Reds pip Rebels in snoozer
10 Mar 2012
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Reds’ 11-6 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Brisbane.
While there are continuous arguments about whether the South African conference or the New Zealand group is the toughest in Super Rugby, this game was a clear indication that the Australian field is the weakest. This match will be rated as one of the worst of the competition, just like the Brumbies-Force clash in round one.
Both teams tried to execute an expansive game plan, but their limited attacks were easily restricted by the opposing defences. The match had its moments of big tackles and physicality, but nothing superior compared to what we we see in the Kiwi or Saffa derbies.
When there was a try was on the cards, poor handling or errant interplay would see the chance missed – a regular feature in the Reds and Rebels’ first-half showings. This turned the match into a penalty shoot-out, with James O’Connor and Mike Harris trading shots at goal for a 6-3 half-time scoreline in the visitors’ favour.
The Rebels did well to frustrate the Reds in the opening 40, but their guard was eventually breached late in the third quarter when Dom Shipperley found space out wide to beat the stretched Melbourne defence. Harris’s second penalty moments later made it a five-point game.
The Rebels had a late opportunity to pursue a try, but poor lineout work in the Reds’ 22m area allowed the defending champions to clear the danger and they hung on for an unconvincing victory.
28 Comments
10 Mar 2012, 10:30 am
The Dragon Rodzilla on the Rebs bench.
10 Mar 2012, 11:37 am
Is he doing all the scoring?
10 Mar 2012, 11:43 am
30min in. Not impressed with either side so far.
10 Mar 2012, 12:11 pm
what a boring match
10 Mar 2012, 12:39 pm
Ah the feeding frenzy of the Shorks chewing on loins.
10 Mar 2012, 12:43 pm
This ref is terrible!
10 Mar 2012, 12:53 pm
only thing worse than aussie refs is aussie commentators.
10 Mar 2012, 13:07 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-7:
Aussies got the very best commentators.
They don’t **** about trying to be ballanced,
they are what they are,
And that’s they way I like it.
Say what you mean,
and be who you are.
8)
10 Mar 2012, 13:08 pm
Tartan:
Brian Moore makes Aussie commentators sound great and Barnes nakes evryone look good.
10 Mar 2012, 13:16 pm
I’m more than aware of Moore. It’s hard to beat him for bias as well, but at least he knows something about scrummaging instead of just whining about the scrums existence.
10 Mar 2012, 13:17 pm
@Tartan(Tartar)-7:
You have to expand your horizons Tartar,
There are other views, other than your own.
10 Mar 2012, 13:21 pm
@cane(cane)-8: The Aussie commentators are the only ones anywhere in the world that actually offer technical assessment of what is going on. Thus they know the game far better. It shows. Very occassionally do I find them biased.
10 Mar 2012, 13:28 pm
Surely Aussie commentators are biased as mad but IMHO they are by far the most entertaining ones than Kiwiland, Saffaland or anybody else can produce.
By a mile.
10 Mar 2012, 13:30 pm
there has been some really poor reffing.
mostly the keewees as per usual, but some from the ozzies too.
10 Mar 2012, 13:31 pm
@Nils(Nils)-13: And my dream match is playing in South Africa between SA and Kiwi team reffed by the European and commentated by the full bunch of Aussies (all four of them, I guess).
10 Mar 2012, 13:32 pm
@Nils(Nils)-13:
To be honest I probably just got irritated because everything else in the game was substandard and they were trying desperately to sell it as an epic derby tussle when in reality it was more of a cripple fight.
Was definitely going a bit far saying the commentary was worse than the reffing.
10 Mar 2012, 13:36 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-16: At least they did their bit unlike players. Imagine Pierce, Brosnihan or Fox lifeless commentary while watching all that kak.
Oncle Hugh or ironic Stu Wilson, too, can bring some life beside the Aussie mob.
10 Mar 2012, 13:55 pm
@Nils(Nils)-13: yeah i agree, aussie commentators are the most entertaining…
10 Mar 2012, 14:48 pm
The writer of this article puts himself in the echelons of dimwits! Surely if this was the weakest conference then why did the rebels take the reds close? Why did the waratahs lead the highlanders only to be pipped at the post…the highlanders beat the crusaders.
If anything at this moment the NZer conference is the weakest because the highlanders, their best, played at home to the second best Aussie side and only just won.
By the way ….even Mackenzie used his bench and then brought on his his best team of the night. It’s about the marathon not the sprint. Have you noticed how the saffa teams have always used their best to start in the games so far.
But then you need people like me to respond to drive your thread!
10 Mar 2012, 15:47 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-19:
‘It’s about the marathon not the sprint’
You must be a genius to have figured that out.
10 Mar 2012, 17:18 pm
Sumo Stevenson is most entertaining commentator. Put him with Jon Preston and Grant Fox, an amusing and technical trio. Aussie commentators are fun to listen to apart from Phil Kearns.
10 Mar 2012, 23:34 pm
The ausse commentators make me laugh, they are all ex test players, all very funny and all openly biassed but have huge respect for all players. The saffas are dull dull dull only bob skinstad is worth listening to, for the kiwis its that ex Scrum half whatsisname. The true test for the reds will be this very tough tour coming up.
11 Mar 2012, 00:08 am
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-20:
And it takes a dimwit to not know it…you are slowly picking up what I am trying to say!!!
11 Mar 2012, 03:28 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-19:
Well good luck with thinking the NZ conference is the weakest, going on how well the highlanders are playing. Cant really see how you could come the that conclusion really.
11 Mar 2012, 09:43 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-24:
I was using saffa logic…I don’t think the NZ conference is the weakest. Each conference has its dynamics!
11 Mar 2012, 09:55 am
@Tartan(Tartan)-7: Gotta agree with you. Kafer and Bray, when he is used, are excellent, but Kearns, Cannon and especially Martin are atrocious beyond measure.
11 Mar 2012, 10:11 am
@The Fat Prop(The Fat Prop)-22:
I agree, Aussies Commentators can be hilarious.
People don’t even realise they are “tongue in cheek”".
12 Mar 2012, 05:12 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-19:
I guess reading the thread, and seeing that everyone is discussing the commentators and not the teams, should be a tell-tale sign, that the rugby was far beyond par…
BTW the Reds without Cooper, the Faingaa’s etc, are very much like the Crusaders without Carter and McCaw… a snoozefest…
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