Every week during the Super 14 season G&GR will take a look at the key plays and players of the week just had. We can be a myopic lot here at G&GR sometimes, so no point stopping now.
Let’s make it clear. Our focus is the Wallabies, so these reviews will focus on the Aussie teams and Aussie teams only. Not that we won’t cover the kiwi and saffa teams in our posts, but in this particular weekly wrap up it will be all about the Aussies. So let’s get to it.
Team of the Round.jpg "LT")
15 Peter Hynes [QLD]
14 Digby Ioane [QLD]
13 Stirling Mortlock [ACT]
12 Christian Lealiifano [ACT]
11 Lachlan Turner [NSW]
10 Quade Cooper [QLD]
9 Will Genia [QLD]
8 Wycliff Palu [NSW]
7 David Pocock [WA]
6 Matt Hodgson [WA]
5 Nathan Sharpe [WA]
4 Mark Chisholm [ACT]
3 Al Baxter [NSW]
2 Stephen Moore [ACT]
1 Ben Alexander [ACT]
There you go. Our “Wallaby” team from the first round. It is probably significant that there are no Reds players in the pack, although Jimmy Horwill came damn close. Likewise the battle for the 15 jersey, between Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O’Connor and Hynes was hard fought.
Four from the Reds, five from the Brumbies, three from the Tahs and three from the Force. I’d say that’s probably a fair distribution given performances over the weekend.
.jpg "Will")
Player of the Round
Will Genia from the Reds takes this out. The guy was sensational for the Reds last year, despite limited field time. When he broke into the Wallabies he was consistently one of our best. Now he’s back as the Reds first choice scrumhalf and he’s showed everyone why on Saturday night. His service and sniping was dynamic and kept the Tahs on the hop all night. His role in the penalty try was brilliant and critical given the context of the match at the time.
Try of the Round
Josh Valentine’s try was the first of their match against the Western Force and featured one of the most beautiful, and yet funny as hell, sights on a rugby field. A fat guy running. Benny Alexander we love your work. But it goes back a step to the pass by fellow fatty Steven Moore, who delivered a delightful inside ball to put Big Ben away. It was a great run by Alexander, transferring the ball into two hands to keep the opposition guessing. Eventually he found George Smith (dare I say, bordering on the ‘fat-ish’ side?) on the inside, who scooped up the low pass on the ground before popping it up to a supporting Valentine who scooted the rest of the way to score. Great interplay by the tight forwards, nice support play by Smith and Val and a ripper of a way to start the Super 14 season.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvWNSd0YNtc[/youtube]
Moment of the Round:
Big Cliffy Palu’s match winning try. This is the type of impact you want your big players to have. The fact that Palu pulled it off in the last minute of the game should not be understated either. The big fellah has worked hard on his fitness in the last couple of years, and this is exactly why. It was a big match play by a big match player and it gave the Waratahs just the start to the season, whilst at the same time giving their opponents, the Reds, the start they (the Waratahs) wanted as well. A demoralising one.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThuxYbSCjjA[/youtube]
