Blues captain Keven Mealamu calls Reds a better team after Super Rugby semi-final defeat
New Zealand Super Rugby franchise Blues skipper, Keven Mealamu, termed Reds as a better team following their 2011 Super Rugby semi-final defeat at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Saturday, July 2.
Mealamu was talking to reporters after Reds handed over to the Blues a 30 – 13 defeat. Earlier in the week, Blues reached Brisbane ahead of their scheduled arrival to give themselves a better chance to prepare for the knock out game against the Reds.
In contrast to their round 13, 37 – 13 loss at the hands of Reds, Blues started the semi-final game by keeping their nerves in check. However, Reds were able to penetrate early as they were first to score in the pressure game courtesy of their winger Rod
Davies 11th minute try.
Blues hooker Mealamu admitted that the mistakes made by his team loosened their grip over Reds as they slipped past and took control of the game. He said, “We built up some good pressure but let them off the hook with some little mistakes and against a quality
side like the Reds in Brisbane it is going to work against you.”
He further added, “You have to take your hat off to the Reds, they played really well and they were the better side tonight. We threw everything we had at them and they came off better than us.”
The victory has enabled Reds to make their first Super Rugby final appearance in 16 years. Their last showing came in 1995, which was the second of their consecutive two Super Rugby final appearances.
Reds who finished at the top of the combined 2011 Super Rugby table have now booked a home final. Reds captain and lock James Horwill has expressed his and his team’s excitement at playing a Super Rugby final and that too at their home ground and crowd.
Horwill said, “The excitement is there and it was certainly there this week but we are not going to go away from what has worked for us all year and we are going to control that emotion to build towards playing the final here next Saturday night.”
Reds will play the winner of the Crusaders vs. Stormers encounter in the Super Rugby final on Saturday, July 9 at Suncorp Stadium.
Tags: