Brumbies v Reds, Bruce Stadium, 7/4/2018 @7:45pm

[Derpus]

It's not binary. It's OK to say someone's really good in isolation!

Not on the internet its not.

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[Scoey]

Fuck that was frustrating as hell. I obviously can’t whinge too much about the reffing because of the score at the end but a 14 point turnaround from Kerevi’s no try to Carter’s try at that point in the game it’s hard not to. I can’t help think that Kerevis try is awarded and we would back our selves to close it out from there. Instead we are up the other end after Carter crawls across the line to be 10 points down.
Then a comedy of small errors from the officials that go against us. The silver boots guy going out but not called by Leckie. Douglas no arms penalty - how that can be called a shoulder charge is beyond me, first contact was with the arm that apparently he didn’t use!?
Anyway, we got beat, I hope all the injured players tonight are ok. McCaffrey will be a big loss and I hope he’s back soon for you guys.

 

[Slim 293]

Fuck that was frustrating as hell. I obviously can’t whinge too much about the reffing because of the score at the end but a 14 point turnaround from Kerevi’s no try (That should've been a try to Kerevi, without a doubt. It wasn't the first time he blew his whistle prematurely though.) to Carter’s try at that point in the game it’s hard not to. I can’t help think that Kerevis try is awarded and we would back our selves to close it out from there. Instead we are up the other end after Carter crawls across the line to be 10 points down (Nothing wrong with that try).
Then a comedy of small errors from the officials that go against us. The silver boots guy going out but not called by Leckie. Douglas no arms penalty - how that can be called a shoulder charge is beyond me (Really? That was textbook shoulder charge. It was lazy by Douglas - absolutely no intention to use his arms. Its as only worth a penalty though and thankfully the ref didn't give him a yellow card.), first contact was with the arm that apparently he didn’t use!?
Anyway, we got beat, I hope all the injured players tonight are ok. McCaffrey will be a big loss and I hope he’s back soon for you guys.

 

[upthereds#!]

The Douglas contact was literally ONLY with his arm, it was more of a coat hanger then a shoulder only!

 

[mst]

Honestly, halfway into the first half I was going to have a coach rant and claim that the Reds had this game won.... what happened?

The players played despite the coach and game plan.

Interestingly did you notice the minutes that some players were made to play? Hooker changed at 68' and props at 77'. I laughed at more than one starter saying it was bloody tough been made to play for so long post game!

 

[Slim 293]

The Douglas contact was literally ONLY with his arm, it was more of a coat hanger then a shoulder only!

I'm not sure if you're using the term 'literally' right........ because there was definitely no arm - only shoulder.

As I said, thankfully it was only a penalty as it didn't warrant a yellow - but it was just pure laziness from Douglas.

 

[Zero_Cool]

So Interesting point I'm going to make, but I'll point out / confess I haven't rewatched the game or anything (but would like to before really making the point). I think the real turning point of that game was losing Ben Lucas.

I know I was/have been shtting all over him and frankly he's really not all that good. But he does do a few things very well that Tuttle doesn't do well. One of those things are using his forward runners, and controlling when to go to the open and blind sides. I would guess Tuttle's play is a symptom of playing with Quade Cooper -- every ball you get you are giving it to Quade, from there if there is an advantage of going to the blind side Quade will find it. Lucas was very good at using his forward runners and having that feel for when to go blind side and when to go to the open side.

I still think his abilities are well below that of Tuttle, and I suspect we won't have the choice to play him next week after that incident. I might try to re-watch the game in the cold light of day and give some more cohesive thoughts but the few other things I'll mention are

• How good was Tumi clear favorite for Wallabies selection
• Higgers had a good game
• Ngamanu was fine but unimpressive
• Rodda is like the terminator it's not quickly but he just keeps coming
• CFS had a really good game, aside from his yellow card (that I philosophically disagree with, but was the correct decision)

Overall I actually think the Reds had a good game, they just didn't get the win and fell apart towards the end as most teams would on a 14 point swing.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Brumbies much better tonight and did get the favourable calls. The no try for the Teds was a turning point.

Pocock is good but tend to think he also gets the benefit of the doubt on most occasions.

Good 7’s always make sure they get the benefit of the doubt. Richie McCall made a career out of that.


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[dru]

McCaffrey will be a big loss and I hope he’s back soon for you guys.

Absolutely. Hope he is OK.

 

[dru]

Thought Pocock was immense. The entire Red pack had two forms for the ruck - 1. serious and 2. oh-my-god-it's-Pocock" serious.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Thought Pocock was immense. The entire Red pack had two forms for the ruck - 1. serious and 2. oh-my-god-it's-Pocock" serious.

Just replace Gundam with Pocock in this! ...Except the Reds pack didn't blow up.

 

[Hawko]

• CFS had a really good game, aside from his yellow card (that I philosophically disagree with, but was the correct decision)

This year that ruling has been applied in the Australian inter-conference matches but elsewhere it has been very variable. In NZ inter-conference matches I don't think it has ever been carded and it tends to happen once per match. In a SA vs Waratahs game it also occurred and it was not even a penalty although it prevented Beale from scoring.

 

[TSR]

I must admit I struggle with it being a yellow card offence in every instance. To me, it is often a reflex action and I thought that was the case yesterday.

I am okay with the low tolerance to things like should charges and lifting tackles because of the player safety involved but losing a player for 10 minutes to a non-deliberate action which doesn’t present a safety risk is flawed IMO. Part of the skill of draw and pass is to successfully make the pass before the defender can close it down after all.

 

[Brumby Runner]

If the CFS was a yellow that should be too!

The difference, Zero, is that Pocock propelled the ball towards his own goal line, so not a knock on and clearly a legitimate action. The YC only comes into play when the ball is "deliberately" knocked on, ie, propelled towards the opposition goal line.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Joe Powell brought a higher intensity and skill level to the side when he replaced Matt Lucas. Don't know why he gets such bad press from opposition fans - must be something to do with his long locks I think. He is at least on par with the likes of Gordon and Ruru, and I'm just pleased that we have a good choice of No 9 backups to replace Phipps in the Wallabies.

Lucas had a poor stint against the Waratahs and his game last night was full of errors. Bench is his spot.

What a turn around by the Brumbies. Not only in the improvement in their handling and general play in the second half, but in the set piece contest as well. Reds' scrum started on top, but Brumbies forwards certainly finished with dominance at set piece and in open play. Rory Arnold was a standout, and both props had very strong games. FF (Folau Fainga'a) looks to have the goods at this level as well. Naisarani was immense and Pocock was Pocock.

Just as impressive was the wide and accurate passing in the backs, particularly from Powell and Hawera. Almost Quade-esque. Now we need to see if they've really turned a corner or if last night was just a flash in the pan. First game against a NZ side next week is very timely.

 

[Brumbieman]

Well, finally we clicked.

Things I took away:

Dargaville has to start, he was outstanding last night. Huge in defence, and runs hard straight lines all night. Banks has to start, and I think Muirhead as well. Speight can ride the pine for a bit, he's just not firing.
Powell was much better this week, looked much more focussed.


We got quick ball and punched forwards before going wide. We've been trying to play wide all year, but not going forward first, so we get wrapped up easily, get no momentum and don't get quick ball, making it impossible to go wide on the next phase. Last night we finally started going forward first, then giving it to the outside backs with some space to actually work with.

 

[Zero_Cool]

I must admit I struggle with it being a yellow card offence in every instance. To me, it is often a reflex action and I thought that was the case yesterday.

I am okay with the low tolerance to things like should charges and lifting tackles because of the player safety involved but losing a player for 10 minutes to a non-deliberate action which doesn’t present a safety risk is flawed IMO. Part of the skill of draw and pass is to successfully make the pass before the defender can close it down after all.

Yeah, I think the insta-yellow 'even if you are trying to catch it' should only apply within the 22m or 5m lines (I think the 5 meter line but the 22 would also be reasonable). The 22 to 22 should only ever at most be a penalty, and even then only when they have obviously not tried to catch it.

The deliberate knock down is much more a problem in the NHS than it is in Super Rugby, plus I'd point to the NRL as an example of where it happens, it just makes those close to the line plays need to be that much better, do we even need the rule, it's seriously killing otherwise good games.

 

[Zero_Cool]

The difference, Zero, is that Pocock propelled the ball towards his own goal line, so not a knock on and clearly a legitimate action. The YC only comes into play when the ball is "deliberately" knocked on, ie, propelled towards the opposition goal line.

Yeah, I didn't realize that it had gone backwards.

 

[neilc]

Very strong play by Naisarani and Arnold, and the Brumbies hooker almost scoring like a winger with the aerial in the corner was impressive. Pocock constantly talking to the ref arguing for and against decisions wasn't - someone needs to explain that he is not the captain and he did a terrible hollywood trying to milk a penalty, very good at the rucks though.

That injury to McCaffrey looked bad - he has been in very good form this season so that is a real shame for him.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Fucking disgraceful by TMO and Ref. Fucked the game.

And the Ref gave a penalty to Poey when he had his hand on the ball for a split second. Talk about favoritism. We didn't get that kind of success when several times during the game a Reds player had his hand on the ball for a second or so.

Reds set piece good early but by God the Smith boys are poor around the paddock. Game changed bigtime at that 30 minute mark (about) when Slips had a HIA and CFS was yellowed. Hopefully Thor's shoulder is just a big stinger. Really want to see him give Robertson some nightmares next week.

Hope Lucas is OK same with Thor. Higgers looks out for some weeks. Reckon as a precaution Lucas will be out for a few weeks (I think he was actually knocked out cold for a minute or 2)

Pocock was very good !