Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
And Angus on the sideline will try to award goals where the kick clearly misses.
Rd 12 2018 NSFW Waratahs vs Auckland Blues. 36 and 1.
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And Angus on the sideline will try to award goals where the kick clearly misses.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
Definitely looking forward to the physical contest when Monster Hanigan confronts Akira or Jerome. Should be eye watering stuff (or eye opening, perhaps).
zer0
Jim Lenehan (48)
Looking a bit better. Though the midfield is still the wrong way around. On that, I thought Williams was also supposed to return this week? Maybe next week, I guess.
Guess we'll also find out if, like 2016 and 2017, the Blues are a lot better than they look due to constantly being pitted against the other NZ sides, or if the injuries have really taken their toll.
But home advantage and the playing rosters would have the Waratahs as overwhelming favourites, regardless.
A bit of rotation for the Tahs it seems. Hard otherwise to understand the benching of Rona.
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With a block of four matches in a row against Kiwi opposition – Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs – Gibson has floated a rotation plan heading into what will be an extremely challenging May.
“I’m going to mix and match,” Gibson said. “It’s around finding the best mix and that’s what I felt was right for this game. We’re entering a really competitive phase of our year and I really want to share that around and give guys opportunity to contribute.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...t-fullback-against-blues-20180503-p4zd45.html
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Hard to see why Cameron Clark is starting apart from so we can have a matchup between him and Caleb Clarke.
Yeah, I'm not unhappy to see Cam Clark get a run. I thought he was really solid last season and his defence is good. He does the little things well.
Newsome has made too many errors.
Newsome has made too many errors.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
I think it's fair enough for Clark to be in the team ahead of Newsome but I would have preferred Folau on the wing and Hegarty at fullback with Clark off the bench.
Naiyaravoro was lucky to stay as well; and now he is playing teams where being a hard running Fijian is a every day occurrence
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
In my mind his previous performances (200m run metres in 2 consecutive games) earned him the right not to be dropped off the back of one performance but the team is as it is now and Clark will most likely be solid anyhow.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Just when I thought Gibson had settled down and started to select the backs on the basis of performance he benches both Rona and Hegarty. Rona for crying out loud! He has just about been the best outside back! And this in a must win game!
Keeping Rona on ice for the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders is just about insane! Foketi has looked good this year from the bench but Rona has been a class above all the Australian 13's, including Kuridrani. CFS has been the player who has performed closest to him, but Rona has still been better. So Gibson benches him for a must-win game and replaces him with an inside centre.
"I just thought I would pick a left field option because ... well I just did". He might be a Kiwi, but name another Kiwi coach other than Kirwan who would do anything as stupid. Well maybe Hart for putting the world's best fullback in the centres. But none of the Kiwi coaches except Umaga, (Ioane to 12?) would think of it.
Roll on 2019, there has got to be a better head coach somewhere.
Keeping Rona on ice for the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders is just about insane! Foketi has looked good this year from the bench but Rona has been a class above all the Australian 13's, including Kuridrani. CFS has been the player who has performed closest to him, but Rona has still been better. So Gibson benches him for a must-win game and replaces him with an inside centre.
"I just thought I would pick a left field option because ... well I just did". He might be a Kiwi, but name another Kiwi coach other than Kirwan who would do anything as stupid. Well maybe Hart for putting the world's best fullback in the centres. But none of the Kiwi coaches except Umaga, (Ioane to 12?) would think of it.
Roll on 2019, there has got to be a better head coach somewhere.
What_the...
Peter Burge (5)
Have heard maybe the last couple of NRC matches possibly.
Mind you, it looks he has spent all of this time on the weights - looks 15kgs heavier in the legs and shoulders.
Hopefully his fitness is good enough for a look in for TRC.
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I agree Rona has been pretty good, but Foteki has looked handy as well.
Trying to understand the choice I see Foteki as a better ball player and with Hegarty on the bench it may have been decided we needed that skill this week.
William88
Syd Malcolm (24)
It’s probably the lack of running that’s helped him put on so much size. He will trim down with more movement.
Derpus
George Gregan (70)
He wasn't lucky to stay. When the team weren't being retarded and giving him a short crash ball 5 times in a row into a set defense he was playing fantastically.
eastman
Arch Winning (36)
It makes sense to use one of your better ball runners as much as possible including as blindside option- unfortunately he's incredibly ineffective in traffic.
Derpus
George Gregan (70)
He's a winger. All the jokes about making him an 8 don't actually make him an 8 or an effective ball carrier.
What does it even mean to be an effective ball carrier who is ineffective in traffic? That's contradictory.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
Reiko is a big threat to the Tahs. Playing out of position but still capable of scoring a double or triple of tries if there are any defensive lapses.
Front row would also be a worry for the Tahs except that the Blues don't look impressive there as well. Blues forwards pack otherwise looks a fair bit stronger than the Tahs.
Sorry to see Folau back at fullback. Think he's better placed on the wing where his ability to outjump just about anyone is more of an attacking threat. At fullback, his jumping ability is primarily defensive.
Should be a close game. Not a walk in the park for the Tahs by any stretch of the imagination.
Front row would also be a worry for the Tahs except that the Blues don't look impressive there as well. Blues forwards pack otherwise looks a fair bit stronger than the Tahs.
Sorry to see Folau back at fullback. Think he's better placed on the wing where his ability to outjump just about anyone is more of an attacking threat. At fullback, his jumping ability is primarily defensive.
Should be a close game. Not a walk in the park for the Tahs by any stretch of the imagination.
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