (AAP: Darren England)
Wilson was again vital in the 19th minute, setting up the first try of the contest.
Near the sideline, Wilson threw a pass between his legs to centre Josh Flook, who then put in a small grubber kick.
The loose ball was collected by winger Tim Ryan, who immediately kicked the ball to the goal line, when a chasing Reds captain Fraser McReight ground the bouncing ball.
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The Reds then took over the ascendancy of the contest as errors denied the Highlanders good field position.
The Reds stretched their lead to 12-0 after 28 minutes when hooker Matt Faessler ran in, untouched, off the back of a maul close to the Highlanders’ line.
However, the Reds’ defence around the ruck fell asleep three minutes later. Highlanders hooker Jack Taylor ran from the base of the ruck with no defenders in front of him, then gave a pass to scrum half Adam Lennox to give the visitors their first points of the evening.
But the Reds hit straight back. Gordon and Reds Flook combined in midfield to create an overlap, with the latter putting flanker Joe Brial into a gap.
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Two passes later, Reds winger Tim Ryan crossed to give the Reds a 19-7 lead at half-time.
The Highlanders made an excellent start to the second half, camped deep in Reds territory following a brutal run by powerhouse centre Timoci Tavatavanawai which left several Reds defenders in his wake.
The Reds would spend the next 5 minutes in their own half, defending stoutly, until Highlanders number eight Lucas Casey burst through from close range in the 51st minute to score under the posts.
Needing to reverse the momentum, two excellent pieces of individual brilliance led to Queensland’s fourth try.
A long grubber kick from Flook down the sideline was run into touch by the Highlanders near their own goal line.
Reds centre Hunter Paisami caught the Highlanders napping and took a quick throw to Ryan, who was brought down just metres from the line. Queensland shifted left and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto powered over to give the Reds a 24-14 lead.
The Reds bench then combined minutes later to ice the game, with Vaiuta Latu picking up and grounding a Daugunu-grubber that the Highlanders’ defence failed to collect.
The Highlanders were denied twice in the final 11 minutes by some resolute Reds defence.
Te Kamaka Howden was held up over the line by Brail, then Highlanders co-captain Sean Withy dropped the ball over the goal line.
The Reds travel to Canberra next weekend to face the ACT Brumbies, while the Highlanders return to Dunedin to host the Western Force.
Force breaks NZ drought with first Super Rugby Pacific win of season
The Western Force have fired up to post their first victory of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season with a desperately needed 35-19 win over a disappointing Moana Pasifika outfit.
The Western Force brushed off a disappointing start to the season to record their first win. (Getty Images: Fiona Goodall)
After losing their first two games in Perth, the Force not only crossed the country but also the Tasman to finally taste success in emphatic fashion in Pukekohe.
The Force ran in five tries to three to drag themselves off the bottom of the ladder and consign Moana to a disappointing defeat in front of their home fans.
The WA franchise’s welcome breakthrough snapped a nine-match winless run stretching back to April last year.
The win was also their first in New Zealand since also beating the Pacific Islanders four years ago.
And a former All Black was fittingly among the stars on Friday night.
After bombing what should have been a certain try on the half hour, George Bridge atoned just two minutes later when, first, he went within centimetres of forcing his way over.
Lock Darcy Swain instead strolled over from the very next phase before Bridge burst through the Moana defence to score his maiden try for the Force.
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The classy centre might have been embarrassed after butchering a try earlier when he was caught out while casually about to put the ball down when Moana winger Denzel Samoa forced possession free over the line.
After needing to pass a last-minute HIA to play, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson also returned to torment Pasifika once again.
After scoring in the 85th minute, then slotting the winning conversion in a heart-stopping 45-44 win for the Force in the corresponding fixture last year, Donaldson set up the first try on Friday.
Winger Darby Lancaster swooped on Donaldson’s left-foot cross-field kick to touch down after just five minutes.
Hooker Mills Sanerivi bagged the home team’s only try of the first half as the Force enjoyed a 21-7 lead at the break.
Unlike in heavy losses to the Brumbies and Blues to start the season, the Force went on with the job in the second half.
Prolific flanker Carlo Tizzano, the competition’s top tryscorer last year, typically finished off a driving maul from the Force in the 61st minute to put the game beyond the hosts’ reach.
Replacement hooker Leonel Oviedo joined the party with the Force’s fifth try as the Perth outfit recorded only their second win in 25 Super Rugby matches in New Zealand.
Late consolation tries to replacement half Melani Matavao and second-rower Jackson Garden-Bachop denied the Force a bonus point.
But the victory was otherwise the perfect start to a three-game road trip in NZ for Simon Cron’s side, with the Force to also face the Highlanders and Hurricanes before returning home.
While the Force were left to celebrate, Moana — who also suffered a 52-10 loss to the Hurricanes last week — have well and truly crashed back to earth after starting their season with a 40-26 win over Fijian Drua in Suva.
AAP
