RoffsChoice
Jim Lenehan (48)
Those kicks looked like planned moves. The cross field one was a good move.I think the last few minutes answered that question well.
Those kicks looked like planned moves. The cross field one was a good move.I think the last few minutes answered that question well.
their front row got smashed (rebels). I think Faulkner was greatI thought it was a decent game for the first round.
I was impressed by the ticker shown by the Force. They played as a tight unit and could have won if they'd have kicked a little bit better and not given away so many penalties/cards. Kyle Godwin (who looks to have bulked up since last season) and Alfie Mafi were two standouts, but I thought Alcock, Cowan and Faulkner were also good.
As for the Rebels, in the end their talent won out. Guys like JOC (James O'Connor), Beale, Kingi, Pyle have that game-breaking ability that the Force lack. I thought JOC (James O'Connor) was outstanding given it was his first game back after a long break, he hasn't lost his composure and power in tight. Beale was a bit quiet, Higgers was poor (he got the balance between mongrel and hothead a bit wrong, which he can do occasionally), Pyle and Jones were good. Front row stood up much better than I thought they would.
Both sides should have decent enough seasons, although neither really fired a warning to the rest of the comp. But these things aren't won in week 1 and you'd be a fool to predict too much coming out of tonight.
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I thought the Rebels were marginally the better team and probably deserved the win. That said, their handling in the first half was nothing short of atrocious. The Force looked to me like the Waratahs did last year - static runners, and relying on multiple phases to breakdown the defence. I thought they did it well, and will win a few games with those tactics. Their lineout is a major worry.
The ref was very generous to the Rebels scrum. The number 3 had his hand on the ground nearly every scrum, and folded in under pressure at least twice, but was never penalised for it. Alcock was the best loose forward in the game. Godwin had a very good game, but I thought Christie was anonymous throughout, and then I realised he was nearly always at fullback.
When the Rebels backline finally started to get some ball in the second half it looked like they were always going to win it. JOC (James O'Connor) played very well second half, and never looked like missing a kick at goal.
I pretty much agree with your summary. Even in the first half when the Rebels' handling was atrocious I thought they would win if they could control the ball. Which is how it turned out. Pyle was my MOM and will be knocking hard on the door to the Wallabies. Ref was ordinary but to my mind was much the same to both teams. Alby's sin binning was harsh but he was deliberately interfering to stop another quick penalty being taken. What else could the ref do?
Strongly agree re PyleI pretty much agree with your summary. Even in the first half when the Rebels' handling was atrocious I thought they would win if they could control the ball. Which is how it turned out. Pyle was my MOM and will be knocking hard on the door to the Wallabies. Ref was ordinary but to my mind was much the same to both teams. Alby's sin binning was harsh but he was deliberately interfering to stop another quick penalty being taken. What else could the ref do?