Super Rugby Pacific: Blues snatch golden-point thriller to outlast Queensland Reds

Saturday, 25 April 2026

Blues players celebrate Beauden Barrett’s golden-point penalty to clinch victory for the Blues lover the Reds.

At One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch: Blues 36 (Zarn Sullivan 2 tries 7min, 24min, Cole Forbes try 15min, Dalton Papali’i try 43min, Bradley Slater try 63min; Beauden Barrett pen, 4 cons), Queensland Reds 33 (Fraser McReight try 10min, Harry Wilson try 32min, Jock Campbell try 36min, Tim Ryan try 75min, Louis Werchon try 80min; Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 3 cons, Ben Volavola con) in super point time. HT: 21-21; FT: 33-33.

Vern Cotter’s Blues were far from imperious about it, but did just enough in super point extra-time to make it three from three in trans-Tasman contests at this super round in Christchurch on Saturday night at the new stadium.

The Aucklanders did it the hard way against an abrasive and competitive Queensland Reds outfit who did brilliantly to roar back from a 12-point deficit with five minutes remaining to force the sudden-death extra period, but held their nerve in the golden point stanza to nail their seventh victory of the season.

The victory, with five tries apiece, keeps the Blues’ pursuit of the competition pacesetters on track as they improve to 7-3, and 33 points on the standings. The Queenslanders drop back to 5-4, on 23 points, and hold on to their top-six spot.

The Blues looked to have blown it when they allowed the Reds to claw back a 33-21 deficit to level at 33-33 with late tries to Tim Ryan and Louis Werchon, but held on to possession well in the extra period and won a penalty at the breakdown when skipper Fraser McReight was pinged for a penalty at the ruck. Beauden Barrett coolly slotted the shot at goal to secure the result.

Sam Darry soars high to grab a lineout for the Blues at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Anton Segner was again outstanding for the Blues, whether it was in the air at lineout time, in the tackle, on the deck or around the field. The German loose forward is in the sort of form that must be at least gaining the attention of the new All Blacks coaches.

Fellow loosie Dalton Papali’i, with a try and another busy performance, was not far behind his loose forward mate, while big lock Sam Darry continued his impressive form of ‘26 with another eye-catching all-round effort and hooker Bradley Slater got through his work splendidly. In the backs two-try Zarn Sullivan was the standout figure, Cole Forbed was busy on the wing and Barrett provided the astute boot his side needed.

The Blues’ lineout dominated the aerial exchanges against a staggering Reds set piece, and laid a crucial platform for the victory.

Blues No 10 Beauden Barrett looks for an opening in the Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Reds in Christchurch.

The gritty and talented Reds gave plenty and were unlucky not to walk off with more than the bonus point. Big lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was impressive, No 8 Harry Wilson got through plenty of work and Jock Campbell and Filipo Daugunu were the picks of a dangerous backline.

Any inkling the Blues might have had that this was all going to go their way was erased through a highly competitive first half that finished knotted at 21-21, three tries apiece.

The Aucklanders looked in control through the opening 24 minutes when they thrust out to a 21-0 lead, only for the Reds, with their forwards upping the ante, to strike with two scores late in the spell to get the contest back on level terms.

The Blues struck twice in the opening quarter, with early strikes to Sullivan (off a dab down the blindside) and Forbes (off a nice piece of skill from Darry) bookending McReight’s seven-pointer for the Reds to put them out to the early 14-7 lead.

Sullivan’s second, the fullback slicing through off Barrett’s flat pass, eased the Kiwi side out by 14, before No 8 Wilson and fullback Campbell struck over the closing eight minutes to gobble up the deficit as the Reds forwards finished the spell in the ascendancy.

The second half surged both ways. Papali’i, via a surging run off the lineout from Slater, and then Slater himself crossed in the second spell to get the Blues out to 33-21, before the Reds steadied and unleashed that big finish.

In the end it came down to who would hold their cool in the extra period. That was very much the Blues who continue to find ways to win ugly and stay in this championship race.