Super Rugby AU Rd 9 Force v Waratahs

[Derpus]

What happened to Kearney? he was very good from what i saw.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Good coverage in the West - but a few pages back.
The joys of living in an AFL strong-hold.
View attachment 12200

At least you have coverage - the daily telegraph don't generally even publish the results of games...which interestingly been more notable since Foxtel loss the rugby rights

 

[ForceFan]

What happened to Kearney? he was very good from what i saw.

Did an abductor muscle in his last outing.

Soft tissue is harder to return quickly from once we get a bit older.

 

[ForceFan]

Very pleasing to see that starting at 3:30PM there will be a curtain-raiser of
West Scarborough vs Cottesloe in round two of the women's WA championship.
Should be a cracker of a game.

 

[7137]

Really? Might be my dark blue tinted glasses, but I'd go with the following:
1-3: Force slight advantage
4-5: Force clear advantage
6-9: Pretty even
10: Force clear advantage
11-14: Pretty even
15: Waratahs advantage

As a Tahs fan, I agree.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Only just realised no friday night game Pity as really liked and looked forward to watching footy on Friday night

 

[Cancelled Account]

FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu'u, Santiago Medrano, Jeremy Thrush, Sitaleki Timani, Tim Anstee, Kane Koteka, Brynard Stander, Tomas Cubelli, Domingo Miotti, Jordan Olowofela, Kyle Godwin (c), Tevita Kuridrani, Richard Kahui, Jack McGregor


Reserves: Andrew Ready, Angus Wagner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Fergus Lee-Warner, Ian Prior, Grason Makara, Jake Strachan


INs: Greg Holmes, Jake Strachan, Grason Makara
OUTs: Byron Ralston, Tomas Lezana, Kieran Longbottom


WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Hugh Sinclair, Max Douglas, Lachlan Swinton, Carlo Tizzano, Will Harris, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, James Ramm, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Alex Newsome, Jack Maddocks


Reserves: Tom Horton, Te Tera Faulkner, Darcy Breen, Sam Caird, Jeremy Williams, Charlie Gamble, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed


INs: Lachlan Swinton, Ben Donaldson, Sam Caird
OUTs: Michael Wood, Will Harrison, Mark Nawaqanitawase

Good to see Donaldson back in.

 

[KOB1987]

I might have missed it but what’s up with Nawalphabet? Or is it just the 6:2 split? If it’s the latter then Newsome should have been the sacrificial lamb.

 

[Dan54]

Only just realised no friday night game Pity as really liked and looked forward to watching footy on Friday night

Me too RN, just siad to wife I will watch the game form Aus before coming to bed, think I may have to reconsider . Probabaly better, after that crcker I just watched, probably best to just go and think on that.

 

[Equalizer]

Thankfully tomorrow we get the double header NZ game leading into the Force v Tahs. Hoping its a big crowd, conditions look to be great for rugby. Highlanders v Blues was a beauty.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Really? Might be my dark blue tinted glasses, but I'd go with the following:
1-3: Force slight advantage
4-5: Force clear advantage
6-9: Pretty even
10: Force clear advantage
11-14: Pretty even
15: Waratahs advantage

I have the Tahs in front in the front row overall. Medrano has been virtually invisible so far, and while he might edge Bell in the scrums, Bell will be a level above in general play. Not much between the hookers. Tom Robinson head to head with HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) in the scrums will be well worth watching.

Force better in the second row, but neither Thrush nor Timani are inspiring.

Anstee will be crucial in the back row battle. Has been great off the bench - will he be able to keep it up for the best part of 80 minutes?

Tomas has not shone at No 9 and Miotti offered very little last week. Tahs halves won't need to do a hell of a lot to finish on top.

From there out, I reckon the Tahs are stronger and in better form than the Force backline, Newsome maybe excepting. Maddocks was always the better player out of the two Jacks right from U20s.

As I said, I think the Tahs are stronger overall. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Equalizer]

I have the Tahs in front in the front row overall. Medrano has been virtually invisible so far, and while he might edge Bell in the scrums, Bell will be a level above in general play. Not much between the hookers. Tom Robinson head to head with HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) in the scrums will be well worth watching.

Force better in the second row, but neither Thrush nor Timani are inspiring.

Anstee will be crucial in the back row battle. Has been great off the bench - will he be able to keep it up for the best part of 80 minutes?

Tomas has not shone at No 9 and Miotti offered very little last week. Tahs halves won't need to do a hell of a lot to finish on top.

From there out, I reckon the Tahs are stronger and in better form than the Force backline, Newsome maybe excepting. Maddocks was always the better player out of the two Jacks right from U20s.

As I said, I think the Tahs are stronger overall. But that's just my opinion.

I'd cut Miotti some slack. It was his first real game time at 10 and he will only be better for the run. He was good in defence against the Rebels in a game where the Force had little possession and territory. Lets see how he gels with a backup appearance and see if he can show some more flash. Don't see any problems with Anstee, you're either Super Rugby fit or you're not. If he gives us a good 55 to 60 minutes I'm fine with that. Yes the Tah's are building as the season reaches it's conclusion but I have to laugh at the newspaper articles with the Tah's bemoaning an uneven playing field with the Force resources and recruitment. Come on Tahs, take responsibility for being the architects of your own poor performances.

.....the fuse has been lit!

 

[upthereds#!]

For a huge unit on the 'wrong' side of 30, Timani has been showing a massive workrate - but for this game we need to see him bring in that physical/bully mentality. He really needs to make Sinclair and Douglas feel out of their depth (and weight class) against 2 x International Locks.

 

[eastman]

It's funny how perceptions of players evolve when they change jerseys - it wasn't long ago when Cubelli and Kuridrani were world beaters.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

It's funny how perceptions of players evolve when they change jerseys - it wasn't long ago when Cubelli and Kuridrani were world beaters.

TK not been viewed that way last few seasons and on the decline. I think we can safely say his wallaby days are over and hence would not be surprised if he cashes in for next season with Japan or Europe pro contract.

 

[James GC]

TK not been viewed that way last few seasons and on the decline. I think we can safely say his wallaby days are over and hence would not be surprised if he cashes in for next season with Japan or Europe pro contract.

Kuridrani has been surprisingly loyal to AU Rugby, when many have left during their prime to cash in O/S in saying it his time is now before his stocks drop too low.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Kuridrani has been surprisingly loyal to AU Rugby, when many have left during their prime to cash in O/S in saying it his time is now before his stocks drop too low.

TK still a good super rugby player so indeed great to still have him around. I wonder if he thought change of club might help him push for wallaby place. Like I said I feel can safely say those days past him. Be good if he resigned next year for force but I suspect he will cash in for his overseas retirement fund.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

No way the Waratahs are still entered in this comp. They must have forfeited by now. This must be another one of Braveheart's wind-up threads.

 

[Joe Blow]

Looking forward to seeing Anstee get a start at 6 rather than having a cameo at the back end of a game.
Hope he goes well.

 

[Equalizer]

Smokey afternoon in Perth with a fire in the hills. Waiting for the lights to crank up. Nice conditions though.