Reds edge tense final after Crusaders let Genia out of the bottle

Scrum-half Will Genia produced a moment of opportunistic brilliance to score a 65-metre try that helped the Queensland Reds to a 18-13 victory over the Canterbury Crusaders and their first Super 15 rugby title.

The pulsating match was a fitting finale for both sides who have overcome turmoil this season. The Crusaders were forced to spend their entire season on the road, racking up more than 100,000 kilometres in travel following an earthquake on 22 February that destroyed Christchurch and badly damaged Lancaster Park.

Queensland also suffered a series of devastating summer floods that killed a record amount of people, and badly affected Lang Park.

That was all forgotten yesterday, however, as a record crowd watched a tense encounter that was really only broken open by Genia, who sparked both of the Reds tries, despite being less than his usual slick self.

For the first he found a flying Digby Ioane after a poor Crusaders kick, while for the second he seized on Crusaders' indecisiveness around the ruck to sprint 65 metres after the visitors had turned the ball over.

Stand-off Quade Cooper slotted a conversion and two penalties for the Reds, while Dan Carter scored all of the Crusader points with a try following his own deft kick that pierced a swarming Reds defensive line, a conversion and two penalties.

"We knew the Crusaders would just keep coming, they're a quality side but I'm just lost for words," Queensland captain James Horwill said. "This team, all year people have doubted us and said we couldn't do it. Well tonight I think we showed them we can. And we did it."