waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Yeah, Tribe should've dropped to fourth & Brums host Loss Bleus.
Qualifying Final Brumbies v Hurricanes (3rd v 4th) Sat 7th June @ GIO Stadium 7.35pm AEST
- Thread starter Rudderless
- Start date
drewprint
Bob Davidson (42)
Yeah getting a second chance as the top placed loser is enough of a good bonus. Shouldn’t receive another home game too. Hope they rethink this next year.
molman
John Thornett (49)
Was out last night so only got to catch up now. What a great game. Australia needed one of their teams to go through for this competition to be interesting. The forwards really got it done for the Brumbies, though that was a lovely little set play to Wright.
The Hurricanes will be rueing what could have been. Moments like Loves sloppy ball on attack out the back at around the 35min mark when they had the Brumbies stretched 10m out, Kirifi's break/bust down the middle and then dropped ball etc. There were lots of moments like this. I also thought the Hurricanes got away with a bit at lineouts which they were lucky to not get called for. Some of those throws look decidedly not straight to me, one clearly on the Hurricanes outside arm, Brumbies always competing. I like speeding the game up, but there needs to still be a fair competition.
Overall, I though Berry did a really good job. A few mistakes like that knock on given to the Brumbies in the last 5mins or so which looked backwards to me, but I really appreciated a referee keeping more control over the breakdown with clear comms to let the game flow, so players knew expectations. You want to compete your players better not be impeding the other team which was nice to see after the sh#t sh#w of a breakdown we've had in some games. As such Kirifi was a lot less effective when he couldn't push things like he has in some games and overall, I felt the that Brumbies did well to really shut him out of the game.
The Brumbies have some work-ons. There defensive system was leaving a lot of space on the fringes which a lot of NZ teams with their pace and ability to shift will try to exploit and Toole still leaves me nervous with some of his defensive reads. The bench also isn't as impactful as the starting 15, it felt like there was a drop off when the starters left the field. The remaining NZ teams have some real handy depth.
The Hurricanes will be rueing what could have been. Moments like Loves sloppy ball on attack out the back at around the 35min mark when they had the Brumbies stretched 10m out, Kirifi's break/bust down the middle and then dropped ball etc. There were lots of moments like this. I also thought the Hurricanes got away with a bit at lineouts which they were lucky to not get called for. Some of those throws look decidedly not straight to me, one clearly on the Hurricanes outside arm, Brumbies always competing. I like speeding the game up, but there needs to still be a fair competition.
Overall, I though Berry did a really good job. A few mistakes like that knock on given to the Brumbies in the last 5mins or so which looked backwards to me, but I really appreciated a referee keeping more control over the breakdown with clear comms to let the game flow, so players knew expectations. You want to compete your players better not be impeding the other team which was nice to see after the sh#t sh#w of a breakdown we've had in some games. As such Kirifi was a lot less effective when he couldn't push things like he has in some games and overall, I felt the that Brumbies did well to really shut him out of the game.
The Brumbies have some work-ons. There defensive system was leaving a lot of space on the fringes which a lot of NZ teams with their pace and ability to shift will try to exploit and Toole still leaves me nervous with some of his defensive reads. The bench also isn't as impactful as the starting 15, it felt like there was a drop off when the starters left the field. The remaining NZ teams have some real handy depth.
Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
BR. When the Brumbies played in the early years, under different rules I realise, they played to big crowds regularly. A fantastic exciting side with obviously some amazing players. Cold didn’t stop people coming to see a team that played attractive attacking rugby. The rules now diminish the spectacle and the constant box kicking and rolling mauls are hardly exciting. That’s probably why people don’t fill stadiums now. It’s boring. Only die hards go. The Lions series will be well patronised but will mask over the rugby problems. Bring back rucking and get rid of the famous jackaling which is always adjudicated on like a lottery. More forwards will commit to the ruck which will see backs have more space to attack. Multiple camera angles now obviously will eliminate head stomping and illegal play. Which is my understanding why the rules changed? Box kicking would be reduced and we would be back to free flowing’old days’ rugby. More play like Valetini to Wright, for a fantastic try is what I love to see.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Isn't that just par for the course when middle of the road type players come to the Brumbies, after a season in the organisation they are getting close to the conversation for Wallabies spots?
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
I can kinda see why they do it.
The competition really needs to incentivise teams to want that top spot. Otherwise you’ll end up with teams clearing enough points to feel safe in the top three and potentially giving blokes more rest games to prepare for finals which lowers the standard of the competition.
molman
John Thornett (49)
What would you propose though? Even if you bring in things like PD you'd still have a home semi-final for the Chiefs & Crusaders. I agree with @PhilClinton, there needs to be some reward for being Minor Premiers.
griffins
Syd Malcolm (24)
Looks like they are employing higher linespeed and deliberately leaving space at the edges, as the Kiwis have done to us for years, trusting themselves to cover if they are good enough to get around us. Pretty viable when Ikitau is the one making the key decisions, he cuts off a lot of threatening movements (e.g when Wright intercepted Love's pass in the 22 late in the first half). Some issues in the first half with Pollard and Feluai overcommitting to block runners leading to near identical tries (with one of the Canes centres offloading in Noah's tackles). Feluai also jammed in for the Kirifi linebreak, he and Len still aren't quite in sync. They did adjust well in the 2nd half though and the Canes lost a bit of belief in their ability to break us down (see Love kicking for the corner around 75 minutes). Made some good stops on their own line too.
molman
John Thornett (49)
Fair analysis of some of the moments. Appreciate the system, but some of the pace and power available to the remaining teams will stress the system, especially if they get a quick reload. I know this is a given, but as you point out, a lot relies on the players being in sync and also the ability to reset quickly (without letting the line get manipulated too much) when they have had to scramble. I thought the Brumbies made a fair effort of it, but the Hurricanes were definetly picking them apart at times. There are some adjustments to be made.
It will be interesting how well they can keep it up against the remaining teams. There is also space behind the line to be exploited with the higher linespeed. We've seen Barrett (for the Blues) and even McKenzie (for the Chiefs) make fair gains with some well considered short kicks. This is all before you have to deal with McKenzie's prevelance to shift the point of contact/play significantly (I'm not sure his team even knows where he's heading sometimes).
It will be interesting how well they can keep it up against the remaining teams. There is also space behind the line to be exploited with the higher linespeed. We've seen Barrett (for the Blues) and even McKenzie (for the Chiefs) make fair gains with some well considered short kicks. This is all before you have to deal with McKenzie's prevelance to shift the point of contact/play significantly (I'm not sure his team even knows where he's heading sometimes).
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griffins
Syd Malcolm (24)
It will definitely be something they adjust week to week. Last night they obviously made a decision to take time and space away from the big centres that killed us in the round game (along with Naholo who was injured last night). I think they had less influence last night. As you say McKenzie will have an eye on the space behind the line, particularly given Lonergan is often employed as a shooter. The Chiefs pack will also pose a bigger threat next week, but on current form our guys shouldnt be overawed by them.
Yoda
Nev Cottrell (35)
Yes, agree that would definitely help stop box kicking. The benefits of rucking v present rules?
drewprint
Bob Davidson (42)
No alternative proposal from me honestly, I haven’t given it much thought to be fair. Not sure what else could be done. To be clear I definitely agree the reward needs to be there, but I think the second chance is enough.
What's the point of having the qualifying finals if a team's semi-final position/home or away isn't in jeopardy? To my mind the solution with a six team QF is top two placed winners get home SFs. As the Chiefs topped the table they are the highest loser and should've been ranked #4 for the SFs. So, the SFs should be Saders v Chiefs and Brumbies v Blues. For a QF loser, Chiefs, to get a home SF while a winner, Brumbies, travelling is out of whack.
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
100% @Lindommer. Interestingly the mad-keen Tribe fans I was with last night were a bit bemused & even a little sheepish about it.
Taking my post a bit further, say if teams 4, 5 and 6 win their QFs this year. I'd have home SFs for 4 and 5 with teams 2 and 3 eliminated; the SF rankings would be those finishing 4, 5, 6 and 1 on the end of season ladder. So, my theoretical SFs would be Canes v Chiefs and Reds v Blues.
Hope the powers-that-be at SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) read this.
Hope the powers-that-be at SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) read this.
molman
John Thornett (49)
Seems a fair solution. Minor Premiers always progress to SF but the home game is the jeopardy in the QF's.
Brumbies win their end of season game, and this might have all been mute. They've definitely gotten the raw end with this setup.
waiopehu oldboy
Rocky Elsom (76)
Not with Brum Runner & Tomikin about...