Brumbies v Hurricanes, Super Rugby Wk 17, 2018 Sat 30 June 19:45

Last home game of the year. The apathy and indifference of the Brumbies supporters is fairly evident.

Strangely and sadly it feels like a bit of a relief it the last time on the treadmill this year.

The result is mostly a moot point. A win with players departing (or most likely) next season is more about a coach still desperately trying to justify his appointment and gives nothing to the fans about building for next year.

The Brumbies management are still on the weekly failed campaign to shift the blame and avoid taking responsibility and sack McKellar so we can get on with next season. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sp...-to-avoid-unwanted-stats-20180629-p4zojt.html

We can only hope its a half decent game. I can't see us winning TBH.

Can't see a win v the Hurricanes nor a crowd of 12000. Winning brings the crowds to games, and to most fans the last few years have not been good. It really isn't enough to aim to win the conference when the conference is so far behind the opposition from over the ditch.

It hurts to say it, but I think the dominance by NZ sides is now a contributing factor to the poor crowds in Aus and the decline of the game here at Super Rugby level at least.

Despite winning two games before the break, I really don't think too many Brumbies' fans have much optimism for the remaining games this year.

I won't be there tonight, mainly because of ongoing health issues but the lack of expectation is also a factor. I continue to have some hope at least for a competitive and entertaining game, but I think that next year is already starting to take precedence over the remainder of 2018.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 David Pocock, 6 Tom Cusack, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Darcy Swain, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Wharenui Hawera, 23 Lausii Taliauli

Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Michael Fatialofa, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen

Referee: Nick Briant
Assistant Referees: Will Houston, James Leckie
TMO: Ian Smith

Hurricanes by 12-18 & someone (probably several) on here whinging when the ref and/ or TMO apply the Laws as they're written rather than "going with the vibe".

^^^ What is this "laws" thing you talk about? Um, that be a Kiwi ref right? . Nigel QC on standby as well?

Smithy will make sure there is no Brumbies are pulling players down in the air!!!

Nothing complicated about the SANZAAR issued TMO guide:

^^^^^^^ I've always thought of it as being more like a ouija board. And of course Nigel's on standby what with him being our go-to guy on the getting-an-AB-a-free-pass-for-foul-play front

Talking about ouija boards, it wont take one to work out the Canes game plan:

Canes Doc: Ardie's out.

Boyd: F@#$ it! What to do about bloody Pocock now? Got it. Alright boys its simple. This week is all about keeping the ball alive. Run it, pass it, offload it, whatever. I don't want to see any breakdowns!

^^^^^ AB go-to plan for combating St David is to run straight at him & make him be the tackler not the next to arrive at the tackle. Has generally worked so I'd expect the 'canes big men (Lousi & Fatialofa) run similar lines.

Not a bad plan but Cusack is very handy over the ball; a genuine pilferer. So if Pocock executes a strong / dominate tackle it still will work for the Brumbies.

about 4 times a game I just crack up laughing at Riccitelli. friskily copying what the big boys do.

• towel wipe at the lineout, oops, missed the ol' forehead there.
• keeps the leg drive going, the pube perm do' bouncing around madly.
• does the eyebrow signal at the lineout, except to everybody.

He's like a little Bambi who, admittedly, may have eaten another Bambi or two.

Aren't neck rolls supposed to be a yellow these days? I can't keep up hey.

Also, mauls are dumb. All mauls. Every more that ever was and ever will be.

Fuck it's tough to listen to TJ speak.

They are, but it was actually a shoulder roll, I know the ref said neck, but think that why he said it wasn't bad. He actually had his hand over Poey's shoulder.

Brumbies well deserved that win, I know the Canes weren't overly flash, but credit perhaps needs to go to Brumbies for not allowing them to!

Reminiscent of the Brumbies of old. Arnold and Folau F. were immense and nearly all the backs had close to their best games of the season.

Very impressed with the Brumbies. Solid in all areas and amazing to see what happens when the offloads start sticking. Canes were poor, very cynical. TJ Perenara is an awful captain, to busy fighting with the ref to focus on whats going on.

Haven't caught up with all the intervening posts WOB, but I'm sure quite a few will have pointed out the neck roll and beyond the horizontal cleanout on Pocock should have been a red (I expect a citing on this incident), and that Rory Arnold was certain to score in the corner except for all the off side defenders (there was no-one on that side of the ground who was actually on side) so should have been a penalty try.

Meh, got the win.

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Congratulations all round to the Brumbies tonight. Totally unexpected by me, but a good win. Rory Arnold again showed the skills that should see him in the Wallabies 23, but continually misses out to Rob Simmons. Meh.

Folau Faingaa showed the benefit of training with the Wallabies. He had a cracker of a game.