F@*K

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 :)