Rugby is an 80-minute game and the Queensland Reds used every second when flying winger Dom Shipperley ran 75 metres to touch down as the final siren was sounding to clinch a nail-biting 25-21 win over arch-rivals New South Wales at ANZ Stadium last night.
That was gut-wrenching for the Waratahs, given the men-in-blue were the better outfit on the night for 79 minutes and 30 seconds, leading 21-18 having scored two unanswered tries.
But it’s never over until the fat lady sings, and she sure sung long and loud for Queensland as most of the 32,071 crowd sat stunned.
There were two critical moments in this fascinating battle where both teams were a little rusty, but totally committed.
First up, in the 54th minute, rival wingers Tom Kingston (NSW), and Queensland’s Digby Ioane both leapt for a high ball that came off Kingston and clearly went backwards into the waiting hands of Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau who scooted 40 metres to outpace Will Genia and Luke Morahan to score.
Not so ruled referee Jaco Peyper, incorrectly believing the ball went forward.
Had skipper Daniel Halangahu converted the “try”, New South Wales would have led 18-15 and it may well have been a vastly different ball game.
The second critical moment led to the Shipperley try.
Waratahs’ replacement half-back Brendan McKibbin made a snap decision in mid-field with a minute left on the clock to kick to his unmarked winger Kingston.
McKibbin didn’t find Kingston or touch that allowed the Queenslanders to mount their last-ditch attack that Shipperley finished off so superbly.
The standouts:
Top of the list, Queensland’s goal-kicker Mike Harris, the fly-half replacement for chief play-maker Quade Cooper. Harris will never be a Cooper in general play, but his deadly-accurate goal-kicking is worth his weight in gold.
That is especially so in this penalty-ridden era, where refs are constantly blowing the pea out of their whistles.
So far Harris has landed 15 from as many attempts on top of 10 from 10 in the trials. When Cooper returns from injury, coach Ewen McKenzie must find a permanent place for Harris.
The Waratahs unearthed an exciting prospect in utility back benchman Bernard Foley. His days on the bench should end immediately. With his speed, great hands, and ability to read a game in a flash, he’s a starting XV must.
Waratah lock Kane Douglas has plenty of weight to throw around, and last night he did so with gusto. Standing 202cm (6ft 8), and stopping the scales at 122 kgs, Douglas made his presence felt all night. He has future Wallaby written all over him.
South African half-back recruit Sarel Pretorious came to New South Wales from the Cheetahs with the reputation of a poor defender. Pretorious put that myth to rest by tackling everything that moved. And his combination with much-maligned stand-in skipper Halangahu totally outshone the Reds’ combination of Genia and Harris.
On the other side of the coin, Queensland rarely win when champion play-makers Genia and Ioane take a back-seat. Both were as quiet as church mice for the entire journey.
On that basis alone, the Queensland Reds will still be the side to beat once Genia and Ioane hit their straps.
The same applies to the New South Wales Waratahs once their injured Wallabies Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell and Berrick Barnes return – while Dan Vickerman and Lachie Turner will be watching Super Rugby 2012 from the player’s enclosure.
Leaving the worst until last, let’s have no more of referees Bryce Lawrence and Jaco Peyper, who controlled the two Australian rivalry games.
Neither can cut the mustard at this level, missing so many glaring infringements, and making obviously wrong rulings.
I’m tempted to suggest they learn their trade refereeing under 15s. But that would be grossly unfair to the kids.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Definitely a more talented team on paper, as they were last year too. the Reds should be there but I will eat my hat if they win it again. The top teams in South Africa and the top NZ teams in NZ will be the big ask. if they can take 8 points from those 4 games I will be happy.
peterlala
Guest
On Halangahu, I can't imagine why the new coach would pick such a marginal player to captain the side?
Suzy Poison
Guest
Apologies Jiggles, Reds will be there at the pointy end. It's just I think the Tahs are a better team this year, and it showed.
Funk
Guest
I'm with you RK, one good game in every 10 does not make you the best. On the day that Palu is fit (rarely) and on the day he decides he wants to give it his all (again rarely) he is an awesome player, but for the other 9 out of 10 game he is MIA!
matthew
Guest
Why are the Au7ssie Derbies always so dire? The physicality and intensity is never there if you contrast it to the South African derbies, and even the Kiwi ones to a lesser degree. Wheres the fire and heart? It's like the teams are constantly going through the motions, and the atmosphere is usually quiter than a morgue.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
was it his best game because he didn't go off injured? He was very bad in defence making a number of positional errors, one in particular which cost the Tah's the game.
granville
Guest
overall it was Horne's best game in 2yrs......hopefully he has a injury free season, he's a small frame man who can really hit and has good running lines......im still not impressed with Simmons, i hope Timani gets another chance......Palu looks impressive with TPN, the Waratahs frontrow should be the Wallabies frontrow with Stephen Moore.........the locking combinations from the Brumbies looks promising.....Harris looks comfortable at #10. AAC has lost his mojo. Shipperley is a future Wallabies....Morahan is playing out of position at #15. Alcock is very impressive with his work rate. looking 4ward to watch O'Connor and Beale next week.......
Green Lantern
Guest
"Reds will be the team to beat"..You are correct David. With the lowly Rebels and Force and the rebuilding Brumbies, beating the Warathas are as tough as it comes. Expect The Reds to win the high school conference again.
Johnno
Guest
Palu yes he did KPM on that EOYT 2 years ago really play well and became the leader of the pack, and was rated the best no 8 in the world . I have seen him before when walking out and about in sydeny there was a waratah fan day in the shopping mall and all the Tahs were there, and Palu and Vickerman stood out in a big big way, very naturally big men. Men like Rob SImmons , Mcalaman, ben Mowen, ben alexander, dave dennis, simply do not inspire me to as you say and i think too and many other do , have the ability to bully or take it to the AB'S . players like Brad thorn or Kaino or keiren reid , are not worried by them. But men like Bakkies botha, Matifeld, burger, juan smith, spies, Palu, Vickerman, steve Moore they respect that is for sure. Australia really needs to develop some more mongrel or power in the forwards. That is why I am not giving up yet on Timani as hope. He is one man who is big and strong the kiwis will respect his physical size and he has a go. I watched the samoa match , he dropped th ball a bit but only game ever he has dropped ball, but he at least hit the rucks hard and contested the breakdown far more abrasively than what Rob Simmons has ever done or Nathan Sharpe for that matter who is good player just a bit old now. But Rob SImmons just ha snot impressed me yet in any matches vs the AB'S KPM. We need more like Palu, and TImani, and vickerman. Just 2 men who you would not want to annoy or get on there bad side or have them run at you or tackle you. intimidating real men with natural strength not gym training strength just natural core power that you have to be born with. Samo has it too but is a bit old now, and his work rate is not up to test level vs the big teams eg ALL Blacks , france, south africa when the pressure is really on at world cup time. KPM I agree the energy of the weekend felt lonely and hollow and very empty and lost in the matches i watched. The NZ ones wer okay they had some bit and meaningfulness but with an end of like now what, almost like an energy from kiwi fans of feeling trapped by the aussies and the south africans. Kinda like this feeling KPM . From the NZ fans angle and the NZ players angle. We have the best players and best rugby development system in the world (if one doesn't believe that fact KPM just look at the junior all blacks under 20 world cup record scarily good statistics i think they have made the semi of every 1 or even won every 1 some ridiculously good record). But the sad thing is NZ only have 4 million and probably needs Australia in a trans tasman series to pay the bills, and prevent players from going to Japan and Europe. But in a perfect world NZ have the depth they don't need any other rugby nation, just they need the money hence why they need australia at least to help pay for therre bills which is sad. And this is the feeling i got KPM form the NZ fans on the weekend in the ground. A trapped feeling how they would much prefer to just kick the aussies and south africans out but need there money. Sad. But the brumbies v force match was boring, and the waratah v reds match had potential but it just felt lost in a super 15 series. And the south africans don't really want any other teams either they love there currie cup , there just scared to leave SANZAR too. But i think a promotion nd relegation thing would work in a trans tasman comp, coz as french rugby and england soccer proves, people like a good 2nd division comp too if it is played with passion and high quality. Just also look t the Adelaide aussie rules comp the SANFL, and in WA the WAFL, they are well run 2nd division comps that do well too.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Johnno sorry for the slow reply but I had to be away from the computer for a while. Palu seemed to me to find his place at test level in the EOYT two years ago, and he was phenomenal then. It's a real shame he couldn't last just two or three matches more at the RWC, because the problem with Australia was that, as usual, they were bullied off the pitch by the New Zealand forwards. Palu is the one player who has the physical power to reverse such bullying and could quite possibly have changed the whole nature of the match. Watching some of the matches over the last weekend and the encounters feel somehow lonely with only five teams for each country. If there were many of them in it, representing each area, then things might be different. But it feels odd having all of New Zealand represented by these 5 entities. The problem in Australia is that rugby does not satisfy tribalism, as there are not many teams in one place, as is the case with the NRL in NSW/Queensland and the AFL Victoria, nor does it even satisfy desires for a fully national competition, as South Australia is left out and big towns like Gold Coast and Newcastle are unrepresented.
Emric
Guest
Oh yeah the Stormers Hurricanes link - i've listed 37,000 it was a figure which i heard over the game - here's a link with the final figures 37,000 http://m.iol.co.za/article/view/s/11/a/184655 Barrett converted to level the scores at 23-23, although the home crowd of nearly 37 000 were relieved moments later when two Pietersen penalties regained the lead for the Stormers.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
No Need to get hostile Suzy. I don't think you can read to much into how the reds will go due to a game against the Tahs. They are not, and never have been, an indicator as to how good either team is. Have I ever advocated the Reds have a running game? No. they adapt their game plan depending on who they play. Look at the Stormers game from last year, for a brief example. The point about the south africans is that the reds have have the wood on them for the last couple of years, and thats where they have got the most of their points from. They only team they have lost to since 2010 is the Sharks. The Bulls at Loftus and the Sharks in Durban will be a huge challenge, just like the Stormers as Newlands last year. If you are going to debate a persons perspective, debate their perspective as written.
Emric
Guest
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/steyn-boots-bulls-to-victory/story-fn8ti7yn-1226281267889 Springbok fly-half Steyn recovered from two penalty misses in a point-less first half to slot five after the break and land a drop goal before a sell-out 50,000 crowd. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6481004/Donnelly-outstanding-in-super-start-to-season The feeling Super Rugby will benefit from the World Cup feelgood factor was reflected in a crowd of 32,000. Fans were still streaming in as the game started. The chiefs V Highlanders I got from a tweet on the chiefs Website http://twitter.com/#ChiefsRugby Chiefs Rugby @ChiefsRugby Reply Retweet Favorite · Open 12,058 The official crowd number. Noisy too! Chiefs chant ringing out!! #ChfsVHlds
Suzy Poison
Guest
I may be contradicting myself, but in defence of the Reds, there is only one Quade. He was incredible last year, I don't even know if he knows what he is going to do. If the Reds can hang in until he returns winning ugly, thru the boot of Harris then it's mission accomplished. Reds weren't on fire, but they still won. Winning has become a habit with this team, it will be interesting to see how they go in the Republic and NZ. I rate Ewen, but the Tahs are serious threat this year too. 14 more rounds to go. Bring it on,
johnny-boy
Guest
Suzy unless Harris improves dramatically at 10, which he may do with a bit more experience and confidence, McKenzie will have to move him to fullback and bring Lucas in. Harris's punts are soooo slow he will be easy pickings for the kiwi and saffa teams for charge downs
p.Tah
Guest
Take it and enjoy it JB :). I'm was gutted last night but that's footy. It was pretty depressing in the stadium after the siren. We just couldn't believe it. the Reds fans were pretty respectful. They were happy but they werent rubbing it in our faces.
p.Tah
Guest
One hand clapping... Solved http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBb1TMd40tE
Rugbug
Guest
I think the Reds struggled to be honest, so much talent yet they looked very rusty and had it not been for a monumetal stuff up from the Tahs they would have gone home losers. The Tahs lost this game as much as the Reds won it. in saying that it was a fine piece of work that they created something from nothing. I agree with you SP the reds will find it tough on the road not only in SA but also NZ if Friday nights match was anything to go by between the Blues and Crusaders who the Reds will play in consecutive weeks.
Ben Farell
Guest
Onor no chance, Nickoldschool spot on. The game was filled with drama and tension edge of your seat stuff for 80 minutes. Most enjoyable game of Rugby I've seen in ages.
Carl
Guest
Clearly you didn't watch Crusaders vs Blues then.