Reds 18 Crusaders 13
Former All Blacks skipper Sean Fitzpatrick recently wrote in his book Winning Matters about a team being made up of piano players and piano movers. He said sometimes you can play the music, other times you have to lower your shoulder.
Last night was a
dynamic mix of playing and moving pianos in the Super 15 final between the Crusaders and Reds at a full Suncorp Stadium. The music might have been more honky-tonk than Beethoven but it made for a frenetic contest that lived up to the anticipation of finals football.
In the forwards, the likes of Owen Franks and Kieran Read did the hard yards against James Horwill and Rob Simmons, while Dan Carter and Robbie Fruean attempted to tinkle the ivories against Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane out wide.
The 2011 vintage Reds created history as the first team from the franchise to win in the professional rugby era. Coach Ewen McKenzie was able to exorcise the demons of two finals losses with the Waratahs in 2005 and 2008.
The Reds outscored the Crusaders two tries to one, with the Canterbury franchise unusually guilty of defensive lapses and hesitation - not something that is often said about them.
The 2011 Crusaders will be remembered as one of the most revered teams in New Zealand rugby - and sporting - history. After their much-documented battle through the terror of major earthquakes, they have remained stoic and upbeat beyond expectation.
They would also have been worthy winners and it is a credit to the values of the franchise and the leadership from Todd Blackadder and Richie McCaw that they were so motivated in a time of such distress.
The final's defining moment came with a piece of random genius from darting halfback Will Genia in the 68th minute. He showed indecision in his own half before exploding through the Crusaders' defence and hanging on to the line. It was enough momentum for them to hold on.
Other moments shone but without the same lustre. Carter produced a symphony, threading a grubber through and regathering inside the Reds' 22 late in the first half.
It enabled the game to maintain its momentum. The Reds backline also seized on a directionless Andy Ellis high ball early in the second half and Ioane sliced through a fractured defensive line - causing momentum to swing back the home side's way.
The Crusaders were fortunate midway through the second half when Simmons took one of the visitors' passes, fended off a weak Zac Guildford tackle and blasted away to cross the line.
Referee Bryce Lawrence - a man in difficult circumstances as a New Zealander with his appointment for starters - called it a knock-on, much to the crowd's chagrin; and maybe to the Crusaders' benefit.
Against that was a driving "try" to Brad Thorn in the second half. It was ruled held up by Australian video referee George Ayoub, much to the Crusaders' chagrin - and it could have been a key moment.
The Crusaders were determined to test the Reds well-spread defence in the early stanzas.
Later in the first half they resorted to passages of one-off runners to get territory - supplemented with the odd delivery of the ball to the wings with long passes, with the likes of Wyatt Crockett showing his skills are not limited to crouching, touching, pausing and engaging.
The Crusaders had few fears when it came to setting the better scrum. Their tight five of Crockett, Corey Flynn, Franks, Sam Whitelock and Brad Thorn were easily the match of their opponents and it placed more pressure on Genia and Cooper.
They did not have the same space as previously in the season, including last week. The All Blacks coaches will have taken note as a platform for beating the Wallabies in the Tri Nations and onward to the World Cup.
In contrast, the Reds had much the better of the lineout for the most part and they have some good target men in Horwill and Simmons with powerful lifters and accurate throwing from Saia Faingaa. That was something Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will have been reassured to observe.
Reds 18 (D. Ioane, W. Genia tries, Q. Cooper con, Cooper 2 pen) Crusaders 13 (D. Carter tries, Carter con, Carter 2 pen) Halftime Crusaders 7-6.
