Rugby: Reds get redress for Sth Africa tour

Quade Cooper looked to have sealed the match with a drop goal, quickly followed by his fifth successful penalty, for a 22-10 lead with 10 minutes left. Photo / Sarah Ivey

There's no place like home for the Queensland Reds, who highlighted their love of Suncorp Stadium with a pressure-relieving 22-17 victory over the Stormers.

The Reds buried painful memories of their unsuccessful South African tour by dismantling the beleaguered Stormers' lineout for the grinding win on Saturday night.

It's the fifth straight year Queensland have won immediately on their return home from their tour of the Republic, and 29th win from their last 34 games at Suncorp.

A Brisbane crowd of 28,060 were happy to overlook the second-half handling errors and another nervy finish for the vital four points, taking the Reds (14) to within three points of the Australian conference-leading Brumbies.

Quade Cooper looked to have sealed the match with a drop goal, quickly followed by his fifth successful penalty, for a 22-10 lead with 10 minutes left. But the Stormers, who have lost their last four matches and failed to eclipse 20 points this season, came back with back-rower Sikhumbuzo Notshe scoring from a driving maul.

In the end, they could only reap a bonus point to end a forgettable Australasian tour which was compounded by a dislocated elbow to livewire fullback Gio Aplon.

Flanker Beau Robinson was tireless and Will Genia probed all night from the ruckbase in a fine halfback's display but the Reds' attack otherwise looked predictable and was too often easily shutdown.

Queensland cleaned up their discipline to win the penalty count 9-8. They had 75 per cent of possession in the first half but failed to capitalise on their superiority as the injury-hit visitors kept them to 13-10 at halftime.

Watch: Rugby Highlights:Reds 22 Stormers 17

A slick counter-attack off a Rob Simmons turnover paved the way for bustling Stormers winger Damian de Allende to post the first try of the match in the 19th minute.

Wallabies lock Simmons, who gave the visitors' flaky lineout grief, hit back for the Reds with a strong pick-and-drive after a well-worked scrum move saw Dom Shipperley pulled down a metre short.

Queensland lost hooker Saia Fainga'a before kickoff with a shoulder problem, meaning his 100-match milestone would have to wait.

Reds coach Richard Graham praised his side, particularly with Cooper, James Slipper and Anthony Fainga'a suffering stomach bugs. "On the back of travel, the shortened week and a number of guys crook ... it showed a lot of character."

Reds 22
Stormers 17

- AAP