Reds top Australian conference

The Reds have finished on top of the Australian Conference, booking an unlikely home semi-final in the process after comfortably accounting for the Waratahs 32-16 at an energy-charged Suncorp Stadium.

The equation was simple for the reigning Super Rugby champions heading into this game following the Brumbies' shock 14-point loss to the Blues earlier in the day.

They needed a bonus point win to displace their ACT rivals at the top of the Australian Conference.

After skipping out to a 12-3 lead and looking the more dominant of the two teams for the majority of the first half, the Reds dropped their guard in the final 12 minutes to go into the break leading by just one point.

But with so much at stake and a bumper crowd of 41,533 willing them on, the Reds lifted a cog after half-time to post tries in the 44th and 51st minutes, before the result was as good as sealed when inspirational skipper Will Genia snuck over from a scrum in the 58th.

The Reds have now won six straight games heading into the play-offs, while the hapless Waratahs finish their season on the back on eight consecutive losses - a record for the NSW club.

The only sour point for the home side came in the 64th minute when five-eighth Quade Cooper caught Berrick Barnes high, leaving the centre in a daze and the Queensland star on report.

The Reds' mission for four tries or more got off to an ideal start when some sloppy work from the line-out by the Waratahs gave the home side possession just a metre out from the try-line.

From the clearance, Genia fired a perfectly-timed ball out to No.8 Scott Higginbotham who dived over in the right corner.

Centre Mike Harris landed the sideline conversion to give the Reds a 7-0 lead after just four minutes of play.

Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley put his team on the board in the 10th minute via a 40m penalty goal after the Reds' defence was caught offside.

Tahs prop Paddy Ryan was yellow-carded for an intentional offside, making it easier for the Reds to power over for their second try in the 24th minute – flanker Liam Gill crashing through after period of sustained goal line pressure from the home side.

Harris wasn't as accurate with his second conversion attempt, but the Queensland side was in front 12-3.

Drew Mitchell celebrated his 100th Super Rugby cap in style 28 minutes in when he chased down a clever Foley grubber to score in the left corner, leaving the Waratahs four points in arrears.

A shock 40m field goal by Tahs full-back Adam Ashley-Cooper had the revitalised visitors trailing 12-11 – the eventual half-time score.

The Reds ticked off try number three in the 44th minute when woeful execution from the line-out by NSW hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau resulted in prop James Slipper accepting the scraps from the back to sneak over for a gift five-pointer.

The big Suncorp Stadium crowd went ballistic seven minutes later when winger Dom Shipperley swooped on a loose ball then raced over to score a try in the right corner – a try that would secure the all-important bonus point for the Reds.

Harris landed his second sideline conversion to give the Reds a 24-11 lead.

The game was as good as gone for the confidence-sapped Waratahs when Genia snuck down the blindside off