2020 Super Rugby Round 3 - Waratahs v Brumbies @ ANZ Stadium - Saturday 18 July

[Up the Guts]

I mean, i did say we dominated every other aspect of the game..

Yeah he's young. But no point not calling a spade a spade.

The Tahs had plenty of opportunities after that missed kick to ice the game. If anything Simmons dumb penalty that allowed the Brumbies to get into the Tahs’ 22 contributed more to the loss.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Simmons is so far ahead at lineout time of any other lock in the competition.

Hardly a proper test tonight. As soon as Swain left the field, the Brumbies had all backrowers in the back 5. With the amount of ball the Tahs pinched, they should have been able to get across the line.

 

[Up the Guts]

Hardly a proper test tonight. As soon as Swain left the field, the Brumbies had all backrowers in the back 5. With the amount of ball the Tahs pinched, they should have been able to get across the line.

The Brumbies’ lineout was in tatters before Swain left the field.

 

[Brumby Jack]

First up, Waratahs deserved to win that tonight but that lapse at the end was all it took for the Brumbies.

The Waratahs shut off the Brumbies source of attacking ball at the lineout with 7 lost for the Brumbies and that won't please Dan McKellar or Laurie Fisher at all.

The Scrum was another major problem where it almost made winning a penalty pointless as they couldn't win any set piece.

The Waratahs were obviously much better than their last game against the Brumbies and will be better for the run. I think having Hunt really helped Harrison and the others in the backline.

 

[Brumby Runner]

The Brumbies’ lineout was in tatters before Swain left the field.

That's true but went from bad to worse, then.

 

[Derpus]

The Tahs had plenty of opportunities after that missed kick to ice the game. If anything Simmons dumb penalty that allowed the Brumbies to get into the Tahs’ 22 contributed more to the loss.

I disagree but i won't argue the point further.

Another good game regardless. Got very cagey in the end but a tight game right till the end.

 

[qwerty51]

The substitutions for both teams (but mainly the Brumbies) was extremely bizarre. Apart from Slipper and Lolesio why were all the good players coming off???

 

[dru]

The Tahs had plenty of opportunities after that missed kick to ice the game. If anything Simmons dumb penalty that allowed the Brumbies to get into the Tahs’ 22 contributed more to the loss.

I'll have to rerun the game for a dumb Simmons penalty. I'll take it at face value, though.

AND still I maintain Simmo had a MOTM performance. His ruck work was what you expect from a dominant lock. The line out was utterly determined by Simmons. And the Tah scrum, on the whole was dominant.

What more do you want from a lock?

 

[Slim 293]

The Brumbies’ lineout was in tatters before Swain left the field.

Nah, it definitely wasn't as bad prior to that......... they still won most of their own lineout ball up until then.

I'm not sure if they won another lineout after both Swain and Fainga'a left the field though?

 

[Derpus]

Nah, it definitely wasn't as bad prior to that... they still won most of their own lineout ball up until then.

I'm not sure if they won another lineout after both Swain and Fainga'a left the field though?

Didn't look like it - but i don't recall it leading to the Brumbies ever conceding a point.

 

[TSR]

Well - I thought that was a cracker of a game. The Brumbies in the end showing the benefit of experience and confidence in your game plan.

Thought Simmons was superb. In the line outs of course, but also around the field.

Feel sorry for Lolesio - hope it’s not too bad.

 

[dru]

Nah, it definitely wasn't as bad prior to that... they still won most of their own lineout ball up until then.

I'm not sure if they won another lineout after both Swain and Fainga'a left the field though?

AGAIN, I'll rewatch the game, but NO that is not my recollection. Some unexpected decissions, but Tah line out was way superior.

 

[Up the Guts]

I'll have to rerun the game for a dumb Simmons penalty. I'll take it at face value, though.

AND still I maintain Simmo had a MOTM performance. His ruck work was what you expect from a dominant lock. The line out was utterly determined by Simmons. And the Tah scrum, on the whole was dominant.

What more do you want from a lock?

I also thought Simmons was excellent, my point about the penalty was that it’s easy to find an individual error and apportion blame for the loss. I don’t think Simmons nor Harrison were culpable.

 

[Slim 293]

AGAIN, I'll rewatch the game, but NO that is not my recollection. Some unexpected decissions, but Tah line out was way superior.

Of course it was........... but the Brumbies lineout wasn't comically bad until the second half.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Very impressed with Tom Hortons game.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Overall impressions. Brumbies looked very lethargic and not switched on at all in the first half. Maybe the bus trip takes a bit out of the traveling team. The second round bye probably did nothing to improve their chances too.

Tahs are still improving as the young players gain experience. Backline attack looked pretty sharp tonight. Brumbies defense must be about the strongest in the comp. Let in two tries only, and one was a speculator kick from a penalty across field when very few of the Brumbies even seemed to be aware that play had restarted. Brumbies goal kickers need to put in some worthwhile hours practising.

Individual impressions. Hooper not as involved as in last week's game. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) and Tom Roberston make a very solid front row at scrum time. Swinton had less impact than in earlier games. Harrison is improving. Maddocks made a few uncharacteristic errors but generally was solid at the back.

Valetini had a particularly strong game, especially in defense. Sio has some issues at scrum time as he looks to try to pull the opposite THP to the ground. Needs to clean up his act, especially when Gardner is the ref, as he will be more often than not probably in the limited game SRAu competition. Cusack was busy all night. Brumbies have another top notch No 9 in Fines. Keunzle had some very nice touches after he replaced Lolesio. Simone continues to impress and finished on top in the No 12 contest. Banks was busy and threatening but needs some more game time to show his best.

With weight of possession and territory, Tahs should have won. Brumbies showed typical courage and commitment to come back and snatch an unlikely win at the end.

MOTM for me was between Valetini and Simone.

 

[KOB1987]

Harrison has a bit of a mare in the sense that his first fuck up resulted directly in a try, and then he pushed a pretty easy kick. However, up until Lolesio left the field, in open play, he was easily the better player of the two. They both will be part of the future, and I hope Noah only has a strain or something.

 

[Up the Guts]

Simone MOTM? He had one good carry but he made a few errors.

 

[Derpus]

I agree with Dru and UTG, Simmons was the best on the field.

 

[Rebels3]

Cusack and Valetini the difference tonight. Both very good