Sharks Vs Brumbies - S15 Rd 5

[rugbyskier]

Well I'm disappointed in the Brumbies, they had points scored against them in the second half for the first time this year.

That first half performance was sublime. The thing that impressed me most was that there was always a support player to take a pop pass if required and the passing was quick and accurate.

I thought the kicks into the corner instead of taking the kicks at goal around the 50 minute mark was a mistake. The Brumbies had the bonus point and should have been keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The plays failed and the Sharks were able to get the ball down field and changed the momentum. I do acknowledge that the heavy rain also changed the complexion of the game.

Small criticism aside, well done Brumbies!

 

[Paradox]

Surprised Alexander is not being schooled by Mtawarira

Why are you surprised? Alexander ended last year as the best tight head prop for OZ forcing out Kepu, Slipper, etc. The Brumbies scrum has been good for years now.

Sio is a gun.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Well I'm disappointed in the Brumbies, they had points scored against them in the second half for the first time this year.

That first half performance was sublime. The thing that impressed me most was that there was always a support player to take a pop pass if required and the passing was quick and accurate.

I thought the kicks into the corner instead of taking the kicks at goal around the 50 minute mark was a mistake. The Brumbies had the bonus point and should have been keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The plays failed and the Sharks were able to get the ball down field and changed the momentum. I do acknowledge that the heavy rain also changed the complexion of the game.

Small criticism aside, well done Brumbies!

Agreed on that last point.

The handling conditions were terrible in the second half and with the bonus point already in the bag they should have gone for points after that first attempt failed.

But 5 points on the road in South Africa is quite an achievement.

 

[Country Kid]

I thought the kicks into the corner instead of taking the kicks at goal around the 50 minute mark was a mistake. The Brumbies had the bonus point and should have been keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The plays failed and the Sharks were able to get the ball down field and changed the momentum.

Surprisingly I found myself thinking the same thing. Take the shot for goal was my initial thought but really liked the attitude that went with kicking for the line.

But I think this was a 50-50 decision.

Quite often I think teams miss an opportunity to keep teams under defensive pressure by opting to take a penalty kick for goal. Even though the Brumbies didn't score points from their two lineouts, they kept the Sharks tacking a bit longer - something that I sure they didn't want to be doing.

Aside from not scoring, the worst of it was that the Brumbies dropped ball (bombed try?) allowed the Sharks to hack the ball down field, relieve pressure and get themselves into the contest.

The first half was something really special - hope there is more to come this season.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I was truly impressed with the Brumbies' performance tonight on many levels. Most notably was their discipline while attacking every ruck. Only one penalty to Lambie and none to Steyne speaks volumes for the manner in which they played, particularly in the second half when possession was more evenly shared.

Scrum was dominant with Sio/Alexander. A tight head led to Henry's try. Have to admit I didn't think Benny A would be so strong at tight head. Scott was immense, and finished well on top of the Doctor. Went down hill when 'Rory' came on. Still, they have Palmer to come back, and also in the wings is Ruan Smith who looks almost a clone of Scott Sio. Front row stocks are simply awesome.

Kimlin looked like his old self, running hard, breaking the line, tackling strongly and sometimes spilling the ball. Needs to fix his handling. George Smith, Fotu Auelua and Ben Mowen shared the duties at 6 and 8. There really is no lack of Wallabies' contenders for these positions. Any two of these three are the best in the country.

The Brumbies' backline does exactly what we all want the Wallabies to do. Play with combinations, flair and speed. Four tries scored by wings, full back and No 10 says it all.

And to top it all off, this performance by a team that had five changes to its usual run on side. Brumbies are the real deal and will go a long way towards achieving their goal of winning the comp this year.

 

[Merrow]

I wouldn't want him in the Lions tour due to inexperience but he'd be good to have a look at afterwards.

Are you sure you're not Robbie Deans?

 

[Shiggins]

Looking forward to watching this one. I could see it coming though. The sharks have been shit this year.

 

[RoffsChoice]

It's great to see Sio, Fotu and Prior playing so well. Having three props, three locks, four back rowers, two scrum halves and three wingers who all deserve starting spots is just incredible.

Fardy kicked incredibly well too! Has he been taking lessons from Larkham?

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Things that were made clear in this game. Brumbies are the real deal.

And for the wallabies to be, deans needs to pick auelua,mowen and kimlin

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Are you sure you're not Robbie Deans?

If true, that may explain the special attention for monitoring the number of intercepts off QC (Quade Cooper) passes and kicks charged down.

Countering the conclusion that qwerty is RD would be that there is very little obfuscating Robbiespeak in qwerty's posts.

 

[Hawko]

Things that were made clear in this game. Brumbies are the real deal.

And for the wallabies to be, deans needs to pick auelua,mowen and kimlin

Auelua and Mowen I'll give you but Kimlin makes a lot of errors for a test player.

 

[Blue]

One classy rugby team.

Every other coach in the comp will be taking a glimpse at the schedule and having a quiet little moment in the crapper by their lonesome.

 

[RoffsChoice]

One classy rugby team.

Every other coach in the comp will be taking a glimpse at the schedule and having a quiet little moment in the crapper by their lonesome.

Except the Cheetahs and Chiefs

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Auelua and Mowen I'll give you but Kimlin makes a lot of errors for a test player.

Would take him over Simmons and timani in a heart beat

 

[USARugger]

Would take him over Simmons and timani in a heart beat

Simmons regularly has made some of the most ridiculously blatant and unnecessary errors and infringements of test level of any Wallaby player I've watched in the past few years. I'm a pretty one-eye Reds fan but that kind of brainless play makes my blood boil. There were a few tests this year where I thought he was actively trying to get removed from the Wallabies squad based on his play. To that though, he has picked up his game this year in Super Rugby and doesn't seem to be getting pinged with the stupid stuff as much.

I wish Timani could learn to jump and use his size to run over other players, really badly.

 

[Pedrolicus]

Simmons regularly has made some of the most ridiculously blatant and unnecessary errors and infringements of test level of any Wallaby player I've watched in the past few years. I'm a pretty one-eye Reds fan but that kind of brainless play makes my blood boil. There were a few tests this year where I thought he was actively trying to get removed from the Wallabies squad based on his play. To that though, he has picked up his game this year in Super Rugby and doesn't seem to be getting pinged with the stupid stuff as much.

I wish Timani could learn to jump and use his size to run over other players, really badly.

Timani is also useful for his apparent ability in the scrum, if you pick him though, you need more jumpers in the back row to cover for his lack of lineout skills. That's where a player like Kimlin or say Mowen who are basically specialist jumpers who have a high work rate may be good to have at 6 to balance the team.

 

[USARugger]

Timani is also useful for his apparent ability in the scrum, if you pick him though, you need more jumpers in the back row to cover for his lack of lineout skills. That's where a player like Kimlin or say Mowen who are basically specialist jumpers who have a high work rate may be good to have at 6 to balance the team.

I'd definitely say we will need his bulk at some point for the Lions. We will almost definitely need Mowen based on current form so this is pretty likely to happen. Having that extra bit of graft and grunt in tight would give Gill/Hooper more leniency for hawking for turnover ball/sea-gulling a bit on attack.

 

[JJJ]

Once you've noticed Timani gently jogging around the park, watching rucks, staying down that extra 5 secs... it's hard to stop noticing them.

 

[USARugger]

Once you've noticed Timani gently jogging around the park, watching rucks, staying down that extra 5 secs. it's hard to stop noticing them.

Wrong man in the right body.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

I'd definitely say we will need his bulk at some point for the Lions. We will almost definitely need Mowen based on current form so this is pretty likely to happen. Having that extra bit of graft and grunt in tight would give Gill/Hooper more leniency for hawking for turnover ball/sea-gulling a bit on attack.

I disagree about needing timani for the lions. They are going to be packing their own giants like Richie grey and who is bigger than timani and can actually pack a punch