@taniwharugby said in Brumbies v Drua:

Brumbies 42-3

Brumbies pretty average, Drua mostly rocks, glimpses of diamonds.

Think too many of the Drua playing with a 7s mentality leading to some really poor decisions and errors.

Big issues at 9-10 though, 9 clearance (starter and reserve) was too slow, and the 10 not really controlling things, meaning the backs got alot of poor ball.

Good for my picks, nothing else

I just saw the try the 10 bombed by ignoring the short pass and using hands, instead trying the hero ball that fucked all momentum and brought the only reds defender in to play

Reserve grade shit

@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

for what was actually a reasonably enjoyable game

I thought it was enjoyable to watch too. Although not being a cricket, US sports, soccer etc fan I'm just happy to have the rugby back so have enjoyed most games I've watched (even if I have been pointing out shit stuff too 🙂 - stupid league rules in rugby).

@act-crusader said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

@pakman said in Crusaders v Hurricanes:

Just watched first half. Canes right on top. Crazy score at 16-12. Chch didn't do much right, one try ought to have been ruled out for forward pass, lucky only to have one in bin. Canes should have had at least 6 more on board. Canes 16 - Chch 5 would have been fairer reflection. Amazing!

So we came from 16-5 down to win? Makes the win that little bit more sweeter. Onwards and upwards. Get on the bandwagon, Tony Johnson certainly has 😉

Second half 26-20 to Chch. Hard to argue with too much with it. That said, had Ardie's try stood (thought the decision of no try was correct) doubt Canes would have leaked those quick tries.

Had Canes taken their chances they would have won, but that's rugby.

Take aways for me:

Canes backline play electric;

Jordie MOTM for me; but

Chch pack (maul especially) is their matchwinner.

On the money yet again

Interesting tactics, whether it was the conditions or countering the rush defense, the Reds really attacked through the middle.
Salakaia-Loto and Wilson looked busy for Reds I thought.

@duluth said in Waratahs v Drua:

@tim it’s just the usual shitty Tahs crowd

Biggest crowd of the weekend so far 😎

@catogrande said in Italy v England:

But it’s Youngs that is killing us atm

Youngs might be the least deserving player to play 100 tests since Rob Simmons

@kiwiwomble said in Blues/Chiefs/Highlanders game of 3 halves:

anyone give a bit of an over view of the Landers? kind of feel we were just holding on even thought we were fielding pretty much full strength teams

Will probably see a lot more of the style they want to play in the real games but I thought they were just lacking enterprise in their play (for Super). Gregory made good ground quite often but usually then died with the ball as there was no support or anticipated runs off him.
Forwards seemed OK (against the Chiefs)

@steven-harris interesting comment because it aligns with what I think of the refs. I can mostly follow Gardner and Barnes rulings and processes. Others less so.

Match highlights:

@nta said in Scotland v England:

@pakman makes my case - when did that happen? 🙂

Vs France in Paris a few years ago

Squidge take inlcuding "It's almost ineviatable that some coaches have some areas of the game they don't understand as well as others... Gregor Townsend doesn't really understand the scrum, Warren Gatland attack, or Ian Foster rugby"

@duluth said in Hurricanes v Blues (pre-season):

@kiwimurph

Oops, yes I forgot

it's Northland, totally understandable

France - Ireland on Saturday should be a cracker.

Can't really do anything with this fucking vertigo, so I had this still on the sky recorded. 2 points that came up later in the year confirmed

ABs attacking shape was fucking non existent, just individual brilliance made most of the tries. As mentioned above set piece was shit, but HEY we've got individual brilliance George bridge has no positive impact, he is such a pathetic thing to have as an all black 11. That's lomu's Jersey FFS.

Also TJ was rather good, aside from his desperate desire to take every penalty quickly. Conversely DMac was a fucking idiot, with no control, crap passing (first 6 mins, 3 passes to ground), and an ability to either pass to someone in a much poorer position, or run himself into a worse position.

@cgrant said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

Pita Ahki

Played for Tonga and NZU20s and NZ 7s? We could use someone like him. And Moala.

But if they fix their injury worries I'd have no problems with twin midfielders, just imagining what dummy running tactics one could come up with, with twins that could almost look like.

@duluth And that three-match ban will become a two-match ban ...

The No.8 will miss the Brumbies’ Super Rugby Pacific trial matches against the NSW Waratahs on January 29 and the Brumbies’ development team the following week plus their competition opener against Moana Pasifika on February 18.

But Valetini can opt to complete a Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention course to have his ban reduced to two matches.

That avenue is available to offending players in the hope of modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.

I hadn't realised that that option to complete a Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention replace one of the matches a player is suspended for, had been adopted for the November internationals. Is it part of the law trials, or is it an official rule now? I only remember it being trialled by the the U20s a few years ago.

By the way, that a game of the Brumbies development team counts towards his suspension is ridiculous.