Tight scrap: Reds pip Brumbies
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The Reds escaped Canberra with a 13-12 win over the Brumbies after pivot Zack Holmes missed a last-gasp penalty to win the game for his team.
With time up on the clock, Holmes pushed his 37 metre attempt wide to hand Queensland a Super Rugby lifeline as the defending champions picked up a third consecutive win that keeps their play-off hopes alive.
The Reds, who scored the only try of the match, have now cut back the Brumbies' lead at the top of the Australian conference to five points. It means the teams are almost level on points in the Australian conference as the Queenslanders have a bye next weekend.
With Wallabies coach Robbie Deans watching from the stands, the top two Australian teams bashed and belted each other in a brutally tight match.
Quade Cooper completed a full 80 minutes for the Reds for the first time this season, giving himself a chance of being selected in an extended Wallabies' squad for the June Tests after recovering from his serious knee injury at last year's World Cup.
Reds full-back Luke Morahan enhanced his chances of selection as a Wallaby full-back with his dashing try after fielding a high kick deep in his own half and launching a counter-attack and scoring off his own kick ahead in the third minute of the match.
Mike Harris kicked the conversion, but from then on in it was a kicking duel between the Reds centre and Holmes, who landed four penalties - but not his fifth and last attempt, which would have sealed victory.
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Pens: Holmes 4
For Reds:
Try: Morahan
Con: Harris
Pens: Harris 2
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Nic White; 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Leon Power, 19 Ita Vaea, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Tevita Kuridrani.
Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Beau Robinson, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Nick Frisby, 21 Dallan Murphy, 22 Chris F'Sautia.
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Comments
Trinats2 says...
trippa:
Entertaining games like .....................
Bulls 18 - 13 Sharks
or Stormers 15 - 12 Sharks
or Blues 18 - 19 Crusaders
or Hurricanes 19 -17 Highlanders
I could keep going, point is, a home derby tends to be much tougher.
Funny you whinging about Reds at the break down, when it's what NZ have been getting away with for years !!!!!!!!
KiwiLad:
No, only pointing out to some cyclopes that he didn't have them. The ultimate is the WC. Aus 2 WC = NZ 2 WC (NZ have never won it outside of NZ, Although I thought you were robbed in 1995)
Posted 10:26 28th May 2012
trippa says...
I never disputed or inferred that the Canes were better then either the Reds or the Brumbies but for Entertainment give me the Canes every day of the week (especially game day)
If I wanted to watch Force Back/Soccer I would. I don't I want to watch some skill and running Rugby, hence why I enjoy watching, the Cheetahs, Sharks, or any of the NZ franchises over any of the other teams. I will always support the canes and make no apologies for that.
You may think that Richie cheats however I wasn't talking about the Crusaders or All Blacks I was talking about the Reds Negative tactics that they have employed around the breakdown.
Rod Simmons and Horwill especially are always loitering offside to disrupt clearance and used as a blocking pillar at the fringes in front of the ruck to protect that little upstart Gregan Wannabe Genia and Cry baby Saia Fainga'a always being a dumb ass diving in from all sorts of angles and clamping the ball and then crying when caught. Gill is skilful like Richie and I have no problem with his dubious fine line as that is his role. Beau Robinson likewise.
Higginbotham is skillful as well if lacking in heart. The front row is a myth who always resort to negative tactics to get through a game both scrum wise and to slow the ball down.
But yeah I stand by my comments
Posted 00:14 28th May 2012
isthatrightref says...
Max points the Brumbies can accumulate is 65, max for Rids is 59; even if the Chiefs lose their remaining games they'll finish with 53 but in the process one out of the Crusdaers, Highlanders or Hurricanes will overtake them.
Stormers, Sharks & Bulls cannot finish with less than 50, 49 & 48 respectively, and cannot all lose their remainng games as each plays at least one of the other e.g. if the Stormers suddenly go flat, the Bulls and/ or Sharks will overtake them.
Conclusion: barring a sudden glut of low-scoring draws, it is impossible for the Brumbies to finish top of the round-robin AND the Rids to finish 4th for a home qualifier. Top 6 today will be the Top 6 come July: SA & NZ conf winners & therefore finishing order not yet locked in but in all probability the finishing order will be Chiefs - Bulls - Brumbies - Stormers - Crusaders - Sharks.
Posted 22:27 27th May 2012
KiwiLad says...
Trinats, you have spent the last how many years claiming that super rugby and trinations victorys mewan absolutely nothing, now they are ever so important, Whats changed your mind????
Posted 20:40 27th May 2012
Trinats2 says...
ruckingkiwi:
Yet again you whinge, you're nearly as bad as the Poms.
Rugby is your only sport, and you don't hold the Super15 or the Tri nations. Your only ever world cups were in your own back yard (last one very dubious indeed)
I should be surprised Air NZ is No.1, but I'm not, as I can understand why so many leave there, bet it's an empty flight going back.
Ramage:
Difficult to take a risk when the "look at me" walsh has the whistle. He almost broke Andrea Waston's world record for penalties in a game, every stop start.
I know how the system works and I can see the Reds in the finals (and just coming good) Also think Brumbies could sneak in as everyone above them have to play each other yet. It will be an exciting finish.
Posted 09:47 27th May 2012
Trader2 says...
Trinats you are starting to dream again (it's been a while), as I mentioned in another post the Reds do have an easy finish, 2 Oz sides a NZ side and the bye, but the Brumbies have an even easier finish 3 Oz sides (how easy is that) and the Blues so no for mine Brumbies still to finish top of the Oz conference which means no home semi for Reds. Small point Trinats, but you go on and on about NZ teams and the AB's playing away from home well mate just look at the stats this year Oz teams have won three times outside Oz, NZ and SA teams have won 9 times each out side NZ and SA respectively and you don't even want to go near the AB's away record viz-a-viz the Wannabies. You really are a plonker.
Posted 08:46 27th May 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Can't really see why the Kiwis would be moaning, number 1 on the table, 3 teams in the top 6, World Champs at mens, womans, juniors and high school level, 7s series world champions and more Super rugby and Tri-nations tournaments than our opposition combined. Similarly to our rugby team, our national carrier is top in the world.. but the Brumbies beat the Canes, you can have that :)
Posted 06:14 27th May 2012
Ramage says...
@ Trinuts I accept that the game was tense and that the closeness was there. What I believe the others are saying was that it was a boring game because no side was prepared to take a risk and it became a kicking duel and it was only a penalty goal away from going the other way. Unfortunately the game was poor because of the mess around the rucks and mauls leading to countless penalties. Was this because of cheating? Steve Walsh thought so and dished them out against the young pretenders admonishing them at the same time.
However it does keep the competition interesting as the Reds come a bit closer but if they don't overtake the Brumbies there could be problems as with the revival of the Sharks it makes it 3 Saffa teams 2 NZ and 1 Australian. for the playoffs as things stand at this stage. Brumbies have the Rabbles Force and Flower Girls three weak OZ teams and the Blues the weakest NZ team so its not looking good there for the Reds. The Reds have the bye so points there then the Rabbles and Highlanders finishing with the weak Flower Girls. So apart from the Highlanders who I think have the hardest job to make the play offs (Crusaders, Chiefs, Reds before the bye and points). The Reds will rely on what happens to the Crusaders, Chiefs, Stormers, Bulls and Sharks, one of which from each franchise has to go through.All are in front of the Reds in points. Good luck, no doubt you want your team to be there to defend the title. Please a little less of the injuries now, all franchises have had their share of injuries and all teams have to play on regardless. It comes down to team depth and the way the players are being used as it is a long and arduous campaign. One more week a spell of 3 weeks and maybe Horwell will be ready for the remaining games.
Posted 06:04 27th May 2012
angrykoala says...
Trippa and hayj05, do you think the Reds should pick the forward who is the worst offender at those tactics you mention and make him the captain. It seems to work for the All Blacks. (At least it does when they're at home)
Posted 05:07 27th May 2012
isthatrightref says...
Before the Rids' cheerleader-in-chief gets too carried away, it's worth remembering that the Brumbies are still 5 points in front & their last 4 opponents currently sit 11th, 12th, 13th & 14th on the table while the Rids have Bye, 12th, 7th & 11th... Brumbies to qualify, Rids to finish 7th if they beat the Highlanders, 8th if they don't.
Posted 23:29 26th May 2012
Trinats2 says...
What's that I hear ? Is it an Air NZ flight engines whining down???? no just bitter Kiwis whining. Are all the posts here so far from Kiwis ? It was a tough arm wrestle of a game with excellent defence from both. Traditionally a very low scoring game each year between these two sides, with test match intensity (including the ref) obviously didn't come across on the TV.
trippa:
The Super15 champions (the ones who beat your top kiwi team Chiefs last week) beat the Brumbies (the ones who beat your Canes in NZ last week !!!) Brumbies have an easy run home so could still finish top of the log as all the top SA and NZ teams still have to play each other. And the Reds are just starting to come good (have a bye next week +4 points) after a horrid run of injuries. So still could have a home semi.
As for the Wallabies, heard it all last year when only the Reds in the play offs. Wallabies went on to win the trinations (the comp with a home and away games !) I'd be more worried about NZ having to play away from NZ !!!
Cooper had an ordinary game for his standards, that doesn't happen very often, watch out next team.
Posted 23:15 26th May 2012
markpat says...
How Australians can criticise any northern hemisphere club teams for being boring is beyond me. That was the worst game of rugby I've seen in a long time and the blame for the poor handling was the dew! (of, and the freezign weather in australia, as one of the commentators said)
Posted 16:39 26th May 2012
jonesy2 says...
cooper getting through the game is huge. how good is morahan, wallabies contention no doubt especially if cooper doesnt make it in time and beale plays 10.
Posted 16:28 26th May 2012
melkdave says...
Well only manged to catcg the 1st 10 mins before dragged out shopping(women huh),but even then you could see it was going to be a close edgey game , and alot of slowing the ball by both teams
Posted 15:50 26th May 2012
philipjfry says...
What an anticlimactic performance by the Brumbies. Declined to watch the second half in favor of cutting my toe nails.
Posted 14:56 26th May 2012
Ramage says...
What is wrong with the assistants in Australia have they been told not to interefere in a game? No I don't believe so as I clearly heard Steve Walsh seeking advice as to what an assistant had seen so that he was fully aware of what was going on. Yet later on a Brumbies player was clearly seen to be hooking the ball back with his hand in a scrum. Now whilst I understand that a ref can miss it as it was low down on the other side of the scrum, I seriously question how an assistant can miss it when there is nobody in his way. Does it mean the assistant is not doing his job and is not paying attention. Is this another case of dodgy referees Trinuts, this time from Australia? Hang on a minute both of the assistants were the two new referees from Australia introduced to Super rugby this year. Oh yes and one of them also has trouble reading numbers. Seems Australian referees need a new sponsor so could I suggest they go to Specsavers. Either that or they are very very dodgy.
Posted 14:50 26th May 2012
meneer says...
Yawn....... turned this on 20mins in and thought for a while I was watching a premiership game, boring & lacking skills. There will be some panic in the Wallaby camp with Wales on their way, maybe even Scotland could be in with a chance.
Posted 14:14 26th May 2012
mikeyj9 says...
hey trippa, didnt the brumbies just give the canes a hiding? in their house?
Posted 14:04 26th May 2012
papachinzo says...
Horrible game to watch, I fail to understand why SH fans think Super Rugby is superior to Heineken Cup Rugby, let alone Top14 EP and Pro12...
In my opinion, only two SH teams would survive the Pool stages of the HC.
Posted 13:51 26th May 2012
hayj05 says...
@trippa - Yep I agree. Very frustrating seeing them get away with murder on a weekly basis.
Posted 13:44 26th May 2012