Queensland winger Mac Grealy has broken his 2024 try drought in spectacular fashion yet Wales still found a last-gasp escape to deny the Reds a repeat of their famous 1991 victory over the tourists.
The underdog Reds were pipped 36-35 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday night after dreaming of a major upset when leading 35-31 into the final 90 seconds of the game.
The Reds had rallied from a 31-14 deficit with 33 minutes to play to stun the vastly more experienced Welsh with their youngbloods and heart.
The crowd of 23,164 was the biggest to watch a Reds game in three years and the 11-try spectacle made for fast-paced and gripping action.
When Welsh replacement scrumhalf Kieran Hardy dived over with seconds on the clock it saved the blushes of a national side dealing with nine consecutive Test losses.
For the Reds, it was so close to replicating the 1991 victory over Wales when the two sides last met. The night was a rousing endorsement for the first match between the Reds and a national side in Brisbane for two decades.
There was great honour in defeat because the Reds were playing without the nine Wallabies selected in the Test side to face Georgia in Sydney on Saturday plus several more injured frontliners.
Grealy was one of the Reds’ best all year in Super Rugby Pacific yet went 13 games without a try. He scored two in 10 minutes during the second half surge from the Reds.
The Reds were plucky throughout and always found a counter and in familiar fashion.
Hooker Richie Asiata, with his Super Rugby season ruined before it started by knee ligament trouble, scored three tries.
All were from patient mauls off lineout drives so that the Reds trailed 31-21 with just under 30 minutes to play.
Flyhalf James O’Connor was a composed playmaker in his first start of the season after playing just 69 minutes in his three Super Rugby Pacific cameos.
He looked to have scored himself with a dart at the line at the 23-minute mark but the ball was dislodged in a tackle as he attempted to ground it.
The first-time midfield pairing of debutant inside centre Dre Pakeho and winger-turned-outside centre Tim Ryan stepped up superbly.
Ryan’s defence was terrific and it was his one-handed off-load, after running on to an O’Connor pass, that put Grealy over for his first try. Pakeho was crisp and decisive with his distribution.
On 69 minutes, Grealy raced over a second time after a sweeping move started in the Reds’ own quarter. Backrower Seru Uru burst from the ruckbase. O’Connor’s deft pass and neat passes from Jock Campbell and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen put Grealy over.
Lock Ryan Smith was a towering lineout presence, former All Blacks prop Toomaga-Allen was a dominant figure and No. 8 Joe Brial ran direct and often.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland admitted afterwards that he had made a mistake appointing Cory Hill as captain for the match. Hill withdrew from the game shortly before kick-off due to “personal reasons”.
It followed controversy over remarks made by Hill, who said he regretted an incident three years ago when he was among a group who damaged a woman’s house. He was not charged by police and apologised at the time.
“Cory came to me and said for personal reasons he was pulling out of the match, so I had to respect the decision he made to do that,” Gatland said. “Look, I put my hand up and say I probably shouldn’t have put him in that position.