Rebels finish strongly to upset Blues

Updated April 05, 2012 22:54:48

Melbourne duo Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor lived up to their star billing as they steered the Rebels to a 34-23 win over the Blues in their Super Rugby clash on Thursday night.

Both teams went into the AAMI Park match searching for their second win of the season but it was the Rebels who showed the most desperation to shut down their star-studded but under-performing opponents.

The Blues had the most attacking opportunities, particularly early on, but were unable to capitalise due to some staunch Melbourne defence and costly errors from the visitors.

They scored through flanker Chris Lowrey with three minutes remaining to trail 27-23 and set up a thrilling finish but the Rebels put an exclamation mark on the victory with a last-minute try to their skipper Gareth Delve.

Melbourne coach Damien Hill was grinning from ear to ear as he addressed the press conference.

"I'm stoked," was how he summed up the match.

"We came off at half-time leading but we were frustrated with the way we were playing and then to concede a try early in the second half, things could have gone south very quickly.

"It's a credit to Delvey (Gareth Delve) and the team and to our defence.

"It was a big game for this club."

Blues coach Pat Lam lamented his team's poor ball control which brought the good work in the set piece undone.

"We just couldn't maintain pressure," he said.

"Credit to the Rebels, because they kept coming at us, particularly in that last 20 minutes."

Melbourne's Wallabies duo Beale and O'Connor scored in either half and looked dangerous whenever they got their hands on the ball.

Full-back Beale's try came against the run of play when it appeared certain the Blues would score after they strung together 15 phases and hammered the Rebels tryline.

But Melbourne's defence held firm and when Blues number eight Brad Mika tried to push a pass with team-mates lined up outside him, Beale pounced and ran 80 metres to the tryline.

Successful penalty kicks from O'Connor and promising young Blues five-eighth Gareth Anscombe pushed the scoreline to 11-9 in favour of the home side at half-time.

However, Auckland hit the front just two minutes into the second half when their winger Rene Ranger tiptoed down the sideline and got a ball away to full-back Rudi Wolf to score, with Anscombe's conversion pushing the advantage out to 16-11.

Just when it looked like the Blues would run away with the match, the Rebels dug deep.

Two penalties by O'Connor gave his side a one-point lead and then the man of the match got a try of his own, running on to a ball from hard-working hooker Ged Robinson.

Momentum stayed with the Rebels until Lowrey's late effort but it was too little too late to the delight of the 15,246-strong crowd.

The only downside for the home side was a shoulder injury to prop Laurie Weeks, while hooker Adam Freier was forced off after just 10 minutes with a calf problem.

Rebels: 34 (K Beale, G Delve, J O'Connor tries. O'Connor: 2 cons 5 pens)

Blues: 23 (C Lowrey, R Wulf tries. G Anscombe: 2 cons 3 pens)

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, melbourne-3000, new-zealand

First posted April 05, 2012 21:47:32

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Resurgent Highlanders upset Crusaders

Updated April 23, 2011 20:16:00

The Highlanders produced a superb defensive effort and made their chances count to upset the Crusaders 26-18 in their Super Rugby match at Nelson's Trafalgar Park.

The Crusaders had crushed the Highlanders 44-13 five weeks ago and were expected to comfortably account for their southern neighbours as both sides rotated their squads to rest some front-line players.

All Blacks Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read were all sidelined for the Crusaders.

"Both sides made changes and those guys who came in really wanted to have big games. It's a testament to the culture we have got in our squad," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said.

"It just shows that if we keep that good culture then guys can step up and play well and it's enjoyable."

Matt Berquist and Tony Brown traded early penalties to open the scoring in a high-paced match before the Crusaders' Zac Guildford finished a brilliant try, sparked from deep inside their own half, and converted by Berquist.

The Highlanders dragged themselves back into the game with tries to wingers Siale Piutau and James Paterson after some determined defence and counter-rucking at the breakdown, which disrupted the Crusaders' quick attacking platform and forced Berquist to slot a drop goal between the two Otago tries.

Brown, who at 36 has been brought back because of Colin Slade's broken jaw, converted Paterson's try but missed a late penalty as the visitors went into the break with a surprise 15-13 lead.

Paterson grabbed his second try of the match straight aftert the kick-off when the Highlanders attacked from a scrum on halfway and recycled several quick phases for Brown to cross-kick to Paterson, who was waiting unmarked on the wing.

The Crusaders then had a purple patch, demolishing the Highlanders scrum, but were also heavily penalised and unable to breach the defence.

The home side got a slice of luck when the Highlanders turned the ball over while on attack and centre Adam Whitlock scooped up the ball and sprinted 50 metres for a try.

Berquist missed the sideline conversion that would have levelled the score at 20-20.

Brown then slotted two penalties in quick succession to give the Highlanders a 26-18 lead with 15 minutes remaining and they then spent the rest of the time defending their advantage.

"Their defensive line was up real quick and they really slowed down our ruck ball and all credit to them, it won them the game," Crusaders lock Chris Jack said.

"We didn't perform that well but we were beaten by a better side on the day."

Highlanders: 26 (J Paterson 2, S Piutau tries; T Brown conversion, 3 penalties)

Crusaders: 18 (Z Guildford, A Whitelock tries; M Berquist conversion, penalty, drop goal)

-Reuters

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, new-zealand

First posted April 23, 2011 19:52:00

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Reds upset about underdog status

By Luke Pentony

Updated July 7, 2011 17:37:00

Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie says it is "disappointing" the Reds are not considered favourites in the Super Rugby final against the Crusaders.

The Reds, who will take an unchanged squad of 22 into the final at Lang Park, set the pace throughout the regular season, compiling a 13-3 record from their 16 matches to clinch the minor premiership.

Among their victories was a 17-16 triumph over the Crusaders at Lang Park in late May, while they progressed to the final with a solid 30-13 result against the Blues at home last Saturday night.

However, it is the Crusaders who bookmakers have installed as favourites to claim what would be an eighth Super Rugby title.

This is despite the fact the Christchurch-based franchise had to make the trip to Brisbane from Cape Town, where they beat the Stormers 29-10 in the second semi-final last Sunday morning (AEST).

This was the latest trek in what has been an entire season on the road for the Crusaders, who have been unable to play at their traditional home ground of Lancaster Park as a result of the earthquake that hit Christchurch in February.

It is customary in the lead-up to any season decider that rival coaches will vie for the right for their side to be labelled the underdogs, so as to avoid any added expectation.

But McKenzie has bucked the trend, as he feels the Reds have shown they deserve favouritism based on their performances this season.

"We're not favourites for this game, which I find disappointing," he said.

"We don't want to be the underdog going into a final. People talk about that, people want to grab the underdog status.

"We don't want to be the underdog, we would love to go into the game being the favourite. Bookmakers see it the other way and it's disappointing to us."

The Reds have been considered a 'Cinderella' story in some quarters, due to the fact that only two seasons ago they finished second last on the ladder following what was their seventh straight losing season.

It was after 2009 that McKenzie replaced Phil Mooney as head coach and in his maiden campaign last year he lifted the Reds to fifth position with an 8-5 record.

Talk that the Reds are enjoying a fairytale run ignores the hard work McKenzie put into building a player roster with depth, in addition to how well he has adapted his game plan to nullify the strengths of his opponents.

This was evident throughout the season, most notably when they beat the previously undefeated Stormers 19-6 in Cape Town in April.

McKenzie's desire for the Reds to be favourites has much to do with his troops being afforded the respect they deserve.

"For me it's a search for credibility," he said. "We've come a long way."

'Creative' genius

The journey the Reds have taken under McKenzie is perhaps best mirrored in the playing fortunes of star fly half Quade Cooper, who has enjoyed career-best form under the tutelage of the former Wallabies prop.

Cooper had often displayed flashes of brilliance when Eddie Jones and Mooney were in charge at Ballymore, but he struggled for consistency until last season.

McKenzie has refused to take any credit for Cooper becoming arguably the number one fly half in the world, saying the 23-year-old is best left to his own devices.

"I don't spend anytime telling Quade no," he said.

"We talk abut scenarios and options and decisions - saying no to creative people is not a very profitable way to coach, I figure."

Meanwhile, the Crusaders will take an unchanged line-up into Saturday's final, with half-back Andy Ellis passing a fitness test after sustaining knee and shoulder complaints against the Stormers.

Reserve forward Luke Romano has been cleared to play, despite being quarantined in South Africa with chicken pox.

Reds: Jono Lance, Rod Davies, Anthony Faingaa, Ben Tapuai, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Radike Samo, Beau Robinson, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill (c), Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley

Reserves: James Hanson, Guy Shepherdson, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Ian Prior, Will Chambers

Crusaders: Tom Marshall, Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean, Sonny Bill Williams, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett

Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Ben Franks, Luke Romano, Matt Todd, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matt Berquist, Ryan Crotty

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, qld, brisbane-4000, new-zealand

First posted July 7, 2011 09:43:00

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Reds lose Ioane in Brumbies upset

Updated June 4, 2011 22:16:00

The Brumbies produced one of the biggest upsets of the Super Rugby season by ending pacesetters Queensland's home streak with a 22-14 victory on Saturday night.

It was 13th time unlucky for the Reds at Lang Park as the battling Brumbies finally clicked into gear for a richly-deserved win - just their third of 2011 - in a brutal clash.

Rubbing salt into the competition leader's wounds was a worrying injury to tackle-busting Test winger Digby Ioane, who was knocked out cold in the second half by number eight Ita Vaea.

Ioane was not the only high-profile casualty, with half-back Will Genia limping off late in the match and Brumbies lock Mark Chisholm suffering a leg injury.

Matt Giteau sent the 27,378-strong Brisbane crowd home even unhappier when he slotted a post-hooter penalty to deny the Reds a bonus point.

Queensland (58) is just one point ahead of the second-placed Stormers and three ahead of New Zealand's top side, the Blues (55).

Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore, unwanted half-back Pat Phibbs and Chisholm were outstanding for the 13th-placed visitors, who pressured the Reds with their defensive line speed from the outset.

"For us it was a huge show of character," Giteau said.

Looking to lock up a top-two spot for the finals, Queensland felt the pressure once it dropped behind 19-6 in the 20th minute.

The Brumbies also unsettled the Reds with their ferocity at the breakdown, as injured flanker Beau Robinson was missed and Queensland failed to build momentum in attack.

Reds skipper James Horwill refused to use fatigue as an excuse after his side looked flat following last Sunday's epic 17-16 win over the Crusaders.

The Brumbies stunned the home side in the first half, firstly pulling a selection surprise by moving hard-running full-back Pat McCabe to inside centre and then playing a far more direct attacking game.

Averaging just one try a match over the past month, the Brumbies attack clicked into gear with hooker Stephen Moore posting the game's opening try midway through the first half.

Instead of running side to side and failing to dent the line, phase after phase the visitors cracked the advantage line and recycled the ball quickly, eventually allowing Phibbs to snipe and combine with Vaea to put Moore over under the posts.

Down 19-6 just before the break, the Reds went to the interval more upbeat when Brumbies full-back Christian Lealiifano failed to pounce on opposite number Ben Lucas, who stumbled before the line but regained his feet to score for a 19-11 scoreline at the break.

Both sides botched almost certain tries within three minutes after the break, but Brumbies flanker Mitch Chapman should have definitely put his team ahead by 13 in the 46th minute when he put a hand into touch as he crossed in the corner.

Brumbies: 22 (S Moore try; M Giteau conversion, 5 penalties)

Reds: 14 (B Lucas try; Q Cooper 3 penalties)

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, act, canberra-2600, qld, brisbane-4000

First posted June 4, 2011 21:33:00

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Resurgent Highlanders upset Crusaders

Updated April 23, 2011 20:16:00

The Highlanders produced a superb defensive effort and made their chances count to upset the Crusaders 26-18 in their Super Rugby match at Nelson's Trafalgar Park.

The Crusaders had crushed the Highlanders 44-13 five weeks ago and were expected to comfortably account for their southern neighbours as both sides rotated their squads to rest some front-line players.

All Blacks Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read were all sidelined for the Crusaders.

"Both sides made changes and those guys who came in really wanted to have big games. It's a testament to the culture we have got in our squad," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said.

"It just shows that if we keep that good culture then guys can step up and play well and it's enjoyable."

Matt Berquist and Tony Brown traded early penalties to open the scoring in a high-paced match before the Crusaders' Zac Guildford finished a brilliant try, sparked from deep inside their own half, and converted by Berquist.

The Highlanders dragged themselves back into the game with tries to wingers Siale Piutau and James Paterson after some determined defence and counter-rucking at the breakdown, which disrupted the Crusaders' quick attacking platform and forced Berquist to slot a drop goal between the two Otago tries.

Brown, who at 36 has been brought back because of Colin Slade's broken jaw, converted Paterson's try but missed a late penalty as the visitors went into the break with a surprise 15-13 lead.

Paterson grabbed his second try of the match straight aftert the kick-off when the Highlanders attacked from a scrum on halfway and recycled several quick phases for Brown to cross-kick to Paterson, who was waiting unmarked on the wing.

The Crusaders then had a purple patch, demolishing the Highlanders scrum, but were also heavily penalised and unable to breach the defence.

The home side got a slice of luck when the Highlanders turned the ball over while on attack and centre Adam Whitlock scooped up the ball and sprinted 50 metres for a try.

Berquist missed the sideline conversion that would have levelled the score at 20-20.

Brown then slotted two penalties in quick succession to give the Highlanders a 26-18 lead with 15 minutes remaining and they then spent the rest of the time defending their advantage.

"Their defensive line was up real quick and they really slowed down our ruck ball and all credit to them, it won them the game," Crusaders lock Chris Jack said.

"We didn't perform that well but we were beaten by a better side on the day."

Highlanders: 26 (J Paterson 2, S Piutau tries; T Brown conversion, 3 penalties)

Crusaders: 18 (Z Guildford, A Whitelock tries; M Berquist conversion, penalty, drop goal)

-Reuters

First posted April 23, 2011 19:52:00

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