Wallabies wildcard Quade Cooper epitomised Queensland's thrill-seeking inconsistencies as the brave Reds just failed to complete a remarkable Super 14 comeback in Cape Town early on Saturday morning (AEDT).

Rising playmaker Cooper showed his game-breaking quality to be man-of-the-match in the entertaining 27-24 loss to the Stormers where the Reds outscored the home side four tries to three.

The mercurial 20-year-old charged down for a first-minute try, brilliantly set up another to flanker Scott Higginbotham and led a stirring second-half comeback with captain Berrick Barnes (corked thigh) and fellow Wallaby Peter Hynes (knee) sidelined.

But Cooper was also guilty of too often pushing the play as the underdogs paid for their mistakes and lack of structure at Newlands.

The maturing five-eighth, an impressive three-Test contributor in Australia's recent spring tour, is still a work in progress, much like the young Reds themselves, but is delivering more and more on his undoubted promise.

"I think we got a snapshot of Quade tonight (Friday), what's good about him and what areas he needs to improve on," Queensland coach Phil Mooney told AAP.

"I guess the positive thing is we're seeing more regularly the brilliance. (But) in his game management we're still seeing periods where he does become a little bit too loose.

"We're talking about a 20-year-old playmaker surrounded by other young and inexperienced guys so we're asking a lot of him but he's certainly responded."

Unfortunately for the visitors Cooper couldn't rise to the goalkicking challenge, missing his two first-half attempts in an area which ultimately decided the result.

Stormers five-eighth Peter Grant slotted all five attempts, while the Reds could manage just two from five with Ben Lucas taking over the duties in the second half.

But Cooper and Queensland's character can't be questioned after a spirited fightback from 27-5 down to salvage two bonus points with three tries in the last 17 minutes.

Higginbotham, rugby league convert Mark McLinden, marquee flanker Daniel Braid and reserve halfback Lucas were also highly instrumental in a smarter, more direct game.

When Lucas and McLinden combined to put lock Van Humphries over for their fourth try in the 77th minute it set up a tense finale but Queensland again shot themselves in the foot by fumbling the restart.

It was a kick-off error to start the second half which also set the tone for a costly 12-minute period where the Stormers, who only enjoyed a third of first-half possession, piled on 17 points.

"We dominated for long but pushed passes and short kicks really hurt us and then the old malaise again after half-time," Mooney lamented.

"To the boys' credit (they fought back) and the last 15 minutes is the way we're capable of playing and we need to play. "We played structured footy, we kicked to corners, our set pieces were a lot better and we exposed them."

Tackle-shedding winger Digby Ioane was a gain a handful as he made a good fist of his late injury-forced switch to outside centre where he's set to remain with Morgan Turinui and Charlie Fetoai sidelined by shoulder problems.

Test duo Barnes and Hynes will be assessed before flying home on Sunday (AEDT) but there are more worries over Hynes' knee problem.

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