Explosive winger Digby Ioane provided the brightest of shining lights on an otherwise dark night of Super 14 rugby frustration for the Queensland Reds in Pretoria.

Ioane was almost unstoppable as he scored one brilliant try and set up another for Peter Hynes as the Reds lost 33-20 to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday morning (AEDT).

In a stand-out performance, the 23-year-old suggested his days on the fringes of Wallabies selection may be over as he emerged as a world class finisher.

Beaten coach Phil Mooney couldn't help but be enthused by Ioane's attacking display which drew the Reds back to 18-13 down in the 52nd minute before the underdogs hopes were cruelled by controversial refereeing decisions.

The four-Test speedster's performance and the energetic cameo of former Canberra Raiders playmaker Mark McLinden were the heartening upsides of the four-tries-to-two defeat for Mooney.

"Digby was outstanding, he showed his class," Mooney told AAP.

"Every time he got the ball he was dynamite. He was a threat every time.

"He's worked extremely hard on his game and he's getting better all the time.

"We're certainly very excited about what he brings."

His ability to finish a 60m bust from a Will Genia flick pass from the ruck-base, showed incumbent Test wingers Hynes and Lote Tuqiri would have a fight to keep their Australian jerseys.

Ageless lock Van Humphries and reserve halfback Genia were also impressive as the Reds battled gamely but ultimately paid the price for a lack of second-half control at the breakdown as the Bulls counter-rucked effectively.

Genia provided second-half spark after Ben Lucas was dragged after conceding two soft tries either side of half time which saw Queensland's 6-3 lead turn into a 18-6 deficit.

On top of their own turnovers and inferior kick-chase game, the Reds were stewing about the momentum-stopping sin-binning of debutant lock Adam Byrnes for a reckless cleanout in the 56th minute.

Queensland did well to bravely hold the Bulls out for nine minutes of the lock's 10-minute spell but one breakdown turnover too many saw Burton Francis score a long-range counter.

Mooney's frustrations then boiled over when Genia was wrongly penalised for being off-side off a high ball that rebounded off a Bulls player.

The ensuing Morne Steyn three-pointer sealed the result at 28-13 with 10 minutes left.

"That (Byrnes) clean-out was reckless but it was no more reckless than our blokes being taken out in the air four times from bombs," Mooney told AAP.

"There were more bombs than Pearl Harbour and their chaser doesn't even go for the ball and takes the catcher out.

"We get a bloke pinged and they score points from their (misdemeanours)."

Mooney, who will lodge a complaint on the issue, wasn't just blaming Jonker as Brando Vaaulu and Quade Cooper were victims of ugly challenges.

"Touch judges have a role to play as well," he said. "They have a duty of care to protect a guy in the air."

Only Genia (rib) finished with a slight injury concern but the Reds will again be without Wallabies forward Hugh McMeniman in Friday's clash with the Stormers due to a family illness.

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