Tahs vs Brumbies. Give us a hand mate? 2011R18

[#1 Tah]

The Reds seem to be getting found out with Robinsons absence...

Fixed.

 

[drewprint]

Good thing we're still winning until he comes back then.

 

[Ruggo]

Nothing personal but you are trying to watch a game and TPN goes down every 5 minutes is bloody frustrating. All you want is the game to flow at a decent pace and it constantly gets stopped by the same plahyer going down. It happens nearly every game.

 

[cyclopath]

You're right, Ruggo. Lindommer and I commented on this at the game more than a few times. The long-suffering Brumbies fans next to us bet he would be off by 20 minutes at the beginning! It is becoming a blight on his play.

 

[Sully]

The only way the Tahs are playing the Reds in a semi is if 3 & 4 both lose. Possible but unlikely.

 

[Scotty]

The only way the Tahs are playing the Reds in a semi is if 3 & 4 both lose. Possible but unlikely.

Dont think so. 3 needs to win and 4 needs to lose. I reckon there is a good chance.

Personally I would prefer for the sharks to win so that the reds play them though.

 

[Couch Norm]

He hasn't had much rugby and only just got off the plane. If Australia is going to go well at the World Cup; we need him. He is the only one that will go to the breakdown and hit rucks. I thought he actually look good for a first hit out, he targeted the breakdown well and on a couple of occassions turned potential slow ball into quick ball.

 

[matty_k]

Dont think so. 3 needs to win and 4 needs to lose. I reckon there is a good chance.

Personally I would prefer for the sharks to win so that the reds play them though.

Personally I want the Sharks to lose. I don't want to see the Tahs travel to SA.

 

[cyclopath]

Yep, Scotty is right, Sully. The Blues will be a tough ask to beat, but I think the Tahs have a better chance of that than beating the Crusaders, for instance. Still, the more likely scenario will be the Saders get to fly to SA for their trouble, whereas the Blues have the short hop to Brisbane.

 

[RedsHappy]

Yep, Scotty is right, Sully. The Blues will be a tough ask to beat, but I think the Tahs have a better chance of that than beating the Crusaders, for instance. Still, the more likely scenario will be the Saders get to fly to SA for their trouble, whereas the Blues have the short hop to Brisbane.

I was highly impressed by the Tahs last night; amongst other skills they showed (my admiration was high for their better-now-than-Stormers superb aggressive defence for all of 80 and its decisive impact in creating massive pressure and destroying the opposition's composure), as well the Tahs had somehow rediscovered the will and intensity they displayed back in Rnds 1 and 2.

The Blues are fragile once unsettled by dominant play early in the match - see the way the Reds beat them at home. If the Tahs repeat what they showed last night, hold their nerve and ensure execution excellence in their backs' play (the most debatable element IMO), they can readily beat the Blues in NZ.

 

[barbarian]

Did no one else notice Elvis Taione warming up with the Tahs tonight?

Good spot, was wondering who that was.

Obviously the injury TPN was carrying was so bad that they were worried enough about him going down in the warmup to have another hooker on standby, warming up with the 22.

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Before too long?!?! If Deans doesn't already have him on his list of possibles I'll be very surprised. Although there are plenty of good locks around, two in QLD, two in WA, Timani and Vickerman in NSW and Mumm as 4/5/6. Nice to have some depth!!!

Speaking of depth, add Dave Dennis to the potential backrowers. Higgers chose a bad week to have a bad one.

Yep, base the Wallabies selection on one game.

 

[Slim 293]

One game?

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Hawko said: "Higger's chose a bad weak to have a bad one."

I am preparing for a week of spin in the media about how the good the Tahs are blah, blah, blah. The commentary was borderline unbearable. Timani tackle without the arms was viewed as tough play and TPN constantly going down was interestingly not discussed.

 

[#1 Tah]

Good spot, was wondering who that was.

Obviously the injury TPN was carrying was so bad that they were worried enough about him going down in the warmup to have another hooker on standby, warming up with the 22.

Look out during the warm ups.... They usually have 1 or 2 spare front rowers training with them, I believe its an IRB or SANZAR regulation because you cannot play if you dont have enough props & Hookers.

 

[Slim 293]

Higgers has been missing for a few weeks now... and I don't seem to recall him being all in the first couple of weeks of the season...

I think he's benefited from being surrounded by other backrowers (Robinson and Samo in particular) who aren't afraid to put in the hard work which leaves him to impress on TV with his ball running...

He'll probably make the Wallabies squad, but I would not want to see him play a test until he significantally lifts his work rate...

 

[TheNextBigThing]

- The Foxsports commentators mentioned Timani will still play for the Tahs in 2012 as the Japanese season ends in March. Anyone know anything about that? He had a belter tonight, and it will be interesting to see if he takes up his spot with Tonga as he could well be on the Wallaby radar before too long.

Telegraph ran this on Thursday

BIG Waratah lock Sitaleki Timani may not be lost to Japan for long.

Timani signed a contract to play in Japan mid-way through the year when coming off the bench, but has hit such strong form in the back half after being promoted, the Tahs are keen to get him back as soon as possible.

Negotiations are under way for Timani to return as early as March next season, after the Japanese club season.

As i've said elswhere it sounds like wishful thinking. It relies on Timani only having a one-year contract, and wanting to come back to the waratahs rather than trying his luck in the open market. It also depends on whether he decides to play for Tonga this year. I'd be surprised if he did though as he's firming as a future Wallaby.

 

[louie]

Higgers spends far too much time on the wing. Clear the rucks son

 

[barbarian]

As i've said elswhere it sounds like wishful thinking. It relies on Timani only having a one-year contract, and wanting to come back to the waratahs rather than trying his luck in the open market. It also depends on whether he decides to play for Tonga this year. I'd be surprised if he did though as he's firming as a future Wallaby.

I wouldn't mind him as a foregin marquee player. Would certainly prefer him to some second-string kiwi who can't crack the Super teams there. Or an ex-international who last played in 2006.

 

[TheNextBigThing]

would certainly prefer him to some second-string kiwi who can't crack a shute shield team here.

Fixed that for you.