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Queensland rugby has a new cult hero after Tim Ryan – aka the ‘Junkyard Dog’ – scored a hat trick in his first Super Rugby Pacific start on Saturday night.
The rangy 20-year-old winger said Reds hooker Matt Faessler was responsible for the nickname and had mixed feelings after losing a 41-34 classic in Brisbane.
The Blues stunned the Reds with the winning try to reserve halfback Sam Nock after the fulltime siren.
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“Unbelievable from the Blues. Simply outrageous. He has broken Queensland’s hearts,” Sean Maloney said on Stan Sport.
But Ryan was the talk of Suncorp Stadium after turning the Blues, including world class winger Mark Telea, inside out for his stunning third try as grinning Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt watched on.
“This kid is made for this level – remember the name. Tim Ryan, the junkyard dog,” Sonny Bill Williams said on Stan Sport.
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The Blues remain in second place on the ladder but are now just one point behind the Hurricanes.
The Reds are sixth and face the defending champion Crusaders next week.
In Canberra, the Hurricanes’ unbeaten start ended when they lost 27-19 to the Brumbies.
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A week after losing 46-7 to the Blues, the Brumbies pulled off one of the upsets of the season in beating the Hurricanes.
The Brumbies have dominated the Hurricanes in Canberra, winning their last six matches in the Australian capital.
The Hurricanes last won in Canberra in 2017.
“We needed a response and that’s exactly what we delivered,” Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan said on Stan Sport.
“It was pretty grim on Monday in our review, so it’s very positive to roll that out this afternoon.”
Two tries in the middle of the first half allowed the Brumbies to build a 21-5 lead after 19 minutes which became 24-5 after a penalty to flyhalf Noah Lolesio.
The Hurricanes cut the lead to 24-12 at halftime and and outscored the Brumbies 7-3 in a tight second half but never held the lead.
The Brumbies were physical and were able to bring their strong ball runners into the game, which they weren’t able to do against the Blues.
Centre and player of the match Tamati Tua was especially effective, scoring a try and making several line breaks.
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The Brumbies took the lead in the fifth minute with a try to Lolesio after a lineout drive.
Ryan Lonergan whipped to the flyhalf on the left flank and he was able to beat the defence in the corner.
Prop Xavier Numia scored the first of his two tries in the 12th minute to reduce the Brumbies’ lead.
But tries to Tua and winger Ollie Sapsford gave the Brumbies a comfortable lead which the Hurricanes couldn’t bridge.
Numia scored his second try before halftime and centre Jordie Barrett scored in the second half but the Brumbies held on for a win which will keep them inside the top four for another week.
In Dunedin, scrumhalf Folau Fakatava scored the only try in the 47th minute as the Highlanders beat the Force 7-6 in an error strewn match.
Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson kicked a penalty in the 38th minute for the only points of the first half.
Fakatava’s try put the Highlanders ahead and they held on as the only other points of the match came from a second Donaldson penalty.
The win lifts the Highlanders into eighth, keeping them in the playoffs race while the Force are last, their playoffs chances fading.
“We knew it was going to be a tough one. Last pass stuff. We created opportunities and weren’t able to capitalise,” Force captain Nic White said.
“Bloody disappointing. I thought we played really well. That’ll be a tough one but we’ll learn from it. We’re going to feel like that’s just another one that we’ve let slip.”
Earlier, winger Taniela Rakuro scored two tries as the Fijian Drua held on to beat Moana Pasifika 24-17 in Lautoka after leading 17-0 at halftime.
The win solidifies the Drua’s place in the top eight playoff zone while Moana are now just outside the top eight.
The Drua also remain unbeaten in Lautoka this season.
The home team bookended the first half with tries to Rakuro after two minutes and Selestino Ravutaumada in the 36th minute.
Moana got on the board with a try to Henry Taefu but Rakuro’s second try in the 69th minute extended the Drua’s lead.
They were able to hang on, though Moana Pasifika finished strongly with tries to Sione Havili-Talituli and Sama Malolo.
