NSW Waratahs v Fijian Drua - Fri 28 Feb 2025 7:30pm Allianz Stadium

[Derpus]

The backline is genuinely awful. All the decent play came from Jorgo.

At one point we were 10 from the line and Edmed signalled a blindside play to Jorgo against a set defence. Ended bout 20 put forward on

 

[cyclopath]

Good - starting front row plus Gamble and Gleeson. Jorgensen also. Defensive effort and scramble.
Average - backline play mostly; kicking from hand was a mixed bag with some good, some bad.
Poor - scrum in second half (I know we had to deal without Amatosero in the row for 10). Cleanouts really went off the boil.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Drua losing the penalty count 11-1 until it then went on a 2-10 streak against the Tahs. The reason the game got close

 

[Shiggins]

bell has to be top 3 prop in the world. enough said

 

[Steve_Grey]

Yeah but the Drua didn’t either when you look at it as a whole.

Tahs hung on after fighting back from being down early.

Hell of a shift by Gamble. Full 80 and was right in the guts of it.

About time - been waiting for Gamble to earn his place. #7s should always be able to play 80 - Gamble often falls short; good to see a positive contribution.

I thought Edmed was average - and he has been capped - amazing; and second choice off the bench Bowen - also nothing exciting there.

 

[Shiggins]

Was it Grant? He looked to have a couple of cuts on his face after that last scrum

it was wreckless from the drua player. even the shot on Kellaway from the high ball and then they looked at the shoulder from the tahs backrower instead. the. kellaway comes off for HIA

 

[Wallabies]

What was the crowd does anyone know

 

[A mutterer]

Good - starting front row plus Gamble and Gleeson. Jorgensen also. Defensive effort and scramble.
Average - backline play mostly; kicking from hand was a mixed bag with some good, some bad.
Poor - scrum in second half (I know we had to deal without Amatosero in the row for 10). Cleanouts really went off the boil.

i thought the drua fought back into the game with amateroso out, and kept the momentum for about another 5 minutes. i also thought the tahs would win through a late try, as the drua's discipline has been not good.

not sure if its just my impression but this is the third game in a row where there's been some questionably late hits and they have been engaged in some niggle. the hit on lolesio has painted a picture in my mind, seemed a bit iffy at the time. but this is the third week in a row. maybe there's some overeagerness with 3 close losses?

 

[A mutterer]

What was the crowd does anyone know

i didnt see it announced at the game, but the lower tier was over 80% full around the ground, excluding those standing in front of the bars.

 

[Derpus]

i thought the drua fought back into the game with amateroso out, and kept the momentum for about another 5 minutes. i also thought the tahs would win through a late try, as the drua's discipline has been not good.

not sure if its just my impression but this is the third game in a row where there's been some questionably late hits and they have been engaged in some niggle. the hit on lolesio has painted a picture in my mind, seemed a bit iffy at the time. but this is the third week in a row. maybe there's some overeagerness with 3 close losses?

They are grubby as fuck.

 

[A mutterer]

they're hard to back as a second team this season even when they're not playing the tahs

 

[Derpus]

This game was another reminder of what a double edged sword Tupou is. His scrum work was huge but he cost us 7 points and a couple of turnovers with ball in hand.

I wonder about his technique in contact. Its particularly stark when you see how incredibly destructive Bell is with his tight running.

 

[Adam84]

he has never regained his running game post achilles injury, previously he was a dominant and effective ball carrier into contact.. these days he loses the ball too often. I think a combination of confidence, technique and fitness all combining.

 

[Adam84]

Another Miles brain explosion that was missed by officials during the game

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/s/qexvP8wcmj

 

[Derpus]

Oh and Backbone is a solid choice for entrance music.

 

[A mutterer]

Another Miles brain explosion that was missed by officials during the game

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/s/qexvP8wcmj

yeah the same drua fan wasnt posting the vids from their antics

 

[Dctarget]

Thought Kellaway had a much better 2nd half, actually started opening up their defence.

 

[molman]

I think McKellar's comments around inconsistencies really sums up that game. There were enough sequences of solid play, interupted by some rather poor execution and/or choices.

The lacking connections between players is rather evident. The backline really struggled to inject themselves at times. I'm not sure Kellaway was as poor as some are making out for the ball that went his way. He ran one nice line I recall where he made some good gainline, but there just isn't always that clean interchange where the moments unfold into more. It was similar early on where either Kellaway was pressing too hard (over ran) or Jorgo's offload was off and the ball ended in touch. Having a new centre pairing also probably didn't help.

I think there is a lot that will frustrate the coaches, as well as some in this thread it seems, but I feel contextually with the squad turnover, a new coaching team, that there is a lot of space for improvement with this squad.

As an aside, I thought Sinclair had a solid game. Made some really necessary tackles, is one of those players who just toils away. You can see the improvements season on season. He works hard consistently. Underated as a player. Players like him, Smith at the Reds or Neville at the Brumbies I think provide a lot.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Thoughts post game
- Amatosero is a flog. It's like he has been watching clips of a young Maro Itoje or Kyle Sinckler.
-Edmed has clearly been told to kick it but the kicks seem aimless and poorly executed. Nothing wrong with kicking as long as it has purpose and a good chase.
- Backline looks like a team adjusting to a new coach and new system. Timing is just off but I expect it to get better.
- O'Donnell two passes after contact. Really great. He made a poor read gave up a line break but was able to chase the Drua player down and make the tackle. Great recovery/effort.
- Lancaster was poor and will not like the review session on Monday.
-Poreki was poor again. Missing lineouts, poor maul work, passive in attack.
- Drua are a dirty team. Prime example are the two cheapies on O'Donnell after the Drua scored. Call that shit out and penalise it.
- Kiwi refs are refereeing the game like they do in the north and letting the ruck become a shit mess. Good for getting ready for test season not so good for quickball rugby which we struggled to adjust to.
-2 from 2 baby. It ain't pretty but we will get better

 

[Pfitzy]

Kiwi refs are refereeing the game like they do in the north

Mabey they are.
Mabey they aren't...