Rebels v Cheetahs - Round 4 - Super Rugby 2012

[James Buchanan]

Beales counter attacking brilliance from the back has been somewhat nullified by teams getting smarter and not kicking him the ball so much. I would like to see him bought in for more oppourtunities at the 12 channel. And you are lucky enough to have another world class 15 sitting on the bench. Different skill set, but still a brilliant 15.

Cipriani is still a turnstyle in defence. O'Connor is the opposite, one of the best tackling small men in the game. Free the backrow up from baby sitting Cipriani to menace the breakdown and give a young Aussie the oppourtunity to nail down the playmaker role. Gives O'Connor the oppourtunity to develop his field position kicking too.

Everyone seems obsessed with the idea of JOC (James O'Connor) as 10, particularly after his recent comments on the topic. But, I am inclined to agree with Jnor. From what I have seen, the only time that the Rebs have looked fluid in attack this year (against the blues in the trial game) came largely off the bat of Beale playing as stand in first receiver much of the half he played. In fact, despite occurring from a counterattack from 15, the first try scored in that game was due to his draw and pass, support work and offload again, not any individual brilliance on his part.

 

[Dumbledore]

O'Connor has missed one less tackle than Cipriani in the two games the Rebels have played so far. Last week was the most functional 80 minute performance the Rebels have put together, it would be madness to start throwing Beale into a position he hasn't played for what, two years? I just can't understand why you would want to mix up the starting team so dramatically after what was basically an acceptable performance, particularly in defence.

 

[qwerty51]

Beale played 10 a few times for the Tahs last year

In the end you still haven't crossed for a try this year yet. Quite odd considering the backline recruits.. Last year you were at least scoring tries.

 

[James Buchanan]

Beale played 10 a few times for the Tahs last year

In the end you still haven't crossed for a try this year yet. Quite odd considering the backline recruits.. Last year you were at least scoring tries.

A penalty try is still 'crossing the line' in my book. Especially one which comes from an infringement by a defending team to bring down a maul 2 metres out that was going fast enough to command a place at the Melbourne Cup. To suggest otherwise is facetious, back pandering nonsense.

I could wang on about how the first round bye is largely responsible for a lot of what you're referring to. But ultimately, your post is just a troll one, attempting to bait indignant responses from Rebels fans. Suffice to say, I think it is pretty clear to everyone that the Rebels are in a much better position this year than last.

 

[elementfreak]

Beales counter attacking brilliance from the back has been somewhat nullified by teams getting smarter and not kicking him the ball so much. I would like to see him bought in for more oppourtunities at the 12 channel. And you are lucky enough to have another world class 15 sitting on the bench. Different skill set, but still a brilliant 15.

Cipriani is still a turnstyle in defence. O'Connor is the opposite, one of the best tackling small men in the game. Free the backrow up from baby sitting Cipriani to menace the breakdown and give a young Aussie the oppourtunity to nail down the playmaker role. Gives O'Connor the oppourtunity to develop his field position kicking too.

Is this the same O'Connor who has missed 1 less tackle than Cipriani this year?

 

[qwerty51]

I could wang on about how the first round bye is largely responsible for a lot of what you're referring to. But ultimately, your post is just a troll one, attempting to bait indignant responses from Rebels fans. Suffice to say, I think it is pretty clear to everyone that the Rebels are in a much better position this year than last.

Geez take of that what you will but it's a pretty fair observation to say the Rebels have difficulty scoring tries.. yeah great that the defense looks better.. Or does it? One game against the Reds who have already shown they're having major difficulties themselves crossing the line. We shall this week just how far the Rebels have come against a pretty evenly matched team on ability. Something tells me the game will tick over in multiples of 3 however.

 

[Dumbledore]

James, you can't win. You argue and you're a delusional Rebels supporter. You agree and you don't support your team enough.

It's such poor bait it's not even worth biting on.

 

[Bullrush]

Everyone seems obsessed with the idea of JOC (James O'Connor) as 10, particularly after his recent comments on the topic. But, I am inclined to agree with Jnor. From what I have seen, the only time that the Rebs have looked fluid in attack this year (against the blues in the trial game) came largely off the bat of Beale playing as stand in first receiver much of the half he played. In fact, despite occurring from a counterattack from 15, the first try scored in that game was due to his draw and pass, support work and offload again, not any individual brilliance on his part.

My opinion is that Beale is the 2nd best player in Australia (top honours go to Pocock). He should play 10 - he is proven at that position, he wants to play that position, he is a more mature player now than when he played there previously. He needs to train, practice there and play there and he could be the best back in the world....once Dan Carter retires

 

[Ash]

I disagree.

Beale is more effective from the 15 position, and like a lot of good 15s he can come into first receiver when required (which often leads to suggestions they could play at 10 - believe it or not, there were repeated calls for Latham at 10, for example). I would think that, far and away, Beale's best position now is 15, and just because a player shines in one position does not mean that they'd shine in another.

 

[Bullrush]

I disagree.

Beale is more effective from the 15 position, and like a lot of good 15s he can come into first receiver when required (which often leads to suggestions they could play at 10 - believe it or not, there were repeated calls for Latham at 10, for example). I would think that, far and away, Beale's best position now is 15, and just because a player shines in one position does not mean that they'd shine in another.

Beale shone at 10 before he did at 15. IMO, he would be better there than Cooper and O'Conner. As an AB fan I love it that Aussies seem to have given up on him at 10 but I'd also love to see him involved in the game more like DC and all the great 10's of the game.
I've said this a number of times but if I had the option of having the best 10 in the world or the best 15, I'd take the 10 every day of the week. His influence on the game is usually so much greater and I think Beale has the attributes to be the best 10 in the game.

 

[Ash]

One reason I disagree was that I don't think Beale ever really shone at 10. Beale took the Tahs to a final, but it was off the back off a dominant pack and limited backline play. Beale's distribution, vision and running of a game at Super level hasn't the same naturalness to that of, say, Cooper (and I'm not denying Cooper's other flaws, but after watching him live all of last season I was mightily impressed with the way he ran the Reds backs).

Now, the magic from Beale is his running game, where he can pick holes and the right time to run, and he gets more freedom to try his low percentage chip kicks and other plays against unstructured defences. Move Beale back to 10 and I think you'll lose what he now does best, which is counter attacking, and choosing when to get involved from fullback.

I reckon that Beale is, arguably, the best fullback (or close to it) in the world, but is merely an alright 10. Would be a waste to swap a world's best fullback for an alright 10, in my book.

 

[Bullrush]

Didn't he win the MVP (or whatever it was called) in your provincial comp you had for that one year? At 10?

I think he just needed time and maturity to get better - he got both and has plenty of time to develop even further.

 

[qwerty51]

Beale goooone

 

[elementfreak]

Interesting that Cipriani is on the bench and Inman is out as well.

 

[Ash]

Didn't he win the MVP (or whatever it was called) in your provincial comp you had for that one year? At 10?

I think he just needed time and maturity to get better - he got both and has plenty of time to develop even further.

In that same comp, Sam Norton-Knight looked a world beater at 10. It was also played under different rules, which favoured players like Beale who love unstructured evironments in games.

The ARC (or MARC) had potential, but it is hard to make a call on the standouts in that one year, as some ended up being just good club players. At club level, I am sure Beale would be a fantastic 10. At Super level and above, I'd keep Beale at fullback every time.

 

[Ash]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...riani-doubtful-for-rebels-20120316-1v9ce.html

Cipriani in doubt along with Beale and Inman gone, but he's on the bench with J'OC at 10.

Anyone else think the Rebels are going to struggle now in this game? Consider last week's backline:
Kingi, Cipriani, Vuna, J'OC, Inman, Gerrard, Beale.

To this week's backline:
Kingi, J'OC, Vuna, Johansson, Gerrard, Mitchell, Huxley.

Ouch! Big step down. And it looks like a backline that will fall back to the sloppy defensive style of last year's Rebels.

But Gerrard has been a great buy, the real Mr Fixit of the Rebels backline.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

Beiber will be having flashbacks to his force days, with a backline like that!

 

[FiveStarStu]

Interesting that Cipriani is on the bench and Inman is out as well.

Cipriani has been sick all week. His game time, if any, will be decided on the day.

 

[daz]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...riani-doubtful-for-rebels-20120316-1v9ce.html

Cipriani in doubt along with Beale and Inman gone, but he's on the bench with J'OC at 10.

Anyone else think the Rebels are going to struggle now in this game? Consider last week's backline:
Kingi, Cipriani, Vuna, J'OC, Inman, Gerrard, Beale.

To this week's backline:
Kingi, J'OC, Vuna, Johansson, Gerrard, Mitchell, Huxley.

Ouch! Big step down. And it looks like a backline that will fall back to the sloppy defensive style of last year's Rebels.

But Gerrard has been a great buy, the real Mr Fixit of the Rebels backline.

I will be at the game as always, but my anticiaption of a Rebels win has taken a bit of a nose-dive. Love to see the boys get up, I really would, but life just got a bit harder.

Against a solid Cheetahs forward line the loss of Inman is huge. Huuuuuge.

And without Beale mopping up and also providing that spark of attack, I see the Rebels may have another try drought this week. Kingi and Vuna need to pull out a monster game here.

If the Cheetahs have any brains, they will simply rush both Kingi and JOC (James O'Connor) and keep them on the backfoot.

Huxley at 15? Uh Oh. 'Nuff said.

 

[The Red Baron]

The lack of kicking and counter attack options at the back is going to be a real issue. Huxley can kick, but he doesn't have distance. It is such a shame seeing as the best long kicker in Australian rugby (Gerrard) is in the centres.

Out wide is where the Rebels have (had?) the capacity to threaten the Cheetahs, as the Cheetahs forwards would struggle against the Rebels generating quick ball from counterattack situations. With the backline named, I feel that the Rebels have lost that ace up their sleeve. Unfortunately there is not much that can be done about it, injuries are injuries.

Although I am still pissed at Beale for ruining my fantasy team.