Job done: The Reds book a home play-off with bonus-point win
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The Reds broke Brumbies' hearts after recording a 32-16 bonus-point win over the Waratahs that takes them top of the Australian conference and into the Super Rugby play-offs.
Everything went according to plan for the defending champions, who have kept their hopes of winning back-to-back titles alive.
First they needed the Brumbies to lose to the Blues by more than seven points, and then had to beat the 'Tahs by four tries for the first time since 2003 to sneak through the back door into the finals.
The Queenslanders did just that and more thanks to their five-try victory in Brisbane, which will now see them return to Suncorp Stadium next weekend for a home play-off.
However, the only setback suffered by the Reds was a yellow card shown to star playmaker Quade Cooper who could miss next week's knock-out clash after he was cited for his second-half high tackle on Berrick Barnes.
The forecast rain stayed away in Brisbane which meant tries were easier to come by as Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, James Slipper and Dom Shipperley touched down for the key scores before Will Genia added a flourish with the fifth.
The writing was on the wall for the Waratahs - and the Brumbies for that matter - when Digby Ioane made a break and put the visitors on the back foot within 90 seconds.
A faulty line-out from the Waratahs resulted in Gill and Genia combining to put Higginbotham over in the corner just four minutes into the match, as Mike Harris added the extras from far out.
Gill powered over for try number two in the 25th minute following a yellow card shown to Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan, but Harris was unable to add the conversion this time.
With two more tries required, the Reds were half-way to reaching their goal, but it was the Waratahs who grabbed the momentum going into the break after winger Drew Mitchell scored in his 100th Super Rugby match from a Bernard Foley grubber.
When Adam Ashley-Cooper followed up with a 40m drop-goal, it was 12-11 at half-time and anyone's game.
But the Reds lifted their home crowd's hopes with an opportunistic try to Slipper, after the prop snatched an over-throw at the back of a Waratahs line-out to dive over for the Queenslanders' third.
Shipperley scored their crucual fourth try in the 51st minute for a 24-11 lead after Mitchell spilled a poor Barnes pass, and the Reds speedster didn't need a second invitation.
Genia hammered the final nail in the Waratahs coffin, who managed to score a consolation try with Cooper in the bin. But it was too little too late.
The scorers:
For Reds:
Tries: Higginbotham, Gill, Slipper, Shipperley, Genia
Cons: Harris 2
Pen: Harris
For Waratahs:
Try: Mitchell
Pens: Foley
Drop: Ashley-Cooper
Yellow card: Cooper, 63mins (dangerous tackle)
Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Radike Samo, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Ben Lucas, 22 Ben Tapuai.
Waratahs: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Grayson Hart, 8 Dave Dennis, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (c).
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Lopeti Timani, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Tom Carter, 22 Tom Kingston.
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Comments
three6three6 says...
How benevolent of the BLUES to beat the BRUMBIES and give the REDS the opportunity of winning the Australian Conference. The REDS are much better placed than the BRUMBIES would have been to progress in the final stages of this competition. But there is still plenty to play for..... and after all they were only playing a very poor Waratahs Team.... BUT they still required a bonus point win - something that had been ellusive for most of the season.
What about COOPER? A one week ban? It was a very silly tackle to have made on Barnes - he may yet get away without a ban. The key question that the Citing Commissioner has already answered, is that in his opinion the offence may have warranted a RED CARD and therefore there is prima facie justification for the referral to the judicial stage.
Posted 04:43 15th July 2012
Waz4before says...
Wallaroo - certainly something wrong with the Tahs this season, not sure what as they had the playing staff. Only the second time in a decade they've conceded a 4 try bonus point to an Australian side, probably says it all about them last night. Reds are looking strong though, not sure they can defend their title but they're at least in with a chance ... Of all the Aussie sides though the Brumbies must be as sick as a dog this morning !
Posted 01:00 15th July 2012
Wallaroo says...
Well done Reds, the Tahs were never going to win this. In some ways I'm glad the season is over, it's been very painful watching the Tahs capitulate at every given opportunity.
Posted 18:07 14th July 2012
Trinats2 says...
Stellenbosched2:
I think you missed Kiwilad's point, it's not about the "chics" but about why I can't get an Aussie chic !
But you have to ask yourself, what are Saffa guys lacking, that a Saffa "chic" would want an Aussie !!!
KiwiLad:
Reds played the Blues and Highlanders also your top kiwi side Chiefs !!! (in case you forgot. Reds won ALL !!!)
Under arm, yes unsportsman like but within the rules, unlike the Crusaders and their cheating !!!
Posted 16:10 14th July 2012
KiwiLad says...
Stelenboshed, nice to hear from you, been some time, The Aus we mentioned is married to one of of your lot if I recall.
Hope all Is well with you and yours.
Posted 15:27 14th July 2012
FISH says...
@kiwi lads, the answer is no the blues weren't going to be bad all year, but the brumbies only needed one point to secure a playoff place, that being said even though they lost they could have finished within seven, or better yet kept thier composure and won the game, but they didn't hence they choked, nuff said
Posted 15:26 14th July 2012
angrykoala says...
Go the Reds. Underestimated last year and writtten off this year. It would have been a travesty if the Brumbies had got the losing bonus point and finished on top with fewer wins. It will be interesting to see how many of those Waratah losers that idiot Deans puts in the Wallaby starting line up.
Posted 14:47 14th July 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi KiwiLad,
Love your post. I must admit I can only answer one of your questions. Have you seen any of Trinats local chics? Enough said.
Posted 14:25 14th July 2012
Trader2 says...
Well done the Reds and to Trinats you stuck to them through thick and thin, haven't seen the game yet will watch it tomorrow even I didn't think the Poser's would let in 4 tries (let alone 5). They must have played worse than even I thought they could. If both the Bulls and Sharks results go as expected then the Brumbies could be out and if they both get bonus points, the Reds get the home final next week from 6th place (order of merit - something very wrong there. What some of the Kiwi and Saffa franchises would give to play the Posers, Rebels and Force twice in the season.
Posted 14:22 14th July 2012
new_j4a says...
Well done Reds. Let's hope Cooper avoids suspension so there is a clear path up the 10 channel al the way to the try line.
@KiwiLad says..."Why cant Trinats find a local chic??? " the lad needs a firm hand and there are no firmer than Kwazulu stock...plus he can sit on the stoop watching rugby, and she'll bring him a castle...the single most important attribute of a saffa wife.
Posted 14:03 14th July 2012
Wallaroo says...
Well done Reds deserved conference winners, in some ways I'm glad the Brumbies lost the Reds look like a more likely team to do Aussie proud.
Trinats mate I said there was nothing to worry about, The HorroTahs are nothing to be concerned about. Had a bundy's for you mate and a Toohey's new for me. Now think I'll have Clare Valley Red for the Rebels and just keep drinking for the sorrows. Off to church in the morning smelling like a brewery.
NSWRU please do something about replacing Michael Foley as head coach, keep him as the forwards coach. We need a head coach that can coach mindset and that will create some form of assurance and confidence within the players and team alike.
Posted 13:51 14th July 2012
KiwiLad says...
Fish, Were the Blues really going to be that bad all year????
If the Reds had played the Highlandesr or the Blues, would they have won???
Need I say more???
How bad are the Tahs???
How good is Will Genius???
Can Robbie turn this around???
Why cant Trinats find a local chic???
Who cares about Sonny Who???
Are the Argies going to cause the Wobblies some pain???
Why does aall that uranuim drain the manhood from Aussie men???
Who bowled underarm???
Stormers Saders Final!!!
Posted 13:40 14th July 2012
tha_mai says...
Good win for Reds; but as for the opposition - at times just dreadful. What was their plan (or is that too much to ask?)
Re the white card for Cooper - nothing? a week suspension?
Posted 13:40 14th July 2012
tha_mai says...
tweedledee49 - this from SANZAR site, I hope the formatting looks ok.
In all cases the home team is shown first, for qualifiers (week 1) and semis (week 2) and final (week 3)
WEEK 1:
Game A 4th plays 5th
Game B 3rd plays 6th
(top 2 teams get a rest)
WEEK 2
Game C 2nd plays winner of match A or B with highest play-off ranking
Game D 1st plays other winner from match A or B
WEKK 3 FINAL
Game E Winner of C or D with highest play-off ranking plays other winner from match C or D
Posted 13:35 14th July 2012
georgesmith says...
Time to kick out M.Foley now. Great win for Reds. E.McKenzie for Wallabies coach. Hopefully Q.Cooper is available next week. Reds looking good. W..Genia is a genius.
Posted 12:44 14th July 2012
tweedledee49 says...
I already wrote the Reds off, so well done to them for not only winning but for scoring the ruial 4 tries.
quick question though, lets say the Crusaders(61) meet the Reds(58) for in the Semi or final, where will the match be played since the Reds are third but the Crusaders have more points?
Posted 12:38 14th July 2012
FISH says...
i thought white said the brumbies weren't going to choke hahahahahahahahahaha, a loss to the blues ? thats pretty weak considering....
Posted 12:33 14th July 2012