The turning points of the final
Former Wallaby and World Cup-winning Springbok assistant coach Eddie Jones gives his thoughts on the turning points that gave the Reds a win over the Crusaders in Saturday’s Super Rugby Final.
Jones felt there were two crucial moments in the game.
The first was when the TMO failed to award a try to Crusaders lock Brad Thorn and the second was the Will Genia try.
Jones described the 2011 Super Final as a “high quality game”.
“The Reds ‘out-Crusadered’ the Crusaders, and gave them a dose of their own medicine in how they’ve won seven finals,” Jones said.
“The ‘Saders won those matches on their defence, a strong kick/chase game and taking opportunities.
“Ultimately the Reds played that way and the ‘Saders didn’t take their chances with the majority of possession.
“There were two key moments for me that showed the Reds would take it.
“In the first half, the ‘Saders had an attacking scrum on the right hand side. Uncharacteristically, they played outside 13 and knocked on. The ‘Saders traditionally play short of first phase, especially now that they have Sonny Bill Williams and Robbie Fruean in the midfield.
“It was a surprising tactical initially which went against their usual game plan.
“In the second half off a right hand scrum, they played direct and to their strengths. Williams broke the line, and Brad Thorn was just held up – 99 times out of a hundred that try would have been awarded.
“A few phases later Andy Ellis’s poor kick led to Digby Ioane’s try, a big turning point.
“There’s no doubt the ‘Saders looked tired from all the travel. They lacked their usual intensity and it really hit them on the 50-minute mark – fatigue was always going to be a factor. But you can’t take anything away from the Reds.”
To read more of what Eddie Jones thought of the final, click here or visit RugbyXV.
