Super Rugby AU 2021 -Rd 4 - Force v Rebels - Fri 12/3

[Dctarget]

They gotta be injury selections. No way you'd pick Brache over Pulu,

I'm expecting a conservative game from the Force.

Has to be. Two of your best last week. Their absence weakens the team significantly.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yes unless the Force have decided a policy to drop their best players for the last game they would have to be both injury related.

Pity as Anstee in particular was a joy to watch and really the game changer that won the Force the game with the set up of one try and strong line out running play for the second....what a talent he looks like to leverage for his 7's skills into the 15 game

 

[ForceFan]

Has to be. Two of your best last week. Their absence weakens the team significantly.

Both confirmed with injuries.

 

[Rebel man]

Haha, that's laughable.

Even if they lose this they have 2 bonus points in the 2 hardest fixtures.

They have 2 fixtures vs the Tahs and would have return fixtures at home against the Force, Reds and Brums.

Even if they only pick up a bonus point this week, given the remaining fixture list they would be poised to be the most likely to gather the required wins of teams remaining games to sneak in.

I suspect both the Force and Rebels will both share a win each this year against each other and both teams will beat the Tahs twice. However for the Force to sneak into the finals, they will have to show they can pick up points against the Reds and Brums. Something the Rebels already have done.

We want to have our destiny in our own hands and not rely on results going our way. If we fail to win we put pressure on ourselves to be perfect at home. Not to mention this is an 8 point game as the force is the side we are competing with for a spot in the finals

 

[KevinO]

Rebels team to face the Western Force:

​

1. Cabous Eloff
2. James Hanson
3. Pone Fa'amausili
4. Ross Haylett-Petty
5. Trevor Hosea
6. Josh Kemeny
7. Richard Hardwick
8. Michael Wells
9. Joe Powell
10. Matt To'omua (C)
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Reece Hodge
13. Stacey Ili
14. Lachie Anderson
15. Tom Pincus
16. Ed Craig
17. Isaac Aedo Kailea
18. Lucio Sordoni
19. Steve Cummins
20. Rob Leota
21. Tom Nowlan/Brad Wilkin
22. Glen Vaihu
23. Frank Lomani/Carter Gordon

 

[Derpus]

My money is on the Rebels to break their try drought and win this one.

 

[Mick The Munch]

Just to double double check - kick off is 8.45 AEST.

Right?

 

[ForceFan]

Correct - 2045 hrs AEDST.

 

[KevinO]

^^^I like it, can get the kids to bed before kick off.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this game goes the way of most Rebels v Force games.

Rebels by < 7 points.

 

[Rebel man]

^^^I like it, can get the kids to bed before kick off.

Should make the kids watch it and force them to love it. Wasn’t paternal pressure the reason we all got into sport?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Looking forward to watching my first live rugby game in a while tomorrow night. Go the Force!

 

[Scooter]

Surprised Pone has been picked. After the massive hit to the head he received 6 days prior to this game I am surprised he has/will have passed concussion protocols.

 

[Forcefield]

I have to admit I was surprised to see his name. Especially with the big recent focus on accountability and concussions.

Do you reckon it is a ploy, Scooter? Name him in the team and then sub him out in the lead up to the game to throw off Force planning?

 

[KevinO]

Surprised Pone has been picked. After the massive hit to the head he received 6 days prior to this game I am surprised he has/will have passed concussion protocols.

Being a 1st half concussion he could have passed the post game test. Everyone has different reactions, as long as the doctors have done the right thing by him I am happy

 

[Scooter]

I have to admit I was surprised to see his name. Especially with the big recent focus on accountability and concussions.

Do you reckon it is a ploy, Scooter? Name him in the team and then sub him out in the lead up to the game to throw off Force planning?

Forcefield we are quite thin on fit props at the moment, possibly named him (2 days before game) hoping he passes protocols / to give him every chance to pass protocols. Maybe wishful thinking.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him withdrawn from the team. In these circumstances I would prefer the Rebels to err on side of caution.

 

[Scooter]

Being a 1st half concussion he could have passed the post game test. Everyone has different reactions, as long as the doctors have done the right thing by him I am happy

KevinO there are protocols for a reason. Teams named 4 days after incident, so he wouldn't have passed all protocols by then. If he has passed them since it is reasonable that he plays.

I am still half expecting that he doesn't.

 

[Cancelled Account]

Why are there two players named for the Rebs at 21 and 23?

 

[Scooter]

Why are there two players named for the Rebs at 21 and 23?

Rebels getting creative with naming bench last week we had a TBC, this week we have two players at 21 and 23. I will be interested to see what next week's trick will be.

 

[Red Dave]

I'm not a fan of bonus points for finishing close. You either win or lose.

Agree, not sure what the logic for it is - a team that lost 3 close ones is better than a team that lost by 3 big margins? Perhaps, but they weren't playing the same games so it's not a very scientific comparison.

If they are on the same points at the end of the season and need to be separated, then points for/against achieves that anyway.

And I don't see the fairness in promoting a side that lost a few close ones ahead of a team that actually won more games.