Watch: The Tongan Thor costs the Reds a try after a brutal high shot on Christian Leali'ifano

Watch: The Tongan Thor costs the Reds a try after a brutal high shot on Christian Leali'ifano

Queensland Reds tighthead prop Taniela Tupou aka 'The Tongan Thor' cost the Reds a try in the early stages of their clash with the Brumbies in Canberra.

The Reds were up 7-0 against the Australian conference leaders, who have already secured a playoff spot, when the Brumbies were on the attack and Reds flyhalf Matt McGahan picked off a loose pass to score out wide.

However, the try was disallowed due to an earlier infringement by Tupou who smashed Brumbies flyhalf Christian Leali'ifano in the lead up to the try.

Referee Paul Williams was made aware of the incident and referred it to the TMO and after a lengthy debate the try was disallowed and Tupou was issued a yellow card.


Reds' captain Samu Kerevi, who earlier in the week confirmed that he will join Japanese Top League side Sungoliath next year, pleaded with the referee saying that the contact was shoulder to shoulder.

But the referee responded saying "It is high and there is a lot of force involved and he had the option to tackle lower [but] he chose to tackle high"


He went on to tell Samu Kerevi that Tupou 'Is lucky it's just a yellow card'

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