Aussie Rugby grades - Week 19
That’s a wrap for the Regular season for Super Rugby 2018. A season to forget for most of the Australian teams.
Here is how the teams finished the season:
Reds – A
Another game where the Sunwolves were the victims of a very soft red card. That being said, the Reds put them to the sword. Not in the same fashion as the Waratahs last week but the scored 26 points in the second half. 6 wins this season is their best return from a season for 5 years so Brad Thorn will hope to continue the upward trajectory
Queensland Reds 2018 season review
Rebels – C
So close but yet so far from the Rebels. I thought they had thrown away their chance of finals rugby with their defeat last week at the Reds and it turned out that was a crucial defeat. Had they beaten the Highlanders then they would have qualified for the finals for the first time and despite 27 points from Reece Hodge, including 2 charge down tries and holding a lead 34-22 in the second half they left with only a losing bonus point. This meant that they had to rely on other results going their way which didn’t happen, so it was a case of ‘What if’ for the men from Melbourne.
Melbourne Rebels 2018 season review
Waratahs – D
Once again they scored a lot of points at home but the ‘Tahs will be looking at the game with the Highlanders with a sense of trepidation after the Brumbies, at times, tore them apart in Sydney on Saturday night. They conceded 3 tries in the opening 20 minutes to really put themselves under pressure. A win would have guaranteed 2nd spot and home finals matches until at least the semi-final but their performance didn’t warrant it and now they will have to do it the hard way should they make the big dance.
Brumbies – A
On the other end of the spectrum are the men from the capital. After the Rebels bonus point in New Zealand earlier they knew that they were unable to sneak into the finals but that didn’t stop them performing superbly. Other teams will be breathing a huge sigh of relief the Brumbies will not be involved in the finals as they are in red hot form and playing some good rugby. It is a big summer for them to keep hold of the majority of this squad and add a couple of payers. If they do that and carry the momentum from the end of this season then they will be a force to be reckoned with.
In other news: