Brumbies V Force Trial Match 4 Feb 2012

[Bruwheresmycar]

OMG WOOOOAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Force must have been treating this game like a world cup final! It says they complained to SANZAR!

Why on earth would they do this? (ignoring the fact we play them in round 1)

Do you reckon they want SANZAR to change the result? Or maybe just give us a losing bonus point?

Personally I think they want the Brumbies banned from the comp for life because they are just too good. But it's a theory in development at this stage.

 

[Slim 293]

Well, it's obviously a bit of gamesmanship for the round 1 clash.

 

[barbarian]

Interesting article: Has Coach Graham made a complaint in private to SANZAR but wont comment? Howsthat !~ a formal compliant from a TRIAL match, jeez now tell me again, it doesn't mean anything to these guys? its just a run in the park...

When did Graham or the Force ever suggest it was 'just a run in the park'? Just because they said they didn't particularly care about the scoreboard doesn't mean they weren't taking it seriously.

And I think a trial match is a perfect time to raise an issue with a scrummaging tactic- either nip it in the bud before the season starts (which is better for both sides) or clarify it to be legal and thus the Force can adjust accordingly.

Seems like common sense to me.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Yea, I'd say it's a "bit" gamesmanship for round 1. Obviously we don't want them disrupting the scrum calls in an important game.

But I think it's also a "bit" due to the shock of losing to the Brumbies by so much. They probably went into panic mode and had SANZAR on speed dial and had to make up an excuse for calling them so late at night. I can still see Richard Graham having nightmares about this loss.

 

[Ghibli]

A few people come to this board with strong opinions, either with starting posts or responding. As long as it does not get personal.
The Brumbies had a poor year in 2011, and before the trial match were put down by most, in the press predicted wooden spooners (that is a strong opinion), and in boards such as this one. I even read posts on TWF talking about how "the ponies don't stand for anything honorable in rugby". Well, where do we start?
I guess it is OK to take the Mickey out of people, but not patronising please.
A trial is just a trial, 99 per cent of Brumbies' fans know it, and are not predicting to win the comp or playing finals.
We're happy we won, but the force gave up possibly 20+ points in kicks, and they missed their best players.
Bottom line, better to win than to lose, including trial matches, but I am sure that neither White or the players are getting carried away.
The critics keep pointing out that the Brumbies lost lots of Wallabies, and that now they have only three = wooden spoon.
Is that an issue? Is having Wallabies a guarantee of success? At least a couple of teams in the Australian conference in 2011 had lots of them, and were not in the final. Anyway, good luck to all the Aus S15 teams, may the best team win - in the end, the field always delivers the best team.

 

[Moono75]

Interesting article: Has Coach Graham made a complaint in private to SANZAR but wont comment? Howsthat !~ a formal compliant from a TRIAL match, jeez now tell me again, it doesn't mean anything to these guys? its just a run in the park...

The only worthwhile comment out of all this is the last bit from Force hooker Nathan Charles saying the Force were "out-enthused". That pretty much sums it up. Super Rugby starts in round 1, last time I checked the ladder still shows all teams on 0 wins.

 

[Slim 293]

Yea, I'd say it's a "bit" gamesmanship for round 1. Obviously we don't want them disrupting the scrum calls in an important game.

But I think it's also a "bit" due to the shock of losing to the Brumbies by so much. They probably went into panic mode and had SANZAR on speed dial and had to make up an excuse for calling them so late at night. I can still see Richard Graham having nightmares about this loss.

Sounds about right...

 

[mudskipper]

Well said Ghibli... you know, the score could have been greater if the Brumbies didn't kick for goal so often...

But now I'm not so convinced the Force did show up to play, nonetheless a good run in the park for the Brumbies...any positive is good for them now…

Yep looking forward to round one, new beginnings for the Ponies... I still say Brumbies season between 6-10... yes an optimist, yes one eyed supporter...

but jeez didn't one little word "ZIP" get a few here is a tiz… .... they just dont like the Brumbies getting up again after hard times...

 

[tranquility]

No mate, don't play it like that. You inflamed the situation repeatedly, with ignorant and incoherent rants. I hope you learn from this, and put some decent posts together in future. There what makes this place, the place that it is.

 

[mudskipper]

Tranquility go back and read the post and also Brumbies 2012... You might see my posts... in a new more tranquil light....

 

[tranquility]

Mate I have read them all, and with that last remark have written you off completely. I just wish this site offered a way of blocking certain users posts, maybe it will come to fruition because I am sure there are currently quite a few posters who are feeling the same way.

 

[mudskipper]

Apologies I didn't know there were so many sensitive souls on the G&GR rugby site...

are sure your not someone’s mum…

 

[Slim 293]

Finally a full game report.... By Brumbies Media Unit

Finally?

It's a day old...

I already posted that two pages back...

 

[Moono75]

One thing about this banter it's making me look forward to week 1 all the more. I remember that first Force v Brumbies game in 2006 at Subi Oval, the anticpation, the excitement, the atmosphere....the Subi pub! The emotions are bring rekindled. Friday 24th February I'm taking the day off work......Blues v Crusaders then Force v Brumbies bring it on. 18 more days to go.

 

[Godfrey]

Well said Ghibli... you know, the score could have been greater if the Brumbies didn't kick for goal so often...

But now I'm not so convinced the Force did show up to play, nonetheless a good run in the park for the Brumbies...any positive is good for them now…

Yep looking forward to round one, new beginnings for the Ponies... I still say Brumbies season between 6-10... yes an optimist, yes one eyed supporter...

but jeez didn't one little word "ZIP" get a few here is a tiz… .... they just dont like the Brumbies getting up again after hard times...

At the risk of feeding an obvious troll..

Mate, most people on here are supporters of Aus rugby. We all have our favourite teams, sure, but I bet most here would like to see all Australian teams put in a good showing. That's why people are taking issue with the needlessly antagonistic attitude. Yes, you guys won a trial against arguably the weakest squad in the Aus conference - great! By all means be positive, but why act like you have personally bettered anyone who has another team as their favourite? People wanting you to drop the attitude is not because they're anti-Brumby, they're just anti-troll.

 

[mudskipper]

I must say I just wonder that the Force rookies and others thought when Graham told them they had to go out without any of their strike weapons or Wallabies and get belted... No wonder they didn't have the heart for the job without their leaders at the front... They must feel duped… I just can’t see that as a positive team building experience, its just teaching guys what defeat feels like... Regardless of risk their stars should have taken the field for a while...

 

[Bruce Ross]

"Referees have been asked to scrutinise the Brumbies' front-row tactics heading into the Super Rugby season after their 25-0 trial win over the Western Force in Darwin on Saturday.
"The engagement is always a contentious area and former Springboks World Cup winning coach Jake White and his forwards coach Laurie Fisher dipped deep into their box of tricks to help their front three get the upper hand in the set piece.
"They held a higher crouch position, dropped late and made their own call as the referee called for the engagement, causing confusion and frustration in the Force front row.
"While Force coach Richard Graham did not want to comment about the way the Brumbies packed, it is understood officials at SANZAR - Super Rugby's governing body - received a complaint about the tactics."

The complaint seems to focus on three aspects of the Brumbies' method of engagement:

"They held a higher crouch position". Would that be like the green team in the image below taken from the official IRB Laws of the Game website?




They "dropped late and made their own call as the referee called for the engagement". Neither procedure seems to transgress the relevant sections of the Laws:

"20.1 (f) Front rows coming together. First, the referee marks with a foot the place where the scrum is to be formed. Before the two front rows come together they must be standing not more than an arm’s length apart. The ball is in the scrum half’s hands, ready to be thrown in. The front rows must crouch so that when they meet, each player’s head and shoulders are no lower than the hips. The front rows must interlock so that no player’s head is next to the head of a team-mate.

(g) The referee will call \“crouch\” then \“touch\”. The front rows crouch and using their outside arm each prop touches the point of the opposing prop's outside shoulder. The props then withdraw their arms. The referee will then call \“pause\”. Following a pause the referee will then call \“engage\”. The front rows may then engage. The \“engage\” call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready."

Reflecting the history of front row etiquette there is no requirement for front rowers to remain silent while scrummaging, and there is also no mention of "dropping".

Bearing in mind the old adage of being careful what you wish for, SANZAR's perusal of the game tape might have an unintended outcome. My mail is that a front rower went down as if pole axed as a scrum broke up. Of course with the game being played in the tropics it might have just been heat stroke.

 

[p.Tah]

I'm all for pro-rugby to be spread around the country. How did the Force and the Brumbies promote the game of rugby outside of the trial match? Did they visit schools etc. Did their presence in the Top End help the growth of the game?

 

[Brumby Jack]

Brumbies have had a series of community events. The NT Government has a deal for them to play a game up in Darwin for 3 years, with this being the 2nd year of that deal.

The Brumbies were up there from Thursday and have been to schools, shopping centres, a jail and held a meet the players day on the Sunday. Today some players have been to the Tiwi Islands, Gove and Jabiru before they move on to Cairns.

 

[Shiggins]

rubbish twaddle dribble... the game didn't suit the brumbies... they were just the better team on the day...

I didn't watch the game so I can't say if they had "zip" I thought I said well done to the brumbies. Oh well. To me a wet ball would suit the brumbies. That's all


Http://www.youtube.com/shiggins316