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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  • 351.cab: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:55 pm

    Stormers van beat the sharks with their eyes closed at newlands and with half a leg but not crusaders – someone going to have to give them ginseng or some miracle herb cos their current physical state is overdone and crispy.

  • 352.William Webb Ellis is now at home: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:56 pm

    gumboots

    because there was no pressure on the blues. jake still can’t beat the kiwis :wink:

    top of the log is deserved mate. enjoy

  • 353.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:56 pm

    Stormers have a well deserved break and then the Saders is my guess…

  • 354.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:57 pm

    Nice touch by the Stormers.

    Saluting Stirling.

  • 355.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:57 pm

    @William Webb Ellis is now at home(poppa69)-352:

    Thanks buddy! We have taken so much flak from the fake Shark supporters but results don’t lie…

  • 356.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm

    @Gumboots(Gumboots)-346: As opposed to those two times when they were playing for a single losing bonus point?

  • 357.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm

    Jirre some stormer supporters are one-eyed

  • 358.William Webb Ellis is now at home: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm

    nice touch for Mortlocks last game.

  • 359.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm

    Well done STTTOOORRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

    Must say, they are not good for my nerves.

    They were just as diabolical as the ref.

    Hondo going to have a field day with his ref conspiracies after this performance by Lourens vd Merwe.

  • 360.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:59 pm

    Pee wee if we Hondkak which I accept we are sometimes but you really do not hold any worry to most Sharks and Bulls supporters but if we cannot win this then I hope either you or the Sharks win it

  • 361.cab: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 16:59 pm

    Mortlock a legend – jdv a poor mans mortlock

  • 362.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:00 pm

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-356:

    Losing six games is bad mate. Losing two is very credible…

    Anyways not going to argue with anyone…Top team to play home semi…

    Now let’s hope we can get the Sharks in the semi final, as the Saders will be a tough one…

  • 363.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:00 pm

    Stormers play rubbish brand of rugby

  • 364.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:00 pm

    Go Cheetahs!

  • 365.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:01 pm

    Wooden Spoon all I hear is blah blah blah. If the Sharks were any good they’d be assured of a play off spot before this afternoons game. I want the Sharks at Newlands in a semi so HG can have a go at the ref once we beat you plonkers again! :)

  • 366.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:01 pm

    Check the table. It don’t lie. Kak brand or not it is winning rugby…

    It brings in the crowds as well…

  • 367.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:02 pm

    Slow plodding dead go nowhere near try line rugby

  • 368.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:02 pm

    Sharks need to beat the Cheetahs by 30 if they want to avoid the Saders and then hope that the Bulls don’t beat the Lions by more than 13.

    Going to be very difficult.

  • 369.willievz: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:02 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-334: Commentators just mentioned Barry Geel, who had “such a good game against SBW last year”

    ;)

  • 370.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:02 pm

    When Stormers played flamboyand rugby and lost more than won they criticized when the play winning brand they criticized – some people have no idea…

  • 371.RefuGSpot: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:03 pm

    Sharks need Frans if they are going to whip the Crusaders.

  • 372.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:03 pm

    @willievz(willievz)-369:

    One more shock – which game though…

  • 373.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:03 pm

    It is boring and no advertisement for Super 15

  • 374.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:04 pm

    @RefuGSpot(garth)-371:

    There will be no Frans mate… that is for sure…

  • 375.RefuGSpot: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:04 pm

    No thread for the next game either.

  • 376.cab: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:04 pm

    Stormers gone too defensive – they got the packnto be offensive but they either lazy or poked – either way they going to have to step up 10 gears to beat saders.

  • 377.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:04 pm

    Stormers on top!!!Now to sit back and relax and see whether the varkies can do the business.

  • 378.willievz: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:05 pm

    @Gumboots(Gumboots)-372: Yep, few shocks today Gumboots ;)

    Just as our gut told us.

    One or two more upsets can very well be on the cards.

  • 379.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:07 pm

    Lambie is a bloody coward!

  • 380.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:07 pm

    Other teams gonna think: ok we can play like zombies too and win the tournament!

  • 381.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:07 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-349: “the rebels are not a bad team” really dude?

  • 382.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:08 pm

    360 @ Airwell

    Derbies are very unpredictable and any team can win on any given day I concede. The Sharks have to prove themselves away from KP. They haven’t given us any indication that they’re a force when playing away. I am a very confident supporter so I have all the confidence in them going all the way. I hold no fear for the Sharks at Newlands.

  • 383.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:09 pm

    One-eyed stormerfans stop rubbishing other teams cos yours aint that flash

  • 384.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:09 pm

    Cheetahs walking with Sharks scrum… Turnover…

  • 385.willievz: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:10 pm

    No Sharks, get in the Cheetahs’ half first

  • 386.RefuGSpot: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:10 pm

    If you had a choice to play exciting rugby or end at the log of the log, which would you go for?

  • 387.fitz1ella: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:10 pm

    Pathetic performance of doing only just enough defense wins games play without the ball tackle your way to a S15 title

    Ain’t gonna happen. If AC and Stormers don’t change their philosophy of playing without the ball and kicking good possession away we won’t get past the semi.

    Has to be a HUGE swing in philosophy. Have to convert from a negative defense oriented JW garbage philosophy to a winning positive one where we CARRY the ball forward to victory, like we did only TWICE today when we were facing a potential loss from playing too conservatively.

  • 388.willievz: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:11 pm

    5 mins into the game, and Lappies has already had tussles with JPP and Bresler.

    Hier gaan appeltjies geswaai word vanmiddag.

  • 389.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:12 pm

    Only a stormers fan would say “well dons stoooorrrrmMmers, but they were diabolical” IN THE SAME POST!

  • 390.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:14 pm

    Come on Cheetahs!!

  • 391.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:15 pm

    Pee Wee if you do play the Saders in the semi can u guys go and beat up all the Stormersaders and you will then definitely get more respect from us non Stormers fans

  • 392.cab: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:16 pm

    Liewe fok, wp nel het die bal gevreet – hy kan wikkel met daai boeppens

  • 393.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:17 pm

    Yes Transie. I am a fan of this Rebels team. They’ve been unlucky on a couple of occasions.

  • 394.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:18 pm

    Bad luck Willie!!!

  • 395.cab: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:19 pm

    Actualy Coetzee is plating v well

  • 396.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:19 pm

    Peyper going to make sure the Sharks are getting the points today.

  • 397.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:23 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-389:
    Ja Dawnie.

    Drink a chillpill.

    Wats jou probleem met Stormer fans? Stormer is no.1 op die punteleer.

    Dit lyk my dit vreet aan jou. :lol:

  • 398.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:25 pm

    Should have been a red !

  • 399.nama1: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:26 pm

    Fransie gets yellow.

  • 400.willievz: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2012, 17:26 pm

    Intersting that Ebersohn has now been tip-tackled twice this year.

    Hougaard red, F.Steyn yellow.

    Hondo might have a point ;)

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