Queensland leave Transvaal Red-faced
It could have been two from three for Transvaal, but they failed to clear the last hurdle in 1995, losing 30-16 to Queensland in the final at Ellis Park.
Bolstered by several stars who won the World Cup with the Wallabies in 1991, Queensland emerged as a real force in the Super 10 in 1994 as they became the tournament’s second champions after beating Natal 21-10 in the final in Durban.
With the World Cup taking centre stage in 1995, the competition is reduced to a mere footnote in rugby’s annals as the whole affair was already done and dusted by April 10.
Superb defence kept Transvaal at bay for most of the game as the Reds scored four tries against just one which was a late consolation try by scrumhalf Johan Roux.
The Queensland centre combination of Jason Little and Daniel Herbert were two big stars for the winning side.
Three dropped goals from flyhalf Jannie de Beer were not enough.
“A class side always take their opportunities to score tries. We had our chances and didn’t score. When their opportunities surfaced, they scored,” was how Transvaal coach Ray Mordt reflected on the game.
After the match, rugby’s Super 10 chapter was closed with the emergence of the professional era in 1996, the Super 12 competition was born after the formation of Sanzar, the controlling body for major rugby tournaments in the Southern Hemisphere. – Sports Staff