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May 08, 2009
The Crusaders' Super 14 semi-final hopes have been boosted by a 32-12 victory over injury-ravaged Queensland in Christchurch.
The result propelled the defending champions into the top four.
Missing 10 of their best players, the Reds were unable to prevent the Crusaders scoring a valuable four-try bonus point which makes it tougher for the NSW Waratahs and Brumbies to make the play-offs.
The defending champions started the penultimate round equal with New South Wales and the Brumbies on 32 points, three behind the Sharks, but Friday night's win lifts them to provisional fourth and gives them a superior for and against (+31) to the Australian sides.
The Crusaders, who led 20-0 at half-time, scored five tries to two in a dominant performance but were unable to take full advantage of one of the most inexperienced Queensland teams fielded in Super history.
The outclassed Reds scored two late tries to debutant centre Ben Tapuai and fellow reserve Greg Holmes to add some respectability to the scoreline.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html
Reds have been doing it tough. Good on 'em for picking up 12 points![]()
2 tries to the debutant centre Ben Tapuai is a good effort... I think they've got the Canes next week.... ouch.... Coach Phil Mooney will be walking the Christchurch streets sleepless...
I smell an upset over the 'Canes in the last round.
The Reds were woeful tonite,understandible perhaps--Cooper looked very ordinary without good players around him
Cooper's best 10 minutes came when he was sin-binned.
Very ordinary by the Reds. With a 5th Aussie team in the offing, the talent is going to be spread very thinly.
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
Correct. John O'Neil has his finger on the self destruct button.
If Qld rugby struggles, the Wallabies struggle. It's no co-incidence that Australia's dominance ended at RWC in 2003 - around the same time the Reds started to slide.
The longer the Reds struggle, the more the Qld rugby talent will move to Rugby League, soccer and even AFL.
Big problem.
Sad that the rugby powers-that-be can't then draw the obvious conclusions.