That last kick? Yeah WTF was that all about??Lonergan what the fuck... And Angus missed a clear knock on.
God we missed Noah
Never understand why teams play with urgency when they are way behind at the end of the game. Why not play like that from the beginning...Can't say I'm impressed with a team that only plays well for ten minutes.
It was poor rugby .... why kick when the bell had gone and you were chasing a bonus point.That last kick? Yeah WTF was that all about??
They played earlier .. it wasn't just 10 minutes, just dumb errors e.g. running into your own player off a kick off, or just dropping it cold, and a really poor kicking game tonight.. short clearing kicks.. box kicks and up and unders that went straight up...Can't say I'm impressed with a team that only plays well for ten minutes.
That's what I said:Thought Matera was bloody good, but also was well impessed with Sam W and Scott Barrett although he looked to fade a bit in second half.Cosy Taylor looked pretty ok too, and Blackadder and Grace didn't leave anything in the tank! That's where game was won, in the forwards.
The physical battle in the first half was won by Saders forwards and even some backs
The combo 9/10, White/Iona was a completely disaster in the first half. Iona is not at Super Rugby standard IMO.
Iona is not super rugby standard. He was barely NRC standard. They need to get rid of him.
This isnt Iona first rodeo.. his had plenty of opportunities even this season, but last night he didn't cover himself in glory.. Although White didn't help him, he should have box kicked that first charge down and should have taken the pressure off him where he could.Harsh, lads.
It seemed to me that Iona contributed errors, some major, including defence, certainly distribution. But for goodness sake, how much Super game time has he had? It struck me that the had skills consistent with a Super 10 and how he went against the Saders is hardly an ability ceiling. The Halves were struggling not just on their own account but because the opposition D was fierce and in their face. Brumbies lost this game by losing the collision, the physicality, the after contact meters, the cleanliness of ruck ball, and hence the speed of the play.
Any major intro to Super for a game player is likely to be rough, but against a better team controlling the ruck, well, it's a big ask. I would not be writing off Iona at all on that performance. There is something of a responsibility, I think, for the stronger Aus Super teams, to bring through talent. Iona has plenty to go before Brumbies can claim to have given that a decent go.
This all said, we are by default starting to see where Noah is. I'm liking it. Brumbies need him back. The combination at 9-10 in the Brumbies probably needs some respect at WB level. Not the only decision datapoint but one that should be added in.
This isnt Iona first rodeo.. his had plenty of opportunities even this season, but last night he didn't cover himself in glory.. Although White didn't help him, he should have box kicked that first charge down and should have taken the pressure off him where he could.
I personally think we need a better back up for Noah, but his what we got.
I thought Tom Hooper was great at 6.
He has been around for years and never been able to get to Super Rugby standard. He made his debut for the Brumbies in 2014 against the NSW Waratahs and returned to Brumbies HQ in 2020 to train and was not added to the squad until half our young backs left to go to the Force. He struggled at the NRC level as well.OK, fill me in. I'm not a Brumbies fan and have not been watching his progress closely.