Dumbledore
Dick Tooth (41)
Luke Jones was MotM tonight. Deserves to be in the Wallabies squad.
Rebels v Blues, Round 7 2012, AAMI Park
- Thread starter James Buchanan
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tranquility
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Pyle is well ahead of Simmonds this season. Luke Jones probably is too.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
Luke Jones was Man of the Match in my eyes too but let him settle on a position (6 or lock) and fill out a bit before you put him in the Wallaby frame. Pencil him in for 2013-14.
I agree on both accounts, with Sharpie/Vickerman retiring and Simmons/Wykes not really kicking on with their good form he certain fits that mold (at least from the bench).
I think his terrific work-rate/athleticism complement Horwill's grunt quite strikingly well.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
An impressive effort from the Rebels who out enthused the seemingly lethargic Blues. The locals ended up owning the breakdown but they have much work to do on their scrum.
Hopefully this game is a turning point for the Southerners.
Hopefully this game is a turning point for the Southerners.
Dumbledore
Dick Tooth (41)
If he's good enough, he's good enough. He's playing a very tight role at 4 and he's doing an excellent job of it. He's exactly the sort of player the Wallabies have been after for ages, just not necessarily at 6. I would seriously give him a run against Scotland, either off the bench or starting.
Athilnaur
Arch Winning (36)
Coulda cried when randomnumbergenerator blew a whistle on the blues for a rebels scrum in the first half at the exact same time the ball was out at the back. Sure enough scrum resets, blues win. Meh.
Blues handling errors were woeful. Nonu actually played ok from where I sat, but got some incredibly crap passes and the Rebels defence was surprisingly cohesive.
Was a great night at AAMI park. Jones yes, and how bout Ged's efforts setting up JOC (James O'Connor).
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Think he and Pyle need to learn to push in the scrum first. At test level that scrummaging would be catastrophic.
FiveStarStu
Bill McLean (32)
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
elementfreak
Trevor Allan (34)
Free tickets behind the goals for members friends (send an email etc).
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
That was a top win by the Rebels regardless of whether the Blues were crap or not.
I didn't think that they could attack with their defence so much, wide, in the middle, or around the ruck for the whole game. In doing so they either spoiled the quality of the ball being cast wide or smothered the ball runners if it got there. The outside defensive efforts of Inman and Gerrard were first class and all the forwards contributed to the swarming defence near the ruck, which pin-balled from one Blues player to another.
Such was their momentum in parts of the 2nd half, that the forwards found themselves driving through the Blues ruck and even did some ruck loitering on the wrong side which was strictly illegal, but permitted by Lawrence on the vibe of it. I love the vibe.
It's a pity about the scrum, but Woodcock is a world class scrummaging LHP and he was allowed to push through the hit, not that he needed to: he could have done it legally in two stages. Otherwise I thought the Blues forwards were below average and sometimes poor: I can't imagine that the Highlanders or Chiefs forwards would let the Rebels wade through their rucks as the Rebels did sometimes at money times in the game.
As for the Rebels players: JOC (James O'Connor) continues to amaze us with his artful dodges against all types of opponents and Gerrard showed, again, that at this level a lack of speed can be excused if one has a faster brain than the other fellow. Phipps, to whom I have given faint praise sometimes, had a wonderful game both with and without the ball, and Cipriani showed how valuable the Cips/JOC (James O'Connor) synergy can be for the rest of the season.
The backrow and 2nd row outplayed the opposition units and the two young locks in particular played like seasoned pros.
Luke Jones was elevated to Super rugby before his time in 2010 and 2011, but he came of age tonight. My description of him 3 years ago: that he will become a 3M type of player at the senior level, will not be far off the mark methinks, but at the minute he is really a 6 who can play lock. Ideally, he needs more meat on them bones to become a starting Wallaby down the track, though a bench gig could come at the end of the year if he keeps playing with the same skill and energy against better opponents than the Blues.
Pyle continues his stellar form of last year. He didn't seem to be able to help his THPs in the scrums, but he wouldn't be the only TH lock that had trouble on the side that Myth packs down on. The lad has a big future and about the only thing left for him to show us is to shift a few heavy pianos.
The Blues fans must be terribly disappointed in their team: so much talent spoiled by poor ball work and poor choices, or by not being used enough. I thought their best were The Myth and Rene Ranger.
This was not the perfect storm from the Rebels: just a fair wind, but it seems to be blowing in the right direction.
.
I didn't think that they could attack with their defence so much, wide, in the middle, or around the ruck for the whole game. In doing so they either spoiled the quality of the ball being cast wide or smothered the ball runners if it got there. The outside defensive efforts of Inman and Gerrard were first class and all the forwards contributed to the swarming defence near the ruck, which pin-balled from one Blues player to another.
Such was their momentum in parts of the 2nd half, that the forwards found themselves driving through the Blues ruck and even did some ruck loitering on the wrong side which was strictly illegal, but permitted by Lawrence on the vibe of it. I love the vibe.
It's a pity about the scrum, but Woodcock is a world class scrummaging LHP and he was allowed to push through the hit, not that he needed to: he could have done it legally in two stages. Otherwise I thought the Blues forwards were below average and sometimes poor: I can't imagine that the Highlanders or Chiefs forwards would let the Rebels wade through their rucks as the Rebels did sometimes at money times in the game.
As for the Rebels players: JOC (James O'Connor) continues to amaze us with his artful dodges against all types of opponents and Gerrard showed, again, that at this level a lack of speed can be excused if one has a faster brain than the other fellow. Phipps, to whom I have given faint praise sometimes, had a wonderful game both with and without the ball, and Cipriani showed how valuable the Cips/JOC (James O'Connor) synergy can be for the rest of the season.
The backrow and 2nd row outplayed the opposition units and the two young locks in particular played like seasoned pros.
Luke Jones was elevated to Super rugby before his time in 2010 and 2011, but he came of age tonight. My description of him 3 years ago: that he will become a 3M type of player at the senior level, will not be far off the mark methinks, but at the minute he is really a 6 who can play lock. Ideally, he needs more meat on them bones to become a starting Wallaby down the track, though a bench gig could come at the end of the year if he keeps playing with the same skill and energy against better opponents than the Blues.
Pyle continues his stellar form of last year. He didn't seem to be able to help his THPs in the scrums, but he wouldn't be the only TH lock that had trouble on the side that Myth packs down on. The lad has a big future and about the only thing left for him to show us is to shift a few heavy pianos.
The Blues fans must be terribly disappointed in their team: so much talent spoiled by poor ball work and poor choices, or by not being used enough. I thought their best were The Myth and Rene Ranger.
This was not the perfect storm from the Rebels: just a fair wind, but it seems to be blowing in the right direction.
.
teach
Trevor Allan (34)
I think this game is going to be the final straw for Lam and the wider Auckland Rugby Union. Surely. They are the most underperforming team in the country. They have the biggest player catchment and all the benefits and advantages that gives them. While it is good for my team, for the country as a whole, it is far from an ideal situation.
Rebels won and well done, but this team is rubbish. a pitifully slow attack close to the line and far too many basic errors.
I can't wait for Highlanders V Blues.
Rebels won and well done, but this team is rubbish. a pitifully slow attack close to the line and far too many basic errors.
I can't wait for Highlanders V Blues.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
In 2011 Weepu and Nonu played for the Canes and they sucked and the Blues were good. In 2012 the reverse can be said.
Obviously not a big enough sample size but interesting none the less.
Obviously not a big enough sample size but interesting none the less.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
He was good enough last night and has been for patches in other games but he is nowhere near consistent enough.
The Blues are a cellar dweller Super Rugby team, not Scotland (who will probably be getting their captain back into the frame and will be looking to improve their international fortunes).
I think they moved themselves on but I'm sure it was mutual.
Bullrush
Geoff Shaw (53)
Well done Rebels - deserved winners against these pretenders. I'm so pissed off with the Blues and with Pat Lam - and I'm a big fan of his. Last night was just a poor performance for a team with the talent the Blues have. Mealamu, Woodcock, Williams, Weepu, Nonu, Stanley, Ranger, Wulf.....all of these guys have pulled on the black jersey. Is it the players or the coaching staff?? I don't have a clue which but I'm heart-broken.......
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Nonu was moved on, so Weepu decided to go to, rumour floating around that Weepu wants to go back to Canes next year.
I watched game and couldn't believe how bad the Blues have become, talk about rubbish personified!! Ali Williams for one needs to head north, and Weepu should donate his shorts to charity, could make tents for a few homeless families out of them, there no excuse for anyone being that shape in round 6 of season (even Rd 1).First rule of rugby boys...LOOK AFTER THE BLOODY BALL!! I know the Rebels went well in 2nd half, but they still not striking me as a good team, although they have a few bloody good players. I think Delve is a real good captain, playing well every week, I like the look of Pyle, Jones went well last night, but you don't become an international on one or two good games. I suspect that O'Connor and Beale are slowly starting to realise that they are in a team again, as I thought earlier games they played game like they were the stars and only they could win game for Rebels!!
I'm astounded that Rodney Blake actually makes a living out of playing rugby, I have always considered him an overated player at anything above club level, I actually blamed the Brisbane press when they got into the Rodzilla thing when he played here, think it went to his head, and don't think he ever recovered.
I watched game and couldn't believe how bad the Blues have become, talk about rubbish personified!! Ali Williams for one needs to head north, and Weepu should donate his shorts to charity, could make tents for a few homeless families out of them, there no excuse for anyone being that shape in round 6 of season (even Rd 1).First rule of rugby boys...LOOK AFTER THE BLOODY BALL!! I know the Rebels went well in 2nd half, but they still not striking me as a good team, although they have a few bloody good players. I think Delve is a real good captain, playing well every week, I like the look of Pyle, Jones went well last night, but you don't become an international on one or two good games. I suspect that O'Connor and Beale are slowly starting to realise that they are in a team again, as I thought earlier games they played game like they were the stars and only they could win game for Rebels!!
I'm astounded that Rodney Blake actually makes a living out of playing rugby, I have always considered him an overated player at anything above club level, I actually blamed the Brisbane press when they got into the Rodzilla thing when he played here, think it went to his head, and don't think he ever recovered.
Bernie_Larkham
Herbert Moran (7)
I think Jones body is more ready for Test football than Pyle. Pyle still looks like a 2yo colt at times and he has some lazy efforts every now and again that will be shown up in tests. Jones is the "harder" of the two and does so much grunt work. His tackle stats are off the charts.
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