Super 15: THE GRAND FINAL! Reds v. Crusaders @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (09-07-2011)

[-D-S-B-]

Must also say well done Crusaders, outstanding, unbelievable season !

 

[Shaggy]

Well done Reds, a few crucial mistakes by the Crusaders ... Cory Flynn may have played himself out of an All Black recall with his not straight throwing, and Brad Thorn's decision to go himself with all those players in an overlap situation

 

[profitius]

It was a good game but I expected better quality. Reds were deserved winners.

 

[staph.glorious]

Brad Thorn looks pretty happy. Much like before the TMO.

"Woot! Yeah! Pretty sure I was held up! Psych!"

 

[Shimon]

Great game by the Reds, well done to the Crusaders as well.

 

[Sneaki]

Good job Reds, nice to have a new champion. The Crusaders played their best rugby last week I'm afraid. Flynn was abysmal (Elliot for AB's?), Richie looked out of form, Thorn gave away a stupid penalty and his white line fever cost the saders a try. Guildford also had an ordinary game while Carter, Williams and Freuan tried their hardest in the backs.

On the positive side for NZ though we saw why Carter is miles ahead of Cooper, Coopers kicking was aimless at times and the greater urgency on defence gave him little room, which he couldn't cope with. Genia also had a shocker bar the try, which was a little unusual but still brilliant. Credit where it's due though the Reds showed that to focus on just Cooper and Genia all the time as their key players is unfair when they have some outstanding players outside them, and in the forwards.

Well done Reds, am I worried about the world cup though? Not really, a dry Brisbane field is a whole different story to a soggy Eden Park. I also don't think you can get away with your scrum being torn to pieces on a wet field .

Enjoy the win anyway Reds fans. I think in future I might just stay neutral for these types of finals, it feels weird being disappointed in a Crusaders win .

 

[staph.glorious]

Genia also had a shocker bar the try, which was a little unusual but still brilliant.

He suffered a lot from a pack that was often bested. He wasn't at his imperial best, but if you were to have switched the halfbacks, you could arguably have switched the scoreline.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Great game, innitaly I wasn't that bothered who won because I've cheered for these two teams all year, but the moment Genia made the break I was screaming at the TV and woke my neigbour up when the Reds won. I do wonder how big an impact this shall have on the World Cup and/or Tri-Nations- Carter, despite scoring that brilliant try, didn't seem to have the hang of finals Rugby, where as the Reds did, after they got past the inital breakdown mishaps.

 

[madflyhalf]

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:d

 

[alex]

congrats Reds, you sly little ********.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Scott Higginbotham was superb today - Had a great season, got to be in the Wallabies lineup for 3N/WC, much better form than Elsom has been in for a while

 

[Sneaki]

I do wonder how big an impact this shall have on the World Cup and/or Tri-Nations- Carter, despite scoring that brilliant try, didn't seem to have the hang of finals Rugby, where as the Reds did, after they got past the inital breakdown mishaps.

I don't think it means a huge amount to be honest. Carter himself wasn't too bad I didn't think, and the issues that the Reds had at the breakdown/scrum would have led to much more difficulty in a potentially wet or dewy NZ field than they did on a dry one. Also the AB's have a decent hooker .

 

[big ginger 8]

Scott Higginbotham was superb today - Had a great season, got to be in the Wallabies lineup for 3N/WC, much better form than Elsom has been in for a while

This is also helped by Elsom being injured.

 

[staph.glorious]

This is also helped by Elsom being injured.

The last time Elsom emulated Higginbotham's current form, he was playing club rugby in the Northern Hemisphere. He had a season relatively free of injury on return to Australia.

Who will play 8 for Australia?

 

[big ginger 8]

The last time Elsom emulated Higginbotham's current form, he was playing club rugby in the Northern Hemisphere. He had a season relatively free of injury on return to Australia.

Who will play 8 for Australia?

I'm not trying to take away anything from Higginbotham he has superb. Also is that meant to be a subtle dig at the Northern Hemisphere?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This is also helped by Elsom being injured.

Yeah, because I was obviously comparing Higginbothams performances to Elsom watching from the stands...

 

[staph.glorious]

I'm not trying to take away anything from Higginbotham he has superb. Also is that meant to be a subtle dig at the Northern Hemisphere?

No, it's a point of reference. I live in Dublin and I own a Leinster season ticket.

It echoes the thoughts expressed by Australian fans over the past few seasons on the lukewarm performances of their captain and, to some, once-icon.

 

[candybum]

Awaits Woldog's praises.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Congrats to the Reds... They are the deserved winner of the title. 1st overall, beating the Crusaders (twice), Blues, Bulls, Stormers and Waratahs during the season and scoring some brilliant tries.

They played the most entertaining rugby as well with eye-catchers Quade, Genia, Digby and strong forwards to form a Radikilous pack with Horwill, Daley, Faingaa, Higginbothom

 

[The big Kangaroo]

we are red

 

[RoosTah]

Heck of a match by the Reds. I thought they were going to blow it toward the end there when Genia decided to put in yet another box kick right when they had the Crusaders under pressure (Robbie has to coach that out of him... ) and Carter hammered the ball deep back into Qld's half. But luckily Qld's defence held up and they managed to hold on.
Unbelievable win for Qld and all Aussie supporters who've spent so long in the Super Rugby wilderness. Suncorp is definitely the best place in Australasia for a Super Rugby final too, the atmosphere there was utterly electric. Unbelievable for a state that is so League-focussed.

 

[Sam Owen]

Congratulations to the Reds and their fans here on TRF. Thoroughly deserved, awesome game.

 

[nickdnz]

All I'm going to say is Zac Guildford confirmed why he is an average winger. Never hit the line with any pace, didn't throw a single good pass, got fended by a lock and beated to the try line from 40-50m out and missed crucial tackles.

 

[Seaton]

strong forwards to form a Radikilous pack

Well done to the Reds, nice to see a new winner every now and then

 

[lynam1104]

Wheres Samo from? Would love to see him for Aus.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fiji, but he's been capped by Australia

I'd love to see him in the Aus squad again, but I think the fact he's older than a lot of the teams Grandparents will count against him

 

[Amobokoboko]

Back to the game. Missed out on it but I read the summary on super15. The best team won. Congrats Reds. I hope the Ozzies can keep up this level during the Tri Nations and RWC.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Played Reds and deserved.

But wow Bryce Lawrence was dire.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Bryce was dire in the Crusaders-Sharks match as well... That guy should have not been given the final. I preferred Craig Joubert or Chris Pollock

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Terrible Reffing, terrible game, amazing outcome The last 20 minutes almost had me falling out of my seat D:, Cory Flynn may have had money on the Reds to win? because damn he had a woeful game.
Love that the Crusaders midfield was shutdown so well by Tapuai and Faingaa and that Will and Quade were shut down equally as well, was a hard fought match. Congratulations to the Crusaders for making it this far in such a difficult year for them, I was shocked that people booed Richie when he was giving his speech I assure you they are the Reds bandwagoners, you don't boo the other teams captain when he's giving his speech.