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TSR, the Aussie teams look to be short on strong, power players in the forwards compared with the Blues and Chiefs in particular. I can see LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) filling a gap in the second row because he can challenge the defensive line and often make a half break or more, but he does need to prove his fitness...

OK, so my summary of the match : 1. The poor kick off reception by the Brumbies early in the match sealed the result. It should be noted though that in the second half, the Brumbies also retained possession after a couple of their kick restarts too. 2. The Blues power game through pick and...

Anyway I look at it SX, he says that the differences between Rugby and League are becoming greater and then, apparently supporting that argument, that Rugby is slow and stop start with any rational interpretation being that it is slower than League and hence players would suit the similar stop...

So slow? Not a position supported by Matt Rogers on STAN last night. He specifically claimed as someone who had played both that rugby is a lot faster game than League. Also that the standard of rugby in this country has improved this year over the past few years.

Referring to the Reds then SMI.

And didn't that go just hunky dorey at the RWC?

Never heard anyone anywhere gushing about JP's athletic freakiness except from one particular poster here. He is certainly a high class athlete but really no more so than most of those who play rugby at this level.

Must assume they weren't mistakes but some deliberate decision making Pfitzy. Missed knock-ons, trips and scrum antics were on the Touchies and TMO as well as Doleman.

That's true D, but not only Swain (he was the worst culprit). Frost also at fault with his misjudgement and YC late in the game. A game where, in the first 30 minutes, Brumbies took the 3 points on offer and immediately gave up 5 or 7.

Brumbies won the last 50 minutes 14 - 10. While they weren't in the game after the initial 30 minutes, they showed enough to suggest it could have been a lot closer had the refereeing been fair and even-handed.

He's good at the breakdown. Up there with Henry Speight.

Ahhh. C'mon D. Every Rebels player with a bit of talent has been linked to other Aussie Super Rugby teams, often multiple ones. Seems the Brumbies are the only team destined to lose players and have the quality of their squad reduced for 2025.

Too many injuries in the backline late in the game and Cale switches to No 12. He'll rip those Blues backs to pieces.

Brown is now Wallaby eligible I believe. Pretty rough if he's now being forced (encouraged) to leave just as he could be considered for national selection. Agree on the hookers. Barring injury, we are well covered. Will be interesting to see if and where Declan Meredith fits into the 23 next...

He is definitely an option, but I have been more impressed with his performances on the wing. Unusually in this country, he is a bigger body and is good in both defence and attack on the wing. I know he's a Kiwi of Aussie parentage, but my reference to him being unusual was in the context of...

Looking forward to Joe's picks for the train on squad from the Reds and Rebels now.

What's Irae Simone's contract status, and how's his form? Of the locals, I would have liked to see Carter Gordon have a go at 12 for us, but looks like he's off to the Tahs. EDIT : of course the Brumbies also have Austin Anderson on the books, so he's likely to be next cab off the rank.

Am I right in thinking this will be the third year in a row of a semi-final between the Blues and Brumbies at Eden Park?

Again, we see the importance of someone like Charlie Cale to the Brumbies. With the scrum going backwards and being penalised at almost every one of them in the first half, the Highlanders were enjoying a glut of possession and territory, but Cale's lineout steals and the pressure he puts on the...

Always frustrating to win a lineout against the throw only to see a massive loss of territory or turnover because nobody was ready for the steal. With Canham, Holloway, Cale and Frost, someone should always be on guard to collect the steal.