Queensland Reds stun the Crusaders 41-20 in huge upset at Suncorp Stadium
Quade Cooper bagged a record 31 points as Queensland Reds ended an 11-year Super 14 drought against the Crusaders with a 41-20 upset at Suncorp Stadium.
But the Reds uplifting four-tries-to-two victory was soured with the potentially season-ending knee injury to skipper James Horwill.
Wallabies lock Horwill was carried off midway through the second half with ligament damage after winger Digby Ioane crossed to give the home side a 27-6 lead.
While they were ahead by three converted tries, the game was far from in the bag as the Crusaders rallied with a try to halfback Andy Ellis after Reds lock Adam Byrnes was sin-binned.
But the seven-time champions' momentum was stopped when a loose pass, one of dozens by the off-key visitors, saw Morgan Turinui pounce and put blazing winger Rod Davies away for his first Super 14 try and a 34-13 lead.
Cooper completed the bonus-point victory when he cheekily intercepted a pass by Ellis after the halfback had already knocked on.
It was his second try for the match to take his personal to 31 points, eclipsing Elton Flatley's (26) Queensland record for most points in a Super rugby match.
"It's an awesome result and there was a lot of talk whether we could back up after last week so it's nice to shut a few people up,'' said Horwill, who feared he faces a long stint on the sidelines.
"It doesn't look real good, I'll have a scan but I think I might have done a few ligaments in my knee.''
Cooper and fellow Wallabies back Will Genia were superb for the Reds throughout, while debutant Jake Schatz stood up in a powerful back row with Daniel Braid and Scott Higginbotham.
The last time Queensland beat the Crusaders was in 1999 and they had previously given up half-time leads in the Crusaders' last two visits to Brisbane.
The Crusaders, without rested All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, shot themselves in the foot with poor handling on a muggy night - the first time they have conceded 40-plus points since the 2004 final loss to the Brumbies.
The Reds lacked the fire of last week's first-half display against NSW but still took a 14-6 lead into half-time as Cooper pulled the strings expertly.
A deft inside pass for Cooper to Morgan Turinui sparked a 65-metre move that also saw fellow backs Rod Davies, Will Genia and Peter Hynes expertly play their parts before Cooper crossed for the first of his double.
The 34th-minute try came just as Crusaders prop Owen Franks was preparing to return from the sin-bin following a professional foul after Cooper was cut down metres short of the goal line.
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