Brumbies v. Hurricanes - 2011R08

[Gnostic]

The contrast between the Crusaders and these two teams could not be more stark. Execution of basic skills was very poor from both sides. Really a fight as to who could be less poor than the other team.

Before we get a rash of people spruiking the Brumbies scrum please have a look at how loose the Hurricanes packed. On the last scrum Schwalger ended up binding on the Brumbies No8 he slid along the Brumbies scrum so far.

Then again you can only "play what is in front of you" to use a Deans-ism, so Congrats to the Spavined Mules.

 

[qwerty51]

Josh Valentine tried his absolute best to lose that for the Brumbies.

Shocking half-back. Had his hands on the ball 2 seconds before he passes. If the Hurricanes were on their game they could've done more damage, they were awake near the end but it was too late. Giteau showed him how it's done. Excellent kicking (field position) game from Giteau. He should be our Wallaby bench, him and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). Both can cover 9-15 and it would allow 5 forwards.

Compare this game to the previous Crusaders/Bulls and you'd have to wonder if these two teams are fair dinkum.

 

[matty_k]

Can only forgive Valentine's meerkating in the last minute when they were obviously trying to wind the clock down but you can't do that 5+ minutes out when the score is that close.

 

[MrTimms]

Yeah, I think Gits had one of his better games. He cops it (mostly warranted) but I think if he just accepted he was a 12 and got on with it, people would be a lot more forgiving.

 

[louie]

few points:
a) Valentine sucks.
b) To'omua isn't ready for this level. His kicking is crap.
c) brumbies pack is lazy. They never attack the breakdown (this is a coaching fault)
d) brumbies should have won this by alot more
e) canes should have been handed yellow cards
f) brumbies have no width
g) speight had a fantastic work rate tonight
h) bugger all people there

 

[Shoreman]

How did the brumbies midfielders go against Nonu and Smith?

 

[jay-c]

pretty non event in the midfield>
valentine is so bad him and sheehan are equal 5th best half back in aus with daylight 4th
was sooo slow to distribute the ball all night even gits had to go into halfback for 3 (i think) phases to get the ball movig towards the end of the game
thouht gits played a brave game very impressed and this game changed my opinion bout him being in the wc squad- though obviousl not at 10 and bviously never kicking

 

[louie]

I'd pick sheehan over Josh.

Midfield went fine.

 

[qwerty51]

How did the brumbies midfielders go against Nonu and Smith?

Defensively? Could not have done better. :yay

 

[cyclopath]

Can only forgive Valentine's meerkating in the last minute when they were obviously trying to wind the clock down but you can't do that 5+ minutes out when the score is that close.

He did a few good things in the first half, but negated them all, and then some, in the second. Gits was the best halfback for the Brumbies tonight.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Very hard game to watch, almost painful at times.

What I noticed from both teams is that rarely if ever have players running with any depth and with pace. Both attacks as a result look very labored.

Both teams lack class and that finishing polish to make the most of the opportunities that are presented.

 

[Slim 293]

The contrast between the Crusaders and these two teams could not be more stark. Execution of basic skills was very poor from both sides. Really a fight as to who could be less poor than the other team.

Before we get a rash of people spruiking the Brumbies scrum please have a look at how loose the Hurricanes packed. On the last scrum Schwalger ended up binding on the Brumbies No8 he slid along the Brumbies scrum so far.

Then again you can only "play what is in front of you" to use a Deans-ism, so Congrats to the Spavined Mules.

The Brumbies were up against a front rw containing ABs and absolutely destroyed them...

It deserves more praise than the tahs got last week against what was already known as a lousy chiefs scrum...

Would love to see Palmer in the wallabies and have Deans and co improve his workrate...

He hasnt been outdone all year...

 

[Gnostic]

The Brumbies were up against a front rw containing ABs and absolutely destroyed them...

It deserves more praise than the tahs got last week against what was already known as a lousy chiefs scrum...

Would love to see Palmer in the wallabies and have Deans and co improve his workrate...

He hasnt been outdone all year...

Like I said have a look at the Canes application. I haven't seen a scrum so loosely packed since the Wallabies in a RWC game a few years ago.

 

[lincoln]

Good to see Kimlin having a run - seemingly the back up Brumbies have more spirit than some of the "leadership" team.

 

[bryce]

The contrast between the Crusaders and these two teams could not be more stark. Execution of basic skills was very poor from both sides. Really a fight as to who could be less poor than the other team.

By this I assume you mean there were plenty of handling errors? This is one thing that really concerns me about Aussie teams. I think it was Growden who wrote an article about watching the All Blacks and Wallabies train before the last Bledisloe game in NZ. The kiwis, despite throwing the ball around and trying outrageous things, just didn't drop the ball. Our boys, during a standard session, did. Plenty apparently. I think Bob Dwyer may have written about it in the past as well. How can this happen so much when the guys are professionals? Do they just assume they can do it and not worry about working on it?

It reminds me of a story I heard about Andrew and Matty Johns in the backyard when they were kids - apparently they used to use the oldest, crappiest, smoothest footy they could find, cover it with soap and water, and fire spiral passes at each other. Maybe our players should take note. We can't afford dropped balls. Even more so than other major nations, because knock ons lead to scrums. A knock on can mean a scrum penalty and three points, or 50 metres.

 

[Ruggo]

Congratulations to the Brumbies. They have changed things up and good to see them get some reward.

I don't know of Tony Rae's rugby knowledge but I like the bloke. Very down to earth and he calls a spade a spade.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Defensively? Could not have done better.

Well they have had a lot of tackling practice in recent weeks..

 

[aussie1st]

Is it worth trying Giteau at 9 again? The commentators mentioned the few times he got in there, the service was quick and bullet like, compared to the other two who were slow. The Brumbies have a number of players that can fill 10, 12 and 15 but halfback is looking average.

 

[Slim 293]

Is it worth trying Giteau at 9 again? The commentators mentioned the few times he got in there, the service was quick and bullet like, compared to the other two who were slow. The Brumbies have a number of players that can fill 10, 12 and 15 but halfback is looking average.

No.

Definitely not.

What they need to do is bring Nic White into halfback, and let Giteau wear the 10 jersey but really playing at inside centre.

 

[Hawko]

pretty non event in the midfield>
valentine is so bad him and sheehan are equal 5th best half back in aus with daylight 4th
was sooo slow to distribute the ball all night even gits had to go into halfback for 3 (i think) phases to get the ball movig towards the end of the game
thouht gits played a brave game very impressed and this game changed my opinion bout him being in the wc squad- though obviousl not at 10 and bviously never kicking

To compare Valentine to Sheehan is an insult.....to Sheehan. Have a look at the Tahs/Force game carefully - if the Brumbies had had Sheehan driving the show they would have won by 20+. He was absolutely superb behind a beaten pack. Valentine was terrible, Phibbs could not have been worse. Why White can't get a run nobody knows except for the senior players who are the quasi selectors. When a close knit team degenerates it doesn't always degenerate into infighting. In the Brumbies case it has degenerated into making sure your old mates don't get dropped, however badly they play.

That's two weeks in a row that a Kiwi scrum has gone to custard and been reamed by an Aussie scrum. Have I been translated into some weird parallel universe? Even Maafu went well. Palmer has to be in the world cup squad along with Fat Cat, Kepu and Slipper. Alexander tonight put up his hand for inclusion as a LHP, but I want to see him up against a good THP like Owen Franks before he is back in favour.