Super Rugby AU Grand Final - Reds v Brumbies - Saturday 8th May 2021

[Adam84]

It was a very exciting game made more so by the fact that the scores were close. That was almost always going to be the case given the recent history between the two sides. That also meant it was likely to go down to the wire and that the referee would likely play a part in the match. In most sports but particularly sports like Rugby and Cricket there has been a definite attempt to avoid perceptions of bias by appointing neutral referees. Unfortunately in this case the appointment of a former player for Queensland in such a significant game fails the perception test. I struggle to think of any other major sport where a former player of one of the two teams participating in a match would be given the job of officiating. As much as it would be great for Nic Berry to have got the job because he was the highest rated referee it should have been clear that in this game it should and could have been avoided - particularly since he'd refereed both matches previously. Its not like there is a shortage of quality referees in the game at the moment - either of Damon Murphy or Amy Perrett could have done it - with Amy as a NSW based referee the obvious choice. In which case much of the flack would not exist. Nic did a good job but was put in a difficult position by the circumstances of the match which is what has led to the criticism. That could have been avoided.

I’m sorry but I call bullshit on this, he played for the Reds 15 years ago, do you resent Slipper because he once played for the Reds? Or Lolesio, Muirhead, Banks etc because they were once Queensland rugby reps? No you don’t because they’re professionals who have a job to do and can put aside that fact.

The statistics of the game reflect the season trend for penalties across both teams, brumbies most penalised and reds the least. Contentious decisions went both ways, and that’s the nature of refereeing. The assistant referees are heavily involved in the officiating these days as well, Perret and Murphy provide a lot of input in ruling offsides and scrum collapses, I bet a number of those calls were actually from the AR anyway.

Personally I don’t think Damon or Amy would have done any better, or left the fans of the losing team any happier had they been in the same position.

 

[TSR]

There was a moment that I felt highlighted how good both Wilson and Valetini are………….

Valetini made a charge that would’ve usually seen seen him drag along a few defenders with him, but Wilson rushed up and made a good shot on him that halted his momentum, but to Valetini’s credit he still managed to collect a couple of extra post contact metres.

Agree. I hope they can work the lineout out because I think they’ll both be great at test level. I think they now complement each other well.

I know I’ve historically disagreed on Valetini but I’m well and truly converted. He is powering now. Great workrate with out seeming to have lost any impact.

The good thing is both still so young and very much on the up.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Nope. He simply did not hear the whistle.

That's bullshit. There were a zillion blokes standing around it was a clear stoppage of play.

Dog act all day, he would've copped a few from me if I was there that's for sure.

 

[Up the Guts]

Like I said - he got in his face but never did anything that would cause a sanction.

Your speculating that he was close to the edge but Salakai-Loto is always first into those exchanges and never does anything that will warrant sanction in those situations.

And yes, I do think aggression, assertiveness and not backing down is extremely important. Players talk about the need not to be pushed around all the time. Tell me which international lock worth his salt wouldn’t have run in then?

Etzebeth, Itoje etc. would have for sure been first on the scene but running Swain to the goal line screaming at him? Don’t think so. The Wallabies took on the Boks in Perth a few years ago and Snyman found himself alone in a skirmish against about 6 Wallabies and he just stood their smiling and egging them on—that’s how you deal with those situations.

I’m a big fan of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)’s strangle tackles in defence and charges in attack but if I’m an opposition player I’m going to be baiting him all night waiting for him to try and put a big shot on and inevitably get carded.

 

[TSR]

Etzebeth, Itoje etc. would have for sure been first on the scene but running Swain to the goal line screaming at him? Don’t think so. The Wallabies took on the Boks in Perth a few years ago and Snyman found himself alone in a skirmish against about 6 Wallabies and he just stood their smiling and egging them on—that’s how you deal with those situations.

I’m a big fan of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)’s strangle tackles in defence and charges in attack but if I’m an opposition player I’m going to be baiting him all night waiting for him to try and put a big shot on and inevitably get carded.

I’m happy to agree to disagree. I like what LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) does in those situations and I thinking we’re splitting hairs over exactly how Itoje or Etzebeth might handle it.

If I was sorrounded by 6 opposition I’d probably try just smiling while I talked tough too

With regards to Coles specifically, I admit I haven’t seen much of his games lately but from what I have I’d be more worried if I was his coach then the oppositions. Referees appear to have tired of his antics.

 

[Slim 293]

That's bullshit. There were a zillion blokes standing around it was a clear stoppage of play.

Dog act all day, he would've copped a few from me if I was there that's for sure.

Quick, go get him!

 

[Adam84]

That's bullshit. There were a zillion blokes standing around it was a clear stoppage of play.

Dog act all day, he would've copped a few from me if I was there that's for sure.

This looks like some good content for Stan Sport in the offseason.

Armchair experts vs professional athletes, chance to back up their online comments.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

The funny thing is was out with mates at craft brew festival and was watching closing minutes of the game on my mobile with them at 80minutes with Reds attacking the line and down 16 - 12 and then my battery died! so only just watched close out of the game.

Found it ironic with all the noted problems of line out throws for oz hookers that brumbies with own lineout throw in 78th minute where could have closed out the game if won the lineout and retained possession but lineout ball not controlled by Brumbies and McReight gets possession and then get first penatly advantage that leads to continued reds retained possession and the rest is history.

Anyhow how much have reds-brumbies games set up State of Origin type battles with all 3 matches this season only decided in dying stages and in all cases where Brumbies have led. Will say lot of credit to this match goes to the Brumbies who have for many years been the only decent oz super rugby side who have played continuously at this standard that now got another good super rugby side with the Reds making it a real contest.

With these two top quality sides and others improving we definitely need our own domestic comp alongside the TT. Was thinking a six nations one round style with no finals to accomodate but nope definitely need at least a final (one vs two) as to see packed out stadium with 42k games with this great contest was gold for selling our game and getting the fans back.

So what did you make of the offerings from One Drop?

 

[Up the Guts]

Berry hadn't even blown the whistle, the Reds were just standing around waiting for him to. At worst, Swain struck Fraser at the same time as Berry blew the whistle.

Also, I'm pretty sure it was Berry who penalised BPA against Argentina last year for contact after the whistle, even though BPA clearly didn't hear the whistle, so I don't see why he wouldn't have penalised Swain if he thought he had contacted him after the whistle.

 

[Merrow]

That's bullshit. There were a zillion blokes standing around it was a clear stoppage of play.

Dog act all day, he would've copped a few from me if I was there that's for sure.

Sure champ. Whatever you say

 

[Rugby follower]

Good sides win at the business end of games. Brumbies are making a habit of losing them, Reds are making a habit of winning them. Reds still have a long way to be regarded as a really good side however this trait of winning games at the death is a really good trait. Well done to them.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

This looks like some good content for Stan Sport in the offseason.

Armchair experts vs professional athletes, chance to back up their online comments.

Think what you like. Unlike some keyboard warriors around these parts I actually played the game for a long time and played against loads of dirty sides. Stuck up for my team mates every time no hesitation.

 

[RugbyReg]

That's bullshit. There were a zillion blokes standing around it was a clear stoppage of play.

Dog act all day, he would've copped a few from me if I was there that's for sure.

you're an embarrassment to Reds fans

 

[Up the Guts]

Think what you like. Unlike some keyboard warriors around these parts I actually played the game for a long time and played against loads of dirty sides. Stuck up for my team mates every time no hesitation.

Can't believe you've doubled down on the back in my day heroics.

 

[PhilClinton]

In the press conference Thorn was asked specifically on the decision to take the taps not take a scrum and he said it was to take the ref out if it and avoid the risk of getting a call go against you.

Yep even something as simple as holding the weight was going to cause problems. On the first 8 v 6 engagement that goes down you can hear Berry warn the Reds scrum to hold the weight, might sound simple but it could have got them into trouble.

 

[Set piece magic]

Thanks reds for a game I’ll never forget. Flew up and went with 20 or so mates, so good to see Caxton street heaving before and after the game. Had tickets in row 1 and row 3 right in front of where JOC (James O'Connor) scored. Absolutely unreal.

My best mate had 100 bucks on reds to win and James o Connor to score. Not a bad finish for him

The Brumbies can feel hard done by - they did everything possible to spoil the party and came up just short.

I thought Berry’s performance was pretty good under a lot of pressure. Tupou was correctly penalised for boring in. The penalties at the end were fair, with only a question mark over whether he called advantage properly for one and subjectivity for swain on the other. As lord Laurie says though, the brumbies could have taken that out of the game by winning the lineout.

The brumbies can be proud of themselves and the game can be proud of that unrivalled grandstand finish.

 

[rugboy]

Good sides win at the business end of games. Brumbies are making a habit of losing them, Reds are making a habit of winning them. Reds still have a long way to be regarded as a really good side however this trait of winning games at the death is a really good trait. Well done to them.

Didn't the Reds lose their last start at the business end to the Force?

 

[Brumby Runner]

One of the great things about the game was how much the Wallaby aspirants stood up.

McReight, Tupou, Valetini and White all had great games but plenty of others right alongside them. I thought it was notable how Wilson nailed Valetini in defence several times (right up to the point where he knocked himself out trying to get him again.) Stewart also made a lot of critical tackles. I thought all 4 locks were great and Frost also did very well in the unfamiliar 6 position. Special note too to Ala'alatoa - the Brumbies struggled a bit at scrums, but Ala'alatoa’s a round effort is so impressive. Lonergan has some work to do on his set piece (all of the hookers throwing needs some work) but he was excellent in his general play.

Yep TSR, Allan has been off his game a bit since his suspension, but he was as strong as ever in open play again last night. What a happy place for the Wallabies to have TT and AAA in the THP spots.

In my view of things, Valetini schooled Wilson throughout the game. But again, what a fortunate position to have them both playing for the Wallabies.

I think Frost has a huge future in the game. He stepped up at No 6 with hardly a blemish.

Lachlan Lonergan was close to the Brumbies best when replaced. I understand bringing FF (Folau Fainga'a) on when the replacements started in the front rows, but in open play, Lonergan is at least the equal of Folau.

Were there any poor defenders in the game? I think the hard defence employed by both sides will stand them in good stead against the NZers.

 

[Adam84]

Lol I don’t think “Valetini schooled Wilson through the game”
I don’t think any player ‘schooled’ their opponent last night. It was the two best teams battling it out with barely anything between them and the closeness in the scoreline reflects that.

 

[Brumby Runner]

This is true, Simone

View attachment 12276

And it’s because Stowers and Simone mainly were both past the last feet, extremely difficult situation to defend noting the obstruction of the goal posts

View attachment 12277

Adam, clearly Simone was not off side. He may have been in front of the last feet in the ruck but that means nothing in goal. He just has to be behind the goal line, which the shot at 83.51 shows. It also shows Stowers with his hand on the ground in front of the goal line which puts him in an offside position.