Rebels v Waratahs, rd15 SR2013

[Inside Shoulder]

Cheika can't blame the team, beside the bad handles last night Cheika blew it by taking off Barnes and Lucas in such important game for the tahs to win.
And by the sounds of Hoopers end of game interview Cheika also get quite angry and carrying on a bit in the sheds. I don't know about and I got the feeling hooper doesn't like it to much as well.

Have to agree I was disappointed with his game management.

I think Barnes might have had to come off: he tweaked something getting them to 19.
I just dont think the Tahs get the idea that playing an expansive game does not mean refusing to die with the ball no matter where on the field, when in the game or what the conditions.
Patience.

 

[USARugger]

To clarify I meant Foley's game management, that post above me snuck in while I was typing!

He looked better against the Brumbies. Knew when to kick it away, attack was in a much better shape, etc.

Agree it looked like Barnes tweaked something in his leg during the kick. Guess would be groin or hammy. This isn't the first time he's hurt himself place kicking, right?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

To clarify I meant Foley's game management, that post above me snuck in while I was typing!

I got howled down by someone for doubting Foley earlier in the week.
Rebels had them sussed out.
Well done.

 

[USARugger]

I got howled down by someone for doubting Foley earlier in the week.
Rebels had them sussed out.
Well done.

To be fair he was really good against the Stormers and Brumbies. A lot of people said his biggest weakness was his kicking out of hand and while his distance isn't the best his accuracy and decision making involving kicks has markedly improved.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I don't want this to sound like I'm bagging the Rebs efforts.

Tahs had every opportunity to win that game, but they didn't take them.

IMHO Douglas should not have played after his new born giraffe act last week.

Weaknesses in Tahs depth were exposed last night.

No real quality #2 to back up TPN.

2nd row depth must be of concern to Cheika if he feels he his best option was to play Douglas.

Debate on #9 has been endless so no more to be said.

Goal kicking. Say no more.

Against an unmotivated side having an off day you can get away with those weaknesses and still manage to eke out a victory. Unfortunately for the Tahs, the Rebels had a cause last night and they really clicked. Tahs missed critical tackles in defence, lineouts were substandard, decision making was sub optimal, individuals made uncharacteristic skills errors under relentless Rebels pressure.

There has been much promise shown by the Tahs this year, but they are not finals contenders - yet.

The Rebels need to distill their team spirit from last night and add it to their gatorade before all future games. (Note: Get it cleared by ASADA first!)

 

[Inside Shoulder]

IMHO Douglas should not have played after his new born giraffe act last week.

He must have passed the psychometric testing: if thats going to be your guideline I guess you live or die by it.
Nonetheless I'm with you on that.

 

[JSRF10]

Discipline wasn't good enough at times last night, Hooper gave a two stupid penalties when he didn't really need to. I know opensides play on the line, but it is just common sense to wait for the referee to call that the ball is out before you go for it.

That said I think the breakdown could have been yielded a few more penalties for us. Phipps twice was playing the ball on the ground but neither were awarded a penalty.

It was a big test for Foley once Barnes went off and he failed. He needed to give the Tahs more direction and try and play the game in the Rebels half. We won most of the kicking duels once they got going. The pack looked tired, after a so many big efforts it just felt like they need a bye week. Its going to be tough in NZ next week.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

JSRF10 I agree one of them was particularly silly: I dont think he was ever behind the hind most foot for the one right in fron about 27m out.
Anyone else think that the ref in this game and Walsh in the Chiefs v Saders were both indifferent to the "daylight" on the release before contesting the ball?

 

[KevinO]

Why are some people so quick to credit Timani with the 'Tahs pushing the Rebels scrum back a bit? Are we forgetting that the 'Tahs have the first-choice Wallaby loosehead and one of the Wallaby tightheads in their front row while the Rebels have..Laurie Weeks and Nic Henderson..

No need to repeat the rest, Pfitzy already covered it. Sita looks like Adam Jones at ruck time.

They give him credit to try justify why he is in the wallabies instead of pyle

 

[youngone]

I thought that last night was clear proof Phipps is #3 if not 4 in the Wallabies pecking order. Slow, sometimes sloppy service happened too often.

 

[JSRF10]

USARugger Timani is ridiculously underpowered for a bloke his size, contrast that with the damage that Skelton is doing in his short cameos. Timani should be as destructive at ruck time if not more than someone like Bakkies Botha, not sure why he isn't is it laziness or poor technique on his part? The Tahs scrumming credit should go to the front row, with a hat tip to the rest of the pack. Timani certainly isn't the reason we were dominating there.

 

[USARugger]

Poor form and laziness.

 

[Blue]

Timani. Jaysus.

One big hit every so often and what else?

Tiny motor. Lions will be very happy if he is in the mix. Doesn't do much lock stuff at all.

Have to agree about Pyle. He pyles it on.

 

[JSRF10]

Anyone else think that the ref in this game and Walsh in the Chiefs v Saders were both indifferent to the "daylight" on the release before contesting the ball?

Thats why we complain about referees I guess, they all seem to have different interpretations of the offside line, the ruck and the scrum. Imagine how frustrating it must be for the players, if it confuses us punters from week to week!

 

[Ruggo]

Fantastic Rebels.

Tahs played as well as the Rebels let them. Phipps said it at half time that going after Foley was the plan. Not because he is a weak link but because it shuts the Tahs backs down. Tahs were forced into old habits and credit to the Rebels for that. Rebels looked switched on right from kick off.

Hegerty is very green but I see a lot of Ben Lucas in him. Not the biggest dog in the fight but one hell of a mongrel.

 

[qwerty51]

So the Waratahs for the previous 5 weeks have been playing quite well and now that they've had one let down on performance (was was due) all their Wallabies have gone back to being shit and undeserving of selection?

 

[KevinO]

​

Matt Cockbain ‏@MattCockbain

3h​

Massive defensive effort from @MelbourneRebels team last night, 229 tackles made at 95% success. Best of the season!

 

[oztimmay]

Great win by the Rebels last night. Like most fans my head and throat is only starting to clear. Things that stood out for me.

1. Anyone in a sky blue jumper seems to have red jumpers in their minds, not dark blue. Whether it was respect or a fear of injury, many Waratahs didn't turn up last night.
2. I'll take the other side on the Penalty count and say how I was amazed we were pinged so many times, especially at scrum time. Admittedly we dropped shoulders a few times, but so did Kepu.
3. If that NSW front-row is the one going up against the Lions then we are going to get spanked. You don't win scrums by standing up all time time and complaining.
4. NSW need another Hooker to back-up TPN. John U(?) couldn't throw a straight ball to save himself.
5. Who oh why did we persist with not standing a man mid-field at the restart? Through rushed play we bled at least 6 points form penalties.
6. Higgers showed Palu who's the Wallaby number 8. Great performance form him.
7. Bryce was good with his kicking, but still has some work to do to lift another level. Some great touch finders in the first half, but the charge downs didn't help. Barnes showed his experience here and Bryce will learn from it.
8. Please can we give Woodward an Australian citizenship - his work from the back was awesome, including that little dance on the touchline to fool the 'tahs.
9. The ranga delivered - again. Really, so did all our team. I donated a Beer to the northern stand when Tom put down his second try.
10. The beer tastes better when you beat NEW at...well anything. Bloody good work all round.

GO REBELS!!!

 

[fatprop]

Cheika described the issues pretty well, it was down to detail
http://www.foxsports.com.au/Rugby/w...650280500?subcat=1111112039622&site=FoxSports

Enough ball and opportunities were had, but the detail and accuracy was just not there.

Too many players were looking for other players to do the 1%'ers

 

[qwerty51]

4. NSW need another Hooker to back-up TPN. John U(?) couldn't throw a straight ball to save himself.

John Ulugia is the 3rd hooker for the last time, he's the best 3rd string hooker in the country.