Super Rugby AU Round 2 - Reds vs Rebels

[Braveheart81]

Yep fair point Braveheart regarding scrum dominance and Reds lack of wins, that has been largely due to backs not executing after a good forward platform, in my opinion. I think you need to chase the scrum penalty each time though when you've got a dominant scrum. Obviously the hope being the opposition end up with a yellow card.

I remember a few games last year where I thought the Reds were very hard done by and drew repeated scrum infringements and not drawing some cheese from the ref.

It depends where it is on the field I think. It's not often that you get penalty advantage and still have a good platform to work from. Your number 8 is very unlikely to be able to pick it up from the back so that option is gone allowing defenders to reposition.

Maybe the backline would be converting more opportunities if the emphasis was on giving them good attacking ball when inside the opposition 22?

I guess my overall take is that it's probably worth reviewing the emphasis on the scrum because it hasn't provided them nearly the advantage in games that many people would think it should. The Reds look much better this season because their forward are getting on top more often in general play. The last few years of the Waratahs beating the Reds has generally involved the Reds smashing the Tahs at scrum time but being outmuscled in general play.

 

[dru]

The Reds set piece is dominant in the scrum but pants in the line out. For set piece to deliver a solid platform for wins it needs to be dominant. All of it not half of it.

The comment earlier that Tupou got minced in the scrum when starting out is true - but was he selected in a team of the week following a mincing? I can’t recall so.

 

[Braveheart81]

The Reds set piece is dominant in the scrum but pants in the line out. For set piece to deliver a solid platform for wins it needs to be dominant. All of it not half of it.

The solid platform at scrum time I am talking about is where the halfback has a stable, stationary position to pick the ball up to pass from, the number 8 is still an option to pick it up and run with it and if necessary, you get a slight wheel on to angle the scrum in a direction that advantages you.

It's very rare that once you have penalty advantage you get good ball to work with off the back.

If your lineout is average it's even more reason not to push so hard to generate a penalty from a scrum that is already in a good attacking position.

 

[eastman]

I'm hoping he is being developed and that his potential will be realised one day. At the moment, he reminds me of Kepu when he first came to notice at the Tahs. For some time, he was an outstanding runner with the ball rather than a strong scrummaging prop.

How did Kepu turn out?

 

[eastman]

The ironic thing is that the 30m hit up he took was probably the best thing that happened to rugby over the weekend.

 

[Penguin]

He attempted to grasp the player. That's all the law requires.

I think that tackle is fine. I agree that it can be penalised and carded because it's happened in the past (like Cliffy Palu against Wales years ago) but when a tackle this good is made, the player bumps off faster than anyone can reasonably wrap their arms.

Fair enough. It was a big hit!

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

I agree that it can be penalised and carded because it's happened in the past (like Cliffy Palu against Wales years ago) but when a tackle this good is made, the player bumps off faster than anyone can reasonably wrap their arms.

Ireland? This shot on Kearney.

 

[Brumby Runner]

No one seemed to be questioning his scrummaging ability the week before against the Brumbies.

The Reds scrum has been dusting up pretty much every other scrum for years. It hasn't translated into that many wins for them.

Tupou is destructive in the scrum but I would argue he takes too many risks doing it. Last season he gave away the most penalties in the competition both at scrum time and overall and whilst he also earned close to the most penalties at scrum time in the competition is that really the best way to play? He forces referees into awarding penalties one way or another at a lot of scrums.

I think the Reds would do better off their own scrum ball if more often they just looked to create a good platform to attack from rather than trying to win a penalty before attempting to play the ball. When the scrum gets that messy it rarely leads to good ball even if they have penalty advantage.

By all means, go like crazy at the opposition ball and when you have a scrum feed inside your own 22 but in the opposition half, set a good platform to attack from and let the backs have a crack.

1) - hmmmm. If you (meaning me) can't say something good about a person, don't say anything. And I thought the Rebels THP was very like Kepu in his younger days.

2) - I often think the Brumbies, also with a strong scrum, should adopt this approach as well.

 

[Braveheart81]

Ireland? This shot on Kearney.

Yes, definitely that one. For some reason I thought it was against Wales.

 

[Wilson]

Yes, definitely that one. For some reason I thought it was against Wales.

I think there was one he got away in that game against Wales where Beale scored the last gasp try to win it.

 

[Dctarget]

I might just go watch that game. I was hankering for this Ireland series this year

 

[KevinO]

I might just go watch that game. I was hankering for this Ireland series this year

When watching the Rebels v Brumbies two weeks ago, I was thinking I should be at Suncorp watching a test match

Missed a trip to Sydney for Rebels and Brisbane for Ireland. 2020 Sucks

 

[Derpus]

Ireland? This shot on Kearney.

That's the most legal tackle that ever tackled. ugh. Both arms wrapped and even made contact. Maybe the fullback should try not to run directly at the oppositions 8 with a 20 metre wind up jeez.

They really need to sort out reffing consistency eh.

 

[KevinO]

That's the most legal tackle that ever tackled. ugh. Both arms wrapped and even made contact. Maybe the fullback should try not to run directly at the oppositions 8 with a 20 metre wind up jeez.

They really need to sort out reffing consistency eh.

That's a pretty old test match, most Refs would check with TMO now before issuing the card. At least the touchies.

 

[formerflanker]

Ireland? This shot on Kearney.

Thanks for digging up that clip.
Interesting gentle remonstrations from the commentators who initially were fully supportive of the refs decision but changed their views diplomatically after slo-mo replays.