Briefly: Lynagh lifts the gloom: Rugby union

In an event pretentiously billed as the 'supersport series of the world,' the quality of the play in the Superten final in which Queensland beat Natal 21-10, was strictly provincial, writes Chris Rea from Durban. It was not helped, however, by the incompetence of the New Zealand referee, Glen Wahlstrom. Natal, who are England's opponents here on Saturday, and whose passage to the final had been worked through their backs, were unable to establish a secure enough base against Queensland's powerful pack. Not even the loss of their international centres, Jason Little and Tim Horan, who has a dislocated patella, could disrupt the Australians' progress. It was Michael Lynagh's vision which lifted the game from its mediocrity. With his first touch of the ball he created a try with a perfectly flighted kick to his wing, Barry Lea, who scored. And in the closing minutes of the game his drop goal and two penalties stopped Natal's second-half recovery.

(Photograph omitted)