Tyrone Smith - shuffles Mortlock outside
This friday offers the next juicy Aussie derby and it gets more intriguing and less predictable as the days go by.
How the mighty have fallen – in just two weeks. On the strength on one loss (albiet a dicking at home) and a week to stew on it, the Brumbies have gone from well oiled machine, to full backline re-construction case. It’s tempting to call this an over-reaction, but it looks more like Andy Friend is making the tough decisions.
One long pass aside, the galloping Mortlock hasn’t had the zip or spark at 12 to make up for Lealiifano in attack, and he has looked exposed defensively (as he has for the Wallabies) which we rarley if ever saw of him when outside. A happy byproduct then is that Tyrone Smith is getting more time at 12 and Mortlock goes back to what he does better than anyone in the world – 13.
AAC has gone looking for a spot therefore, which thankfully has boned Rathbone, rather than turning Australia’s performing fullback (Gerrard) into Australia’s slowest winger. But the backline changes don’t stop there. The nuggety Phibbs has been arsed for the more attacking Holmes as the ponies seek to find ways of getting go forward that don’t rely solely on Mortlock. To this end Salvi has also made way for the heavier weight Kimlin.
In all, these changes do make sense to me, but such a deep sweep out of the backs does make it hard to predict how they’ll run. It also doesn’t fix the problem at 1o.
As for the Tahs, there was only one piece of news that mattered this week and that was fitness of Wycliff Palu – so much does the game plan of NSW currently revolve around him. It looks like he’ll probably play on Saturday and this is what keeps it interesting. Without him and I think the Tahs are done.
Tahu get’s a run at 12. Hickey probably figures it’s mungo on mungo here, I’d wager we would have seen Carter starting if Mortlock stayed in. Interestingly Hickey has also started talking about SNK “throwing long passes at second reciever” and playing more of a distributor role even though slotted at 15. A vote of no-confidence in Beale?
Prediction wise I have splinters in my arse, such are the question marks hanging over both sides. So I’m going with the numbers. The two games the Brumbies have won were only by a couple, plus a spanking, whereas the Tahs are well and truly on roll, despite some obvious deficiencies. They also have a good recent record vs the Canberrans, having won 3 out of their last 4 match ups.
Prediction: Gagger says Tahs by 8 (without a lot of conviction).
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Tags: andy friend, tyrone smith
Matt a.k.a Gagger or GAGR (short for GreenAndGoldRugby, not a fetish)
Matt started G&GR just before the 2007 Rugby World Cup and has been enslaved ever since. You can follow him on Twitter here http://www.twitter.com/Matt_Gagger 
brumbies by 10
Brumbies by 60+
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It’s hard to win in canberra.
The Force had the advantage of being the least hated Aus province. I predict the Brumbies will make it very hard, if the Waratahs can win this it will be very close and will deserve to be favorites to win the whole shebang ( as long as the final isn’t rainy foggy Christchurch affair).
The Stadium in Canberra is very good and the crowd very responsive, I predict a great game but the brumbies will own them. Tyrone smith was rookie of the year and it was no mean feat, even though he was older there were plenty of other nearly wallabies that could have been selected.
The Waratahs are going to come up against a very competitive forward pack and a back line that can put a player such as Rathbone on the bench. Of course the tah’s back line is star studded but they’re yet to set them loose.
I think this game will sort out what kind of team the tah’s are and whether the Brumbies can develop the home fortress of old.
Brumbies by +10
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I agree that this game probably sorts out whether the Brumbies are up for it, otoh I think the Tah’s could drop this and still go all the way. That is a reason to select the Brumbies!!
I agree with Gagger’s prediction though, much as my heart says Brumbies
I’ve played with a dislocated finger before, if it’s similar to being broken then you lose all strength in certain positions. I suppose it doesn’t stop you shoulder charging people. (In relation to Palu)
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People talk about Palu being such a huge part of the ‘Tahs game plan (which is true), but the beat the Hurricanes in week 1 with Scott Fava at 8, and he was so crap he hasn’t seen the field since then. I think the rest of the Tahs pack can still do it without Palu at the back. And I think its about time that Mumm got to play 6, he gets around the field really well.
Finally, Lealiifano is completely messed up in his own head. Tahs by 5.
You need to stop living in the past fellas. If big Al were to go to prison today, he’d take quite a few notable props with him as his bitches – notably including a certain Andrea Sheridan.
Not to mention I reckon he’d make bitches out of your average prison thugs in short order – have you met him? Not the first guy I’d pick on
Below from this morning’s Sydney Morning Herald.
“THE Waratahs plan to finally unleash their outside backs in a full-pace attack during their Super 14 derby against the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium tonight in a bid to extend their unbeaten record this season.”
They plan to ‘unleash’ their outside backs, what a load of shit!! They will play their same style of attrition rugby so why do journos, and the Tahs, make these silly claims.
Part of the plan apparently is to involve SNK more so the ball can be passed wide, surely this is a stark admission the Portely isn’t up to the task?
Why are the Tahs trying to convince themselves they can play attacking rugby when their current method is so effective?
IF they try and change a well tuned game plan, especially against a pretty good Brumbies team, then it is a recipe for disaster.