Brumbies v Waratahs Trial

[Brumby Jack]

Here's an attempt a match report: (with restricted view due to the d!ckheads who decided to stand up in front)

The NSW Waratahs have beaten the ACT Brumbies 15- 7 at Viking Park Erindale in front of a healthy crowd, including interested onlookers Robbie Deans and John Mitchell.

The game was riddled with handling mistakes and the shrill (or thrill) of Steve Walsh's whistle at every given opportunity.

The first 5 minutes was full of mindless midfield bombs from both teams, in particular Barnes for the Waratahs.
After about 7 mins a break down the right wing by the Brumbies led to a penalty to the Brumbies right in front. Surprisingly, a shot at goal was declined and the Brumbies took the scrum which resulted in a penalty to NSW. The Waratahs scrum was rather dominant on the night and pushed back the Brumbies on numerous occasions to the point where Steve Walsh was giving free kicks for delayed feeds by Valentine later in the game.

The first Waratahs adventure into the Brumbies 22 also led to a penalty and a kick for touch instead of taking a shot at goal. From the line out Phil Waugh got off the bottom of the pile and claimed a 5 pointer which was woefully unconverted by Berrick Barnes.

Not long after, Franky Fainifo made a midfield break for the Brumbies down the left side and left 'returning Wallaby' Tom Carter in all sorts of trouble and clutching at thin air as Ashley-Cooper went over in the corner, with Mortlock converting for a 7-5 lead.

At about the 20 minute mark, a Brumbies scrum just on their side of halfway was picked up by Hoiles at the back (only because it was going backwards at such a rate) and he went on run down the field which eventually led to a penalty right in front.
Once again, the Brumbies declined the shot at goal and went for a scrum which was poorly executed and was knocked on. This was a feature of the Brumbies play all night, with numerous dropped ball in attacking positions.

The next 10 or so minutes was pretty much back and forth play with no real excitement to speak of.
After 28 mins, Barnes had a shot at a penalty goal, which was successful to make it 8-7.

Right at the end of the half NSW had atttacking scrums in the 22 but the Brumbies somehow held on and went into the sheds at 8-7.

The 2nd half was a little more exciting with long attacking moves made by both teams, but neither could finish off with a try. One particular move by the Brumbies was halted by Sosene Anesi ripping the ball out of a Brumbies players grasp within sight of the try line.

The middle part of the half was once again featuring midfield bombs by both teams which wasn't really achieving anything. But once it stopped, the Waratahs led a play down the left which Josh Holmes finished off with a nice try. This was converted by Halangahu for the score of 15-7 which would end up being the final score because once the rain came down, ball handling went out the door and scrums and kicks were on the menu for the rest of the half.


NSW Warathas 15 (Waugh, Holmes tries, Halangahu con, Barnes pen
Brumbies 7 (Ashley-Cooper try, Mortlock con)

 

[disco]

So another kickfest "great" looks like watching the tahs will be as boring as batshit again.

 

[Gagger]

Thanks BJ, have posted on the front page

 

[Lee Grant]

Waratahs 15 Brumbies 7

The Brumbies forwards had better get their act together soon or else they are not going to live up to our expectations of making the final four.

The Tahs scrum forced Valentine to delay the put in a few times, Gregan style, and got free kicked for his trouble. It was a pretty strong tool for the visitors although the Brumbies got a scrum penalty once before half time after they were in danger of a penalty try against them for the resets they caused on their goal line, and got free kicked for.

The Tahs nabbed a few lineouts too, with Jowitt noticeable, and took all their own throws that were catchable with precision, though there were a few not straight and wrong length throws by the Tahs.

The Tahs were generally better around the rucks and with pick and drive too. What was missing was converting that forward superiority into breaks and more tries – plus terrific Brumbies tackling.

The Brumbies made a lot of breaks from turnover ball and were in good position to score 4 more tries by my count but they butchered all of them. It may seem therefore that they were the better team, but one never worried too much that they would actually finish things off – and credit to the Tahs scrambling defence also.



Brumbies

• Matt To'omua was my MOTM. I have never seen him have such a good running game as tonight. He had a much better night than Lealiifano playing 12. Nor did Mortlock look that special.

• AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) – rather than write 2 paragraphs, here's 2 words – sheer class. Add a third: surety.

• Frankie Fainifo looked bloody dangerous every time the Ponies got the ball to him which was not that often because they usually dropped it before it got out there. Once he beat Carter when he got him going the wrong way and he dished it out for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to score. He nearly scored a try himself when Carter came out of the line to snuff out an overlap but didn't get there on time. Fortunately for the Tahs both the pass and catch were inferior. Alfi Mafi was quiet.

• Stephen Hoiles had a brilliant 1st quarter with 2 long runs, one from a scrum palming off Burgess. He had the whole Tahs team going backwards.

• Stephen Moore was class but props Shepherdson and Ma'afu did not impress in any area.

• Mark Chisholm had the angriest, highest work rate for the Ponies, with Moore not far behind.



Waratahs

• Cliffy Palu was hard to handle all night and if he wasn't running over folks, TPN was, however Tatafu stills needs to work on passing the ball before he goes to ground, or before the tackle, as he's losing too much pill. Again.

• Cam Jowitt looked very handy in the lineout and was very aggressive in his play. Looks like another Dean Mumm type; so watch this space. Mowen was back to top form when he came off the bench too.

• Chris Thomson had a good game when he came on and once jumped over a ruck with the ball and ran down touch and when challenged grubbered the ball for a good gain. By contrast the form Tah lock of the 1st two trials, Kane Douglas, was quiet. Dud Roodt didn't have a big stint but a couple of times I watched for him he was moving people around in the ruck. Looked trimmer than the photos.

• Berrick Barnes was nothing special and had a ordinary kicking game for him and was putting the ball out on the full when he shouldn't have, and not when he should have. Nor was Daniel Halangahu much at 12, though to be fair the Brumbies defence was in his face most of the night. Tom Carter had an ordinary night.

• In the 3rd quarter Peter Betham ran through the Brumbies like a dose of salts. It sparked up the game which was dead in the 2nd quarter after a willing 1st quarter. I thought: wait a minute – Pete must be wearing no 21 not 29 – no that's Pete over there – checked my list and it's Ben Seymour – can't be, it's a brown lad. Bloody hell, it was Kurtley Beale with a no.2 haircut, playing 12 and he changed the look of the Tahs backs immediately.

• Then the real Pete Betham proved the benefit of the quick line out. They took it 30 metres back from where they could have taken it, in their own quarter. Instead of ping pong the ball was dished wide to Pete and he ran around most of the Ponies and Tahs as though he was in an armchair, beat a few folks and dished to Holmes to score the best try of the night.

That was the kind of play that everybody had being saying was going to happen, but there wasn't a lot of it. To be fair: although there was a bit of ping pong in parts, the players were trying to dish the ball wide but weren't good enough. A black mark to the Tahs; once Phil Waugh said to take a penalty kick at goal and Barnes got it, which was surprising because his attempted conversion of the first try was a shocker.

• Nemani Nadolo has shed a bit of weight and looked like a real footie player out there. He even chased a few kicks, which is not like him. Lachie Turner was lacklustre. Sosene Anesi was not as good as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) but he had a fine game.

• Noddy – Lachy McCaffrey came on in the 2nd half and made a couple of good runs as though he was playing in club rugby. Is looking the goods.

It was humid and then it was like you were in a cloud and in the last quarter it rained. Nevertheless it did not warrant the amount of dropped ball. There was a bit of whistle for that and for the Brumbies ordinary scrummaging, as discussed.

 

[Lee Grant]

Did the game answer any selection issues?

Brumbies

• 10. To'omua, 12. Giteau is a must if based on that one game of MT's.

• Googie was sucking in seagulls and he wouldn't be starting a game on that one showing.

• Props - The most impressive looking prop of the night who was not a Tah was Patricio Noreiga walking around the park. What a neck, and he still has the physique (which is more than what could be said of Jim Williams, who must have had a good Xmas.) Looked like he could have packed down better than some of the players. Let's hope that he can give the Brumbies scrum a few handy hints.

Ben Alexander will be available in Rd.2 last we heard but Rd 1 won't be pretty.


Waratahs

• Beale looks the goods at 12. He lifted the backs in the 2nd half, and did a bit of bossing too. Therefore Barnes is 10.

• Carter did not look like a 13. I spoke to a Tahs guy and he said that Horne would be ready to play next week – which was a very cagey answer. Sure. Sidey never got the ball when he came on. Horne can't be expected to start a game in Rd.1.

• Caldwell was supposed to play at Orange but got a slight hamstring tear. Very slight, said Tah man. He would be ready to play next week. Sure. He couldn't be expected to start – so who to partner Mumm? Dunno frankly, probably Thompson, who has a S14 contract and played OK. Jowitt definitely a bench candidate to cover lock and 6.. He's a goer.

• Anesi – almost a certainty at 15 but may be a short term sub at 13. Good footie player.

 

[Gagger]

Great stuff Lee, on the front page as well

 

[fatprop]

It would be great to see Horne & Caldwell get a go in the Junior Waratahs game on Saturday, but neither is on the list

HSBC JUNIOR WARATAHS
15. Adam D'Arcy (Manly)
14. Damon Anderson (Eastern Suburbs)/Jacob Woodhouse (Sydney University)
13. Cam Mitchell (Eastwood)
12. Tom Azar (Eastern Suburbs)
11. Greg Jeloudev (Sydney University)
10. Ben Seymour (Manly)
9. Ed Bredenhann (Sydney University)
8. Hugh Perrett (Eastwood)
7. Chris Alcock (Gordon)
6. Ben Coridas (Eastwood)
5. Dylan Sigg (Manly)
4. Chris Thomson (Warringah)
3. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University)
2. Sam Roberson (Sydney University)
1. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University)
Reserves
16. Scott Sio (West Harbour)
17. Ofa Fainga'anuku (Eastern Suburbs)
18. Ben Roberts (Sydney University)
19. Phoenix Battye (Sydney University)
20. Ed Slater (Eastern Suburbs)
21. Michael McDougall (Eastwood)
22. Maile Latekefu (Parramatta)
23. Tony Luxford (Randwick)
24. Harry Bennett (Eastern Suburbs)
25. Damon Anderson (Eastern Suburbs)/Jacob Woodhouse (Sydney University)
26. Peter Gilmore

 

[Spook]

Email from Brumbies

Pre Season Match
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Kick-Off: 7.30pm local time
Viking Park, Canberra
This match will not be televised.
Line-Up
CA Brumbies-Position
1. Salesi Ma'afu-Loosehead Prop
2. Stephen Moore-Hooker
3. Guy Shepherdson-Tighthead Prop
4. Ben Hand-Lock
etc.

Perhaps Brumbies supporters are not as rugby-cognizant as I would have assumed. It's a bit of a worry when those on the franchise's mailing list have to be told that Jersey 1 is worn by the loosehead prop and Jersey 2 by the hooker.

Ahh Brucie, we have been told by eminent Tah coaches that numbers on backs don't mean a thing and that acronyms like "LT" should be put on guernsies. This sort of thinking from you shirt-lifters in Sydney has muddied the waters and forced the excellent Brumbies PR machine to clarify the relationship between numbers and positions in case those who are not Brumby supporters should be exposed to such information.

 

[Spook]

Thanks Lee. Not surprised about the result to be honest. I think there's too much of believing your own hype going on. The "Real Madrid" tag shits me no end.

The Brumby propping question is a good one. Sheperdson was good last year but dire the year before. Are we seeing a pattern? Ma'afu has never looked fit to me. It takes him 6 rounds to get match fitness. Alexander may be forced to play at 3. Probably not a bad thing. Who will go to 1 then?

Elsom will harden up the pack and help the lineout but I think one lock position is very much up for grabs.

Mortlock sounds well off the pace. News on To'omua and Fanifo is very promising.

 

[Ash]

Sppok - I think that Sheperdon had a slow start to last year as well. Sheperdson might just be a perenially slow starter.

 

[fatprop]

Sppok - I think that Sheperdon had a slow start to last year as well. Sheperdson might just be a perenially slow starter.

Sheperdson is an average THP, the brumbies need one of the LHPs to step up so Alexander can wear "3", but they are all injured.

 

[louie]

Thnaks post Lee.
I thought Christian had a good game defensively. Having them start no. 10 and no 12 doesn't bother me.
Brumbies played a tight defensive game and countered really well. Promising stuff
anyonw know what the blue was about? i missed it.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Email from Brumbies

Pre Season Match
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Kick-Off: 7.30pm local time
Viking Park, Canberra
This match will not be televised.
Line-Up
CA Brumbies-Position
1. Salesi Ma'afu-Loosehead Prop
2. Stephen Moore-Hooker
3. Guy Shepherdson-Tighthead Prop
4. Ben Hand-Lock
etc.

Perhaps Brumbies supporters are not as rugby-cognizant as I would have assumed. It's a bit of a worry when those on the franchise's mailing list have to be told that Jersey 1 is worn by the loosehead prop and Jersey 2 by the hooker.

Ahh Brucie, we have been told by eminent Tah coaches that numbers on backs don't mean a thing and that acronyms like "LT" should be put on guernsies. This sort of thinking from you shirt-lifters in Sydney has muddied the waters and forced the excellent Brumbies PR machine to clarify the relationship between numbers and positions in case those who are not Brumby supporters should be exposed to such information.

Your comment, Spook, is marred by a couple of generalisations. Just as not all "Tah coaches" are "eminent", so not all Waratah supporters are "shirt-lifters". Some, for example, are female; others are essentially private people who choose not to have their religious, political or social affiliations made known; some are such rugby tragics that they probably haven't had time to discover whether they are or not; and some would reject the label altogether.

In any case, given that such a high proportion of the ACT population originate from Sin City, perhaps we do not have any particular right to appropriate the tag.

 

[Lee Grant]

louie - which fight were you talking about? There was more than one. What I didn't mention was the physicality and passion of the game. That will stand both sides in good stead.

What did you think of Mattie at 10? I spoke to him after the game and said: "Well played - it's the best game I saw you play," which was true; at least as a senior player.

He said: "Thank you sir." That's one of the advantages of being an old codger: more people call you sir than ever was the case when you were younger.

 

[Lee Grant]

PS - that Tahs guy I mentioned above was a Tahs official.

Junior Waratahs trial at (Edit) 7.00pm Saturday at Knox was a well kept secret. I only found out about it chatting to a Tahs fan waiting for a burger with the works on the way home.

fatprop has listed the Junior Tahs team (above).

Most of these are wannabies but the professionals are:

Contracted S14 players

7. Chris Alcock (Gordon) - good player as an 8 in club rugby, but hired on as a 7. Will be interesting.
6. Ben Coridas (Eastwood) good to see he's playing now - assume he was injured before.
4. Chris Thomson (Warringah) - maybe given another go after his good game last night (but maybe demoted?)
1. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University)

Pro Junior Tahs
15. Adam D'Arcy (Manly)
3. Paddy Ryan (Sydney University)
14.Jacob Woodhouse (Sydney University) - really a fullback
17. Ofa Fainga'anuku (Eastern Suburbs)

It looks like all the amateur academy who are healthy are getting a run


The squad they are playing (as always called the Australian Barbarians) is (with my jersey numbering):

AUSTRALIAN BARBARIANS (squad)

15. Pat Dellit (Eastern Suburbs),
11/14. Ed Doyle (Warringah),
11/14. Terry Preston (Gordon),
11/14. Damien Reti (Manly),
13. Anton LaVin (Eastern Suburbs),
13. Bernie Orbell (Randwick),
12. Stefano Hunt (Western Force),
12. Mark Preston (Gordon),
10. Dave Paurini (West Harbour),
9. Justin Turner (Gordon & Force)
6/8. Flip Manu (Western Force),
7. Tim McGann (Southern Districts),
7. Cristobal Westenenk (Chile & Manly)
4/5/6 Ed Gower (Gordon),
4/5. Steve Brennan (Randwick),
4/5. Tom Hikila (West Harbour),
3/1. Pingi Talaapitaga (Warringah)
2. Scott Podmore (Northern Suburbs),
2. Elvis Taione (Manly),
1. Kieran Longbottom (Western Force),

Should be the same result as last year when the hard head club players smacked the young Academy guys with "all the skills".

 

[Ash]

Lee - so Tilse still has a contract? Surprising. Amazed how (SuperProp(tm)) Tilse has kept his contract yet the Tahs have missed out on signing the (previously unsigned) Sydney Uni front rowers keeping him out of first grade.

 

[fatprop]

Lee - so Tilse still has a contract? Surprising. Amazed how (SuperProp(tm)) Tilse has kept his contract yet the Tahs have missed out on signing the (previously unsigned) Sydney Uni front rowers keeping him out of first grade.

I think this is his last year.

 

[RugbyReg]

thank god for Day light saving hey?

HSBC JUNIOR WARATAHS V AUSTRALIAN BARBARIANS
Saturday 6 February 2010 Kick-off: 7:00pm AEST
Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga

and then

Saturday night's match at Ballymore between the QAS Reds 2nd XV and the Australian Barbarians will be free. Kickoff is at 7.30pm.

 

[Lee Grant]

Ash

It was Link's worst hiring decision. Rather decisions - he was originally contracted as a promising prop who could play on both heads. Wrong at the S14 level. Then he renewed his contract for 2 years about the time he got fired IIRR. Wronger.

Inexplicable then and now.


My mistake on the time of the JW trial - it was the time the Tah fan told me last night It's at 7.00 pm not 7.30 pm. I'll change it in case it misleads people.

 

[Lee Grant]

Have just seen this as part of the article: some of these names were missed out from the squad list on the website so I will adjust it. Turner will be scrummie.

The Baabaas will be led by a quartet of Western Force squad members - Kieran Longbottom, Stefano Hunt, Justin Turner and Flip Manu - along with Manly's Chilean internation Cristobal Westenenk and Gordon captain Ed Gower.

Westenenk played for Manly this year.