The Reds led early before the home side started finding holes in the Queensland defence midway through the first half. Stormers skipper Luke Watson grabbed two soft tries in five minutes to set tone of all out attack from both sides for the rest of the match.

In an action packed second half, speedy winger Brent Russell bagged a double and No.8 Joe van Niekirk grabbed a five-pointer for the Stormers, while the Reds scored through Ben Tune and Sean Hardman.

The loss sees the Reds anchored to the bottom of the Super ladder, five points behind the Waratahs with only one game left in the regular season, while the Stormers leap up into eighth place.

Stormers 37
Tries: Watson 2, Russell 2, Van Niekirk
Conversions: Grant 3
Penalties: Grant 2

Reds 24
Tries: Tune. Hardman
Conversions: Schifcofske
Penalties: Schifcofske 4

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans acknowledged the defensive effort of the Brumbies after the Australian side edged out his team 15-6 in a try-less Super 14 match in Canberra on Saturday night.

He also vowed that his side would bounce back and secure a home semi-final in by defeating their next opponent, the Chiefs, in the final round of the Super 14 on Friday night.

Early in the week, Deans made it clear that Crusaders would be challenged in Canberra, saying that playing away to the Brumbies is 'as tough as it gets', and he was right as the Brumbies held out to inflict the Crusaders' fourth loss of the season.

"We were aware of what we were coming into, but we weren't good enough to get home on the night," Deans said.

"It was a great defensive effort from the Brumbies.

"They forced a lot of error, and put pressure on us at the lineout. We had a couple of opportunities but we didn't convert.

"Credit to the Brumbies, they did their homework and profited."

The Crusaders still sit in first position on the Super 14 ladder after the second-placed Blues slipped up in Pretoria against the Bulls, but Deans said his side would work on its game ahead of Friday's match in Christchurch.

Sportal