The Silver Fern

@antipodean I'm going from this year's form, he's been one of the best players for the Brumbies and one of the top fullbacks in the comp. Wright's screwed up plenty of times in the past but is this the year he's finally matured? Who knows but I'd have him in the mix for sure.

Darby Lancaster is another young gun winger playing really well for the Rebels. He could also be in the mix. The Wallabies aren't short of outside back options.

A classic case of one team playing to their strengths and stopping the other in their tracks from using theirs and capitalising of the fustration that causes.

Dura forwards didn't stand up when they were needed, if they'd managed to stop the rolling maul they would have won but they let in 3 tries(?) via the maul and just as many out wide when their defence compressed too far in to stop the maul and left gaps out wide.

Shows sometimes how rugby is a simple game, sometimes all you need is one attacking play that works well and a little bit of brains on top to easily win games.

@KiwiMurph said in Waratahs v Rebels:

Tahs lost the penalty count 18-4. Discipline might be a good place to start

So... Basically the last... forever.

@Dan54 said in Hurricanes vs Rebels:

@booboo said in Hurricanes vs Rebels:

Random thoughts with 7 to go ...

Canes eased off in 2nd half. Should have hit 80.

Tupou is ok huh. Shame he elected for Aus. Would have been a superstar if he stayed on the good side of the Tassie.

Godfry has a future

TJP might still have a future

O'reilly goes ok. Was he the dude with behaviour issues?

Canes locks too small to have much of a future

Lomax gunna be AB cornerstone next few years. Tupou good, Lomax better.

All for now.

Well I am stunned that anyone is talking up Tupou, he spent most of time on field, either walking in midfield, or on odd time he gpt to ruck he never drives in from back. he looked unfit, and uninterested for about 30 of the 40 minnutes he was on field.

As I say, he'd have veen a superstar if he'd stayed in the NZ system and made to work. Guy can scrum and run. I'd be picking him.

Woo hoo Rebels on top of the ladder ( Until tomorrow anyway)

@Duluth said in Rebels v Brumbies:

5:05 in that video - wtf? Yes it's an easy three points, but you're down big and it's a free shot at 7 ffs. Doesn't exactly seem like their hearts are in it.

@Bones said in Highlanders v Rebels:

@NTA said in Highlanders v Rebels:

I loved how Hardwick was pulled off his feet in a neck roll, but we don't seem to penalise that any more

I've been interested to see how much pulling there's been at the breakdown this year. I thought that was a penalty offence? Even against Australians I think.

The neck rolls and pulling players into your side of the ruck is a blight

I loved the footage from the 1988 tour where he was cheering and then a try got disallowed and then his face changed to disappointment, that look was priceless. Had a video of that tour.

I was less happy in 91 obviously.

@KiwiMurph said in Rebels v Brumbies:

More day games please.

Rebels could have won that if they were a bit smarter close to the Brumbies line.

That was such brainless play at the end. Did they not understand the law change a few seasons back about goal line drop outs for held up? One YC already, opponent on another warning, a quick tap and run straight at a defender behind his line? Moronic.

@mikedogz I chuckled when I saw him running. Such a low centre of gravity aye.
Bench firepower unashamedly won that for the Saders. Some really good cameos and nice touches from the likes of Moananu, McLeod and Goodhue. And the subbing of Drummond who was a real handbrake.

@TheMojoman said in Rebels v Blues:

@Bones said in Rebels v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Rebels v Blues:

Second week in a row where I've thought Blues haven't missed much with Plummer at 12.

Doesn't bode well for RTS' AB hopes.

I thought Plummer was a bit of a lynchpin really. Tidied up a lot and really helped keep the backline running smoothly.

The “glue man” all good back lines need. I do think Rieko looks better with RTS beside him though ie, straight running 2nd five who can bend the line and give him some more space to operate.

I think the jury is still out on that combination. I don't think it has looked comfortable. I'm not sure how many times it has happened and perhaps it was as a bench replacement last season(?), but the Heem/Ioane combo looked dangerous and a little more fluent.

@Mattasaurus said in Drua v Rebels:

Love the crowd over there,

Thought it amusing the line between the cheap ground admission and the side on terrace seats

@Stargazer said in Chiefs v Rebels:

@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs v Rebels:

Late change

DMac in for Ioane on the bench

Not because of an injury. Sad to read on Ioane's instagram that his father passed away (cancer).

The black armbands suggested someone had died.

@Bovidae said in Rebels v Waratahs:

The Rebels will have some confidence before playing the Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend.

They'll get smoked.