And so it begins. Trial match. Force v Brumbies
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Moono75
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Your only as good as your last game......and well we won.
I know preseason means nothing. Good to see competition for starting places with the Force.
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Just got back from the game. Nice turnout for the first trial.
Admittedly missed the first 25 or so minutes, but the Force looked more assured - their defence withstanding the Brumbies' attacking efforts.
Came into time to just see Chris Alcock run 20-odd metres to score in the left corner off a Brumbies turnover. I'm guessing the Force kicked 4 penalties before that.
Anyway, the Force maul was very effective against the Brumbies in the 10 minute period before half time when it was employed.
The Brumbies had so much trouble nullifying it legally that Tom Staniforth copped a team yellow for illegally bringing down a Force maul that easily chewed up 20-30 metres.
Off the ensuing 5m scrum, it was as simple as spreading it through the hands for Brache to get the overlap and score in the left corner.
17-0.
With 10 minutes to go until half time, the Brumbies lifted the tempo, as they made it to the 22 ball in hand, up the right hand side of the field.
A penalty conceded by the Force (for offside I think) and the Brumbies opted for the corner as they were down 17-0.
A well constructed rolling maul from the lineout and they forced themselves over the line - Pocock the beneficiary.
17-7 to the home team. Half time.
Admittedly missed the first 25 or so minutes, but the Force looked more assured - their defence withstanding the Brumbies' attacking efforts.
Came into time to just see Chris Alcock run 20-odd metres to score in the left corner off a Brumbies turnover. I'm guessing the Force kicked 4 penalties before that.
Anyway, the Force maul was very effective against the Brumbies in the 10 minute period before half time when it was employed.
The Brumbies had so much trouble nullifying it legally that Tom Staniforth copped a team yellow for illegally bringing down a Force maul that easily chewed up 20-30 metres.
Off the ensuing 5m scrum, it was as simple as spreading it through the hands for Brache to get the overlap and score in the left corner.
17-0.
With 10 minutes to go until half time, the Brumbies lifted the tempo, as they made it to the 22 ball in hand, up the right hand side of the field.
A penalty conceded by the Force (for offside I think) and the Brumbies opted for the corner as they were down 17-0.
A well constructed rolling maul from the lineout and they forced themselves over the line - Pocock the beneficiary.
17-7 to the home team. Half time.
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
2nd Half
From the beginning of the second half, the Brumbies showed more urgency after a stern word from Larkham.
Brumbies' big ball carriers started to get into the game as they advanced into the Force half; Ita Vaea (or Tongan Thor as the guy next to me remarked) in particular was destructive in contact.
Can't recall when exactly, but I would say about 45/50 minutes in, the Brumbies got quick ball around the Force 22 and exploited a mismatch it looked like in midfield.
Forgive me but I think it was Ah Wong with the linebreak, and drawing in the last man, offloaded in contact with one hand to Lilo in support to touch down and bring the scores to within 3.
17-14.
For the rest of the game it was largely stop-start as both teams would make inroads into the opposition half, but knock it on mostly.
In particular, the Force used their rolling maul to get to within the Brumbies 22 but seemed to turn it over as they built up some continuity.
Instead of kicking for touch, the Brumbies spread it wide to Coleman, who just sliced through the disorganised Force defence with ease - making his way up into the Force half before spilling it.
Seemed like the Force shut up shop in that fourth quarter. They spent most of the fourth quarter camped in the opp half with no points to show for it.
To add to that, they kept kicking for touch when it would have been better to keep the ball in hand.
Then the game seemed to burst into life as the Force off a lineout battered the line, prying for an opening.
A strong run by Godwin (?) got him within crawling distance of the line but was brought down short.
A quick recycle and Wilhelm Steenkamp (thought the announcer said Luke Burton at the time) was fed the ball to score.
24-14.
Went to get some refreshments at this time, but was told when I came back that the Force scored through Mitchell Scott, who was fed an inside ball from Ebersohn or Holmes - whoever was outhalf then.
31-14.
The Brumbies, trying to put some respectability in the score, hit back in order to close the deficit. A well gathered take on their own kick, and they went on the offensive.
My recollection is hazy but it was after some phases that the Force conceded a penalty for offside (?) and Steenkamp was binned.
Kicking to touch, it was almost certain/assured that the Brumbies would maul it up 5m out and that they did. Couldn't catch the name of who scored though. Nic White converted the consolation try at the end.
Full time. 31-21 to the Force.
Not a bad hitout: the Force backs looked decent when they got going in attack.
Certainly looked more fluid than the Brumbies, who did have a lot of Wallabies rested, and new players and combinations tested.
The Brumbies full-strength with their Wallabies will be dangerous when they meet us this year.
From the beginning of the second half, the Brumbies showed more urgency after a stern word from Larkham.
Brumbies' big ball carriers started to get into the game as they advanced into the Force half; Ita Vaea (or Tongan Thor as the guy next to me remarked) in particular was destructive in contact.
Can't recall when exactly, but I would say about 45/50 minutes in, the Brumbies got quick ball around the Force 22 and exploited a mismatch it looked like in midfield.
Forgive me but I think it was Ah Wong with the linebreak, and drawing in the last man, offloaded in contact with one hand to Lilo in support to touch down and bring the scores to within 3.
17-14.
For the rest of the game it was largely stop-start as both teams would make inroads into the opposition half, but knock it on mostly.
In particular, the Force used their rolling maul to get to within the Brumbies 22 but seemed to turn it over as they built up some continuity.
Instead of kicking for touch, the Brumbies spread it wide to Coleman, who just sliced through the disorganised Force defence with ease - making his way up into the Force half before spilling it.
Seemed like the Force shut up shop in that fourth quarter. They spent most of the fourth quarter camped in the opp half with no points to show for it.
To add to that, they kept kicking for touch when it would have been better to keep the ball in hand.
Then the game seemed to burst into life as the Force off a lineout battered the line, prying for an opening.
A strong run by Godwin (?) got him within crawling distance of the line but was brought down short.
A quick recycle and Wilhelm Steenkamp (thought the announcer said Luke Burton at the time) was fed the ball to score.
24-14.
Went to get some refreshments at this time, but was told when I came back that the Force scored through Mitchell Scott, who was fed an inside ball from Ebersohn or Holmes - whoever was outhalf then.
31-14.
The Brumbies, trying to put some respectability in the score, hit back in order to close the deficit. A well gathered take on their own kick, and they went on the offensive.
My recollection is hazy but it was after some phases that the Force conceded a penalty for offside (?) and Steenkamp was binned.
Kicking to touch, it was almost certain/assured that the Brumbies would maul it up 5m out and that they did. Couldn't catch the name of who scored though. Nic White converted the consolation try at the end.
Full time. 31-21 to the Force.
Not a bad hitout: the Force backs looked decent when they got going in attack.
Certainly looked more fluid than the Brumbies, who did have a lot of Wallabies rested, and new players and combinations tested.
The Brumbies full-strength with their Wallabies will be dangerous when they meet us this year.
Tries to Morahan and Alcock.
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Ah. Thought at the time the Alcock try was held up or something over the line, and brought back for a penalty advantage.
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Carried hard did Vaea. Hell, even JP Smith was throwing himself into contact.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Can only be a good thing Charger. If he stays healthy and gets back to something like what we know he can do it will be a massive boost for the Wallabies later in the year. Imagine him coming on at the back end of a tight game to create mayhem at the breakdown.
lincoln
Bob Loudon (25)
Imagine him coming on at the beginning of the game and bringing some real gravitas to the capitancy role.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Thanks for the write up Bairdy.
Can you, or anyone at the match, provide some or more comments on particular players and combinations?
Cottrill?
RHP?
Colman?
Godwin?
DHP?
Pocock?
Vaea?
Coleman @10?
Dargaville @ 12?
Who played 15?
Force locks v Brumbies' locks?
9/10 combinations?
Front rows?
Much appreciated.
Can you, or anyone at the match, provide some or more comments on particular players and combinations?
Cottrill?
RHP?
Colman?
Godwin?
DHP?
Pocock?
Vaea?
Coleman @10?
Dargaville @ 12?
Who played 15?
Force locks v Brumbies' locks?
9/10 combinations?
Front rows?
Much appreciated.
Like in the one test he captained against Scotland?
Forcefield
Ken Catchpole (46)
He captained a handful of games, but that Scotland game was a shocker. The Welsh series went better.
I wonder if Force management had any discussions with Pocock about what he wants to do in 2016.
I wonder if Force management had any discussions with Pocock about what he wants to do in 2016.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
We actually did okay for most of the game under appalling conditions.
I cannot see any blame accruing to the captain for Aussie Mike's extraordinary error, nor for the scrum penalty.
It's churlish to draw any conclusion about the captaincy other than that he did okay given the circumstances. I wonder who would have done better? Superman?
It more related to the fact that people seem to take Pocock's excellent qualities off the rugby field as a sign he is a great captain when his captaincy on the field is limited both in experience and effectiveness.
If you go back to the Scotland test and the Wales series there was certainly no one proclaiming he was going to be the new long term captain of the Wallabies.
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Neither has Moore, or Horwill at times.
All the names thrown out for the captaincy: Moore, Horwill, Pocock, Hooper, Slipper - they are the 'lead by example' types, but are lacking when it comes to ref coaxing.
But what the aforementioned three have over other prospective leaders is their seniority - you don't see/hear Craig Joubert tell Horwill to lead by example twice in a game.
Which is why it was a damn shame when Mowen left, because he was both. The only guys that come to mind now that could lead as well as him are Hodgson and Dennis, and they would struggle to make it on the Wallabies bench.
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