It didn’t yield a winner, but rugby’s new “Super Time” tiebreaker initiative was given the thumps up after the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels played out an historic 18-18 draw in Sydney.
James O’Connor’s after-the-siren conversion of Alex Mafi’s last-minute try for the Reds sent the Super Rugby AU contest into a rugby league-style golden period on Friday night.
Fittingly, Sydney’s Brookvale Oval, Manly’s NRL base, was the setting after Victoria’s second wave of coronavirus forced Melbourne’s “home” match to be played interstate.
But while sections of the crowd booed the teams off the field after neither was able to nail victory, the Reds and Rebels hailed the initiative.
“I mean, no one really wants a draw. It probably would have been good to keep going until there was a winner,” said Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty after his side squandered a 10-point advantage with just five minutes remaining in regulation time.
“We’re definitely disappointed. We felt we dominated large parts of that game and had a couple of disallowed tries early and just didn’t take the opportunities to put them away.”
Under-fire Rebels coach Dave Wessels was also deflated.
“We should have had the game in the bag,” he said.
“To have a lead like that and blow it in the last few minutes – credit to the Reds for fighting – but we didn’t control the ball at that point and that’s disappointing.”
Queensland coach Brad Thorn wasn’t sure what to make of the stalemate.
“Bit of a weird one really. Sort of half happy, half not happy,” Thorn said.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
“It’s a new thing after they went for the golden-point scenario and they slugged it out for 90 minutes both teams, credit to both teams.
“We didn’t get the result in the end but it’s two points we get; we’ll take it.”
Reds fullback Bryce Hegarty narrowly missed a monster penalty goal effort from halfway on the stroke of Super Time halftime.
Ultimately, though, the Reds finished moral winners after sharing the spoils despite being a man short for 20 minutes following the sin-binning of Hamish Stewart and Hunter Paisami.
They then looked dead and buried after Billy Meakes intercepted an errant pass from O’Connor and raced 35 metres to put the Rebels up 18-8 in the 67th minute.
But an O’Connor penalty in the 75th minute and then his coolly slotted last-gasp conversion forced the extra time.
“The thing I’m proud about since three years ago is the fight within the team,” Thorn said.
“We don’t go away.”
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Ah yes...166 kgs it is...166 would be really scary !
jeznez
Roar Guru
Agree, never thought draws were a problem that needed fixing
Cadfael
Roar Guru
A draw is a fair result. More so in rugby where bonus point tries can see a team leave the field with three points.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Really- I would have thought Wallabies problems were a bit deeper than this. Also since the inception of RWC Australia has a reasonable record. A very simplistic view.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Ten minutes of playing not to lose, not much pleasure in that. Tactically it is the obvious ploy not to play in your own half so we ended up with a game of forcing back. A draw is a result. How is it fair that a team gets the points for winning in the regulation 80 minutes but then a team gets 90 minutes to earn those points. Draws are not common- this whole golden point thing is an artificial construct that is flawed in design.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I don't mind that. Making the extra time a bonus would take a bit of pressure off and teams might chance their arm a bit more. The key question is the extra time designed to create a high pressure environment so that teams can practice that per Olly's read? Or is it to add an exciting finish for fans to get enthused by and hopefully eliminate draws?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Not a fan of extra time/golden point time except for finals football. A draw is a result and if a team is scoring tries they can walk out with three points from the game. If they want to persist with this, give each team two points for the draw then a point for any winner in golden point time.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
You are joking , they reverted to VFL . Perhaps a soccer ball and a penalty shoot out next week.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Fair enough Rob. A lot of good thoughts in there. Hope Rennie reads the comments :happy:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
OOF, I reckon neither of MT or JOC has a strong CV as a 10, both are 12/10s. I reckon overall, JOC is the better footballer. I also reckon both of Lelesio and Harrison look like better natural 10s. The question is when do the young guys qualify for a WB jumper and which of the old guys hold it until then. MT is certainly not a bad choice, but he is far from a compelling choice, especially on recent form.
Olly
Roar Rookie
lol, I will watch it on my TV but want it perfected when I buy those expensive Wallabies tickets
jeznez
Roar Guru
Maybe they could practice I’m opposed training because I certainly don’t want to pay to watch it. :laughing:
Olly
Roar Rookie
yes, as Australian rugby has been doing for the last 8 to 9 years. Painful kicking. We can only learn by being exposed to it and for example Toomua commented in the post game that he stuffed up. A good lesson for him and forcing Australian coaches to coach these skills/scenarios as they clearly haven't been.
jeznez
Roar Guru
If they’d had coherent plans rather than just poorly executed kicking then you might have a point. We certainly aren’t winning anything with what those two teams dished up in Super Time
Olly
Roar Rookie
Also if the Wallabies won their way into the finals we would have full stadiums. Everyone supports winners...
Olly
Roar Rookie
We already have no fans. Wallabies need to be winning to save rugby in Australia.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yes exactly, Australian teams need to play more of this to learn.
GibbonRib
Roar Rookie
Why? I really don't get what some people have against draws, it's not like teams are setting out to defend their way to a 0-0.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I think about Latu, whose throwing was so bad for so long. But he practiced heaps in 2019 and it just clicked. I feel like Uelese should go into camp and be told that if his throwing is good, he starts.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
It's certainly a dilemma. But Uelese is so much more of a powerful presence ball running, at the breakdown and in the scrum than Faingaa. I also think FF probably doesn't have the same work rate. From memory Neville has called some. I also. think he has been very good around the field, but feel he isn't great in the scrums.