Queensland Reds Take on the Sharks

Last Saturday saw the Queensland Reds take on the Sharks from Durban at Lang Park in Brisbane in the second play-off match of the 2012 Super 15 finals series. Earlier the Canterbury Crusaders defeated the Bulls to advance to the semi-finals and were waiting on the result of the second match to find out whether they would be off to South Africa or could remain in New Zealand.

By a quirk in the Super Rugby rulebook, that requires the leaders of each of the three conferences to occupy the top three spots, meant that the Reds were gifted a home play-off. This advantage was squandered by a more determined visitor’s outfit with an excellent defensive display. A disallowed try to Reds flanker, Liam Gill, in the second half probably wouldn’t have got them over the line, but would have made for a closer match; although it does create further disapproval of the SANZER officialdom. The Sharks 30-17 win, spearheaded by French import Fredric Michalak, means they progress to the other semi-final in the Republic against the Stormers at Newlands.

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