Matt Toomua celebrates after Cabous Eloff’s late try to send the Rebels into the Super Rugby AU finalsCredit: Jason McCawley/Getty Images — *Matt Toomua celebrates after Cabous Eloff’s late try to send the Rebels into the Super Rugby AU finals*
*Credit: Jason McCawley/Getty Images*

The final round of the regular season in Super Rugby AU was anything but predictable as the finals lineup was decided.

The Rebels looked for the longest time as though they would fail in their bid to knock the Waratahs out of third spot as the Force gave them a huge scare.

However, a late score gave the men from Melbourne a 34-30 win which put them into the knockout rounds.

In that qualifying final, they will take on the Queensland Reds who produced arguably their most complete performance of the competition at just the right time.

They dismissed the Brumbies 26-7 and left the Canberra side looking over their shoulders at their potential grand final opponents.

We wrap up the talking points from the final round of what has been a fascinating Super Rugby AU competition.

Rebels leave it late to clinch last finals spot

The Rebels could hardly have gone a more roundabout way of booking their passage to a qualifying final against the Reds.

The Melbourne outfit went into their final game knowing they would need to beat the Force, who have worked in vain and were without a win all tournament, by four points to secure themselves a place in the finals and knock out the Waratahs.

Well, they did it by exactly that margin, winning 34-30. However, the manner in which they went about it would have had their fans chewing fingernails to the bone as they left it as late as they possibly could.

It should have been a lot easier for them. After all, a team that finds itself 20-7 up after half an hour against a winless opponent should close out that game ten times out of ten.

However, the Rebels’ frustrating inconsistency reared its ugly head as the Force piled on 23 unanswered points to take a 30-20 lead just before the hour mark despite Byron Ralston’s yellow card.

While Waratahs fans dared to dream though, the Rebels had other ideas.

They struck back in quick time through Dane Haylett-Petty to leave themselves seven crucial points from the promised land.

As time ticked down, Melbournians could have been forgiven for thinking that elusive first-ever finals series was going to slip from their grasp again.

But, with just over a minute to play, replacement prop Cabous Eloff burrowed over to leave Matt Toomua with a simple conversion to break Sydney hearts and send the Rebels onwards.

In the finals they may be, but conceding over 60 points across their final two games - combined with the Reds’ mightily impressive home win over the Brumbies - will have head coach David Wessels worrying about their next assignment.

Force bow out having won over fans - but no games

Force hooker Andrew Ready is mobbed after scoring one of his two tries against the RebelsCredit: Rugby.com.au — *Force hooker Andrew Ready is mobbed after scoring one of his two tries against the Rebels*
*Credit: Rugby.com.au*

Every sporting story has an emotional core and, in many ways, the Force have been the emotional core of Super Rugby AU.

Pushed out of their home in Perth over to the east coast to participate, all after being plucked back from the National Rugby Championship, the Force had every reason to believe and act like they were simply making up the numbers.

However, what they have done is take every condition thrown at them on the chin and, with a squad visibly shorter on quality than their peers, take the fight to everyone.

In the process, they have made themselves the second favourite team of every Australian rugby fan.

They have refused to let their strange situation be any kind of crutch or excuse for poor performances and have given all four teams a genuine scare at different points.

This continued to be the case right up to the end of the competition as it looked for all the world as though they might derail the Rebels’ season and gain a first win that few would begrudge them.

Tries from hooker Andrew Ready (2), centre Henry Taefu and flanker Brynard Stander looked for all the world to have given them the win, but they once again fell agonisingly short in the clutch moments.

They have been well in every game and produced possibly the most exciting player to watch in the tournament in Byron Ralston (mentioned for the second time already and we’re not done yet) while showing courage and willingness beyond anything anyone could have expected from them.

They may be bowing out of Super Rugby AU without a win to their name, but know this. Western Force - The Flanker salutes you.

Reds gear up for finals by blitzing Brumbies

The Reds celebrate their win over the Brumbies at Suncorp StadiumCredit: Getty Images — *The Reds celebrate their win over the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium*
*Credit: Getty Images*

The Reds seem to have blown hot at just the right time for the run into the Super Rugby AU finals.

This 26-7 win over the Brumbies was arguably their most complete performance of the competition so far, as they dismantled the once-runaway leaders in Brisbane.

Captain Liam Wright will take plenty of plaudits for his 17 tackles and well-taken try early on, while Filipo Daugunu crashed for 113 run metres and beat five defenders in the process.

Hamish Stewart also chipped in with 13 tackles in the backline but the biggest improvement which will please coach Brad Thorn was their accuracy and ball retention, with the Reds recording only 15 turnovers conceded to the Brumbies 28.

It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see that the Reds have the talent to make the knockout stages of Super Rugby AU anything but a formality.

Jock Campbell has grown into the fullback role more every game, as evidenced by his sublime try assist to Wright in this outing.

James O’Connor and Tate McDermott have flourished as the halfbacks with Filipo Daugunu and Jordan Petaia providing star power in the outside channels.

Hunter Paisami can match it with any centre going in Australia right now and they have the best back row in the competition to rely on up front.

And that’s even before mentioning Taniela Tupou.

Scary.

Brumbies finish top but stumble into knockouts

They have had top spot in Super Rugby AU, and the path straight to the final that comes with it, sewn up for some weeks now but there will be quiet concerns around Brumby HQ about the way they are entering the pointy end of the competition.

They sit comfortably in first place and have the bye week in front of them, but their last few performances in the competition have not exactly been convincing.

This was their second defeat in the back half of the season, after losing to the Rebels in Round 6, and in between that came a stuttering win over the Force.

A comfortable win was handed to them on a silver platter by a poor Waratahs performance in Week 7 but if I were a Brumbies fan, I wouldn’t be entering the final stages of the competition with total confidence.

Their usually stingy defence has started to leak points that they may not have done five weeks ago, while their accuracy and discipline has taken enough of a hit that will leave boss Dan McKellar with plenty to ponder.

The defensive lapses will be of particular concern given they may have to come face to face again with the men from Queensland in the do-or-die game and, as previously mentioned, the Reds have some serious weapons.

Brumbies have struggled to recapture their dominance from the early weeks of the tournament as teams around them have gathered extra momentum.

They have a bye week now to get themselves back into form and ready for the final, which they will host at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

It’s now or never for the men from the ACT.

Team of the Tournament

As the regular season closes out, we at The Flanker feel it is only fair to look back and nominate a Team of the Tournament to recognise some of the outstanding individual contributions that have been made across the season.

The Reds and Brumbies largely dominate proceedings, as might be expected from the clear top two in the competition, but the Waratahs and Rebels get their noses involved as well.

Allan Alaalatoa edges out Taniela Tupou for the tighthead prop jersey in what will doubtless be a double act we see recreated at international level.

The same goes in the number 2 shirt as Folau Fa’ainga overcame Jordan Uelese out of the Rebels.

Ned Hanigan gets a nod in the second row for his work ethic and improvement over the campaign, with Reds backrow teammates Liam Wright and Harry Wilson possibly two of the easiest selections at 6 and 8 respectively.

Tate McDermott and James O’Connor take out the halfback spots in another Reds double act, with Irae Simone (one of the genuine stars to watch come Wallaby selection time) partnering the ever-reliable Reece Hodge in the centres.

Jack Maddocks earns the fullback jersey for his standout Waratahs performances, Tom Wright is rewarded for consistency on the left wing and, naturally, no team of this Super Rugby AU competition would be complete without the man who is breakout star of the league - Force winger Byron Ralston.

And hey, who knows - we might even inspire Wallabies coach Dave Rennie when he sits down to pick his next squad. Unlikely, but it could happen.