Clan v Waratahs 22/05/22 at Forsyth Barr

[Pfitzy]

The top 10:
1) Paddy Ryan is still a problem
2) Our defence is good enough to have confidence in a midfield bomb
3) The Highlanders are not their best selves, particularly with those missing players
4) The red card was entirely justified*
5) I take this opportunity to revise point 1 to "Idiot" - charging into rucks, at pace, from distance, is the danger zone, and not in a Topgun kind of way
6) Nawaqanitawase has matured in a way you'd like Wright to at the Ponies.
7) Hooper is a star
8) Gamble might just be his equal
9) The Clan were well disrupted
10) The Blues won't be that generous next week

*If that was a red card under the old-soon-to-be-new-again Laws, the Tahs probably get to 50. Will Gilbert get more than 4 weeks? Doubt it.

 

[Pfitzy]

You can't "kick" the ball with your shin

Yes you can.

Law definitions | World Rugby Laws

Alphabetical Law definitions for the game of rugby union.

www.world.rugby

Kick: An act made by intentionally hitting the ball with any part of the leg or foot, except the heel, from the toe to the knee but not including the knee. A kick must move the ball a visible distance out of the hand, or along the ground.

 

[qwerty51]

10) The Blues won't be that generous next week

They actually might be. They've locked up #1 already.

 

[Pfitzy]

It will be a messy night if this rain doesn't go away.

Forecast says showers, but besides tomorrow the "Chance Of Rain" (blue line below) drops away a fair bit:

 

[Pfitzy]

They actually might be. They've locked up #1 already.

Momentum - they nearly lost it against the Ponies. They won't be farting around next weekend.

 

[qwerty51]

Momentum - they nearly lost it against the Ponies. They won't be farting around next weekend.

Resting players is far more important than momentum. There's a reason most comps give the top 2 teams a week off and then they generally go well the following week.

 

[7137]

Resting players is far more important than momentum. There's a reason most comps give the top 2 teams a week off and then they generally go well the following week.

I agree. I think the Blues will rest a few. But I also think the Tahs will bet it all on the Brumbies and rest some also.
I would prefer they didn’t, but it’d be smart if they chalk up the Blues game as one you don’t want key players hurt in.

 

[Up the Guts]

The top 10:
1) Paddy Ryan is still a problem
2) Our defence is good enough to have confidence in a midfield bomb
3) The Highlanders are not their best selves, particularly with those missing players
4) The red card was entirely justified*
5) I take this opportunity to revise point 1 to "Idiot" - charging into rucks, at pace, from distance, is the danger zone, and not in a Topgun kind of way
6) Nawaqanitawase has matured in a way you'd like Wright to at the Ponies.
7) Hooper is a star
8) Gamble might just be his equal
9) The Clan were well disrupted
10) The Blues won't be that generous next week

*If that was a red card under the old-soon-to-be-new-again Laws, the Tahs probably get to 50. Will Gilbert get more than 4 weeks? Doubt it.

Mark will play in the ‘27 World Cup, his line breaking ability is special and he’s a weapon under the high ball.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That was a great win for the Tahs today. There is so much to like about what Coleman has done with those guys and he really is to be commended for it.

 

[Dan54]

Mark will play in the ‘27 World Cup, his line breaking ability is special and he’s a weapon under the high ball.

He's a player that I was thinking I had tended to write off previously, but this year has come on real well.

 

[Marce]

Enjoyed that interview with Micheal Hooper!

TBH, I prefer the Tane Edmed's interview. In case u didn't see it:

 

[Dan54]

Yep I saw it, apart from the fact he cried , I didn't get much out of it. I just thought Hooper (and Wheeler/Chainsaw Laney) spoke well with interesting things to say, and was asked sensible questions and answered them as such.

 

[Pfitzy]

He's a player that I was thinking I had tended to write off previously, but this year has come on real well.

The right coaching does wonders.

 

[Dan54]

That would be right, as does experience I think, we can often expect too much of young fellas.

 

[Marce]

A bloody good idea:

 

[Brumby Runner]

That was a great win for the Tahs today. There is so much to like about what Coleman has done with those guys and he really is to be commended for it.

 

[Marce]

Super Hooper!

rugby.com.au on Instagram: "Highlanders down to 14 and @wallabies captain Michael Hooper makes them pay #HIGvWAR #CultureRound #SuperRugbyPacific"

4,293 likes, 10 comments - rugbycomau on May 21, 2022: "Highlanders down to 14 and @wallabies captain Michael Hooper makes them pay #HIGvWAR #CultureRound #SuperRugbyPacific".

www.instagram.com

 

[fatprop]

He's a player that I was thinking I had tended to write off previously, but this year has come on real well.

He is far better, but there are plenty of areas he still has to improve

 

[Rob42]

Junior players have been able to access free GA tickets for years, but it's a good idea to keep promoting it.

 

[fatprop]

It was great to see what happens when you have a big unit can use footwork at contact, Will Harris will probably rarely be able to find two week shoulders on one run again for a while, but he made that look easy