92-3 is justice for Australian rugby
92-3. The Reds were supposed to beat, or at least draw with the Bulls, to shoehorn their Aussie brothers the Brumbies into the semis. 92-3.
Has there been anything in sport more appropriate?
Here’s the thing that is really embarrassing for Queensland. Bulls skipper Victor Matfield said “Last Monday we set our sights on winning by 45 points and finishing third, but by Friday we changed our minds and felt a 72-point winning margin was within our graspâ€?. Seventy-two? Are the Reds so shameful that teams can plan such a mauling?
Apparently they are.
Thanks goodness the Super 14 season is over for the Australian teams. The Brumbies may have produced six straight wins to fall agonisingly short of a top four spot, but there is a justice to not having Australian representation in the games that matter. ACT went 9 wins and 4 losses. Perhaps the greatest ever season not to make the semis. The reason they missed out? They scored four tries in a match just twice. The Canterbury Crusaders lost 5 times but were rewarded by breaking the four try barrier on seven occasions. The bonus point system isn’t perfect, but it has done its job here.
As for the others, the Force can be pleased to have as many wins as losses, despite their off season spending spree. The Waratahs probably weren’t as bad as second last, particularly when you consider more than half of their defeats were by a converted try or less. If Peter Hewat could kick when it counts, the Tahs may have been around mid-table. They can also be excused to an extent by the losses the franchise suffered pre season. Chris Whittaker, Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor to name a few. Phil Waugh’s injury didn’t help either.
The Reds? 92-3. That’s all that needs to be said.
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