By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE, July 8 (Reuters) – The Queensland Reds’
stuttering start to the season and inadequate try-scoring
appears set to deny last year’s champions a chance to defend
their Super Rugby title in the post-season finals series.
The Ewen McKenzie-coached Reds survived a huge scare against
the Highlanders at Lang Park on Friday to notch their fifth
straight win but head into the final round of the southern
hemisphere provincial championship’s regular season with their
destiny in other teams’ hands.
The Reds lie seventh on the ladder on 53 points, one point
out of the top six that will contest the finals, and praying
that at least one out of the four vulnerable teams above them
slip up against the competition’s cellar-dwellers.
The Reds should have little trouble beating the hapless New
South Wales Waratahs in their last match at Lang Park, but will
hope one of the Brumbies (58 points), Crusaders (56), Bulls (54)
or Sharks (54) are upset in the final round.
None of the four appears likely to be.
The third-placed Brumbies need only a single point from
their home game against the insipid Blues at Canberra Stadium to
seal their playoffs berth as winners of the Australian
conference.
A loss by less than eight points to the Blues would secure a
bonus point and be enough for them to qualify and deny the Reds
any hope of stealing top spot in the conference.
The Crusaders, in fourth spot, are also in the box seat as
they head home to Christchurch to play the 14th-placed Western
Force.
Continued…
