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Yeah, Vermuelen is just a fucking tank, isn't he? Was very good versus the Brumbies, I thought. Would love to him him at 8 for the Reds.

I thought he tended to lose the ball more when he hit the ground in the tackle rather than when he took the contact in the tackle. I was wondering if that was more due to holding the ball in an awkward way.

That's a bit unfair, isn't it? I thought what BH said was quite reasonable. The criticism of Toua was objective in my opinion - he has looked dangerous on attack, but at the same time he as made a lot of mistakes, primarily losing the ball when tackled and defensive mistakes. You can't say...

He might mean the rugby "journalist" Stephen Jones?

Correct - no exemption is make for momentum with knock ons. Broadly, if the ball hits the hands or arm and goes forward and hits anything other than the player in question, it's a knock on. Knock ons are often incorrectly ruled for the ball hitting the player's chest, or head. Forward passes...

Note that the AFL game simulcast on FTA is actually the game on Fox Footy (Sydney v Collingwood), not the game on FS3. The A-league game is Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC, so I guess Foxtel expect that game to get more viewers than an Aus v SA Super Rugby game.

I a loss by 7 also includes a Stormers win, I suspect you will be good! Stormers +7.5 looks not too bad right now :(

With the disappointing crowd numbers so far, anyone know how the Waratahs fincials are looking? A home semi may be crucial to ensuring the Tahs stay financial this year.

Yeah, Murphy was strong in the scrum when he came on, but I didn't think he was that much stronger than JP, and JP looks stronger around the field. I suspect it will be a line ball decision between which of them starts. Two of JP, Ruan and Murphy would normally be on the bench. They all seem...

Bray also has rejected neutral refs.

Found a press release, all I heard was "Berry axed" on the radio tonight. Berry not sacked, just stood down. http://superxv.com/41941/1/super-rugby-referees-stood-down-by-sanzar#.Uy_rRfm1ZCQ Berry, Gardner, Lees and O'Brien stood down for a few rounds. South African Lourens van der...

Berry axed.

Alexanders generally good, he's just had a few technical issues with the way he set which caused his head to be under his hips resulting in him hinging or collapsing too often. The change in scrum rules seems to have favoured him, no hit means more stability in contact and less hinging when...

What irks me is commentators who don't know the rules. Some of the Aus commentators are pretty bad in this regard. Marto took a refs course and he still doesn't know them! Horan is another, he played the game at the top level for years and can't say why the ref awarded the penalty, even when...

Could you imagine the presser if Cheika was the coach? I posted in the Stormers thread about Toua - he's a great attacker, but he loses the ball way too much in contact. He seems to make loads of halfbreaks, but seems to just lose his feet as he's in the clear. Loads of potential, but he's...

Half time: McAffrey came on at half time to replace the injured Butler 55 minutes: Whetton replaces Smiler with Fardy moving to blindside, Murphy replaces JP Smith 72 minutes: Moore replaced by Siliva, Moore was limping badly No backs replaced, Ruan Smith the only forward not to get on for...

I only had two issues with the Shorks last week: 1) Coetzee got away with murder at the breakdown 2) The ref's interaction with the Shorks players compared to the Reds - firstly joking and the friendliness, then the insane JdP exchange, and his no time for the Reds' captain All in all, last...

When is CFS due back? This week? He had hamstring soreness, so much be back soon. Harris has been good, but has been kicking away too much ball with rubbish chip kicks and grubbers. He needs to be told no more short kicks. It was also Taps' best game in a long, long time. Who will be...

And special magical stats for those interested, Lions conceded penalties per game this year: vs Reds: 4 vs Blues: 10 vs Sharks: 8 vs Bulls: 11 vs Stormers: 13 vs Cheetahs: 12 One of those is not like the others. Can @mst pick which one? Here's a little hint for @mst : prior to the Reds...

Oh, and I doubt the Reds went into that game looking to push the breakdown as a tactic. They openly stated in press conferences before the game that they were afraid of Boshoff's boot and were going to try to be disciplined.