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Brumbies vs Waratahs Super Rugby Rd11 2012

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kiap

Steve Williams (59)
When the commentators said it was, after all, Leali'ífano who was injured, I thought of Lee after Gettysburg where he had butchered Pickett's division by sending it up Cemetery Ridge, aptly named, as it turned out. He later remarked about the incident to a general who had to cover his retreat to the Potomac: "Too bad!! Too bad !! Oh, too bad!!"
Good post, Lee Grant.

Devastating for the young man, and on the last play of the night. But he'll be back.
 

Scarfman

Knitter of the Scarf
Maybe White can play 10? He seemed to stand there at times to kick the ball 60m.

I have a simple rule for judging field kicks. If it finds grass, you've probably done well; if it's caught on the full, you'll probably lose on the exchange one way or another. That's a minimal rule to follow. Once you master that, you go chat to Ronan O'Gara and take a Master class. None of Australia's 10s since Michael Lynagh would get an Associate Diploma. I was a big fan of Barnes until it emerged that he has neither distance nor accuracy.

Anyway, best of luck to Christian Lealiifano. Maybe G&GR can pony up for a get well card from all of us?
 

Torn Hammy

Johnnie Wallace (23)
I really enjoyed the game.

I predicted there would be some great matchups and I thought the contests across the park were brutal with full hearted attack and fearless defence from both sides.

The Waratah's 11, 13, 14 and 15 struggled for combination and class in their positions and I thought this was the "money ball" difference in the end.

Jake White has the Brumbies playing at a frenetic pace with great confidence which to me showed up a slight hesitancy in the Waratah's play particularly at the breakdown. Their skill at attacking the ruck whenever a break was made continually frustrated the Tahs attacking raids and even turned over a few ruck balls.

I hate booing. Rocky has been one of Australia's best for a long time. It should be discouraged by all captains and coaches publically and never condoned like that pathetic effort from Graham Henry recently. Shameful.
 

Brumby Jack

Steve Williams (59)
I think this photo from The Canberra Times sums up the team environment for the Brumbies - Lealiifano is on the happy gas on a stretcher on the left and the team sing the team song around him.

ng-brums-defcon_20120505235655122139-620x0.jpg
 
W

What2040

Guest
Great win by Brums - was gob smacked at the Tahs performance - absolute shame the loss of Lealiifano not only for them but the Wallabies - jeez they look the goods to take the Australian conference. Whilst much as been said of the failings of Tahs backs I thought the Brums forwards were dominant (although Palu was good) Don't think Dan Palmer can be called a pot plant anymore - should hand that title to the Tahs front row Robinson had a very average game - his work around the paddock was non-existant. Kepu was better. TPN can be dynamite but needs to look after himself (as all have said).
Just great to see the Brums performing week in and week out !!
 

p.Tah

John Thornett (49)
I think this photo from The Canberra Times sums up the team environment for the Brumbies - Lealiifano is on the happy gas on a stretcher on the left and the team sing the team song around him.

ng-brums-defcon_20120505235655122139-620x0.jpg
Good to see the team spirit but with CL laying there it reminds me of the movie Weekend at Bernies ;)

I wish CL an uncomplicated quick recovery.
 

Happy

Alex Ross (28)
A great win with only 35% possession. As others have said, the Brumbies looked composed all night. When you are at the games (as opposed to watching it on TV) you can really appreciate the effort the Brumbies were making to get into position, both on attack and defence. Their work rate off the ball is tremendous. The Waratahs are always said to have the strongest scrum in our Conference, but the Brumbies definitely held their own against it.

I thought Barnes was playing the best he has for quite a while in the first half. He was running much more direct lines, and passing closer to the gain line, but as the game wore on this dropped away. By the second half all the Waratahs passing was done 5 to 10 metres before the gain line, and was easily defended. It seemed every time they passed along the backline a centre would take it into contact, and the go-forward would stop. After a couple of phases all their structure was gone and they were reduced to passing to static players and one-off runners with no support. They just had no penetration in the backline, while the Brumbies made yards with ease. Jake White will be concerned I think with the number of times the Brumbies were pressing the Waratahs line, but were then penalised in a ruck.

Apart from that, the difference in quality of the kicking from hand was glaringly apparent. Especially in the second half, when Nic White showed how it should be done. Every kick was either contestable, or made huge gains in territory.

Someone on this forum raised the concern about the Brumbies chances if Lealifano was injured just this week. Obviously they put the mockers on him! It really was a shame, but at least there is a week's bye for them to work out their replacement. I would expect Coleman, or maybe White, but I am also confident that they will continue to play as a unit, which has been their great strength this year.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
The Waratahs ensemble backs play was pathetic most of the time. Are the backs being coached?

Kingston is too small.

Carter is............Carter. Just not good enough.


Foley was the Wallabies restarts coach, why is it that the Waratahs struggle so much at the kick offs? Both offensively and defensively? In fact, what, exactly, is Foley's area of expertise as a head coach?

Gutted for Lealiifano. What a cruel game rugby can be.
 

RedsHappy

Tony Shaw (54)
The thought has crossed my mind more than once: if the Tahs had possessed the vision to hire Jake White rather than leave that courage to the ACT RU...what might have been.

The telling fact is that they did not. They were again happy enough with the products of their own system.

And they let Muggleton go, and now the leaky cracks in D are starting to give up points.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
The thought has crossed my mind more than once: if the Tahs had possessed the vision to hire White rather than leave that courage to the ACT RU...what might have been.

The telling fact is that they did not. They were again happy enough with the products of their own system.


Sarel Pretorius?
 

RedsHappy

Tony Shaw (54)
Importing the likes of Barnes, Cross, Pretorious, Anesi, recently chasing the Reds' Lucas, when NSW has the country's best player feeder base, and yet showing much less daring with coaches, that's the irony.

(btw, meant Jake White above, not N White)
 

Richo

John Thornett (49)
The Waratahs I thought were the better of the two in terms of buildup and phase play, it was just their execution that let them down.
They made numerous linebreaks but tried the miracle ball instead of holding onto it.

I think this sums up the Waratahs of the last several seasons - the brilliance of Mitchell and Beale just hid it better than this lot.

The difference in approach when attacking the goal line was telling. Brumbies executed their pick and drive patiently, drew in defenders, and then ran good lines with lots of space and structure when they spread it wide. The Tahs did okay with the first part, but were too bunched up and lacked execution when they sent it to the backs.The Brumbies are a class side -- a true team. Don't know how they'll do without Lilo, but they should be bloody proud of their season and have real ambition for next year.

In my view, the evidence to date is that the 2012 Waratahs are simply a poorly run team. Their execution is even worse than last year, their defense has gone from exceptional to average, and they are repeatedly outclassed tactically. I harped on about the substitution patterns after last week's game and will make the same comment again this week. What was Pretorious doing on the bench when down two tries with 30 minutes to go? Penalty goals were not going to win the game, that was clear. But no, Foley waits until precisely the 60 minute mark to bring on Sarel, which says to me that was his pre-determined substitution time. Why wait? Your season is on the line and you need tries - put your biggest try-scoring threat on the bloody paddock. It'd be harsh to judge a coaching staff on half a season's play -- if we didn't just see a brilliant example of what can be accomplished from Jake White and co.

There were, however, some bright spots in the Tahs' performance -- at least in Wallabies terms. The Rock was much better and more involved -- I thought he looked dangerous with ball in hand and attacked the line with a lot of energy. Hopefully we see more of this! Barnes was much improved - he really is a different player when he holds the back, runs at the line and puts the defense on the back foot. Unfortunately, as others have said, 11-15 did nothing to support his play. Anyway, hopefully we see a lot more of this from Berrick too.
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Expect there to be some mention of this in Grumbles' next column:

But apparently one Waratah (who wasn't playing) might get into a little trouble with the ARU for hurling abuse at a local fan at half time...

He spent the second half inside the sheds...
 

Brumby Jack

Steve Williams (59)
Expect there to be some mention of this in Grumbles' next column:

But apparently one Waratah (who wasn't playing) might get into a little trouble with the ARU for hurling abuse at a local fan at half time...

He spent the second half inside the sheds...

Bit hard to report when he wasnt there.
 

aussie1st

Alfred Walker (16)
The Tahs looked really good early, they were all over us but they just couldn't keep the phases going. That try after the siren was the kick in the guts which the Tahs never recovered from.

White's kicking is very impressive, bit disappointing about his penalty attempt though, thought he would easily have the distance given his first kick for the Brumbies was well over 50m.
 
M

Muttonbird

Guest
I think this photo from The Canberra Times sums up the team environment for the Brumbies - Lealiifano is on the happy gas on a stretcher on the left and the team sing the team song around him.

ng-brums-defcon_20120505235655122139-620x0.jpg
Great rugby story there, with picture. Can I quote this, Brumbie Jack?
 
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