Brumbies v Highlanders SR R5 2012

Glad to hear Hooper is performing. He's not the next Pocock, he's the next George Smith (from the same club and province). I hope he reaches the same heights as both of them. We've been blessed with quality 7s in my lifetime.

Few thoughts from the game

1. The Brumbies ability to retain possession was appalling. In the second half they only once got past two phases (and that was three phases) before turning it over or kicking it into the arms of the Highlanders.

2. Kicking for field position or a to get off their line was similarly shocking. Lilo is a great goal kicker (at long last!!) but the vast majority of their kicks from the field just gifted possession back to the Highlanders.

3. Haven't seen official stats but possession must have been 70:30 to Highlanders. Great breakdown work by Hooper and others gave the ball to the brumbies but they either couldn't or did not want to retain the ball. That the Highlanders lost with that much possession must be a worry to them.

4. Overall a game where basic skills in many areas were lacking by the Brums - but the fact that they still managed to win was actually a positive sign. It was a game that could have gone either way and I don't think it was in any way a great win by the Brumbies - they had the potential to slaughter the Highlanders if they had been capable of retaining possession.

5. Slade's injury was a turning point - the Highlanders did not have the same organization in the backs after he left.

Do you remember the Boks' game plan with Jake White at the helm? Kick it to the opposition and force mistakes. I havent seen any full Brumbies' games this year, but I wouldn't be surprised to see that they're working to a similar blue print.

Clearly the Highlanders will be disappointed to lose. But they do have theirselves to blame. It was an extremely tight game and neither team dominated each other. First one to flinch loses. We did unfortunately. Still the game of the weekend for me.

The ARs were wearing windproof jackets during the game.

Aaron Smith needs to start..

Great win by the Brumbies and really showing the other Aussie teams what it means to show some guts and composure. Must be a well captained and coached team - and the no names might not be so for long.

Well done Brumbies! Top of the OZ conference after Round 5, who'd a thunk? After watching them in the Trial v. the Reds I didn't really hold out much for their chances in 2012, but they are playing very positively as a team, good to see. Big game at Suncorp in a fortnight.

It's interesting that those alleged 'experts' outside of Canberra who have never seen this team of young guys at training instantly assume they'd come last and tipped them to do so in their respective publications season predictions section.

But hey, nobody's perfect.

That's the thing about tipping and predictions though, very far from a perfect science. Who would have thought that the Tahs would be 1 from 4 before yesterday, and that the Blues and Highlanders would be in their respective ladder spots in the NZ conference after five rounds?

I think the predictions were more based on original team sheets and you would have to agree that the Brumbies look very inexperienced and light on for depth by comparison to other OZ franchises.

It was always a good chance of happening. Two very experienced coaches coming in, plenty of ambitious young talent, a similar situation to Qld before the 2010 season. It's good to see.

Get your hand off it. My point was about your double standards. If Jake White was a prick for considering the England job, he can't suddenly be a champion because the team has won a few games. That's moral hypocrisy, isn't it. Those of us who never had a problem with a coach taking his opportunities in this industry are honest enough to be grateful that JW stayed, not righteous about it.

Well played Brumbies. You fully deserve to top the conference. How the hell does Tamua get back into the 15? Lelalafano has to remain at 10.

Brumbies are extremely fit and it is leading to good decision making on the field. Well done.

Speight, Lilo and of course Hooper were outstanding.

yet again game stats prove to be rubbish, who records the fox fantasy player figures?. If you, like me, have Hooper in your team you have been short changed. he had a blinder on saturday night and was awarded 48 fantasy points which is good, but was only credited with 1 steal. He did at least 4 or 5 as well as a penalty for forced turnover, how many points is that missed?

The Brumbies were excellent with many very good performances forwards and backs, Speight looks very sharp and amazingly forced 2 or 3 turnovers himself, great work for an outside back.

Hooper also made 26 of his 31 attempted tackles.

Apparently he's the fittest guy in the team.

well done Brumbies, they looked sharp on Saturday. this win should hold the naysayers back for a while. I note they're comments are missing here.

Good effort Brumbies.
Knights of Columbus gotta feel for Slade
"The poor guy's had two broken jaws, he's had two abductor operations, he's had a hernia operation and now his leg, all in the course of a year. "

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6635737/Shocking-injury-run-continues-for-Colin-Slade

Hooper played at inside centre for Manly the last game of the round against Randwick and the semi following week in 2010 shute shield. At the time the forwards were going well and the backs were struggling, hooper was coming back from Aus U20 injury so Phil Blake experimented with him as he has the skills and speed.
He played at openside in all 2011 games when available for Manly.
Something I didn't know that also found out is that he and Luke Jones (rebels) were in the same school XV