Both sides ran in five tries apiece, and gave a neutral crowd in Christchurch plenty of value for money after watching
Vern Cotter’s men have, for the time being, moved to second on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, but can still be passed by the Chiefs before the end of the weekend.
The Blues coach had plenty of reasons to be happy after the fulltime siren. Not only did his 2026 side get over the line in a clash that gives the Blues vital experience in a high-pressure situation, but his 2027 team have also proven there is plenty to work with when Cotter crosses the Tasman to take charge of the Reds next season.
The Reds, meanwhile, will continue to wait to beat the Blues on Kiwi soil, with their last triumph against the Aucklanders coming in 2012.
Now three from three, Kiwi sides’ chances of a Super Round whitewash remain in place, as the Highlanders and Chiefs face Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua respectively on Sunday.
Beaduen Barrett against the Reds in Christchurch. Photo / Photosport
While the Blues wasted little time opening the scoring after six minutes, courtesy of Zarn Sullivan finishing his own linebreak, the Reds hit back almost immediately through Fraser McReight, as the Queensland forwards capitalised on Anton Segner giving away a penalty.
Proving an unlikely playmaker, Sam Darry sent Cole Forbes over in the left corner with an audacious cutout ball for the Blues’ second, before Sullivan had his second inside the opening 30 minutes after slipping through the Reds’ defence again.
But from 21-7 up, the Blues’ first-half lead evaporated as the Reds found their feet.
Gifted a golden opportunity by Barrett, unable to clear the ball inside his own 22 and bundled into touch, the resulting lineout and set piece saw Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson over in the corner. Minutes later, fullback Jock Campbell waltzed in from an overlap, as the Blues’ 21-7 lead became 21-apiece at halftime.
Having taken six minutes to score in the first half, the Blues needed only three to grab the first try of the second, this time through Dalton Papali’i muscling his way to the tryline.
And while the Reds were able to respond instantly to the Blues’ opening score of the first half, Finlay Christie made sure they couldn’t in the second when he stopped opposite halfback Kalani Thomas on the tryline.
At the other end, Forbes was denied his second by Tim Ryan, unable to finish off a break from the Blues as the Reds kept themselves in the contest.
As the clock crept into the final quarter, Bradley Slater took the lead to beyond a converted try, as the Blues’ forwards continued to assert themselves on the tiring Reds, by surging over from close range.
Beauden Barrett kicks the winning penalty for the Blues against the Reds. Photo / Getty Images
In comical scenes, Reds reserve prop Nick Bloomfield claimed he’d scored his side’s fourth try, after back-to-back Blues clearances were charged down inside their 22 – only for TMO replays to show Taufa Funaki had grounded the ball first.
Having saved a try at one end, Ryan scored at the other with a flying finish in the corner, and then played the decisive hand for Louis Werchon, who scored against the uprights in the final seconds to force Super Point.
But despite the thrilling nature of last week’s Super Point result between the Chiefs and Hurricanes, this week’s affair was decided when the Blues worked away for 18 phases, before McReight gave away a penalty, which Barrett had no difficulty in kicking to seal victory.
While the Super Round victory was technically a home game for the Blues, Cotter’s men will return to Auckland next week, when they face Moana Pasifika at North Harbour Stadium.
The Reds, meanwhile, head back to Brisbane, where they’ll meet the Brumbies in a battle to decide Australia’s top dog as the pointy end of the season nears.
Blues 33 (Sullivan 2, Forbes, Papali’i, Slater tries; Barrett 4 conversions, Barrett penalty)
Queensland Reds 33 (McReight, Wilson, Campbell, Ryan, Werchon tries, McLaughlin-Phillips 3, Volavola conversions)
HT: 21-21
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.