Reds show SA the way
11 Jul 2011
MARK KEOHANE, writing in his weekly Business Day newspaper column, says there were lessons in the Reds’ Super Rugby win for South African franchises.
It is not often I’ll shout for an Australian team (in any code) but I admit to a fist pump when Will Genia scored the try that defined the Reds season and determined the result of the 2011 Super Rugby final.
So much focus had been on the Crusaders incredible season, in which they made the final despite not playing a game at home because of the Christchurch earthquake in February.
And the fact that they played well enough to win the final and were launching one final attack in the last minute says everything about the quality of the New Zealanders. They are a special side – the most successful franchise in the tournament’s history – and their players are among the most humble and likeable.
But the Reds story is what this Super Rugby season was about. Theirs is a story of rugby and how coach Ewen McKenzie turned them from rubble into champions in two seasons.
South African teams, especially the Lions and Stormers, take note. The Lions are on another three-year building cycle and the Stormers have regressed in the second year of Allister Coetzee’s tenure.
The Reds have grown in the last two years and evolved from a team who narrowly missed the play-offs in 2010 to Kings of the Cup in 2011.
Their remarkable turnaround dates back to 2007 when they Reds lost 92-3 against the Bulls in Pretoria. Only three of that side played in the final, but they were three of the most influential players in scrumhalf Will Genia, flyhalf Quade Cooper and captain James Horwill.
None deserved it more than Horwill, who refused to leave the Reds or lose hope. His answer to adversity was to ask for more responsibility as a leader.
There was so much attention on Crusaders and All Blacks lock Brad Thorn, but it was Reds lock Horwill who played the bigger points with the greater composure.
Thorn produced a mighty effort in his final match for the Crusaders, but he made two errors of judgement that were critical to the outcome of the match. Within a minute of Dan Carter giving the visitors a 7-3 lead, Thorn tripped Cooper who was chasing an innocuous kick. It was just stupid and the resulting three points kept the Reds in the match when the Crusaders possession and field position should have reflected a greater dominance on the scoreboard. Three points, in the context of this final, was big and seven points was colossal. Again Thorn erred in judgement in going for a try himself with a five on one advantage. The TMO ruled he was held up, and the try was not awarded. It is doubtful the Reds would have come back from 14-6.
Crusaders captain Richie McCaw afterwards conceded defeat on the basis that the victors got two counter attacking opportunities (the first from Andy Ellis’s only miscue of the evening) and scored tries on both occasions. Ellis had been very good but he’ll remember the match for that one awful kick.
Individual brilliance killed the Crusaders whereas the attacking collective of the Kiwis could never break down the defence of the Reds. It didn’t help that hooker Corey Flynn missed his jumpers seven times at the lineout and without this lineout platform the Crusaders attack never had the potency we saw in Cape Town a week earlier.
The Reds, a team that had given up 92 points in a game just four years ago, have never been as charitable under McKenzie’s guidance.
There is much to admire about the coach and his players and it was significant how they reacted to the Crusaders being instilled favourites for the match.
McKenzie went public with his criticism of the bookmakers and the media, saying his team had finished league winners and his team had the home ground advantage and did not have to travel from Nelson to Cape Town and back to Brisbane.
The Reds believed they were favourites and told their supporters that. They created an expectation that they had to win the final.
Compare that to the Stormers in the semi-final, who never believed they could beat the Crusaders and in the build-up talked of a home victory as being an upset.
There were plenty of lessons from Saturday’s final for South African players, coaches and franchise CEOs. Among these was the belief of the Reds players and the manner in which they embraced the pressure of hosting a final.
The other lesson was that teams like the Lions should never be excused the consistent failures. Teams reinvent themselves within two years or they don’t do it at all.
89 Comments
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11 Jul 2011, 15:45 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-47: yeah ben smith came through flying beginning of the season sort of faded as the highlanders team also lost direction.
11 Jul 2011, 15:50 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-39:
agree, the ‘Bubbling Under’ selections sem to reflect a desperation by journos for a point-of-difference I-saw-things-u-didnt.
Tom Marshall, who didnt even get a full season, over Ben Smith ? not never.
Ashley, as an openside, over Pocock or M.Todd ? nah, Ash is Cash at no8, only.
Afoa ?! sorry, I dont get it.
Burger, at blindside ? wasnt he at centre this season ?!
11 Jul 2011, 15:55 pm
@cane(cane)-48: You really thing Cooper ahead of Carter? Interesting. On International stage can only be Carter IMO, Cooper has too many weaknesses, as Poms exposed couple of times last year and he also misses a lot of kicks at goal.
Having said that wouldn’t I be blessed if I had friggen 1/50th of Coopers skill set. But at the top there can be only 1. Carter.
11 Jul 2011, 15:59 pm
@cane(cane)-48: I also thought that Nathan Sharpe had a great year.
11 Jul 2011, 16:01 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-51: Yeah much touted..
11 Jul 2011, 16:03 pm
@toddke(toddke)-53:
as much as 1/50th ?
11 Jul 2011, 16:10 pm
@toddke(toddke)-53:
its lonely at the top when you miss the last bus to the only show in town. he’ll be remembered for the wrong reasons if he doesn’t deliver this time. ‘greatest player never to have won a wc’…its not fitting but the fates are cruel that way.
11 Jul 2011, 16:11 pm
@cane(cane)-49:
I also thought you might find this of some interest.
Did you know that in SA, that there are 2 different categories of Dirty ?
A. “theres a nice, clean positive way to play dirty”
and
B. “a negatively ugly way to play dirty.”.
You’ll never guess which category BaXXies fell in to.
Altho, it might help to know the author.
It gives some context.
‘he’s not the messiah. he’s a very naughty boy!
or
the Artist Formerly Known As ‘I_love_u_baXXies_botha”
11 Jul 2011, 16:21 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-58:
hehehe such a chop…why is it so hard for you to admit that the crusaders play a dirty game. in this universe and the next they’re everyone’s next favourite team when they play in that ‘special’ way (its true) but when they start doing the low dirty stuff its hard to like them in the same way.
which imo they need rarely, if ever. do. they’re good enough not to need it.
11 Jul 2011, 16:25 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-58:
but as always, you choose only to focus on the negative stuff and disregard all the positive stuff i have to say about them.
11 Jul 2011, 16:32 pm
Queensland had a tickertape parade through brisbane city this morning and they were given the keys to the city….Quade said he did not need any keys!
11 Jul 2011, 16:42 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-61:
11 Jul 2011, 16:46 pm
can’t help but feel that should the format have remained the same…Reds would have finished somewhere between 3rd-6th.
once again…the kiwis chucked the game at the lineout.
11 Jul 2011, 16:58 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-61:
11 Jul 2011, 17:15 pm
Every farken Tom, **** and Harry is all boo hoo about how the Crusaders would be emotional favourites what with being in Earthquake central and how much inspiration it would have been for them to win the S15 for the people of Christchurch….
Anyone remember the Queensland floods…?
Farken Kiwis – precious beyond belief.
11 Jul 2011, 17:30 pm
Reds showed everyone in the S15 the way. Including our precious Kiwi “cuzzies”. Yup, portents of things to come. Aus to win the RWC, and if they win it in the style of Reds and S15 then they can’t be begrudged and many rugger lovers will not be unhappy with that happening at all in the Kiwi backyard.
11 Jul 2011, 17:46 pm
@cane(cane)-48: That is a good team Cane, and surprisingly objective…
11 Jul 2011, 17:52 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-65:
whatever you say, Boy George, whatever you say.
This was 1 of many articles in NZ Press PRIOR to the S15 Final.
“Rugby: Thorn’s final has a lot more weight
By Dylan Cleaver
5:30 AM Friday Jul 8, 2011
Brad Thorn says he has prepared for the final since November.
A son of flood-ravaged Queensland and quake-hit Christchurch, Brad Thorn’s last game of Super rugby could hardly mean more to him.
He’s even abandoned the stock-in-trade rugby cliche of it’s just another game.
“In the past when I’ve played grand finals it’s been about the team and myself. It’s a great achievement. But this one … it’s been a big few months back there. I feel a responsibility. There’s more to this game.”
While the Crusaders have been careful to dial down the emotion ahead of tomorrow’s Super 15 final at Suncorp Stadium, it is futile to try to look at this game without the backdrop of the natural disaster that struck the regions these teams represent.
In January, torrential rain and flash flooding left a trail of disaster in Queensland. Thorn was in the Sunshine State for that, just as he has been back home in Christchurch for the devastating earthquake and its myriad aftershocks.
“It’s psychological warfare from Mother Nature,” Thorn said. “It’s 4am in the morning and ‘bang’. Your house is moving. You look outside, the trees are moving, poles are moving. People lost lives in February and the city got hammered, but it’s ongoing.
It’s not much fun.
“I’m very mindful of the people back home in Christchurch and Canterbury and I know this [title] would be very special. I imagine it would have a great impact on the people back there, so the responsibility is on my mind as well.
“I’m conscious of Queensland as well. The two areas have been through tough times so it’s kind of special that two teams representing those areas are playing.”
While Thorn was happy to talk about the wider implications of the game, he said it was not something that was often discussed in the team environment, especially not in the past couple of weeks.
“If you think about that stuff too much it can weigh quite heavily on you and it can affect your performance.
“We don’t need to talk about it too much because we’re living it. Instead we try to enjoy each other’s company and strive for excellence.”
11 Jul 2011, 17:55 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-66:
Boy George is Keo’s own
“Quota Blogger”
11 Jul 2011, 18:14 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-69: no need to be nasty to chameleons.
11 Jul 2011, 18:16 pm
I just don’t think the Stormers can handle play off pressure too well. I mean, how many teams have lost two home semi finals? And why would they want to be underdogs? Sies, when at home you should win, or at least be expected to.
11 Jul 2011, 18:27 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-71: to go with my post above, I’m sick and tired of Bok or SA regional teams ‘only’ being able to produce the goods when “their backs are too the wall.” It also annoys me when they desperately clamour for the “underdog” tag. FFS just go out there and give it your best shot, and the Boks, Bulls, Stormers and Sharks should always expect to win their home games.
11 Jul 2011, 18:48 pm
The only thing the Reds showed was to remind all that without a good coach you are unlikely to get too far
11 Jul 2011, 22:15 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-68: Did he or did he not do a deliberate trip?
What is the proper sanction for this transgression?
11 Jul 2011, 22:40 pm
@JL1(JL1)-74: Dominici trip=yellow card
Phil Vickery tripping a player=2 week ban
Brad Thorn tripping a player=penalty
11 Jul 2011, 23:08 pm
Girl George
your prediction re Australia to win the WC..
is that like your prediction about the “Shorks” surging up the ladder ? we all know how that finished dont we?
12 Jul 2011, 00:33 am
Aussie team tow in the world cup (barring injuries)
1) Benn Robinson
2) Moore
3) Alexander
4) Sharpe
5) Horwill (c)
6) Higginbotham
7) Poc*ck
8 )Elsom / Palu
9) Genia
10) Cooper
11) Ioine
12) O’Conner
13) Adam Ashley Cooper
14) Davies / Gerrard
15) Beale
Loads of backs to choose from but Australia cant afford to lose any of their tight forwards to injury (like last year). If they were to lose both hookers, Robinson and Sharpe or Horwill they would struggle to beat the likes of England and Ireland (bearing in mind the tight forward game those nations play and the potential weather conditions).
As Justin Marshall wrote, “the sleeping giant is awake”…(referring to Aussie rugby). Well done Reds…
12 Jul 2011, 00:55 am
@schnoggs(schnoggs)-77: Eish. And they have good back up players too.
RWC looks tough odds for SA.
12 Jul 2011, 00:56 am
Coaching. Coaching.
My goodness we’ve totally pomped the pooch on that one.
Mitchell will turn the Lions around – watch.
12 Jul 2011, 01:18 am
I think the problem is not entirely coaching, but more administration. The obvious thing from my outsiders perspective, which many posters have mentioned, is player retention.
Qld managed to retain their key players, and had players that were capable of being world class in key positions.
The problems for the Lions per se seem to lie more in the quality of their back office. Improve their back office performance and I would expect there team will perform better quickly. They were better then last year (couldnt have been worse) but they have to put pressure on themselves next year to perform much better and win the tight ones that they did not last year.
The interesting team for next year, to me is the Cheetahs. Will they take on board the gains they have made this year (moving off the bottom to a mid-place position) and surge upwards or not. Although losing a key player this year, Pretorious is already a bad start.
Also similar pressures on the Highlanders to show that this season meant that teh tide had turned. They do need to recruit more depth though, otherwise the same things that happened to them this year will continue.
12 Jul 2011, 05:02 am
Hey, Nama, I see your hero Julius is up to his old tricks again.
Julius Malema, the controversial ANC Youth League leader, paid R78 000 in cash for a three-day frolic with five friends at the “colonial” and ultra-luxurious five-star Royal Malewane next to the Kruger National Park.
His luxury adventure occured shortly before his re-election as ANCYL president three week’s ago in an election campaign which saw him repeatedly sell himself as a champion of the poor.
The news comes on the heels of reports that he has also recently enjoyed a fine holiday in Italy and that he has flattened a R3.6m Bedfordview home to build another one.
12 Jul 2011, 08:58 am
@wpjoulekkading(wpjoulekkading)-4: Bravo for improving your spelling of “lose” and “losing” in your final paragraph after stuffing it up in your first two!
12 Jul 2011, 09:52 am
Very little in terms of substance in this article.
12 Jul 2011, 11:17 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-63:
How and who would they have finished behind?
They lost to the brumbies…bottom 3!
who else did they lose to…Hurricanes!
You are trying to douse your jealousy????
The sharks are fortunate they did not play the reds…that would have been an extra loss. The bulls would have lost all their extra points to weak saffa sides.
Pull yourself together and think that your teams benefitted from your weak sides. try and sugar coat the cheetahs yet they won the same number of games as the Force. The top aus sides did not get 4 try bonus points from all their derbies…yet saffa teams did with most against their weaker sides.
12 Jul 2011, 11:37 am
Heavens game you are a moron..the Crusaders didnt complain after losing it was just a fact they had to live with….
http://www.3news.co.nz/Crusaders-dubbed-super-heroes-of-Super-15/tabid/317/articleID/218245/Default.aspx
Or you can really see what it was like to be just after the earthquake
http://vimeo.com/24494648
I’m from Queensland..and unless u lived inToowomba how can you say it even compares? 180 people lost there lives….atleast we have a CBD and I doubt the next big flood will be until 20 years…but the people of Christchurch have to live with continual aftershocks…some as strong as the original..
About rugby yes the Reds won and congrats to them…but winning the Super title doesn’t mean too much cause look at how the Boks went last year and they had the best Super team…and most of Wallabies were in the team that lost 3-1 to All Blacks last year…May best team in:)
12 Jul 2011, 11:42 am
@JL1(JL1)-74:
I note that you have slipped back in to that familiar position of yours that only see’s transgressions by NZ teams. Given that you were, hypothetically anyway, a ‘neutral’ for the S15 Final why is it that your only comments since have highlighted alleged negative incidents by the Crusaders and, yet, not a jot by the Reds ?
for eg – youve pointedly asked this Ques re Thorn-trip, even followed it up with some sentencing guidelines (which suggests you wasted a ‘?’ in the previous post)
and Im sure you expect an answer (I’ll give you one too, eventually)
HOWEVER
its quite clear that in pointing out these transgressions, you simply refuse to answer relevant Ques’s yourself. Why did you repeatedly make your point regarding O.Franks “elbowing” his opposite but simply refuse to acknowledge that Franks had copped one himself ? Both Poppa and I asked you, yet you refused to Answer.
No mention, also, of constant offsides by the Reds or blatant collapsing by Q’land at the scrum.
Do you expect Answers to your own Ques’s without any ‘duty’ to Answer ones that are directed at you ?
WRT Thorn, Im not 100% the trip was deliberate. However it should be no less than a YC, and it was certainly more deserving of a YC than many Ive seen (Roussow, Wellington’2010 and McAlister Cardiff’2007).
13 Jul 2011, 06:41 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-86: Go and read my post to Poppa, I acknowledge that elbow to Franks should have been dealt with
Bryce Lawrence is in my opinion one of the weakest international refs and neither you nor he can hide the fact the he is unashamedly biased
That trip and the elbow incidents deserved citings, but no way, why should they,there is after all no Saffa in sight?
Roll on RWC, Bob Dwyer is right in all his observations
13 Jul 2011, 13:39 pm
@JL1(JL1)-87: Bryce’s record shows that in 4 of the last 5 outings where he reffed a Crusaders game, they lost.
13 Jul 2011, 23:23 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-88: That may be the case, but that does not excuse him from being a very, very poor referee
He is way out of his depth at this level, unfit as well same as the ARs who cannot see one forward pass from the next
This is not Gridiron!
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