Reds

Title-winning coach Ewen McKenzie has lamented the number of Super Rugby derby games played in round one as players struggled with officiating and fans endured a dearth of tries.

The Quade Cooper-inspired Queensland Reds closed in on their first Super rugby title by ending the Blues quest for a fourth championship at Suncorp Stadium last night.

The Blues team has been named to play the Queensland Reds in a Super 15 semifinal in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Queensland substitute Dom Shipperley's 78th-minute try guided the Reds to a come-from-behind 24-21 Super 15 victory over the Western Force in  Perth on Saturday night.

The Blues team has been named to play the Reds in a Super 15 match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday night.

Queensland captain James Horwill was forced from the field with an ankle injury as NSW recorded a comprehensive 30-6 victory over the Reds in their Super Rugby clash at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Big prop Jamie Mackintosh is back in the reckoning as the Highlanders look to end a disappointing season with a flourish against the Reds in Brisbane tomorrow night.

Flanker Victor Vito has been ruled out of Friday's Super 14 rugby match against the Reds in Wellington after suffering an injury at training today.

The Reds' hopes of a hoodoo-busting journey to Canberra look set to be dented with prop Laurie Weeks to join Van Humphries and Rod Davies on the sidelines.

Steve Walsh has been stood down from refereeing a second consecutive game involving the Brumbies to prevent their critical Super 14 rugby match against the Reds on Saturday turning into a circus, his boss says.