Author: Scott Bryant

After half a packet of Tim Tams and five Rum and Cokes, I’ve done some data sets based on various criteria to see how each of the Australian provinces and individual Australian players are going thus far in the Super 14 for this year. Looking the above data, the thing that stands out

Incoming Wallaby skills coach, Richard Graham, has given his support to top line players taking short-term overseas contracts as a way of improving their skills and re-invigorating themselves. Graham took a longer term view about player development, distinctly opposed to the short term view recently put forward by former All Black, Christian Cullen. Cullen, who had his own sabbatical of sorts with Irish province Munster, albeit at the age of 27 and toward at the end of his All Black career, recently told AFP the whole idea of sabbaticals, was an evil for the game.

REDS 26 CHIEFS 50 Full time A fine night in Brizzie tonight after a few showers earlier today.  Both teams are as program. This will be a cracker, after the Blues losing last night the Chiefs can take the title of the best NZ team with a win while the Reds have to win to stay in touch with the increasing number of teams around the 17 point mark Pre-match Reds Coach Phil Mooney suggesting the Reds will try and make the most of their revamped forward pack and play a bit tighter

The good news this week that Big Kev Horwill and Van Humphries are returning to the Reds’ team has been tempered with the really shit news that Peter Hynes has been ruled out with a knee problem. This late change gives newcomer Rodney Davies the task of making Lelia Masaga, not an easy thing to do I’d imagine. But still it could be worse; he could be on the other wing and have to mark Sitiveni Sivivatu, like Blair Connor has to….. The wings are the area where the Chiefs are the strongest whereas the Reds are the weakest, and…

Richard Graham, the newly appointed Wallaby skills coach, is looking forward to coming home to be part of the Wallabies set-up, not only because he’ll get to live close to Sydney’s great beaches, but more particularly working with Robbie Deans. Speaking to G&GR from his coaching den at English Premiership club, Saracens, Graham explained “We will get home (from London) two days before the first Wallaby camp. To start with I’ll be in Brisbane but probably after the end of year tour we’ll move to Sydney – after being a London boy for 7 years I’m looking forward to it,…

Based on the criteria below, I guess it’s down to Drew Mitchell, Diggers, Cliffy and David Pocock. Surprisingly for me is Scott Higginbotham, playing his first full season and featuring in both tables…onya Higgers!!! I love stats.

With the vultures now circling the Tahs season this year and the team showing no signs of improvement from week one, I thought I would give Coach Chris Hickey a plan to re-build the Tahs’ waning fortunes. Sure the Tahs still sit near the top of the table but any realistic appraisal of their performances this year surely shows that they won’t be for too much longer if they continue to meander through games. The Forwards They are performing well at the scrum and line-out however the problem lies with them

Although the Force have made six changes to their starting team from last week, importantly, they have not changed the bulk of the XV who were on the field for last weeks stirring comeback against the ‘Saders. The Force backline this week looks a better balanced unit with James O’Connor going to full back, Drewpy Mitchell going to wing to cover for the injured Shep and Spanner Staniforth coming onto the other wing in place of the also injured Peter Frampton look-a-like, Nick Cummins. Junior Pelesasa joins the run-on team coming into the inside centre spot vacated by O’Connor.  

Tonight news has come through that Reds half-back, Will Genia, has been suspended by the SANZAR judiciary for a month, meaning he will miss three games due to the Reds having the bye this week.

1. Benn Robinson (Tahs) – Has gotten the better of his opposite numbers two weeks in a row and shown that he is the number one, no. 1 in the country. More often than not he was scrumming against two opponents, as George Smith would slide up along side the under pressure Brumbies tight-head and actually be in the front row. The ref’s didn’t pick it up but they missed a fair bit, still didn’t stop the Tahs from taking a tight head. 2. Tatafu Polota Nau (Tahs) – A year ago Taffy couldn’t hit the side of a barn…

Final Score Reds 25 Shorks 13 6 min – Sharks turnover Reds go wide from scrum Lucas has had two kicks charged down and dropped two balls in the first 5 mins 8 mins – Reds on attack after going wide, get short arm penalty and have a scrum 22mtr out to the left of the posts 9 mins – another Reds attack comes to nothing, too  lateral in attack and Hynes threw the ball into touch,  Connor should have taken it 11mins Awful move from the scrum with Kankowski running into touch – Reds playing all the rugby 12…

A fine night in Brisbane and much cooler than the last time we were here! John Smit is a late change coming in for Jannie du Plessis who moves to the bench. The Sharks can go top of the table with a win here after the Tahs dropped their bundle last night

The end is nigh for the Reds and this prophecy has been heralded with the arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Scrummaging Apocalypse – John Smit, the aptly named ‘Beast’ Mtawaria, Deon Castens and Jannie du Plessis. If you thought the Reds scrum was dished up last week, well wait until this four prop rotation gets hold of the wet-behind-the-ears Reds’props this week. The Reds have lost Spuddie Holmes and line-out leader, Van Humphries, to injury and Dayna Edwards and Charlie Fetoai have carried the can for the Reds defeat, and have been rissoled. Coach Phil Mooney has re-arranged…

The silence is deafening after the Force’s total capitulation last weekend against Waikato. What is going on? After an incredibly exhilarating win against the Brumbies, the meek effort produced against Waikato suggests perhaps that Gits and a raft of others may have more pressing things on their mind. Imagine if this sort of shit had happened a year ago, John Mitchell would have been on the front foot with some players well and truly in his sights. This year however, with Mitch effectively neutered, there hasn’t been a peep. The only conversation Mitch has probably had is with his lawyers…

We are approximately a quarter of the way through the competition so it is timely to give Robbie Deans a hand and let him know what a Wallaby 22 would look like, based on this seasons’ form, if the Wallabies were playing a test match next week. 1. Benn Robinson (Tahs) – Has been by the most consistent of the Australian loose heads thus far. His all-round performance against the Reds was outstanding. After a somewhat below par scrummaging effort against the Highlanders, he underlined his authority with a dominate showing this week after being in doubt with a knee…

NSW Waratahs 15 – Queensland Reds 11 . As these types of fixtures go, last night’s game was pretty good. Although the scoreboard may not show it, there was a fair bit of attacking rugby played, only to be totally dominated by both team’s brutal defences. At times even the Tahs got into the spirit of entertainment and attempted to run the ball and construct play – could this be the start of the ugly-duckling turning into the beautiful swan?

The Reds have the style, the Tahs have the substance, which is better is a matter of preference. Do you like your team to grind the opposition into submission, or do you like your team to play the style of rugby that makes you want to watch? The Tahs have ground out results this year based on their low risk, percentage game plan, it may have left some screaming in frustration, but others basking in its brutality. There is nothing subtle about the Tahs, they play to win and are not ashamed of the affect it has on crowds or…

Juan Cote names his Australian Super 14 team of the week for round 3. Do you agree with his picks?

Juan Cote’s review of Queensland Reds vs Cheetahs in round 3 of Super 14 2009

Preview of the QLD Reds vs Cheetahs round 3 super 14 match 2009