The Waratahs kept their season alive with a remarkable form turnaround in Brisbane tonight.
They look to have all but killed the Reds season in the process.
Here’s what we learned from the superb Australian Conference duel.
1. Vintage Smith not slowing down
George Smith snagged three pilfer penalties tonight in a performance that was reminiscent of his apex at the Brumbies in the mid-2000s.
He was unlucky to not get a few more in what was another world class by performance by Australia’s greatest openside flanker.
He crunched opposite number Michael Hooper late in the match but the Waratahs skipper wasn’t his only victim.
The 36-year-old is still smashing blokes at will and after a slow start to the season, shapes as one of Queensland’s most important players for the remainder of 2017.
2. Hunt must factor in Wallabies fold
Karmichael Hunt dominated the game again tonight.
He made nine runs for 84 metres, two line breaks, four offloads and a tackle bust.
But it was his leadership at the death which exemplified his form in 2017.
As the Reds were in the midst of a 25-phase set with the final siren gone, Hunt kept sticking his hand up to carry from first receiver or set up his team mates as a second playmaker.
He must feature in Michael Cheika’s Wallabies plans as he is the form fullback in Australia.
3. Refereeing kills Queensland season
The Reds have been on the raw end of some woeful refereeing this season and tonight was no different.
A 16-5 penalty count from referee Paul Williams featured several inexplicable decisions.
Others were dubious at best and Nick Phipps’ try was similarly cloudy.
Add that to the yellow card debacle in Argentina and the ridiculous “sealing off” penalty against Samu Kerevi which gave the Crusaders’ Mitchell Hunt the match winning penalty and you have three games which should have been Queensland wins.
To say Nick Stiles was fuming post match would be a significant understatement.
4. Hooper heroics spur Tahs on
Michael Hooper has played plenty of world class rugby in 2017 but he played his best game of all tonight.
The three minutes before half time were the perfect snapshot of Hooper’s exquisite performance.
He cut down a Samu Kerevi line break which threatened to break the game open, quickly got to his feet and won a penalty for his team.
Two minutes later Bernard Foley sent him spearing through a hole after a terrific decoy play and he wrestled through a cover tackle on the line to score.
An immense performance from one of the world’s best.
5. Australian Conference shows signs of life
Refereeing aside, this was the best QLD-NSW derby we have seen since Dom Shipperley snatched victory for the Reds in 2012.
The hands were slick, the tackles were big, the stinks were real and the rugby was played how it should be – by both sides.
With all the doom and gloom surrounding Australian rugby, this was an A Grade thriller.
Click Here: mochila fjallraven