Well it’s a rare circumstance in which a draw can be described as heroic defeat, Tonight’s draw against the Waikato Chief’s falls into that unusual category.
This one-eyed fan thought the ref and touchies were worth at least 14 points to the visistors.
But far more importantly the vision and audacity with which our guys played was worthy of the hard fought title of “Brumbies Rugby”.
It won’t always come off.
But it does give me an excuse to use one of my very favourite quotes:
We were — that I will not deny — vanquished in that conflict:
yet the great intention was not lacking in nobility.
Something or other gave Him victory: to us remained
the glory of a dauntless daring.
And even if my troop fell thence vanquished,
yet to have attempted a lofty enterprise is still a trophy.La Strage degli Innocenti (The Slaughter of the Innocents) by Giambattista Marino
ABC Online coverage is up here (also describing the draw as defeat), RugbyHeaven’s reportage is here, Planet-Rugby ask more questions about Ben Batger here, FoxSports have a brief summary here. SA Rugby also have a rather good report up here
The Canberra Times have less forgiving coverage. They do make the point that our second halves have been particularly poor lately. Which is odd, because before Coach Fisher arrived they had been particularly good.