Well, that pretty much says it all doesn't it?
What, you want some slightly more in depth analysis? ok, but be warned ... I watched the game at the pub sans-sound (we won the battle of the TV channels and sent a bunch of Richmond supporters away grumbling about this being Victoria and Rugby Union supporters should all bugger off back where the came from - but I digress).
I did tape the game with the intention of watching it again this morning complete with commentry, but I donwanna, I'm notgonna .... and youse can't make me!!
At the end of the day, while the Reds were sneaky cheaty bastards in Round 15 and were lucky to come away with the win, they deserved this one.
The Crusaders had the overwhelming majority of possesion and territory in the first half, they failed to stake their claim on the score board, so, in the second half, when the Reds kept hold of the ball the Crusaders had a lot of work to do - in the end, they couldn't do enough.
One of the punters sitting in my general vicinity (although, to be fair most Reds fans seemed to steer fairly clear of the rabid cantab fan foaming at the mouth) observed that it looked like a good team playing a quick team. And that's a pretty fair cop.
I must say that I was very impressed by the dicspline shown by players on both sides. This game was never going to be won on cheap penalties, it was going to have to be tries, and unfortunately the Crusaders only managed one.
Both sides managed to shut down major attacking threats, neither Quade Cooper nor Sonny Bill were allowed as much room as they'd like.
While the Crusaders passing was sharp, clean and accurate, somehow things just kept going wrong at the last phase, while Reds managed to break the advantage line almost every movement.
The Crusaders scrum was again dominant, I didn't see the exact figures but I counted at least two penalties awarded to the grey and reds (I know, don't get me started about the way they ALWAYS play in that bloody strip... it's like the heart's been ripped out of the side) for screwing the the Reds through 90.
But Corey Flynn didn't do his All Black chances any favours with a couple of crooked throwins.
So, that's Super Rugby done for the year. Now we embark on what could be (espcially if the Aussies and Kiwis follow the South African lead) a sham of a Tri Nations before we get down to what 2011 is really about, the WORLD CUP.
I won't be writting about the Tri Nations - I'm going to be AFR (away from rugby for you non-regular readers) - for most of the series.
I am going to be heading home for the big tomali, got tickets to four pool games in the North Island and really looking forward to it :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
And then there were two ...
They weren't the prettiest, or the closest, semi finals ever. In both cases one side took control fairly early and never really looked like losing out. But now we know who'll be battling it out for the first Super 15 title. And it's confirmed, Suncorp Stadium will, once again, be a sea of red (and black).
It felt really odd supporting Auckland, I can almost hear collective gasps of astonishment that I would even contemplate such a thing, especially when I basically felt they hadn't a hope in hell (Sportsbet the odds really surprised me, 1.40 to 2.90), but I felt the Cru could do it in Cape Town and I knew who I'd rather face in the final.
Cooper had a great night, on the park but not so much with the boot.
His fancy footwork down the sideline was crucial in helping Rod Davies to his hat-trick, the Reds first in Super Rugby - although, he didn't need any help with his first ... An intercept on his own 22, run in under the posts.
The Blues just didn't have the imagination to give the Queensland defence too much trouble.
The Blues struggled to get over the advantage line for most of the night, and a couple of promising breaks all came to nothing.Their first, and only try went to Chris Lowrey, replacing the injured Anthony Boric, on the stroke of half time.
History will show the Reds missed more tackles, but watching the game, I could have sworn it was the other way around. Maybe it was just that the Aucklanders missed the important ones ....
Stephen Brett continued to make Danny Cipriani look committed as he fell off more tackles than he made, including one on Davies enroute to the try line for his third.... Although, to be fair Mealamu missed him too.
In the end, the result was as expected, almost exactly! I'd picked the Reds by 15, and the final result was 30 - 13.
I was fairly confident the Crusaders would get up, although some people suggested that my heart was over ruling my head and the travel would be too much for them. That was certainly the view of the Aussie commentators after the first semi final, only Phil Kearns showed his intelligence and good sense, the rest of 'em backed the Stormers. SUCK IT ....
The Crusaders tight five absolutely dominated this match.
The Stormers pack had the weight advantage, 50kgs, but that was all they had going for them! The red and black scrum was unstoppable and, yes it's cliche - but true, was the platform on which Canterbury built their win.
It was the fourth trip to the semis in five years for the Crusaders,they know how to win this kind of rugby, but you'd imagine this one was a bit special after the season they've had.
It was also Corey Flynn's 100th game in the red and black .... Not a bad effort from the hooker whose had 5 broken arms along the way .....
A couple of obscure similarities with the Blues Reds game.
The Stormers, like the Blues, had the first real opportunity of the match, also around the five minute mark. And the first try if the game was an intercept, against the run of play,this time to Sean Maitland.
Speaking of intercepts, Kieran Read obviously got a taste for them last week, he spent a bit of time lurking on the wing looking for another one.
There were some big tackles from both sides, but the Crusaders defence was outstanding. Special mention must got to Zac Guilford and Kahn Fotual'i for their try savers.
The Stormers never regained the early lead, a massive 3 points, and, despite an overwhelming majority of possession - 67%, only managed to score 10 points in the first half (which was 10 more than they could do in the second when the Crusaders had more ball).
Carter had a good night with the boot.
Even his first miss had a good result. A rebound off the post and back into play gave the Crusaders a line out on the 22 which set the stage for what has become a classic Robbie Fruean try, off a miracle ball from SBW who was double teamed in a tackle.
Schaulk Brits didn't quiet have the impact his controversial selection warranted. Coming on at half time replacing the injured Schaulk Burger, Brits immediately started a fight and conceded a penalty. That sort of behaviour might be tolerated at Saracens mate ...
So the southern men live to fight another day. Toddy took the Crusaders to 3 titles as captain, now he's one step closer to his first as coach - I just wish the team standing in the way wasn't in such good form ...
It felt really odd supporting Auckland, I can almost hear collective gasps of astonishment that I would even contemplate such a thing, especially when I basically felt they hadn't a hope in hell (Sportsbet the odds really surprised me, 1.40 to 2.90), but I felt the Cru could do it in Cape Town and I knew who I'd rather face in the final.
Cooper had a great night, on the park but not so much with the boot.
His fancy footwork down the sideline was crucial in helping Rod Davies to his hat-trick, the Reds first in Super Rugby - although, he didn't need any help with his first ... An intercept on his own 22, run in under the posts.
The Blues just didn't have the imagination to give the Queensland defence too much trouble.
The Blues struggled to get over the advantage line for most of the night, and a couple of promising breaks all came to nothing.Their first, and only try went to Chris Lowrey, replacing the injured Anthony Boric, on the stroke of half time.
History will show the Reds missed more tackles, but watching the game, I could have sworn it was the other way around. Maybe it was just that the Aucklanders missed the important ones ....
Stephen Brett continued to make Danny Cipriani look committed as he fell off more tackles than he made, including one on Davies enroute to the try line for his third.... Although, to be fair Mealamu missed him too.
In the end, the result was as expected, almost exactly! I'd picked the Reds by 15, and the final result was 30 - 13.
I was fairly confident the Crusaders would get up, although some people suggested that my heart was over ruling my head and the travel would be too much for them. That was certainly the view of the Aussie commentators after the first semi final, only Phil Kearns showed his intelligence and good sense, the rest of 'em backed the Stormers. SUCK IT ....
The Crusaders tight five absolutely dominated this match.
The Stormers pack had the weight advantage, 50kgs, but that was all they had going for them! The red and black scrum was unstoppable and, yes it's cliche - but true, was the platform on which Canterbury built their win.
It was the fourth trip to the semis in five years for the Crusaders,they know how to win this kind of rugby, but you'd imagine this one was a bit special after the season they've had.
It was also Corey Flynn's 100th game in the red and black .... Not a bad effort from the hooker whose had 5 broken arms along the way .....
A couple of obscure similarities with the Blues Reds game.
The Stormers, like the Blues, had the first real opportunity of the match, also around the five minute mark. And the first try if the game was an intercept, against the run of play,this time to Sean Maitland.
Speaking of intercepts, Kieran Read obviously got a taste for them last week, he spent a bit of time lurking on the wing looking for another one.
There were some big tackles from both sides, but the Crusaders defence was outstanding. Special mention must got to Zac Guilford and Kahn Fotual'i for their try savers.
The Stormers never regained the early lead, a massive 3 points, and, despite an overwhelming majority of possession - 67%, only managed to score 10 points in the first half (which was 10 more than they could do in the second when the Crusaders had more ball).
Carter had a good night with the boot.
Even his first miss had a good result. A rebound off the post and back into play gave the Crusaders a line out on the 22 which set the stage for what has become a classic Robbie Fruean try, off a miracle ball from SBW who was double teamed in a tackle.
Schaulk Brits didn't quiet have the impact his controversial selection warranted. Coming on at half time replacing the injured Schaulk Burger, Brits immediately started a fight and conceded a penalty. That sort of behaviour might be tolerated at Saracens mate ...
So the southern men live to fight another day. Toddy took the Crusaders to 3 titles as captain, now he's one step closer to his first as coach - I just wish the team standing in the way wasn't in such good form ...
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