Cheetahs vs Rebels RD 7

[Deputy Van Halen]

The Cheetahs backrow (form backrow of the comp) will be all over the Rebels.

This. Brussow had his way with the force last week and I get the feeling he might again this weekend in this game. I doubt it will be another one sided blow out, I'd like to think both teams will put on a big score but the cheetahs will do it better.

 

[KevinO]

Some of the possible selections this weekend
"We owe everyone a big performance this week."
Coach Damien Hill is set to ring the changes following the Durban game, where the Rebels finished with the sorry tally of 19 turnovers and 31 missed tackles.
Richard Kingi is set to start on the wing in place of Vuna while prop Paul Alo-Emile will start ahead of Laurie Weeks.
Rookie flanker Jordy Reid will also get his first start replacing Scott Fuglistaller.
Wallabies back-rower Scott Higginbotham has been cleared of any shoulder damage while centre Mitch Inman is on the mend after a stomach bug.
Hill said the players were aware of the importance of the game.
"Everyone was embarrassed and angry post-game but they've had a good look at themselves and, as a result, the team's even more focused.
"I've been pleased with the way they've stuck together."
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1751010/Rebels-Delve-feels-Beale-has-rugby-future

 

[Athilnaur]

Hope they can play well but after last week 7.00 is just cheap, 15.00 and I'd consider it.

Really would love to know Muggleton's honest assessment of last week, I mean beyond the obvious.

Won't stop me cheering them on though, and holding a small flicker of hope, after all this is a team that last year got wrecked by hurricanes but managed to torch the crusaders and came damn close to beating the Stormers at home.

 

[kronic]

Agree with the Weeks benching, stats are appalling from last week. PAE got on and made an impact.

Fuglistaller hasn't really offered much, except in defense. Hopefully Reid can step up.

 

[PaarlBok]

Only way the Tin ears can lose this one is when they play like the usual Cheetahs. They can beat any side on a given day but have this nasty habit when they are on top form to lose to the weakest side in any competition. This match will show if they have grown. No way they can drop this one at home against the weakest side in the competition. Tin Ears by 20+

 

[PaarlBok]

Cheetahs team:
Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johan Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule, Riaan Smit, Sarel Pretorius, Phillip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Heinrich Brüssow, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss (k), Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements : Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuisen, Rynhard Landman, Boom Prinsloo, Piet van Zyl, Burton Francis, Ryno Benjamin.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

i don't think the rebels are the weakest team in the comp. yes that was a horrrrrrrrrible loss/effort last week, but they beat the force and did well in all their other games.
Highlanders are playing horrible, southern kings are more competitive than expected but we will find out in two weeks who the better team is an di suspect that will be the rebels.

so i am arguing that they are the 3rd worst team in the competition....!

 

[KevinO]

1 Nic Henderson
2 Ged Robinson
3 Paul Alo-Emile^
4 Hugh Pyle
5 Luke Jones
6 Gareth Delve
7 Jordy Reid^
8 Scott Higginbotham
9 Nick Phipps
10 Angus Roberts
11 Jason Woodward
12 Lachlan Mitchell
13 Mitch Inman
14 Richard Kingi
15 James O'Connor

16 Shota Horie
17 Laurie Weeks
18 Cadeyrn Neville
19 Jarrod Saffy
20 Scott Fuglistaller
21 Nic Stirzaker
22 Rory Sidey
23 Tom English

 

[Dumbledore]

Agree with the Weeks benching, stats are appalling from last week. PAE got on and made an impact.

Fuglistaller hasn't really offered much, except in defense. Hopefully Reid can step up.

Pyle's were an absolute disgrace as well. I'd have dropped him too.

 

[en_force_er]

Hopefully they use English, I'd like to see him given a crack.

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

Delve at 6? I wonder if this is going to be a permanent thing? Also is there no other replacement for Hendo in the squad? His scrummaging has been sub-par.

I guess considering last weeks shenanigans it's about the best team that they can put on the park. Hopefully the cheetahs are off their game but they seem like a far more consistent team this year, the rebels could learn a thing or two from them as the cheetahs were in their shoes not that long ago (inconsistent performances, sporadic thrashings etc).

 

[en_force_er]

Delve at 6? I wonder if this is going to be a permanent thing? Also is there no other replacement for Hendo in the squad? His scrummaging has been sub-par.

I trumpeted this a while ago. Delve has not got the skillset Higgers has at the back, you can run some better 1st phase stuff with him there.

That being said, Delve isn't at fast as Higgers. So, expect to see Higgers at 8 on attack and Delve at 8 on defence.

 

[KevinO]

Pyle's were an absolute disgrace as well. I'd have dropped him too.

I have watched the game since, Pyle's stats don't reflect the work he actually put into that match.

4. Hugh Pyle (Rebels)
Scott Higginbotham scored the Rebels' try in Durban, but the second-rower was "the man" for the overmatched visitors, standing tall with a "manful" display in an overmatched pack.
http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2013/rugby/story/179366.html

 

[wamberal]

That does not look too bad. Let's hope the Cheetahs are not good travellers.

 

[Dumbledore]

I have watched the game since, Pyle's stats don't reflect the work he actually put into that match.

4. Hugh Pyle (Rebels)
Scott Higginbotham scored the Rebels' try in Durban, but the second-rower was "the man" for the overmatched visitors, standing tall with a "manful" display in an overmatched pack.
http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2013/rugby/story/179366.html

I'll take your word for it. My memory is that Jones was the only one remotely interested in tackling or hitting a ruck.

Not sure what stats you use, but the ones I normally look at have Pyle making two tackles, one offload, four runs (48m), one line break, three ruck/mauls, conceding one turnover and missing one tackle. An anonymous, seagulling, effort.

 

[KevinO]

I'll take your word for it. My memory is that Jones was the only one remotely interested in tackling or hitting a ruck.

Not sure what stats you use, but the ones I normally look at have Pyle making two tackles, one offload, four runs (48m), one line break, three ruck/mauls, conceding one turnover and missing one tackle. An anonymous, seagulling, effort.

On first watch I agree Jones was our best forward. But when you watch the game again you see he is involved in a lot of rucks that where not counted towards the stats. I think Neville is at risk of getting dropped for Thompson on King when where back in Australia.

I look at a few stats websites but they all are different, as I said the stats don't reflect the work he did and that's mt espn scrum had him in there team of the week. Even there stats for him are poor.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Neville has been absolutely hopeless this year.

 

[KevinO]

Neville has been absolutely hopeless this year.

Agree, thought seeing he went on Tour with the Wallabies that he would take enough step forward this season, but it actually seems he has gone backwards. I know he has not had a lot of game time but the guy just looks like he is making up numbers when he is on the field. Neville should be a massive impact sub with the work rate he had last year.

For me has been the biggest disappointment on the field this season.

 

[Braveheart81]

Agree, thought seeing he went on Tour with the Wallabies that he would take enough step forward this season, but it actually seems he has gone backwards. I know he has not had a lot of game time but the guy just looks like he is making up numbers when he is on the field. Neville should be a massive impact sub with the work rate he had last year.

For me has been the biggest disappointment on the field this season.

Second year syndrome.

It happened to Kane Douglas in 2011 after a breakout year in 2010.

He was then immense in 2012 and became a regular Wallaby.

 

[James Buchanan]

No-one seems to be making much of big deal of the move of Gus Roberts to 10 and JOC (James O'Connor) to 15.

Its the right play in my mind, but a very interesting move indeed.