Monday’s rugby news has the Reds disappointed, the Tahs moving ahead of the conference, the Brumbies sweating on backline stars and tributes for Collins.
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Chiefs spoil Reds send-off
The Chiefs have ruined James Horwill and Will Genia’s Suncorp Stadium farewell with a 24-3 win over the Reds on Saturday. In the veteran pair’s final home game with the team ahead of overseas switches next year, the Chiefs crossed three times and but for a sixth minute Quade Cooper penalty goal, held the hosts scoreless in a dominant display.
“I broke down talking in the huddle (post-match),” Genia said, “I knew I would but I told the boys that you never ever take a Queensland jersey for granted or what it means to represent this state.” Genia and Horwill, who will both play in Europe next season, have one more chance to taste victory in their Reds careers when they face the NSW Waratahs in Sydney next weekend.
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Tahs close to home semi
The defending champions returned to the top of Super Rugby’s Australian conference and guaranteed a spot in the playoffs with a 58-33 bonus-point win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Captain Dave Dennis still emphasised that the team’s defence would have to improve in the lead into the finals. “You’d be unrealistic thinking you can let that many in and still win a match” he said.
The Waratahs and Brumbies are now locked on 47 points, but NSW lead by virtue of having more wins this season. The Brumbies get the chance to heap pressure on the Waratahs when they host the Crusaders in Canberra on Saturday afternoon, with NSW to face the Reds later that evening.
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Speight in doubt
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is hopeful that winger Henry Speight will recover in time for next week’s important match against the Crusaders. Speight rolled his ankle in the opening minutes against the team’s 33-20 victory against the Force.
Although he played on until the 66th minute, Larkham said after the game, “He was in some pain during the game and in some pain after the game … the fact that he had to come off would indicate it was rather serious.” Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua will also be touch and go, trying to overcome the ankle injury that forced him from the field three weeks ago.
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Massive tribute to Collins
About 1500 people have marched in silence around the Narbonne in a tribute to former All Black Jerry Collins, who was on the books of the southern French city’s rugby club when he died in a car crash. Numerous tributes have been paid to him since the accident, with Richie McCaw praising Collins as “hugely generous to people” as well as one of the most powerful tacklers in the game.
On Friday, his former teammates at three-time European champions Toulon wore black armbands during the 33-16 French championship semi-final loss to Stade Francais – which was preceded by a minute’s silence.
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