I avoided the Waratahs last night and only caught Brumbies v Reds as an afterthought.
It's sad where the code is at the moment in Australia.
I hope that the Brumbies can go on with it and give Australian rugby fans something to watch come finals time and give us some hope for the Wallabies. The Waratahs and the Reds are just embarassing at the moment (as are the NSWRU/QRU)
Dean Mumm must have got to the semis in that compMarto proven right about Maranta being the worst signing he's ever seen.
Didn't think it could get worse that grahams days.
Time for another worldwide search of the carpark.
Reds look totally lost and the only thing they know to do when in possession seems to be make an ineffective kick.
Marto proven right about Maranta being the worst signing he's ever seen.
You do realise the Brumbies are from Australia.. and they played extreamly wellWatching Australian rugby right now:
The Reds' and QRU's usual apologists and excuse-makers have obviously had 'other pressing commitments' tonight.
Bit like our forwards in the loose.
Bit like Moore, and Douglas.and
The team is just as bad, but with more talent on the fieldIn the wise words of Stiles, if this was last year the Reds would have lost by 70. 40 is far better improvement. Stiles has lost the shed and basic skills of rugby. I can see graham sitting back right now with a simle. And that cringes me to qld rugby death.
Who is Stiles going to drop this week, I bet not himself. Not even dropping players threats this team to lift. No improvement what so ever.
Thanks to Brumbies showing some fight skills and 80mins.
I understand the Reds' fans are hurting, and pretty badly. So many hopes at the start to the year, but the promise is not being delivered.
However, they did come up against a hot Brumbies' side tonight. Amazing wjat sort of rugby can be played when they stop kicking the ball away constantly, and trust their skills and structures to run the bloody thing. Hell, they even looked like they came from NZ some times in this game.
The stand outs to me were :
1) the scrum totally dominated the Reds' scrum with that pushover try from nearly 20m a highlight;
2) the passing and handling was levels better than they've demonstrated previously;
3) Rory Arnold played the best half game by an Aussie lock in living memory;
4) Joe Powell continues to play at a high level and is forming a good combination with Hawera;
5) De Roos is also showing he is capable at this level;
6) Scott Fardy is a gun captain;
7) Tevita Kuridrani finished on top of Kerevi;
8) Aiden Toua showed some of his talents tonight interspersed still with some errors of judgement;
9) Henry Speight back to near his best and was always dangerous with the ball
10) Chris Alcock my MOTM.
It was a very satisfying game and result from a Brumbies' fan's perspective. Now they just need to replicate it against the Saffas and NZ sides to establish their credentials in the competition. Just remember to keep running the ball and good things will happen.