Waratahs v Highlanders, semi-final, Saturday 27 June

[WTF?]

If having a bad game this season is your disqualifyer, then none of the options you've posted can be picked.

I agree. It's actually laughable that because Phipps/Foley had by their standards an ordinary game last night they should not be in the Wallabies. The Brumbies fared no better, so let's pick the Red's combination - they had such an awesome season! What a joke!

I don't think last nights game would have changed Cheika's thinking too much on his Wallaby make up. There were some standouts (Horne, Hooper, Skelton, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)). Even Palu had a great running and contact game. Our only try was due to a massive clear out he did at the ruck which gave us quick ball to exploit the left hand side. He was a tackling machine all night and did not let up. We just need to balance the team with the Moore's, Slipper's etc.

I did however think that Kepu had a very quiet game. He normally breaks the line a few times in a game but I don't remember seeing him with ball in hand much.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

If having a bad game this season is your disqualifyer, then none of the options you've posted can be picked.

The Tahs players did not help their Wallabies cause last night but every time I come to specifics I realise there aren't too many alternatives who havent done the same over the course of the year.

 

[KOB1987]

I agree. It's actually laughable that because Phipps/Foley had by their standards an ordinary game last night they should not be in the Wallabies. The Brumbies fared no better, so let's pick the Red's combination - they had such an awesome season! What a joke!

I don't think last nights game would have changed Cheika's thinking too much on his Wallaby make up. There were some standouts (Horne, Hooper, Skelton, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)). Even Palu had a great running and contact game. Our only try was due to a massive clear out he did at the ruck which gave us quick ball to exploit the left hand side. He was a tackling machine all night and did not let up. We just need to balance the team with the Moore's, Slipper's etc.

I did however think that Kepu had a very quiet game. He normally breaks the line a few times in a game but I don't remember seeing him with ball in hand much.

I think you are right re Palu, he made a couple of errors last night but who didn't. Outside those he was a standout.

If you pick Palu then it makes a stronger case for Pocock over Hooper and if you have Poey then to balance things out we need an attacking 6, which means either Higgers or McCalman.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Did joubert see the angle embedded in this article: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/w...reement-with-penalty-try-20150627-ghzj1q.html

When Horne scored his opposite gave him a facial massage - what was done about that? We should have had a penalty on half way.

None of which would have made any difference to the outcome but Joubert had an absolute Barry.

 

[Grant NZ]

Did joubert see the angle embedded in this article: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/w...reement-with-penalty-try-20150627-ghzj1q.html

When Horne scored his opposite gave him a facial massage - what was done about that? We should have had a penalty on half way.

Penalty on halfway is only an option when the offence occurs after the try has been scored. Yellow card could have been given though. It wasn't as bad as Pie Eater's one though, so even if examined it might not have been carded.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Penalty on halfway is only an option when the offence occurs after the try has been scored. Yellow card could have been given though.

Don't worry it went on after he had scored

 

[Pfitzy]

But that's what happens when you don't get multiple replays - they awarded the try and were happy with it.

It points out an inconsistency with the system, but unless you're going to have a 5th official (second TMO) watching every frame, and pulling the game up after every ruck, its play on.

 

[FrankLind]

Joubert missed the forward pass in the lead-up to the only Tahs try.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/AwRef?src=hash

 

[Grant NZ]

Don't worry it went on after he had scored

Doesn't matter, it started before he scored.

As a point of law, it couldn't be a pen on halfway. It could have been a YC.

 

[Grant NZ]

Joubert missed the forward pass in the lead-up to the only Tahs try.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/AwRef?src=hash

Missed one in the lead to Naholo's too, to be fair.

 

[A mutterer]

phipps service has gone backwards (boom tish) last few games, wonder if he was more crocked that previously thought.

i'm not going to read too much into both defeats tonight, neither us nor the brumbies had good games and it looked very much like fatigue (physical and mental) underlying those poor performances.

 

[Pfitzy]

The one thing that makes these matches to special is the Aussie whinging. Hahaha, it's classic. Sorry guys,

You don't sound sorry. And is that really the most special thing?

 

[louie]

taken from worldrugby.org

It is recognised of course, as with other types of illegal and/or foul play, depending on the circumstances of the high tackle, the range of sanctions extends from a penalty kick to the player receiving a red card. An illegal high tackle involving a stiff arm or swinging arm to the head of the opponent, with no regard to the player’s safety, bears all the hallmarks of an action which should result in a red card or a yellow card being seriously considered.

(q) Advantage may be played for acts of foul play, but if the offence prevents a probable try, a penalty try must be awarded.

Jacques Potgieter has always pushed the boundaries of the law. This time he got caught.

 

[KOB1987]

The one thing that makes these matches to special is the Aussie whinging. Hahaha, it's classic. Sorry guys, but the Highlanders deserved that penalty try. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) should have been given a yellow as well. 'Tahs didn't even deserve to have as home semi-final, so they were lucky to have scored one Try really.

Anyways, bringontheRWC! hahahaha.

I'm sure that's a line that was used by many a kiwi in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007

 

[cyclopath]

I'm sure that's a line that was used by many a kiwi in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007

I wouldn't bother feeding this troll. Pretty sure we've seen him before in other iterations.

 

[KOB1987]

The Clan are actually my favourite non-Aussie team so at least I'll feel half good about sporting your shirt into the final. Good luck guys!

The reason I like the Highlanders is that last year we flew to South Africa and they were on our plane. We were chatting to a few of them at Joburg customs and if it weren't for the fact they were sporting their travel kit you wouldn't have even known they were professional sportsmen. Very humble and a couple of them took to our kids as though they were their own.

 

[Gagger]

I wouldn't bother feeding this troll. Pretty sure we've seen him before in other iterations.

Especially as he's now GAWN

 

[TahDan]

Extremely depressing display. In a lot of ways this season for the Tahs almost perfectly mirrored last season for the Roosters in the NRL (yes, I watch League too - don't hold it against me).

Both teams dominated for and against in their prior season, and finished on top of the table to win an epic grand final against a great rival. Then both teams followed that with an up and down season in which they had to scrap their way to the finals, and then both ended up meekly surrendering in a semi-final in which they opened the scoring before falling apart to a hungrier opposition.

Classic second year syndrome.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

NSW should be holding a state-wide inquest into wFT was going on with the lineout. It rogered them completely, neutering so many attacking opportunities. WFT does Skelton do there. Poor NSW forward bastads were expecting to get their big bastard rumble on and smash their AB-less counterparts but were reduced to watching HLNDS backs turn them around with probing grubbers for territory or up and unders which rarely went far enough to be marked.

NZ's A & B Smith simply make lightning-quick decisions which usually pan out optimally for them. Happened time and time again. I couold just see Auckland Blues players in the same positions fucking those moments up, like phantom limbs of the season past. Holding it too long, dithering, out on the full, fail to draw the man and pass too early, I could go on............

 

[Ruggo]

Foley had a bad game. Lynching him for that is just dumb. I am more interested in why he had a bad game? Was it a coincidence or did he struggle in a single play maker setup? Beale and himself have rotated that first receiver role all season and last season might I add.