Australia knocked out of Tens

No Australian teams are left in the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens after the Queensland Reds and Western Force crashed out of the quarter-finals.

The Reds fell 12-10 to the Chiefs at a steaming Suncorp Stadium on Sunday before the Force were beaten 17-12 by South Africa's Blue Bulls.

In the other quarter-final match-ups, the Crusaders defeated Japan's Panasonic Wild Knights 12-7 and the Hurricanes needed a clutch sideline conversion from Jordie Barrett to edge the Highlanders 7-5.

The Chiefs will meet the Bulls and the Crusaders - the tournament's only unbeaten team - are due to take on the Hurricanes in the semi-finals.

Both the Reds and the Force had their chances to advance to the final four but can have no complaints about their respective exits.

Second-half yellow cards to Taniela Tupou and Leroy Houston reduced the Reds to eight men and gave the Chiefs a way back into the contest.

The Chiefs have dedicated the rest of their tens campaign to the memory of former All Blacks forward Sione Lauaki, who passed away overnight at the age of just 35.

The Force, meanwhile, conceded 17 answered points after half-time as the Bulls rallied to continue their surprise run in Brisbane.

Earlier, the Brumbies became an unfortunate victim of the tournament's unbalanced groupings.

Despite winning two of their three games, they have finished bottom of a three- team Pool C on points differential.

NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels were also eliminated after playing against each other early on Sunday.

Samoa, the Blues and French glamour club Toulon have also crashed out.

Toulon, who didn't field former Wallaby James O'Connor (ankle) in any of their matches, scored just one try for the tournament.

Temperatures in Brisbane were forecast to reach a sizzling 39 degrees on Sunday, but there is still a reasonable crowd on hand, albeit almost entirely congregated in the shaded areas at Suncorp.

 

BRISBANE TENS SEMI-FINALS

Chiefs vs Bulls

• Crusaders vs Hurricanes

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