Waratahs v Highlanders - Super Rugby round 3

[Braveheart81]

The Highlanders are playing well, but I really think the jaded folks amongst us forget the heart and resilience the Tahs have. There the heart and soul of the country, representing Australia's first state and first in the hearts of every true blue Australian. Sure the "clan" might be playing well, sure they might be playing at home, sure the Tahs might have a few injuries. Yet reality is, once you pull on that jersey and see the mighty Waratah standing tall upon your heart you grow another inch, find another foot of pace and realize your part of history. NSW by 20.

You remind me of a NSW version of Tim Brooke-Taylor from The Goodies.

 

[Swat]

I was giving some respect to the opposition, but really it doesn't matter who they play.

Tahs by plenty.

Damn straight! Every time they lose I look at my watch, if it has stopped then clearly what has happened is that I'm in some type of wormhole that has sent me to an alternate reality where the tahs have lost.


NB: My watch hasn't been working for quite a while. Also, I may or may not have been killing people with the same name as me in an attempt to gain their power, Gabriel Yulaw style.

 

[teach]

Just a response to an email from a mate, talking down the Clan's inside backs experience (pilfered from various sources:

10. Lima Sopoaga
Playing for the Wellington Lions he became the regular starter in the number 10 jersey. He made his debut against Manawatu and played a further nine games in the 2010 ITM Cup and added 11 games in 2011. Sopoaga made his debut against the Hurricanes in the 2011 season and played in six games in total, collecting 51 points

12. Phil Burleigh
Phil Burleigh spent 3 years in the Cheifs wider training group and plays NPC for Bay of Plenty. He is probably the least experienced of the inside backs. Still rate him though.

13. Tamati Ellison
A versatile player, Ellison can play in the midfield and also on the wing, which will give the Highlanders coaching staff additional selection options. A former Hurricane, Ellison made his debut in 2005 against the Waratahs and played 54 games for his former franchise. A one-test All Black, Ellison has been plying his trade in Japan for the last two years.
Going to be a cracker. Have rearranged fishing plans this weekend to incorporate a country pub tomorrow night.

 

[Braveheart81]

Going to be a cracker. Have rearranged fishing plans this weekend to incorporate a country pub tomorrow night.

Based on your avatar, that's quite the sacrifice.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

A playmaking 12 is most effective when he receives the ball from the 10, not when substituting for the 10. A bit more space makes things much easier for a playmaker.

and who is this "play making 12"?
thats really not a role Horne has filled - the little he has played he seems typical 13

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Isn't it about time this myth was recognised as such? Strong defence? In his Super career since 2008 Rob Horne has attempted 276 tackles and missed 69 of them - exactly 25%.

This season he has attempted 29 tackles and missed nine of them - 31.0% of attempted tackles missed. (Source: Fox Sports Fantasy stats)

finally the stats break for me

 

[teach]

Based on your avatar, that's quite the sacrifice.

I like it, 8lbs of back country brown trout. Not my biggest I have caught but was the biggest at the time.

The weather has been crap for the last couple of weekends and my boys were quick to claim my ticket.

this is a real test for the Highlanders to show that their first wins were not flukes. There is still an element of surprise in some of the media here that they are doing so well. Still getting a lot of "they started strong last year as well then fell away".

 

[barbarian]

Cliff Palu ruled out with a hamstring issue.

Fuckety fuck fuck.

 

[barbarian]

Waratahs No.8, Wycliff Palu, has been ruled out of tomorrow night's clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin after succumbing to a hamstring complaint at the team's final training run at Forsyth Barr Stadium today.

Palu complained of tightness throughout the week and coach Michael Foley heeded the advice of medical staff and made the decision to rest Palu rather than risk further injury which could rule out the No.8 for the long-term.

The Australian international pulled up sore after a marathon 12-hour journey to Dunedin via Auckland.
Tevita Metuisela was flown to New Zealand as cover and will start in Palu's place with Lopeti Timani to play from the bench after having missed the past week of training sorting out Australian visa problems in his home country of Tonga.

Timani is due to re-runite with the team in Dunedin tonight after being granted a New Zealand entry visa, leaving Foley to introduce Metuisela - a member of the Waratahs' extended playing squad - in the starting 15.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/wycliff-palu-ruled-out-for-waratahs-20120309-1up2p.html

 

[Swat]

Cliff Palu ruled out with a hamstring issue.

Fuckety fuck fuck.

Time for Lopeti to start? Also, wasn't his brother supposed to be back from Japan? I've heard nothing on 2rats? anyone care to update....

I brushed over that quite quickly because frankly, I think all tahs fans could see it coming, it was either going to be him, horne, or TPN and as far as things have been going for us the last couple of seasons, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

 

[Braveheart81]

Now wishing I'd put some money on the Highlanders when they were at $1.80.

Cliffy has been our best player in the first two rounds. Hopefully he is just succumbing to hamstring tightness and didn't do some more damage during the final training session.

 

[qwerty51]

well that fucking sucks. I loaded up on the Tahs

 

[suckerforred]

The Highlanders are playing well, but I really think the jaded folks amongst us forget the heart and resilience the Tahs have. There the heart and soul of the country, representing Australia's first state and first in the hearts of every true blue Australian. Sure the "clan" might be playing well, sure they might be playing at home, sure the Tahs might have a few injuries. Yet reality is, once you pull on that jersey and see the mighty Waratah standing tall upon your heart you grow another inch, find another foot of pace and realize your part of history. NSW by 20.

That's absolute rubbish WJ!


Tahs by 30.

I was giving some respect to the opposition, but really it doesn't matter who they play.

Tahs by plenty.

And WJ & Swat has joined the Rebel Army in their shuning of medication.

Boys I would love to see the Tahs win for Aust rugby, but I just have this gut feeling that the Highlanders are going to stick at it this year. And the fall of Palu is not a good indication.....

 

[Lee Grant]

That's a pity about Cliffy and I'm not talking about bets or fantasy teams about which I care little. He appeared to be coming back from injury quicker than he usually does - and in top form. Can't say the incident is unexpected with his track record though.

His replacement Metuisela was not in great form in the trial games and is not Super quality at the minute IMO The Tahs have been able to get some good replacements on the park and the starting XVs have been pretty good considering, but the quality is being diluted.

By why wasn't Lopeti used?

Lopeti did not train; he had to go home because of visa problems and has to come back into the country.

He's been on too many planes in the last few days; so Metu was the call that Foley made.

 

[waratahjesus]

And WJ & Swat has joined the Rebel Army in their shuning of medication.

Boys I would love to see the Tahs win for Aust rugby, but I just have this gut feeling that the Highlanders are going to stick at it this year. And the fall of Palu is not a good indication.....

Don't liken me to the rebel army,
The team I support I capable of winning.

The highlanders are Scottish, soft underbelly will be exposed.

 

[fatprop]

Bugger, but good to see Metuisela getting a chance, I like his style, hard, nose down bum up unit

 

[qwerty51]

LG says he wasn't good in the trials and from what I saw he was pretty bad for the Tahs A as captain nonetheless.. I'm not expecting much.

 

[Athilnaur]

Don't liken me to the rebel army,
The team I support I capable of winning.

Others would say that the difference between the Rebels and the Tahs is that the Rebels have won games no one expected them to win, the Tahs have lost games no one expected them to lose!

Rebels are only in season 2, from where I sit they're doing pretty well for a new franchise based in a state of nutters who play aerial pingpong

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Now wishing I'd put some money on the Highlanders when they were at $1.80.

Cliffy has been our best player in the first two rounds. Hopefully he is just succumbing to hamstring tightness and didn't do some more damage during the final training session.

I did at $1.70 though it is a part of a larger multi bet. I'm saying Highlanders to win this (+5) if they come out with the same intensity as the game against the Crusaders. The only hope I can see for the Tahs is to slow the tempo of the game down at the breakdown to stop the Highlanders getting on a roll. The loss of Palu as others have mentioned is a huge blow IMO he was looking very good in the previous game.

 

[Scotty]

Don't liken me to the rebel army,
The team I support I capable of winning.

The highlanders are Scottish, soft underbelly will be exposed.

I have never, ever met a soft Scotsman.