Other than the Waratahs it was a pretty shithouse week for Aussie rugby. It seems the bottom three teams just can’t get it together, even when they are playing one another. They have four more rounds to clean up their acts and restore some much-needed pride.
Team of the Week:
15. Kurtley Beale – WARATAHS
14. David Smith – FORCE
13. Ryan Cross – WARATAHS
12. Mark Gerrard – REBELS
11. Sosene Anesi – WARATAHS
10. Matt Giteau – BRUMBIES
9. Nick Phipps – REBELS
8. Ben McCalman – FORCE
7. Chris Alcock – WARATAHS
6. Jarrod Saffy – REBELS
5. Sam Wykes – FORCE
4. Dean Mumm – WARATAHS
3. Sekope Kepu – WARATAHS
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau – WARATAHS
1. Benn Robinson – WARATAHS
A bit of a mixed bag this week, with the Tahs unsurprisingly taking the bulk of the spots. They claim eight places, with the Rebels and Force having three apiece, and the Brumbies providing the last player.
The Tahs’ front row makes yet another intact appearance. Steve Moore was unlucky to miss out — he is starting to get into great form and TPN only just kept him out with yet another bullocking performance. Robinson and Kepu were streets ahead of the other props, though, and it would take a brave man to leave them out of a Wallaby XV.
Dean Mumm and Sam Wykes bag the second row spots. Both are finding some form at the pointy end of the season. Nathan Sharpe was good again, as was Hugh Pyle. Jarrod Saffy did his usual workhorse act against the Cheetahs, and takes the blindside spot despite starting at 7. He is kept out of that position by Chris Alcock, who was outstanding in all facets on Saturday. Ben McCalman gets the number 8 spot in a week when no contender really stood out. Dave Dennis, Rocky Elsom and Matt Hodgson were all there or thereabouts.
It was a shithouse week for halfbacks, so Nick Phipps had a fairly easy win. Matt Giteau edged out Berrick Barnes at pivot with a good game at the helm of the Brumbies. Veterans Gerrard and Cross turned back the clock and put in outstanding performances, breaking the line at will in each of their respective games. Nick Cummins can consider himself unlucky.
I never thought I would see it, but Sosene Anesi makes his first appearance in the team of the week. He showed a fair bit of pace to finish both his tries, and he showed glimpses of form that’s been hidden for a year and a half. Another Kiwi, David Smith, takes the other wing spot, and Kurtley Beale puts on the 15 jersey for another week. He just edged out the über-consistent Pat McCabe and the improving Richard Kingi.
Player of the Week:
The Waratahs fans had one clear pick, and that was flanker Chris Alcock. He won in a landslide from Beale, Kepu and Cross. From the game in Perth we have Sam Wykes and Pat McCabe, with Nathan Sharpe, Matt Hodgson, David Smith, Matt Giteau, Christian Lealiifano and Steve Moore also getting votes. The Rebels fans once again gave us Richard Kingi, who edged out Mark Gerrard and Jarrod Saffy for the nomination.
Try of the Week:
Each of the Tahs’ first-half tries were quality, but I am opting for the first try scored by Kurtley Beale in just the second minute. After the turmoil of the last couple of weeks the Tahs needed to make a statement in the early minutes that they were there to play. And make a statement they did, with Turner and Beale combining for a great try before the fans even had time to settle in. Have a look at that try and the others for yourself:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c5cjwIz4lM[/youtube]
Moment of the Week:
At half-time in the Waratahs game, the crowd were on their feet. But at full-time the mood was noticeably different, with a few jeers heard around the ground. For me this proved that some Waratahs fans will never be satisfied. Sure, the second half was fairly average, but the Tahs still scored five tries and won easily. And apparently that is not enough for some of the cranky old bastards that populated the SFS on Saturday. It prompted me to make the call that the Waratahs’ fans are the worst in Australian sport.
What was your moment of the week?
