I'm still stumped at how Noah escaped a YC for that tackle. It was high and had force. Sure it didn't hit the head but I thought anything above the tits was high and as Tate hit the ground hard it was worthy of it.
That was never more than a penalty. The contact is clearly to the sholder and it slides up to the neck. It looked dramatic but it wasn't foulplay that warranted a card.
At the ground I didn't see how Noah out played Tom so happy to hear where he did. Offensively I thought Tom contributed more to getting the Reds backs in threatening positions and he didn't shirk from defensive duties with Bobby V running at him.
Considering the Brumbies tries came from in tight, I'm not following how Noah had the better game?
You see Noah organising the line a lot in this game (watch his comms, his gestures). He setup and disributed well. Made the right decisions at the right times for the game plan they had. His kick for Muirhead at around the 25min mark for example was the right option exectured well, that would have resulted in a try a couple of phases later if Frost doesn't bobble it over the line. The Brumbies weren't just playing off 9 but shifted the point a number of times to stretch the Reds defence, which Noah helped facilitate. His high contestible kicks were good, like his one ~36min mark which results in the Brumbies getting the ball back. He then at around the 37-38min mark gets the ball after a Reds knock on, see the space and kicks a good 50-22. Off this territory a couple of phases later the Brumbies score and go ahead on the scoreboard.... I could go on, but hopefully you get the point.
There were lots of moments where Lygnah in comparison made some poor decisions and some poor passes. For example, at around the 14min mark he tosses one right into the ground which results in a lineout for the Brumbies. He then follows it up at the ~15min mark after they win the ball back with his next pass being a distrubution that hits his target high resulting in the the player reaching above their head. There were lots of moments like this. I don't actually recall Lygnah even touching the ball in the lead up to any of those tries in the first half for the Reds. He didn't for the Paisami try which Tate pass towards the wing, he had nothing to do with the Asiata try.
I'm not saying Lygnah had a mare of a game, but Noah had a clearly better performance in executing his role, directly contributing to territory gains which turned into points, not making mistakes.
I still don't get why Gus pulled Khalni up on that knock on as Gus was in the way and contributed to the knock on?
Because the referee has no obligation to move. He's standing exactly where he blew the whistle for the mark. Khalni actually runs into the side of Red's 20 whos starting to stand up/disengage from the scrum first and then knocks it into Gus. Absolute muppet.
