The straight story: How scrum trumped lineout in the Super Rugby AU final A Set the default text size A Set large text size
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In the end, justice was done – probably. The Queensland Reds were the best team in Super Rugby AU over the course of the season, winning seven of their eight pre-final games and edging their closest rivals on all of the three occasions they played.
At the post-match press conference on Saturday night, Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar looked pale, struggling to disguise his anger at some of the refereeing decisions behind a thin mask of propriety.
The Wrap: Suncorp buzzes as Super Rugby final delivers three winners A Set the default text size A Set large text size
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Even for home viewers, there was a palpable sense of Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium bristling with excitement right throughout Saturday’s Super Rugby final, before things reached a crescendo when James O’Connor sealed a thrilling, 85th minute, 19-16 title win to the Reds.
It’s one of the oldest cliches in the book, but rugby – more specifically Australian rugby – was the winner.
With the final shown on Nine’s main free-to-air channel – albeit squeezed in-between a hefty advertising schedule – and almost 42,000 animated fans in the house, only the most uncharitable could insist that Australian rugby is not in the midst of turning away from recent lows.
Rugby Union by Emma Greenwood
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Subscriber only They re the sage words from a footy legend that helped the Queensland find the belief to break their decade-long title drought and put rugby back on the map in Queensland. Win the moments and trust your mate to do his job. Reds coach Brad Thorn s halftime reminder to his rattled men helped turn around his side s fortunes and seal his place in Queensland rugby folklore.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >Trailing 13-6 at halftime against the ACT Brumbies after playing some of their most error-riddled rugby of the season, the Reds mounted a stirring second-half fightback, with comeback king James O Connor scoring a try almost five minutes after regulation time ended to seal a 19-16 victory and the Super Rugby AU title.
Rugby Union by Emma Greenwood
Premium Content
Subscriber only They re the sage words from a footy legend that helped the Queensland find the belief to break their decade-long title drought and put rugby back on the map in Queensland. Win the moments and trust your mate to do his job. Reds coach Brad Thorn s halftime reminder to his rattled men helped turn around his side s fortunes and seal his place in Queensland rugby folklore.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >Trailing 13-6 at halftime against the ACT Brumbies after playing some of their most error-riddled rugby of the season, the Reds mounted a stirring second-half fightback, with comeback king James O Connor scoring a try almost five minutes after regulation time ended to seal a 19-16 victory and the Super Rugby AU title.
And that s just the start of it as Super Rugby trans-Tasman tees off. I don t think there s many tougher tours – Crusaders, Chiefs, Auckland, all in New Zealand, McKellar said. They don t make it easy for us. I m not sure who will be refereeing the games in New Zealand, whether Australian refs will travel. Everyone gets reviewed, we review our program every week… and as long as everyone s doing it. We re not blaming anyone. It was a great night for Australian rugby.
Tupou s emotional Mother s Day interview
Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa also explained his conversations with Berry in those frenetic final moments.