Reds tops in Brisbane barney
29 May 2011
RYAN VREDE reports on a 17-16 victory for the Reds over the Crusaders in a compelling contest in Brisbane.
The scoreline fully reflects how close this match was throughout. It took a late Quade Cooper penalty to seal the victory against a Crusaders side who refused to die, despite being dominated in possession and territory. They were defeated today, but don’t bank against them returning here for the final to have another crack.
This victory must now erase any doubts that still lingered about the Reds’ capacity to end their Super Rugby title drought. They weren’t flawless, but circumvented their shortcomings with plenty of heart, desperation, desire and appreciable character. It’ll take something special to turn them over on their own patch.
As spectacles go, this resembled a Bledisloe Cup Test more so than it did a Super Rugby fixture between two of the tournament’s most potent attacking units. Certainly there were moments that left you breathless, but this victory was largely an ugly one. In a game of this magnitude they don’t have to be pretty.
The Reds deserved the points for their unrelenting spirit. There was little evidence of the synergy and fluidity on attack that has been a marked feature of their play throughout this campaign. A large part of the reason for this is rooted in the Crusaders’ punishing defence and rabid breakdown contest.
The hosts’ potency has relied heavily on their ability to dominate the contact point and then to recycle quickly. However, in the face of an assault from the seven-time champions, they never succeeded consistently in this regard, often conceding turnovers or spilling the ball under pressure.
The Reds’ halfback pair of Will Genia and Cooper’s influence was compromised as a result, and when you factor in their struggles at the set phases, as well as their wastefulness when they did get into good positions, you always got the sense it would take something scrappy or a defensive lapse to get them over the whitewash. Indeed both their tries would come in this fashion.
However, their superb defence ensured their attacking ills weren’t terminal. Coach Ewen McKenzie has forged his charges into one of the most formidable in this regard, and their physicality, accuracy and organisation rendered the Crusaders’ strike runners – most notably the 10-12 axis of Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams – virtual spectators for the bulk of the contest.
The Crusaders lead 10-7 at half-time, having scored in typical fashion from a turnover ball, but the Reds struck early in the second, Genia exploiting an unguarded blindside to sprint home. Cooper, in sinking the conversion, arrested a kicking nightmare that had seen him miss three penalties in the first half.
The pace of the game slowed in the final quarter due to the extreme exertion prior to that, and this suited the Crusaders, particularly Carter, who grew in prominence as a tactical kicker. He drove his team into Reds territory, where they pressured them into infringements. Carter duly banked two penalties late in the piece and you got the feeling that the Crusaders’ experience in closing out matches from similar situations would be decisive to the outcome.
But the Reds refused to succumb, building through phases from deep in their half until they were awarded the penalty dead in front of goal. Cooper didn’t fail when it mattered, sparking wild celebrations from the 48 000 strong crowd and their heroes on the field.
Follow Ryan on Twitter here
584 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 [12] Show All
30 May 2011, 05:50 am
@whatever(whatever)-550:
atleast youre honest enough with yourself to not bother denying youre sexist bottom-feeding pondlife S C U M then.
Some progress.
30 May 2011, 05:52 am
@whatever(whatever)-550:
show me ONE other Safa here that I have accused of being ‘racist’ scum, like you.
Youre racist. Youre sexist. Youre bottom-feeding pondlife. And you most certainly are, above all others, 100% total unadulterated and absolute
S C U M !
30 May 2011, 06:01 am
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-529:
‘Various threads’
thats right, Einstein.
This one AND the ‘Big Joe’ thread (at 23) – simultaneously.
ddddddddddddddDUH
30 May 2011, 06:15 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-552:
ho hum………….takes one to spot one, ya anal retentive doos
Show me the proof ………………….????
30 May 2011, 06:16 am
the biscuit jar must be empty………………wet panty is crying ….again!
30 May 2011, 06:17 am
Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooos!!
30 May 2011, 06:21 am
@whatever(whatever)-549: The answer to your valid question(s) lies in my question. In terms of the definition of what constitutes a ruck, was it not over? In which case Richie doesn’t have any gate he has to enter through. In any event he wasn’t penalised for side entry but for hands in the ruck which was no longer a ruck. Dickie got it wrong methinks.
30 May 2011, 06:25 am
oh dear
“Dunedin police are believed to be investigating an alleged sexual assault in the city involving a Lions rugby player.
The alleged incident took place in the hours after the touring South African team beat the Highlanders 26-22 in their Super Rugby match at Carisbrook on Saturday night.
Police are not talking about the allegation, apart from issuing a brief statement late this morning saying that there had been an “incident” early Sunday morning involving an 18-year-old female.
It is understood an 18-year-old University of Otago student has complained that she was sexually assaulted.
Friends of the girl at one of the University’s halls of residence say they have been warned not to talk to reporters about the incident.
Otago University communications manager Megan McPherson said the incident was a “police matter”.
It is understood police today requested video footage from a bar in central Dunedin.
When contacted this morning Lions Coach John Mitchell said he had no information. “This is the first we’ve heard of it.”".
30 May 2011, 06:26 am
@out wide(out wide)-557:
spot on, correct.
30 May 2011, 06:34 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-558: Oh dear is right. I was in Dunners on Saturday night and on my way to a bar in the Octogon. Passing a smiling and polite Nathan Sharpe and another Force player going home I thought, yes why can’t rugby players be out having fun with the rest of us? The answer seems to be that like the League players, some just can’t stay out of trouble.
30 May 2011, 06:47 am
@out wide(out wide)-557: We can argue and debate this till we’re blue in the face mate, fact is the Reds won. Crusaders had more than their fair share of winning by way of ref blunders. I can’t recall you being as vociferous as you are now when they were on the recieving end? Do you see what I’m getting at? BP has failed so far. And btw…I’m sorry for labelling McCaw a cheat. Is it ok to say he is less honest than most?
30 May 2011, 06:48 am
@out wide(out wide)-560:
Ive had plenty of MASSIVE nights on the hiss in Dunnos with players after matches.
Greg Matthews and the Aussie team after an ODI in 1987′ish springs to mind. Naughty naughty boy, that Matthews. FUN ! he left the Gardies with a chica under both arms as Craig McDermott mopped up the scraps.
The best, however, was hauling some Boks back to a student pad (altho I had graduated many years previously) after the 1994 test at the Brook. They were treated like Gods, and oh boy, did we have a great time. Not as naughty as Matthews but no saints either !
30 May 2011, 06:49 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-561:
youre just full of it. Period.
30 May 2011, 06:50 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-558: About that Highlanders Lions game? You done kicking the cat yet. Or is it the kids?
30 May 2011, 06:51 am
@out wide(out wide)-560:
And lucky for Otago players at the time that Detective Gordy Hunter was their coach……he was well-loved for no little reason.
30 May 2011, 06:52 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-563: So are we all mate! Still not getting it are you?. You got a nerve calling other people thick mate. Have a look in the mirror
30 May 2011, 07:04 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-564:
and why would i be ‘kicking my kids’, you piece of sh*t ? You clearly dont have any. Or balls.
so let me get this right:-
561.BokiNZ:
30 May 2011, 06:47 am @out wide(out wide)-557: “blah blah blah……I can’t recall you being as vociferous as you are now when they were on the recieving end? Do you see what I’m getting at? BP has failed so far….blah blah blah”.
somewhere in there youre trying to say ‘watch with both eyes’, if Im not mistaken.
and then you ask about
564.BokiNZ:
30 May 2011, 06:50 am @Black Panther(Black Panther)-558: About that Highlanders Lions game?” (followed by unrelated disrespectful BS).
and yet on the Highlanders vs Lions thread, when the Highlanders winger is getting his head ripped OFF, an incident that goes unpunished (and presumably will be cited)
Youve clearly read the thread but……..- no comment from YOU ?
My last post on that same thread congratulated the lions for a “magnificent victory”.
DH
30 May 2011, 07:12 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-566:
Oh, so Ive got a nerve “calling other people thick” ??? and you followed that whole thread did you ? you know why I used that word “thick” – right ?
379.TheAgent:
29 May 2011, 17:21 pm @Black Panther(Black Panther)-361: The Irish fear no one, because they are to thick to fear anyone.”
He then goes on to question my education and intelligence (read the thread, moron)
this from the DH who not only calls an entire nation of people “thick” but is himself not well educated or intelligent enough to know how to spell ‘too’.
30 May 2011, 07:16 am
“I can’t recall you being as vociferous as you are now when they were on the recieving end? Do you see what I’m getting at? BP has failed so far. ”
dont bother with any flowers, a card will suffice.
30 May 2011, 07:19 am
N E X T !
30 May 2011, 07:23 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-567: You assume to much mate. Two of the teams that realy doesn’t interest me all that much, I’m afraid. So no, I have not seen the thread hence the no comment. You presume much…maybe a little too much. Are you saying by me not commenting on that incident, I’m condoning it? Or being the typical one-eyed Saffa? We can’t all be like you mate.
OK. The kicking the kids thing was to elicit a specific response. Probably not called for. I’m sorry. But if you didn’t kick the kids, why get so uptight about it?
30 May 2011, 07:27 am
“You assume to much mate”
~chortle~
“But if you didn’t kick the kids, why get so uptight about it?”
I’ll repeat myself for the uneducated and unintelligent – you dont have any kids, do you ?
30 May 2011, 07:42 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-572: man you are such troll sorry typo droll
Panties saving the poor Africans from the ugly bully boers hahaha go get another cause to fight mate.
30 May 2011, 07:56 am
@Black Panther — ok, late on this, but I just watched the replay. Franks counter rucks hard, goes past the ball, it’s clearly free to clear, then McCaw steps in and puts his hands on the pill to clear it.
In what world is that a penalty? Only in Stuey’s I guess
30 May 2011, 09:14 am
@DAS(DAS)-574: Amen.
30 May 2011, 10:39 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-521: The only difference, Waratahs get Kaplan 4 times more. And he hates them, for some reason.
Kaplan and Dickinson both should never be allowed even to come close to refereeing their games. 8)
30 May 2011, 10:39 am
@DAS(DAS)-574:
I agree. The only issue I have is whether Franks goes off his feet at the ruck. But Dic’ko doesnt penalise him and, instead, McCaw. Ball is definitely behind Franks’ rear foot….
All surmise now, done’n'dusted. Dic’ko really missed so many offenses that were far more blatant that this one seems almost irrelevant.
30 May 2011, 10:42 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-573:
and what would be your ’cause’ then, Kevin – convincing the World that all SA-opposing referees are all “cheats” ?
Well atleast you know that there will be one droll troll ready to cut’n'paste a certain excerpt whenever you do, huh.
30 May 2011, 11:37 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-568: Jeepers, you are a stupid s.o.a. b. You take one little word and turn it into a f%$&* launchpad to show your stupidity.
“He called me this and he said that, and that guy don’t respect me, and, and, and….. ”
Grow up man, take your head out of your ar$^ and practice what you preach. Stop whyning like a little bit$h that you are.
30 May 2011, 11:56 am
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-579:
to be honest, youre just to dumb to be out playing with the Big Boys.
30 May 2011, 12:04 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-580: LOL, stupid. Calling yourself a “big boy”. I call a 3 year old boy “big” if he peepee’s in a potty.
Go hit your wife and kids now. Go.
30 May 2011, 13:18 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-360:
oh dear.
this is NOT good.
I had a cricket bat with a scoop in it.
AND my daddy picked me up from school in an Aston.
Does that mean he doesn’t love me?
or was my mother having an affair with the mechanic?
Yours,
Concerned in Cape Town.
ps You are right about the hunger to succeed bit.
I have almost no ambition.
Which is why I choose to serve the people in immigration.
30 May 2011, 20:51 pm
@gunther keeps the cape in shape(gunther)-582:
I bet you went home to ice cream too. The type made with eggs.
31 May 2011, 08:30 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-583:
Yes.
Cos I’m wurf it.
Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 [12] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.