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2020 Super Rugby Round 3 - Waratahs v Brumbies @ ANZ Stadium - Saturday 18 July

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
The Waratahs will have to improve substantially from their first two outings to keep it competitive against the Brumbies.

Like others I expect Karmichael Hunt to come into the starting side and possibly Dempsey.

Will Harris has been solid without doing anything spectacular. He needs to find a way to get his hands on the ball more and get his running game going which is a strength. His workrate has been good though.

Hopefully Jake Gordon is healthy again.
 

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
Waratah scrum will be in reverse. They have a massive problem. They have young backs with potential but their basic platform from scrums, lineouts and quick ruck ball is way off pace.

Compared to some of the Kiwi games recently the opposition has time to huddle, have a chat and then reset before the ball comes out.

Long way to go for this squad.
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Waratah scrum will be in reverse. They have a massive problem. They have young backs with potential but their basic platform from scrums, lineouts and quick ruck ball is way off pace.

Compared to some of the Kiwi games recently the opposition has time to huddle, have a chat and then reset before the ball comes out.

Long way to go for this squad.

I actually don't think they do. I think Bell got caught out a couple of times, but two mighty experienced props but he also caused Longbottom a few issues. The Brumbies scrum got worked over by the Rebels so they aren't clicking just yet, despite their quality.

I actually like the Tah props at the moment. Two very hardworking props. Scrummaging can lift a bit but its nowhere near as bad as people say. Doesn't help with Hanigan at lock (who, again, I think is playing reasonably well across the park). But they really do miss a muscle man at lock.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I actually don't think they do. I think Bell got caught out a couple of times, but two mighty experienced props but he also caused Longbottom a few issues. The Brumbies scrum got worked over by the Rebels so they aren't clicking just yet, despite their quality.

I actually like the Tah props at the moment. Two very hardworking props. Scrummaging can lift a bit but its nowhere near as bad as people say. Doesn't help with Hanigan at lock (who, again, I think is playing reasonably well across the park). But they really do miss a muscle man at lock.


The Reds have had the best scrum in Australia for a number of years now. The Tahs scrum hasn't stood up to it regardless of who our props have been for several years.

The scrums were fine against the Force. There was parity with a couple of penalties in both directions until Holmes came on and then the Force had a slight advantage there with him winning a penalty (the only on Bell gave away).

Holmes still looks like he is elite at scrum time.

I would imagine the Brumbies will have an advantage over the Tahs at scrum time but I doubt it will be a case of constant penalties on Brumbies feeds. Hopefully we can retain our own ball without too much damage.

I think Bell is going really well. His scrummaging will continue to improve. His biggest difficulty to overcome at scrum time is his height. His workrate, ball running and skills are fantastic.

Harry Johnson-Holmes continues to develop and is consistently one of our best forwards.
 

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is consistently one of the best forwards going round in all teams week to week. I believe he is still learning his craft at THP, but he'll give a good account of himself at scrum time in any game. Bell, otoh, I'm not so sure. He struggled against props his own age at U20s, and does get worked over by hardened, experienced props at this level. AAA just might have an edge there. Bell otherwise, like HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), is very good in open play, both with ball in hand and over the ball at the breakdown. Looks to me to be a No 8 rather than a No 1.

For the Brumbies, I'm expecting Scott Sio to start showing the sort of form he was in two or three years ago, pre-injury, when he was one of the strongest props in world rugby. The virus break must have been good for his long term injury/ies, and with game time and a couple of extra weeks training behind him, I think he'll show that strength is back with him. Whether James Slipper starts or comes off the bench, his creativity in play and general scrum ability will be a factor. AAA will be AAA; non-stop quality in all aspects.

FF (Folau Fainga'a) will be more influential than Robbie Able.

The Brumbies back five are bigger and stronger than the Tahs 5. Brumbies should win the game up front.

I also think the Brumbies are quite clearly the best coached side in the Aus competition. Should be a win by over a converted try.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Bell, otoh, I'm not so sure. He struggled against props his own age at U20s, and does get worked over by hardened, experienced props at this level. AAA just might have an edge there. Bell otherwise, like HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), is very good in open play, both with ball in hand and over the ball at the breakdown. Looks to me to be a No 8 rather than a No 1.


Bell is really young. Would still be eligible for under 20s this year if it was on.

He's essentially started playing Super Rugby a year earlier than any of the other guys.

I think he will have a hard time in the scrum against the Brumbies but I think it will be a lot closer than against the Reds who will smash every Aussie team at scrum time.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Yeah I'm thinking about heading out too. The Westconnex tunnel means it's now quicker and easier for me to drive to ANZ than it is to get to the SFS/SCG.

The Brumbies should win fairly comfortably given it's 1st vs 4th. It will likely unfold like the Super Rugby match pre-shutdown, where the Tahs competed hard for the first 40/50 before the Brumbies break through and run a few late tries in. They just have the class edge here IMO.

Bell is a young prop, and young props take a long time to develop. He's not a great scrummager, it would be weird if he was. But his instincts around the field seem really good, and his basic skills are solid.
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
The Brumbies should win fairly comfortably given it's 1st vs 4th. It will likely unfold like the Super Rugby match pre-shutdown, where the Tahs competed hard for the first 40/50 before the Brumbies break through and run a few late tries in. They just have the class edge here IMO.


2nd vs 4th, Reds are in 1st ;)

Edit: 2nd vs 3rd, given the Rebels are yet to win a game
 

Up the Guts

Steve Williams (59)
Just me or is there a nice bit of parochialism developing around some of these derbies now that we’re not worried about foreign sides? Now that I’m not invested in the Brumbies beating NZ sides I’m warming to the idea of their confidence being destroyed by a rag-tag bunch of Waratah rookies.
 

Wilson

David Codey (61)
Just me or is there a nice bit of parochialism developing around some of these derbies now that we’re not worried about foreign sides? Now that I’m not invested in the Brumbies beating NZ sides I’m warming to the idea of their confidence being destroyed by a rag-tag bunch of Waratah rookies.

I think it really helps that it's derbies every week, in the past you'd often end up having one every few weeks and you just never quite get into the vibe of it.
 

Brumby Jack

Steve Williams (59)
Staff member
Tom Banks back for the Brumbies at 15

1. James Slipper
2. Folau Fainga'a
3. Allan Ala'alatoa (c)
4. Darcy Swain
5. Murray Douglas
6. Rob Valetini
7. Tom Cusack
8. Pete Samu
9. Joe Powell
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Tom Wright
12. Irae Simone
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Andy Muirhead
15. Tom Banks

REPLACEMENTS
16. Connal McInerney
17. Scott Sio
18. Tom Ross
19. Lachlan McCaffrey
20. Will Miller
21. Issak Fines
22. Bayley Kuenzle
23. Mack Hansen
 
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