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Lions maul disappointing Queensland Reds 31-20 at Suncorp Stadium
Berrick Barnes has rated Queensland's DISGRACEFULL 31-20 Super 14 defeat to the Lions as humiliating as their record 92-3 thumping by the Bulls two years ago.
Despite only falling by four-tries-to-three at Suncorp Stadium, the Reds were truly dreadful as they sunk to their lowest ebb in another ugly season.
Making the fourth straight defeat even harder to swallow was the fact Queensland failed to put a 13-man Lions outfit to the sword when the game was in the balance in the second half.
Rubbing further salt into the gaping wounds was a season-ending injury to former New Zealand flanker Daniel Braid who ruptured his Achilles tendon which requires surgery.
“It's pretty hollow, it'll make headlines” a shattered Barnes said.
“It's probably up there with the 92-point one. That was just disappointing.”
The 92-3 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria in the last round of 2007, the final match of Eddie Jones' forgettable tenure, stands as Queensland rugby's blackest day and remains the worst-ever loss in Super rugby.
Deflated Reds coach Phil Mooney backed Barnes' sentiments, labelling the defeat the worst since he took over last year before signalling he was set to make mass changes “across the board”.
“It's a hard one to defend,” Mooney said.
“This would be the most deflating (loss).
Lions maul disappointing Queensland Reds 31-20 at Suncorp Stadium