Tahs Vs Canes

[Ash]

Carter was good for Beale last season, his strong defence and the ability to set up for the next phase was very important. It was the type of role Grey did.

Except Grey could pass and kick and had some fundamental playmaking skills. Admittedly Carter has a bit more pace.

Carter is a limited one dimensional player who did his role well. If you need that role, like the Tahs last year, well and good. This year, well, the Tahs will need the ball to go wider, and Carter is definitely not the man they want.

 

[RugbyReg]

he is so slow. I remember seeing some attacking runs from turn over the ball. Burgess would fire the ball out to Beale who would take it forward and then fire it out to Carter and then the whole thing would just slow down. It was like those fight scenes in 300 when some would be sped up and some would slow down. When Carter got the ball it would be super slow mo.

 

[PhucNgo]

One question: who will partner Horne when Tahu blows up? Carter or Hangers, I wonder? My pref would be 12. Horne 13. Carter.

Tahu may well blow up (but somehow I don't think that's going to happen - he and Bob Horne looked sharp the other night), but the funny thing is Hangers at 10 and Beale at 12 are not a bad attacking combo. The downside of this is that Hangers is a dogged, but ineffectual defender, while defence is just not in the Beale repertoire. The thought of Nonu running at Beale is just ludicrous.

 

[barbarian]

Weepu ruled out. Kirkpatrick to fill the 10 role. Big blow, and makes the Tahs look all the more appealing.

 

[naza]

The downside of this is that Hangers is a dogged, but ineffectual defender, while defence is just not in the Beale repertoire.

Halangahu has improved quite a bit and pulled off some terrific tackles as the Sydney Uni fullback - some try saving stuff. Has developed that hard edge to his game. If only he could pass.

 

[Ash]

Beale needs serious kicking lessons. Beautiful pass to a flying Horne though for the first try.

 

[Ash]

Tahs backline already looking so much more dangerous than last year - apart from their kicking.

Fava looks to be continuing on is average form from last year.

7 - 0 to the Tahs after 15 minutes, but Canes with a penalty about 30 out and to one side. Hits the post, Beale toes it back to Turner.

 

[Ash]

Tahs pinch a lineout. Beale with another poor pop gun kick.

Mowen jumping at 2 for the Tahs now and then.

Lote drops a high ball with little pressure.

Tuqiri is off down the sideline from 40m out, but gets called back as TPN threw a 2m pass 2m forward.

 

[Ash]

Kicking game from both teams has been pretty poor. Horne is looking good with the ball in hand and takes a 20m run down the right hand side.

Beale with two lovely steps off his right and offload to Fava who is taken about 5m out. Few rucks later Tuqiri takes a deep ball, runs wide around his man (think Latham around Kasprowicz) and scores wide on the right. Good vision by Tuqiri picking out and isolating Scott Waldrom.

Tahs backline again looking the goods - when not kicking.

 

[Novocastrian]

Lote's sideways running actually opens a gap and he waltzes over untouched!

 

[Ash]

Beale with a nice kick from the sideline. Tahs 14 - 0 after 23. Looking good. Glad I tipped 'em. Hope they don't stuff my margin though!

 

[RugbyReg]

Very good try by Lote. Horne looks fantastic. Turner, less so.

 

[Ash]

Beale falls off his first tackle at the 27th minute - off a Gear, a winger. All arms going high.

Turned out well though. Small charge down from a Canes chip (or it looked like it) 5m from the Tahs line, and it goes wide to Turner who runs 95m for a try against the run of play.

Canes are looking fucked and are going to ruin my margin. Tahs going well.

Beale fluffs a much easier conversion from the same side. 19 - 0 to the Tahs.

 

[Novocastrian]

Tahs were lucky to get that one, they'd been smashed on a couple of rucks beforehand and had that feel that the Canes were going to rumble over. Plus it looked suspiciously like Turner knocked on before racing away. No complaints though! Good start, hope it doesn't go the way of the Highlanders start against the Brumbies!

Horne looks all class, SNK is positioning himself well too and has unleashed a couple of decent kicks. Scrum looks to be fairly steady after a shaky start

 

[Ash]

Very good try by Lote. Horne looks fantastic. Turner, less so.

Don't tell your kids that, Nodster.

Canes string some nice phases together, then blow it by forcing the 10% pass that wasn't on.

Tahs scrum going well. Looks very steady.

Tahu looks strong and bumps off a tackle before throwing a ridiculous pass.

 

[Ash]

Well well. Strong Tahs scrum, and Fava and Burgess fluff it off the back. (BTW, Burgess has looked pretty average, some absolute shockers thrown.)

Beale runs it down and kicks another woeful kick, which was charged down and Kirkpatrick dives on it over the line for the Canes.

Yet another poor kick from Beale and mistake from Fava and Burgess. Try to the Canes against the run of play, conversion missed, 19 - 5 after 38 minutes.

Fava gives away a turnover 45m out from his own line - another mistake.

 

[Novocastrian]

Jeez Fava was a great buy : shit pass to Burgess led to the try and now he isolates himself and get's pinged for holding on. Send him back to Quokkaville!

 

[Ash]

Tahs dodge a bullet after a line ball forward pass call.

Dean Mumm should've been binned for that cynical playing the ball on the ground.

About 5 Tahs just fell off of Corey Jane. Note one wasn't Beale. He missed him entirely. But the Canes drop it and it's cleared by the Tahs.

Canes on top in the second half. Still 19 -5 after 52 minutes.

Palu on for Fava - finally. Fava was poor.

 

[Ash]

Canes scrum gets one up on the Tahs and force a turnover. Horne justly pinged for a late tackle on Gear after he stood up Turner easily.

 

[Ash]

Canes get the penalty for the late tackle. 19 - 8 to the Tahs, 56 minute.