(Adds quotes)
PRETORIA, South Africa, March 24 (Reuters) – Defending Super
Rugby champions the Queensland Reds came horribly unstuck at
Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when they were hammered 61-8 by the
Northern Bulls.
It was the second time in five years that the Reds had been
humiliated at Loftus following a record 92-3 loss in 2007.
The Reds were missing several injured members of their
triumphant 2011 team, notably flyhalf Quade Cooper, centre
Anthony Faingaa and wing Digby Ioane, and they were never in the
contest on Saturday.
“It was a bad night at the office all round, the performance
was poor by us and a couple more injuries have added salt to
the wound,” Reds coach Ewen McKenzie told a news conference.
“We hit a red-hot Bulls team tonight, they were very fresh
and powerful.”
The Bulls scored just one try in the first half through
fullback Zane Kirchner after a five-metre scrum but flyhalf
Morne Steyn kicked three penalties and a conversion to give them
a handy 16-3 lead.
However, the Bulls were creating space on attack almost at
will and the Reds plunged into despair midway through the second
half as the Bulls scored three tries to open up a 37-3 lead.
Continued…
