Round 4 : Rebels v Reds. Friday Night (Melbourne)

[Wilson]

I didn't watch the game but Rebels MVP was Isaac Kailea, he really had a good game?

Yeah, came on really strong from the bench and was at the heart of the short lived forward fightback. I probably wouldn't have him as Rebels MVP, that might be Kemeny for mine, but having watched plenty of his club games it was the best I've ever seen him play.

 

[oztimmay]

Well done Reds, Everytime you went left you had a extra man on that side to attack with.

Berry should not be allowed to ref the Reds, it's clear he lets them away with 50/50 calls and is stricter on the opposite side. His also just poor at managing off side, and break down work.

Rebels have a great squad, but still have the worst coach. Never should have been resigned last year and it's showing this year. Attack is scoring enough points to win games, just constantly giving teams to many easy trys. Two gifts and one forward pass and that game is close.

Pone needs to play next week, drop Thor and give him a kick in the ass. Not sure what Gibbon was doing wrong to be pulled that early though.

Rebels wings last night were disappointing, Anderson looks a lot slower and Dave just does not manage a game at all. Rebels really need a second player at 12, might be worth playing Kellaway there and see how it goes next week as we going to give up a lot of points anyway.

Actually thought Gordan controlled the attack well, he just needs some more support on the field.

Uelese and hookers are not the line out issue, it's the callers and jumpers. Philip was a shocking caller and last night it showed again, line out in the attacking 22 and going to the back instead of front middle to secure ball.

Still think the Rebels can make the bottom half of the eight, but need to iron out a few things. Hopefully Foote has the guts to say that was poor, we are training on the weekend.

He did.

Rebels to ring changes after heavy Super loss to Reds

Melbourne coach Kevin Foote has forecast line-up changes following their disappointing Super Rugby Pacific loss to Queensland.

www.rugby.com.au

 

[Wilson]

That interview doesn't paint Foote in the best light:

Foote pointed out post-match that it wasn't only Tupou, with the entire Rebels forward pack unable to keep pace with the Reds at the breakdown.

"Their attack is fast - I think Les (Queensland coach Les Kiss) has put in a breakdown there that's really quick and if you don't slow it down, it's just going to put fatigue into you and fatigue into you and fatigue into you," Foote said.

"And then if you compound that with turning the ball over cheaply it's just more fatigue to you.

"They attacked well and we didn't slow their ball down."

Anyone could see this was coming (I even pointed it out beforehand), has to be troubling that Foote either didn't or couldn't prepare this pack to handle it better.

 

[SouthernX]

That interview doesn't paint Foote in the best light:


Anyone could see this was coming (I even pointed it out beforehand), has to be troubling that Foote either didn't or couldn't prepare this pack to handle it better.

They could really use Brad Wilkin (even Daugunu)

one of the trade offs I suppose having a massive forward pack to dominate set piece is you will get exposed by a fast pace team with good hands like the reds

 

[Wilson]

They could really use Brad Wilkin (even Daugunu)

one of the trade offs I suppose having a massive forward pack to dominate set piece is you will get exposed by a fast pace team with good hands like the reds

It'd help to have a specialist pilferer, but it looks like a pretty clear strategy to just not contest most of the opposition rucks this year and that's what bit them. You don't have to be stealing it heaps but you've got to be pretty bloody confident in your defence if your not even going to try and slow it down at all.

 

[Red Twist]

I wasn't blaming the ref, but I think Berry is always favoring the Reds, not just against the Rebels but all teams. His not allowed to ref a Wallabies game cause of potential bias, how can he be allowed do a reds game?

Maybe if Victorian rugby could develop some 1st class referees this could be avoided.

 

[oztimmay]

Amber McLachlan appointed to Women's Six Nations opener

Australian referee Amber McLachlan has been appointed to the opening game of the Women's Six Nations between Wales and Ireland.

www.rugby.com.au

 

[Tex]

Maybe if Victorian rugby could develop some 1st class referees this could be avoided.

Not sure how this addresses Kevin's point but go off chief

 

[Red Twist]

Not sure how this addresses Kevin's point but go off chief

He's whinging about perceived bias from a particular referee and the state he hails from. The issue is there are only a handful of top refs in Australia and they're from 2 states. Makes it a little difficult to have 'neutral' refs when there is a small pool from 2 out of 5 areas to choose from. Doncha think? Now , spelling it out slowly. If the other state unions could get refs up to standard it wouldn't be something else for Victorians to whinge about.

 

[Dctarget]

He's whinging about perceived bias from a particular referee and the state he hails from. The issue is there are only a handful of top refs in Australia and they're from 2 states. Makes it a little difficult to have 'neutral' refs when there is a small pool from 2 out of 5 areas to choose from. Doncha think? Now , spelling it out slowly. If the other state unions could get refs up to standard it wouldn't be something else for Victorians to whinge about.

I don't mind Berry but you're understating it a bit, not every ref has 33 caps for the Queensland reds.

If you threw Lachie Swinton the whistle, no matter how many seasons of reffing he'd still have accusations of bias.

 

[fish59]

When Nick Berry started, I always thought he seemed to go out of his way and be a bit harsher against the Reds. In addition to his Reds history, he probably had Harry Wilson in his PE class at Terrace. Anyway, I thought he was actively trying to dispel any accusations of bias. This could, of course, be my Reds bias, and the referee is always against us. I haven't had these thoughts so much recently.

 

[JRugby2]

This could, of course, be my Reds bias, and the referee is always against us. I haven't had these thoughts so much recently.

It's crazy what happens when we focus on discipline and are suddenly not the most penalised and carded team in the competition...

 

[Oracle83]

Isaac Henry 2024 season over

such a shame hope he can line up again was going well

 

[TSR]

When Nick Berry started, I always thought he seemed to go out of his way and be a bit harsher against the Reds. In addition to his Reds history, he probably had Harry Wilson in his PE class at Terrace. Anyway, I thought he was actively trying to dispel any accusations of bias. This could, of course, be my Reds bias, and the referee is always against us. I haven't had these thoughts so much recently.

This is where I don’t think he can win. I know Reds fans who swear Berry punishes them too harshly. Clearly opposition fans think he rewards the Reds.

I remember years ago I was watching a local fixture which didn’t involve my club and I happened to sit between the two teams supporters. Through the game I heard both groups of supporters complaining consistently how the refs hate their club and they don’t get a fair go. I think it’s just human nature to take umbrage at perceived injustices. And every ref is going to make mistakes. It doesn’t mean the Berry isn’t calling the game 100% as he sees if.

I do think there can be legitimate issues with refs from different countries because interpretations but with the days of video analysis teams should be able to manage that better.

I get the argument that Berry shouldn’t ref the Reds to avoid the perception of bias - but it just feels a bit too me like he would be getting punished for doing nothing wrong.

 

[JRugby2]

This is where I don’t think he can win. I know Reds fans who swear Berry punishes them too harshly. Clearly opposition fans think he rewards the Reds.

I remember years ago I was watching a local fixture which didn’t involve my club and I happened to sit between the two teams supporters. Through the game I heard both groups of supporters complaining consistently how the refs hate their club and they don’t get a fair go. I think it’s just human nature to take umbrage at perceived injustices. And every ref is going to make mistakes. It doesn’t mean the Berry isn’t calling the game 100% as he sees if.

I do think there can be legitimate issues with refs from different countries because interpretations but with the days of video analysis teams should be able to manage that better.

I get the argument that Berry shouldn’t ref the Reds to avoid the perception of bias - but it just feels a bit too me like he would be getting punished for doing nothing wrong.

Yeah it's almost as if people should address their own biases rather than project them unfairly onto referees just doing their jobs.