Reds retain Aussie crown

Reds retain Aussie crown

14 Jul 2012

SIMON BORCHARDT saw the Reds beat the Waratahs 32-16 in Brisbane to finish top of the Australian conference.

After the Brumbies’ defeat to the Blues, the Reds had to win their final league fixture and score four tries to finish third on the combined log. They achieved their goal, although three of their five tries were a result of mistakes from the Waratahs, who have lost their last eight matches.

The Super Rugby champions will now host a play-off qualifier in Brisbane next weekend against the team that finishes sixth on the combined log, while the Brumbies need the Bulls or Sharks to slip up on Saturday if they are to reach the play-offs.

The Reds made the ideal start to this crucial fixture when a botched lineout saw Will Genia send the ball wide to Scott Higginbotham, who got on the outside of Tatafu Polota-Nau to score in the corner.

However, it was the visitors who dominated possession and territory for the remainder of the first quarter. Berrick Barnes kicked a penalty and Chris Alcock was desperately unlucky not to score a try after charging down Genia’s kick (Dom Shipperley got a boot to the ball just before the Waratahs flanker could apply downward pressure).

Liam Gill scored the Reds second try moments after Tahs prop Paddy Ryan had been sent to the sin bin for a professional foul, but the visitors hit back through Drew Mitchell, who chased down Bernard Foley’s kick into the in-goal area.

While Foley missed the conversion, Adam Ashley-Cooper kicked a long-range drop goal to make it 12-11 at half-time.

But the Tahs imploded again early in the second half when Polota-Nau’s wayward lineout throw was poached by James Slipper, who scored his side’s third try. Five minutes later, Mitchell knocked on inside his 22 after a poor pass from Barnes and Shipperley picked up the loose ball to score the bonus-point try.

Genia extended the Reds’ lead to 18 with a try in the corner, before they were reduced to 14 men when Quade Cooper was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Barnes.

Tom Carter then scored a consolation try for the Waratahs with seven minutes to go, but Harris sealed the win with a late penalty.


409 Comments

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  • 1.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:32 am

    TMO dragons or gremlins?

  • 2.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:34 am

    The Reds have won their last 5 games on the trot and are looking in ominous form.

  • 3.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:35 am

    So this is where teams can finish:

    Chiefs: 1st or 2nd
    Stormers: 1st or 2nd
    Brumbies: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
    Crusaders: 4th
    Hurricanes: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
    Bulls: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
    Sharks: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
    Reds: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

  • 4.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:38 am

    It’s wet in Brisbane and even wetter in Sydney. Not a night for bonus point tries. At least the worried tarts won’t lie down, like sime SAffa teams have in the past.

  • 5.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:39 am

    To all the Sharkies. I hope the Waratahs will prevent the Reds from scoring five points.

  • 6.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:40 am

    Interesting: the ONLY time the Reds have scored 4 tries against the Waratahs was in 2003.

    The average tries scored in all games between these teams in 2 to each team.

  • 7.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:41 am

    two tries each, a draw would be good.

  • 8.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:42 am

    @AiDoc(AiDoc)-4:
    Good news about the weather.

  • 9.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:43 am

    Oh boy – Reds are in the ‘eye of the tiger’ zone…..

  • 10.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:44 am

    @nama1(nama1)-5: Doesn’t matter, the Reds Points Difference is abysmal.
    So Sharks only need a regular win.
    Reds -4
    Sharks +69

    Sharks just have to win..

  • 11.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:45 am

    7 play 0 Reds

  • 12.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:45 am

    The Waratahs are so s h i t.

  • 13.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:45 am

    Does anybody else find it ridiculous that the Highest place Oz team will be in 6th on points?

  • 14.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:45 am

    1st try for the Reds after 3 minutes.

    Looking ominous.

  • 15.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:45 am

    If of course the bulls and sharks win…@Oxy moron(cjgrove)-13:

  • 16.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:47 am

    Great start for the reds.

  • 17.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:47 am

    doesn’t look wet. Great drainage at moore park area which is mostly sand

  • 18.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:49 am

    are they at homebush? That is swampland

  • 19.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:50 am

    I respectfully request silence when the ‘tahs are kicking at goal, please…

  • 20.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:50 am

    @oxy moron ….it won’t come down to points difference my friend. It will come down to the team who has won the most games, so without that bonus point the sharks could get screwed.

  • 21.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:50 am

    in the old days, when they had some australians in their teams, this derby was a bloodbath.

  • 22.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:51 am

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-20: incorrect.

  • 23.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:51 am

    @Oxy moron(cjgrove)-10:
    Reds don’t compete against the Sharks for a place in the play off. They are competing against the Brumbies.

    If they win with a BP, they win the Aus conference and end up in 3rd place.

  • 24.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:51 am

    @BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-19:

    You a huge Tahs supporter today right? ;)

  • 25.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:51 am

    @Oxy moron(cjgrove)-13:

    That is what Australia and South Africa wanted

  • 26.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:53 am

    Potential Qualifier:
    Brumbies v Sharks
    Crusaders v Bulls

    Potntiale Semi:
    Stormers v Sharks
    Chiefs v Crusaders

    as a Sharks supporter it could be Stormers year…
    Rather that than the Chiefs(scumbag SBW) or Crusaders(‘legal’ cheaters)

  • 27.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:53 am

    @Gumboots(Gumboots)-24: Shhhh, not so loud, please!

  • 28.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:53 am

    actually the south africans insisted on having a team in the finals.

  • 29.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:54 am

    @nama1(nama1)-23: Didn’t even think about that! Thanks

  • 30.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:55 am

    @Oxy moron(cjgrove)-26:

    How did we cheat?

  • 31.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:55 am

    after nsw was robbed in the state of origin, by indifferent refereeing, i am a worried tart tonight.

  • 32.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:56 am

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-20: Is this the first year they are not using points difference?

  • 33.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:56 am

    @chch(chch)-25:

    how do you figure? Ozzie designed this tournament, and NZ backed them. SA proposed an alternative format, but NZ could not stomach agreeing with SA, and so backed this stupid S15 format which gives the Aussies the domestic comp they’ve never had. Thats how I remember it anyway.

  • 34.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:56 am

    Can I please get some clarity on qualification for the playoffs. From my understanding I thought the team with more wins go through to the playoffs.

  • 35.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:57 am

    @chch(chch)-30: shut up and give commentary on the game.

  • 36.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:57 am

    how could the linesman see that? he was standing over the player and the underside of his shoulder would have been obscured. Right decision though.

  • 37.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 11:59 am

    Oxy moron I reckon the sharks could be in trouble if the reds get that bonus point.

  • 38.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:01 pm

    @Oxy moron(cjgrove)-35:

    Exactly, unsubstantiated made up bollocks

  • 39.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:01 pm

    the ground looks dry but it is cutting up.

  • 40.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:02 pm

    try???? tarts

  • 41.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:03 pm

    kicking the ball out of the hands is an offence and should be a penalty try

  • 42.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:04 pm

    wow that was weird. What a complete moron. Did they guy not want to get his jersey dirty. All he had to do was fall to the ground with the ball. Moron

  • 43.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:04 pm

    @chch(chch)-38: Speaking of bollocks, why don’t you eat a ****.

  • 44.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:05 pm

    Ball locked out there. That was harsh

  • 45.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:05 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-37:
    Good thing for the Sharks is if the Reds win with a BP, they have to get past the Brumbies. All they need to do that is to win their game by 5 points. They won’t need a BP.

  • 46.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:06 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-37: why? All the Sharks would need to do is win without a 4 try bonus but by a margin of at least 5 points.

  • 47.David: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:06 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-34:
    You’re quite right.

  • 48.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:07 pm

    Second try Reds

  • 49.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:07 pm

    2nd try Reds.

  • 50.chch: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 12:07 pm

    Would like a replay of the penalty decision. Looked like Walsh cocked up

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