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Round 5 - Brumbies v Reds GIO 18/3

Pfitzy

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Tomikin said:
Best Front rower, 8 , 7 10, centre, and the two beat fullbacks all in the Reds starting line up..

I call bullshit on they expected to go down by more.. you all expected to win. Just didn't
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Brumbies fans: WHY AREN'T MORE MIGHTY BRUMBIES GETTING WALLABIES SELECTION BECAUSE WE'RE THE BEST TEAM EVER.

Also Brumbies fans: we just poor widdle ponies who managed to beat the big nasty Reds who have the best players in history.

Make your mind up...
 
Pfitzy

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
TSR said:
I guess I’ll wait until the games today - but I’d be surprised if the players from last night don’t feature heavily in my TOTW.

I’m reminded that grand finals are very rarely free flowing affairs and test matches often aren’t either because the quality of the opposition tends to make it harder to play free flowing football and causes errors. Doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of good things happening on the field.
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Yeah the absolute hard-nosed attitude from both sides at the breakdown was mostly excellent. Hope they can reproduce it against the NZ teams.

I would have thought a match like this could have drawn a bigger crowd, TBH. Didn't seem to be well populated.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
I found Valetini an interesting case last night.

I know I noticed him less than I did in previous weeks. Not to say I didn’t see him often - but didn’t see as many big charges or hits.

But there was a period when I saw him involved in 2-3 breakdowns in a row when the Reds were in counterattack off a turnover. It ended in Muirhead (I think) securing a breakdown penalty.

I remember 2 years ago when some were raving about Valetini because he made a few big hits and big charges. My understanding is that the Brumbies coaching staff were in his ear and telling him his efforts in training and games were sub par because he wasn’t doing the graft required. Also interesting that when Dan McKellar was questioned on him earlier in the year he didn’t say how great he was going he said he’s still a work in progress.

We often talk about the ‘meat and potatoes’ of front rowers - getting their set piece right first then everything else afterwards. To his enormous credit Valetini looks to me like a guy know who has the correct focus on his game. His big hits and charges are better than ever but he knows his role and his breakdown work is the thing that has really kicked on. Well done to him and credit to the Brumbies coaching staff. On first viewing last night I thought Uru outpointed him, but won’t be surprised if he got through a bucket of work I didn’t notice.

Having said all that I will finish by saying I thought Uru, Wilson & McReight were all outstanding last night. 3 guys in wonderful form, super competitive and with genuine spark to their play.
 
PhilClinton

PhilClinton

Mark Loane (55)
There were definitely times last night where McReighht, Wilson and Uru got the Reds on the front foot, and unless one of those three were in support, the play broke down a bit because the other forwards were two steps behind.

Taniela’s big efforts around the park are great but I’d rather him save some of that at times and be a better support runner - funny saying that about a prop, but him winding up to take a pill off a half break offload would be great. Angus Bell has scored a few tries doing that this year, a big body running at pace to finish a half break.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
I thought Taniela was pretty good last night. Ala'alatoa too. They are definitely a clash of styles but both seem to be in great form.

I did think the Reds could’ve got a bit more pay for their dominant scrum and, if that was the case we’d be lauding Tupou today but, in fairness, the Brumbies FR were doing enough to cast doubt on who was infringing first, so fair play to them.
 
Wilson

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
TSR said:
With regards to Jeans, a bit more composure under pressure would have been good, but you can’t train experience. I prefer he is getting the exposure now - hopefully will help him going forward.

On the plus side Thomas seems to have really come along and Blyth & Smith have become a solid pairing. Uru has been excellent. Thorn has a tough decision next week as he offers a very different dynamic to Wright who is excellent as well.
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I have a feeling Uru will shift into second row and Wright will come straight onto the side of the scrum. Not sure who out of Blyth and Smith drop out though, might depend on who is calling the lineout with Scott-Young out injured.
 
drewprint

drewprint

Dick Tooth (41)
TSR said:
I thought Taniela was pretty good last night. Ala'alatoa too. They are definitely a clash of styles but both seem to be in great form.

I did think the Reds could’ve got a bit more pay for their dominant scrum and, if that was the case we’d be lauding Tupou today but, in fairness, the Brumbies FR were doing enough to cast doubt on who was infringing first, so fair play to them.
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Yeah forward packs were pretty evenly matched overall. Tupou and AAA over their opposites, hooker pretty comparable (FF (Folau Fainga'a) prob shading it as more consistent in lineout), Brumbies locks, and Reds back row. But no real dominance of one over another - it was such a dogfight.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
I do think your Zander did well though. Best game this year IMO. I hope he can keep it up and kick on.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
On a seperate note it’d be interesting to know why Daugunu appears out of favour. Happy that Creighton seems to be developing well, but I’m yet to see anything from him that suggests to me he is better than, or even close to Daugunu.
 
wamberal

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Tomikin said:
Best Front rower, 8 , 7 10, centre, and the two beat fullbacks all in the Reds starting line up..

I call bullshit on they expected to go down by more.. you all expected to win. Just didn't
Click to expand...

"Hoped" is the word you were looking for. No rational fan would expect to win a game against the greatest team of the century at their home ground.
 
Jimmy_Crouch

Jimmy_Crouch

Peter Johnson (47)
TSR said:
On a seperate note it’d be interesting to know why Daugunu appears out of favour. Happy that Creighton seems to be developing well, but I’m yet to see anything from him that suggests to me he is better than, or even close to Daugunu.
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It is also interesting that two games in a row they have toss him on the wing for a period whilst leaving Grealy on the bench.
 
TSR

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
Grealy wasn’t on the bench last night. The other back was Henry. I agree it is interesting they are seeing him as a wing reserve though.
 
Tomikin

Tomikin

David Codey (61)
wamberal said:
"Hoped" is the word you were looking for. No rational fan would expect to win a game against the greatest team of the century at their home ground.
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The Reds beat the Brumbies 3 times last year..

Blah blah blah..expected to lose.. bet if your in a tipping comp you selected the Reds.
 
Rugbynutter39

Rugbynutter39

Michael Lynagh (62)
TSR said:
With regards to Jeans, a bit more composure under pressure would have been good, but you can’t train experience. I prefer he is getting the exposure now - hopefully will help him going forward.

On the plus side Thomas seems to have really come along and Blyth & Smith have become a solid pairing. Uru has been excellent. Thorn has a tough decision next week as he offers a very different dynamic to Wright who is excellent as well.
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At the stage of where Kalini and Jeans at you have to expect not the perfect performance. More pluses then minuses I would have thought and they are progressing ok and will get better over time as not the finished product but still pretty talented and handy pair.
 
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