Mark Tele’a of the Blues is sent off for a dangerous tackle against the Reds. Photo: Dave Hunt/ Photosport
The Blues have slumped to a 35-21 loss to the Reds in Brisbane, meaning that they are now in serious danger of missing the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs.
While they were missing Dalton Papli'i and Caleb Clarke, plus had Beauden Barrett sidelined with illness, the Blues can only blame themselves for yet another disappointing performance. Handling errors were rife, the set piece was unreliable and poor defence in the early stages allowed the Reds to shoot out to a 14-0 lead courtesy of two tries to Tom Lynagh.
Kurt Eklund looked to have pulled back a try for the Blues, but was denied by the TMO meaning the Blues were unrewarded for a sustained period of attack in the Reds' 22.
However, the killer blow came after only half an hour when Mark Tele'a needlessly spear tackled his opposite winger Tim Ryan, which resulted in an unsurprising upgraded red card. Tate McDermott, Lachie Anderson and Richie Asiata scored for the home side in the second half to push the game well out of reach, before Sam Nock and Anton Segner scored to add a little bit of respectability to the scoreline for the Blues.
The Blues now have to win their four remaining games - Force (home), Drua (away), Moana (away) and Waratahs (home) - to make the play-offs and defend the title they so convincingly won last season. It's highly likely they'll have to do at least a few of those games without Tele'a, who almost certainly will be facing a suspension.
Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
