Queensland Reds: Super Rugby Champions

The 2011 Super Rugby champions, Queensland Reds

The Queensland Reds capped a stunning Super Rugby season to beat perenial champions the Canterbury Crusaders 18-13 today.

The win in the end was largely thanks to the genius of Will Genia. The Australia scrumhalf produced a moment of opportunistic brilliance to score a 65-metre breakaway try in the 68th minute to inspire the Reds to a 18-13 victory over the Crusaders and their first Super Rugby title.

Genia in fact created both of the Reds tries, finding a flying Digby Ioane after a poor Crusaders kick, and then seizing on the Crusaders’ indecision around the ruck to sprint 65 metres after the Crusaders had turned the ball over while on attack.

The Reds’ magician flyhalf Quade Cooper slotted a conversion and two penalties for the Reds in a pulsating match.

All Black flyhalf Dan Carter scored all of the Crusaders points with a try after following his own deft kick that pierced a swarming Reds defensive line. Carter also scored a conversion and two penalties but it was not enough to hand the Crusaders their eighth Super Rugby title.

Scorers          

Reds - Tries: Digby Ioane, Will Genia. Conversion: Quade Cooper. Penalties: Cooper (2)

Crusaders - Try: Dan Carter. Conversion: Carter. Penalties: Carter (2)