Two match reports. First what New Zealand said and then the Australian view.

The Reds, who were playing for those who suffered because of the Queensland Floods early this year, came out on top.

But one thing is for sure – all of those involved with this Crusaders side should hold their heads high about what they’ve achieved this year.

The Crusaders’ hopes of having a season to end all seasons came to a crushing end in Brisbane last night when they went down to a sensational Reds team.

It would have been the dream way to end a campaign where the Crusaders haven’t played a game in Christchurch and in turn put a smile on the faces of those who’ve lost so much due to the earthquakes in the city.

But it wasn’t to be and the Reds, who were playing for those who suffered similar problems because of the Queensland floods, came out on top. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said a fortnight ago that it would be a massive challenge for the Crusaders to go to South Africa for a semifinal then come all the way back to Brisbane for the final.

And so it proved. But nothing should be taken away from this Crusaders side. Whether they would have been able to pick up more competition points and not have to go to the Suncorp fortress if they hadn’t had to spend the entire season on the road will never be known.

But one thing is for sure – all of those involved with this Crusaders side should hold their heads high over what they’ve achieved this year.

Next year, back in Christchurch it could be a different story. When Ewen McKenzie took the Waratahs into Super Rugby finals, he gave them a too conservative game plan and took them away from all the things that got them to the final in the first place.

Last night, though, McKenzie clearly showed he’d learned from previous mistakes by again building the game plan around the Will Genia and Quade Cooper axis.

However, Todd Blackadder knew that it was vital to shut these two down and almost every time Genia touched the ball he was quickly set upon by a Crusaders player.

It wasn’t just Genia who the Crusaders rushed up to when defending, it happened to almost everyone, meaning that the Reds weren’t able to play with as much freedom or time on the ball as the Blues offered them last weekend.

Crusaders lock Brad Thorn clearly loved playing once again on his old stomping ground, with the former Bronco having his best game of the season. Not only did he come within a TMO decision of scoring a try in the second half, he had a massive work rate, causing turnovers and standing out in the set pieces.

It was the visitors who almost got the scoring underway when against the run of play Dan Carter had a penalty attempt in the 16th minute, but put the kick wide to the left.

Before Cooper kicked a penalty to record the game’s first points in the 31st minute, Owen Franks was caught on camera putting his forearm into the face of Beau Robinson while he had him pinned to the ground.

Although this wasn’t spotted by the officials on the field, it wouldn’t be surprising if he has to sit out an All Blacks test or two.

But it was a short-lived lead with Carter putting a grubber through the Reds defence from 10m out, gathering the ball himself and running behind the posts to score.

Cooper kicked his second penalty three minutes before the break after Brad Thorn was caught tripping the Reds playmaker.

Carter kicked his first penalty 10 minutes into the second half, but the stadium was to erupt moments later when Digby Ioane ran 45m to score a try, weaving through the Crusaders’ defence.

Carter made the score 13-13 from a penalty in the 57th minute and there were thoughts that the game could be heading to extra time as the scoreline stayed the same for the next 12 minutes. But the deadlock was broken by a stunning solo try from Genia, who had nothing on 10m inside his half but still managed to get all the way to the tryline.

The Crusaders threw everything into it for the last 10 minutes, but like so much of this season the Reds defence held solid and they were able to call themselves Super Rugby champions for the first time ever.

Reds 18 (D Ioane, W Genia tries; Q Cooper 2 pens, con)

Crusaders 13 (D Carter try; D Carter con, pen)

– Stuff

THE  Queensland Reds gave Australian rugby its biggest morale boost in years when they won the Super Rugby final with a spectacular and courageous  18-13 victory over the Canterbury Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium last night.

In front of an Australian record crowd of 52,113, the Reds won their first professional Super Rugby final by taking their chances and through individual moments of brilliance, culminating in Test halfback Will  Genia’s 65-metre dash to the line in the 68th minute, which broke a 13-13 deadlock and won them the game.

This victory was the culmination of a sensational season for the Reds, who succeeded in revitalising Australian rugby in a crucial World Cup year by playing with flair, bravado and never losing the faith. The Reds players must be praised for their adventure all year, as must their coach Ewen McKenzie, ridiculously discarded by the Waratahs three years ago, who expertly guided them to the title.

Although playing vastly experienced opposition who are accustomed to winning Super titles, the young Reds outfit was not intimidated by the moment and, after some jittery moments in the first half, got its act together after the break for the first Australian Super Rugby triumph in seven years.

The capacity crowd were in raptures when Reds captain James Horwill lifted the trophy, causing scenes of ecstasy and joy for an organisation which a few years ago were easy-beats and in a financial mess.

”People wrote us off years ago and said we couldn’t get back… but we have,” Horwill said. ”People said we couldn’t do this or that and we have. Queensland rugby is back.”

Their revival even brought praise from Crusaders second-rower Brad Thorn, a long-time Queenslander, who said that ”what the Reds [have] done this year is phenomenal”.

”For such a young side, what they have done is outstanding,” Thorn said. ”It has been a hard road for Queensland rugby and it’s great what they have achieved.”

While the Reds were sometimes overly flamboyant, the Crusaders were more patient early on. They played relentless phase football, slowly driving their way down the field until they found themselves in the customary position hovering near the Reds’ goal posts.

As the phases repeatedly went into double figures, the Crusaders were often extremely close to scoring but somehow the rigid Reds defence held them out.

But it had to eventually falter, and it did just before half-time when Crusaders five-eighth Dan Carter opted to stand wide in the attack, and, noticing a gap to the left of Reds centre Anthony Faingaa, chip-kicked between him and breakaway Beau Robinson. This befuddled the Reds and they allowed Carter an easy route to regather, and watched him score under the posts.

It didn’t start well for the Reds in the second half, when they were victims of four handling errors in the first five minutes, and the Crusaders should have scored in the 47th minute when Thorn ignored a  three-man overlap and charged for the line himself. He thought he had scored, but the video referee said the ball was held up and the moment was lost.

The Crusaders salvaged three points a few minutes later from a scrum penalty, but then the momentum turned. Several big Reds charges and play was at the other end of the field, where Genia took a big bomb and put his winger Digby Ioane away.

Ioane knows how to seize on space, and a little right-to-left weave had the desired effect on the Crusaders’ last line of defence – fullback Tom Marshall – having to dive like a desperately lost goalkeeper, but to no avail. Ioane was away, scored and the Reds were back in the lead.

Again not for long, as Carter levelled the scores at 13-all with another penalty kick in the 57th minute.

Then came the great moment of the final. Genia was offered the ball in his half and away he went, bounding along for 65 metres and leaving everyone behind to score an incredible try to get the Reds back in  front. Individual brilliance wins finals, and Genia rose to the occasion.