Quinten Strange's late-game calamity questioned as Crusader joins Sonny Bill Williams
A late game calamitous decision from Crusaders lock Quinten Strange handed the Brumbies a 31-24 win in Canberra to extend the club’s season of misery.
A penalty shot at goal by Brumbies flyhalf Noah Lolesio with 15 seconds left on the clock hit the left post and bounced awkwardly inside the Crusaders’ in-goal.
Scrambling to save the ball from reaching a Brumbies player, Strange opted to bat the ball dead in the aerial contest which is of course illegal in rugby union.
The foul play was reviewed and a penalty try was awarded with time on the clock, with the Crusaders unable to salvage a draw.
Wild.
Noah Lolesio’s match-winning penalty attempt at 24-24 hits the post and Quinten Strange deliberately bats the ball deal in goal with seconds left.
Penalty try, yellow card.
Brumbies snap a 15-year winless drought against the Crusaders to win 31-24.
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) May 18, 2024
Quinten Strange giving the Brumbies some free points #superrugby #superrugbypacfic #BRUvCRU pic.twitter.com/zKqO0Yd8bu
— All Things Rugby (@AllThingsRugbyX) May 18, 2024
Strange joined Sonny Bill Williams as another New Zealand player to come undone by the rule. The All Black did the same thing in a Test match against France in 2017, costing a penalty try and yellow.
Knocking, slapping, or throwing the ball dead constitutes foul play. If foul play occurs inside the in-goal that “prevents a probable try from being scored, or scored in a more advantageous position”, a penalty try is awarded.
The closest player to the ball was Brumbies reserve halfback Harrison Goddard, who competed in the air with Strange for possession.
However, New Zealand Herald’s rugby journalist Liam Napier commented on the call by claiming that there was enough doubt involved to not award a penalty try, with “three other Crusaders” present.
Yellow card, sure. But not sure how that's a penalty try. There's three other Crusaders players there. Helluva way to end the Saders playoff hopes #BRUvCRU
— Liam Napier (@liamnapiernz) May 18, 2024
Had a penalty been awarded anyway, the kick from just about dead in front would have been a regulation conversion to claim the match 27-24.
The costly late-game mistake is the second this year by the Crusaders that has cost a more favourable result.
Against the Waratahs, young first five-eighth Rivez Reihana had the opportunity to drain all the clock left in the game on a conversion but took his kick quickly, allowing one last kick-off which resulted in NSW tying the game 40-all.
In golden point extra-time, Will Harrison kicked a long-range drop goal for a 43-40 win. The match would have ended 40-37 in the Crusaders favour if Reihana had ensured the game clock ran out.
Strange’s in-goal error adds to what has been a difficult season for the defending champions who are now left to fight to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is coming to England. Register now here to be the first to hear about tickets.
Comments on RugbyPass
Currently across the super franchises the forwards choices for Robertson is in the luxury of the competitions depth for selection . However same can’t be said regarding selection of the backs, especially the inside backs. I believe that’s where his dilemma will be. If he can’t get mouanga for the start then he should forget him and move on.
27 Go to commentsIf they had another round up their sleeve then no doubt the sadas wouldv been top8. I say leave things alone and get into the next season I rekon the turn around will carry on.
6 Go to commentsSimilar to Arran Smith in his style of application.
5 Go to commentsSave your money. Just learn from the bad stuff and play better next year. Lost loads of key players and had half the team out broken for most of the season.
6 Go to commentsJosh Ioane has been great for opposition teams all season. The sooner the Chiefs unload him to MP the better.
6 Go to commentsMunster have very good back row stocks nowadays, lots of guys with very high potential. Okeke is unlucky not to get a contract. If he came along 10 years ago, he almost certainly would have. Could be very good for Coventry.
1 Go to commentsGreat article! Love that you point out so much that is positive, and back it up with quotes and clips.
1 Go to commentsNo scapegoats. No knee-jerk reactions. Just excuses in an expensive report under file 13. I’ll give the saders some free consulting - no planning after Razor. Just let things fall flat to rebuild. Easy.
6 Go to commentsJosh Bayliss was the early sub for Barbeary
1 Go to commentsHis deficiencies in defence must be major and beyond rebuilding because on attack he has a unique set of skills matched only by a combination of Mark Telea, Shaun Stevenson and Etene Nanai Seturo. His aerial and kicking game is next level and he displays a contempt for one on one situations. We've become obsessed with our no. 11 being a power weapon ignoring the better multi faceted option. Mark Telea is helping to change that mind set, Salesi Rayasi would advance that too.
6 Go to commentsWayne barnes should join the Queen
269 Go to commentsHope both you dirty mutts get cancer and die
41 Go to commentsOqueef was on the saffa pay roll , needs his head stomped
180 Go to commentsChiefs miss a tight 5 of serious grunt. Missing Guzzlers.scrum power and the Blues have spent the last.few yrs nicking their props. Will have to start better than recent matches to stop the Reds.
6 Go to commentsWith the civil war going on over in NZR you have to wonder if these guys can afford to throw money around on consulting firms? Consultants just going to charge them thousands for the privilege of telling them that the brain drain is hurting them, they played like pork chops & maybe some insights gleaned from reading the various rugby blog posts with a couple of graphs thrown in to dicky the report up. My suggestion is they forego the consultants and get a subscription to watch the URC, English Premiership, Top14 and EPCR competitions so that they can learn a bit from all the players and coaches that have left already NZ.
6 Go to commentsI am pleased about the progress of Canada and their recent success. What concerns me slightly is the the PWR league in England has become the breeding ground for other countries’ players with nearly half of Canada’s team playing there. Long term sustainability of good international teams depends on developing their own leagues and systems. They cannot rely upon England forever.
1 Go to commentsShe has a good sense of the perfect fly half but I agree with her mother about the disfiguring tattoos. I shall watch her progress with interest.
1 Go to commentsSurprised Ireland haven’t already nabbed Rayasi. So much competition in the back three in all NZ Super teams that you need a coach who believes in you and will select you regularly.
6 Go to commentsBath Fan acting all innocent, like Hill would just walk up and casually do that without a reason too 😂
3 Go to commentsDrua have been a fantastic addition to Super. Aus now down to 4 teams. Bring the Jaguares back in, they were Finalists in their last season. Super crowds are rising with afternoon KO’s, not having to cowtow to viewer schedules in UK/SA. win-win.
1 Go to comments