Chiefs v Brumbies, Rnd 4, FMG Stadium Feb 22 17:05

[Brumby Runner]

Early in the game the Chiefs gave away as many penalties in a row as the Brumbies, mostly in the red zone, but not even a suggestion of a team yellow. Inconsistency will kill the game.


EDIT : My take on the matter is that the Brumbies managed to score a couple of tries as a result of the sequence of penalties while the Chiefs couldn't finish it off. So, no card against the Chiefs when under severe pressure, but one against the Brumbies in similar circumstances.

 

[Derpus]

Early in the game the Chiefs gave away as many penalties in a row as the Brumbies, mostly in the red zone, but not even a suggestion of a team yellow. Inconsistency will kill the game.


EDIT : My take on the matter is that the Brumbies managed to score a couple of tries as a result of the sequence of penalties while the Chiefs couldn't finish it off. So, no card against the Chiefs when under severe pressure, but one against the Brumbies in similar circumstances.

Yeah, its about how you want to game it. Keep it in tight when you have the momentum to push for a card or go for the points. We saw in both the Rebels and Brumbies games that pushing for the yellow doesnt yield a greater advantage than going for the points. I think this isnhow it should be.

 

[Viking]

Yep. Losing Fainga'a was a big loss for the ponies at the set piece (and my fantasy team) They showed that they're not one trick Ponies tonight.

Thought Connal McInenery at Hooker was superb though. Great replacement for Fainga

 

[Viking]

Amazing performance.

Think Slipper is the form prop in Aus so far (despite the yellow). Big fan of Sio but Slipper is just doing more work, love his running lines. Scrumming well too.

Kuridrani always defending like a beast. Showing his worth at 13, but he does have some competition for the spot in Paisami.

Lolesio is settling in well. Has a solid boot and offloading game.

Pete Samu should be first picked in the wallabies surely. But at what number is the question. I like him at 7 at test level, but that would mean no Hooper.

 

[Slim 293]

Just like the Rebels game, they just couldn't keep it up for the full 80 minutes which is disappointing...........

But for the most part of that first half, was probably the best rugby I've seen from the Brumbies since maybe that finals match against the Stormers in 2015.

I think Peter Hewat could have quite a coaching career.........

Some of the way they played in that first half, was, wow......... Kiwi-esque.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That was a fantastic effort from the Brumbies tonight. They played some super footy in the first half, came away with points from their attacking forays and gutsed it out superbly in the second half. They look calm and well drilled, especially in the basics of the game. Pete Samu has to be a massive chance to start in that Wallaby back row, surely. He was immense today.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Gatland 0/2 vs the Brumbies now...

 

[Dan54]

Great win for Brumbies, I said it once and I still think so. Geez there rush defence was great wasn't it? And it's easier to recognise how good they worked when it your own team doing it , so you not thinking they offside, which they weren't just bloody good at it as a lot of teams are. Was most impressed with the forward pack that really smacked the Chiefs which allows the backs to not only run well, but be confident moving up with a crushing defence.
Think you will find a few teams will really attack the Chiefs breakdown for the next while.
Would add some results from this weekend are VERY good for the Comp!

 

[Up the Guts]

Great win for Brumbies, I said it once and I still think so. Geez there rush defence was great wasn't it? And it's easier to recognise how good they worked when it your own team doing it , so you not thinking they offside, which they weren't just bloody good at it as a lot of teams are. Was most impressed with the forward pack that really smacked the Chiefs which allows the backs to not only run well, but be confident moving up with a crushing defence.
Think you will find a few teams will really attack the Chiefs breakdown for the next while.
Would add some results from this weekend are VERY good for the Comp!

The Chiefs’ forward pack looked a little underpowered. In the Brumbies’ final try, they got up over the advantage line on basically every phase of the 14 or so they had.

 

[FairWeatherAussie]

Just like the Rebels game, they just couldn't keep it up for the full 80 minutes which is disappointing.....

But for the most part of that first half, was probably the best rugby I've seen from the Brumbies since maybe that finals match against the Stormers in 2015.

I think Peter Hewat could have quite a coaching career...

Some of the way they played in that first half, was, wow... Kiwi-esque.

The first half was superb, and I had the same thought, kiwi-esque in the way they managed to play an off-loading game, while still maintaining possession, not losing the ball in contact. But I wouldn’t say they didn’t play for the full 80, quite the opposite. The Chiefs beat the Crusaders and are top of the NZ comp, the Chiefs didn’t go into this game as underdogs. The Brumbies defense of their lead was just as impressive as their taking that lead.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

Once again the Brumbies show us all the way.

 

[RedsHappy]

Once again the Brumbies show us all the way.

Have to agree. And that win vs the Chiefs was also superb as an example of true ensemble, 'all skills in harmony at once' pro rugby the likes of which we have barely seen in Australian Super Rugby for 5 years or more. Though all too rare nowadays, it can still be done.

Let's celebrate it as we should.

Just as importantly it was something of a positive 'white swan' moment for Australian rugby in that it demonstrates that real clusters of rugby excellence can still be constructed in Australia in terms of properly aligned coaching and team quality and that have nothing necessarily to do with an essential number of star players on absurd contracts or particularly star coaches. (It was this sort of cluster of excellence that Link built at the Reds in 2010-12.)

Such a cluster can be built organically with the right coaching mindset, solid specialist coaches, sensible recruitment decisions and sound player and skills development systems. Not variables in considered unison that one would generally associate with the management of Australian rugby as a whole.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Great game by the Brumbies in adverse situation with illness and late injuries. Pity they didn't hold on the a bonus point win. However, I think a close look at the scrum leading to the Chiefs' second try would have pinged the No 8 for picking the ball up in the scrum. He had the ball in hand well before he unbound from the scrum.

 

[Viking]

Great game by the Brumbies in adverse situation with illness and late injuries. Pity they didn't hold on the a bonus point win. However, I think a close look at the scrum leading to the Chiefs' second try would have pinged the No 8 for picking the ball up in the scrum. He had the ball in hand well before he unbound from the scrum.

I feel like going back and analyzing details like that is nit-picking. I think you could do the same and find 100 indiscretions from the Brumbies team. For example, these things happen on both sides at just about every ruck.

 

[Slim 293]

Still have to lament not kicking off the season 4-0, and leaving 5 competition points behind after the 80th minute shitting of the bed against the Highlanders last week, and failing to get the BP against the Rebels.........

I hope it doesn't come back to bite them later on.