Round 1 - Brumbies v Rebels - Fri 15th@7:45pm

[RoffsChoice]

Big, big vote of confidence in Slipper and Pulu. I'm amazed that our starting wingers aren't Muirhead and Taliauli, but the gap between our top four wingers (sorry Peni) is not that large at all.

McCaffrey very deserving of the start. I said many times last year that he should be called up to the Wallabies on his form, and he's definitely carried that same form over into the trials. If he continues it, he'll be our Fardy-lite. Lord knows we need it.

If Fainga'a has regressed with his lineouts and scrummaging again, he shouldn't start next week. We have Mann-Rea and McInerney as options, and both are solid-at-worst in the set piece. If Fainga'a has kept some sort of set piece form, then he's far and away the best option.

Ultimately, this is a team that I would back to beat every team in our conference.

 

[Juan Cote]

any ideas when the Rebels side is announced?

 

[Highlander35]

Last year it was typically close of business 2 days beforehand: if that holds true expect it late this afternoon.

 

[swingpass]

teams up

no Coleman, no Sa'aga, 6/2 bench

much as expected, if they went 5/3 i thought Tuipolotu would get a gig, also not surprised Ha'angana there, i expected him and Leota to battle fro reserve back row spot, on the assumption that Jones would be bench second row and Coleman starting. also thought Daley would be ahead of Gibbon

1. Tetera Faulkner
2. Anaru Rangi
3. Jermaine Ainsley
4. Luke Jones
5. Matt Philip
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Richard Hardwick
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Billy Meakes
13. Tom English
14. Jack Maddocks
15. Dane Haylett-Petty ©
16. Robbie Abel
17. Matt Gibbon
18. Sam Talakai
19. Esei Ha’angana
20. Brad Wilkin
21. Rob Leota
22. Michael Ruru
23. Semisi Tupou

 

[RugbyReg]

Brumbies in a canter

 

[swingpass]

Brumbies in a canter

unfortunately i agree with you, although probably a trot rather than a canter.

 

[Juan Cote]

Rebels by 25

 

[RoffsChoice]

If we lose to that team, I will be incredibly embarrassed. I'd be more scared of the Romanian team.

 

[Derpus]

1. Tetera Faulkner
2. Anaru Rangi
3. Jermaine Ainsley

vs

James Slipper
Folau Fainga’a
Allan Ala'alatoa

I would be knocking the ball on intentionally.

 

[Braveheart81]

I would be knocking the ball on intentionally.

Being an Australian derby, they probably don't need to try harder to drop the ball.

 

[RoffsChoice]

I'd say they might have us in the lineout but the Carter-Arnold-McCaffrey lineout combo should kill them, especially if Rangi reverts to throwing wounded ducks. And boy am I excited to see Abel come off the bench; there's a reason we didn't fight to keep him (why did non-Brumbeis fans think he was better than Mann-Rea?).

Also totally ready for this to blow up in my face, but screw it; I already thought it, why not write it down?

 

[Braveheart81]

This is an impressive comeback from Josh Mann-Rea after tearing his hamstring off the bone last year. I thought that was going to end his career.

 

[oztimmay]

According to Beth Newman, Adam is sitting out this match with a calf injury. Not so sure about Fereti.

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/02/13/super-rugby-rebels-team-brumbies-canberra

 

[Bobby Sands]

Lee Grant, the GOAT, used to froth about Lachlan McCaffrey.

Brumbies in a second gear.

 

[RebelYell]

So Sa'aga, Daley, Erasmus and Fa'amausili all injured? Good for Gibbon, I guess, but 8th choice...

Abel over Roach is interesting too (assuming Roach is fit), and Haangana over Jeffries

 

[Mudslider]

Great opportunity for the Brumbies to start the season off with a win... Brimbies forwards do their job well. The Rebels will have a long night. The old firm Genia & Cooperba k together... certainly by interesting got see if there is still pace and understanding between them... I’m not expecting to see the clock wound back.., Copper hasn’t played st this level for well over a year now...

Leo to start give the Brumbies a shot of pace with Hawera later in the match. He looked dry sharp in the trials... Look’n forward to this match... Brumbies at home with the Rebels missing key players I’d say then Brumbies by +13... first try Valentini

 

[Crashy]

any idea on anticipated crowd?

 

[RoffsChoice]

Somewhere between 8 and 12 thousand. Friday games are terrible for crowds.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Far too much optimism on this thread from Brumbies' fans. No match will be a walkover, and at this early stage any game could go either way.

I am hanging out to see that the Brumbies play with the same intent and freedom as they finished last year.

 

[Brumby Runner]

It's the right decision IMO...

Samu to me is a master of none who will better serve the team as a super sub, except in the matches where Pocock is rested and in that situation I would look at probably having him and Cusack in the starting team, with McCaffrey dropping back to the bench.

Cusack unlucky to miss out, but it was down to him and Samu on the bench.

Samu had an immediate impact against the Tahs. Made excellent metres through the middle, and got a turnover iirc at at least one ruck. I don't think any of the other loose forwards even challenged for possession at ruck time, and that's exactly how I remember them playing from last year as well. Certainly, without Pocock, Samu must play and I think should go into the No 7 spot. But he also has an impact otherwise that I think will be judged to be quite valuable as the season progresses.