Super Rugby 2013 Super Rugby Discussion Thread

[Lions1024]

To be perfectly fair, the Tahs played their most complete game of the year last night. It was just one of those games where they were unlucky.


But he'll get the chance to do that at the end of the year, when 4/5 of the squad are out of contract. There will be plenty of Wallabies looking for new homes next year I suspect. The likes of TPN, AAC, Kepu, Palu, Timani and Mitchell could be moved on. They don't correspond well with Cheika traditional style of play. I think one of the reasons why Cheika has gone with an all-out attack approach is that he simply doesn't have the squad to play any other sort of football. I've said it before but the Tahs have way too many loose forwards in the team. You simply can't have TPN,Timani, Douglas, Palu and Dennis in the same line-up and expect to win or even break even at the breakdown. At the moment, the Tahs easily have the worst forward pack in the Australian conference. I suspect Cheika will bring in more hard-nosed players next year (the likes of Quirk, Kimlin, Fardy, Shatz, Luke Jones, MMM).

With that being said, I don't like the decision to sign Nick Phipps; effectively a more erratic, less skillful version of Burgess. They should have just gone all out to sign Burgess. I'd rather Prior, Stirkazer or Frisby than Phipps.

 

[Mint Condition]

The likes of TPN, AAC, Kepu, Palu, Timani and Mitchell could be moved on. They don't correspond well with Cheika traditional style of play. I think one of the reasons why Cheika has gone with an all-out attack approach is that he simply doesn't have the squad to play any other sort of football. I've said it before but the Tahs have way too many loose forwards in the team. You simply can't have TPN,Timani, Douglas, Palu and Dennis in the same line-up and expect to win or even break even at the breakdown. At the moment, the Tahs easily have the worst forward pack in the Australian conference. I suspect Cheika will bring in more hard-nosed players next year (the likes of Quirk, Kimlin, Fardy, Shatz, Luke Jones, MMM).

With that being said, I don't like the decision to sign Nick Phipps; effectively a more erratic, less skillful version of Burgess. They should have just gone all out to sign Burgess. I'd rather Prior, Stirkazer or Frisby than Phipps.

Agree with all of this. Though I hope he keeps TPN in the side. He's a massive character, heart of the team sort of guy. You need those sort of personalities.

I'd like to see the Waratahs sign a halfback with a great pass. There's not many in Australian rugby!! Someone quick around the field who can run when there's a gap, but most importantly gets the backs on the front foot. I haven't watched a lot of club rugby in the last couple of years but there's gotta be someone who fits this description! Burgess is not the answer IMO.

 

[Mint Condition]

Another thing to add is that Betham is a bit of a gun...Cheetahs couldn't handle him in the first half. Looks like a season in the ITM cup has done a lot for him. He can be the Waratahs answer to Ioane.

 

[Lions1024]

Agree with all of this. Though I hope he keeps TPN in the side. He's a massive character, heart of the team sort of guy. You need those sort of personalities.

I'd like to see the Waratahs sign a halfback with a great pass. There's not many in Australian rugby!! Someone quick around the field who can run when there's a gap, but most importantly gets the backs on the front foot. I haven't watched a lot of club rugby in the last couple of years but there's gotta be someone who fits this description! Burgess is not the answer IMO.

Yeah, I don't think all of those players will leave, but you would think a few of them would. TPN is probably the most vulnerable out of all them, the Tahs are overpaying for him,due to Moore's presence in the Wallabies he didn't get a significant top-up. He could free up significant cap space and allow them to really go after a couple of good solid players, Luke Jones and Simmonds comes to mind. Not to mention, Ulugia is one of the better hookers in Australian rugby.

That's what really surprises me. Ian Prior really deserves a shot at starting position. He's extremely highly rated at the Reds and the Brumbies. When Genia signed for the Force, the Reds made a play to get Prior back.

 

[S120]

The Force play with a lot of determination and grit most weeks. Too bad they just don't have the cattle to be a consistent team each week.

On the Tahs and that list of players mentioned above, I reckon Kepu is in strife. They could do a lot worse than starting Paddy Ryan for the rest of he year. Very good player in the making IMO.

 

[Lions1024]

The Force play with a lot of determination and grit most weeks. Too bad they just don't have the cattle to be a consistent team each week.

On the Tahs and that list of players mentioned above, I reckon Kepu is in strife. They could do a lot worse than starting Paddy Ryan for the rest of he year. Very good player in the making IMO.

The Force were amazing tonight. They didn't allow the Reds any field position and kept the ball in hand incredibly well. The scoreline doesn't do them justice IMO. There was really nothing that the Reds could do, as disappointed as I am, I can't really find any faults with the Reds, except that McKenzie/Graham got outcoached tonight.

 

[S120]

They were fantastic. Utterly impenetrable in defence and smart and daring enough with the ball to win enough territory to post a winning score. Angus Cotterell shows some very good signs every week. I'm glad they pick him over McCalman. McMeniman played well too as that tight, aggressive, combative lock Australia so desperately needs.

Mathewson and Ebersohn steered the Force around well too. I like that halves pairing.

 

[Lions1024]

Brumbies completely dominant. Ian Prior = ridiculously good. I will never ever understand how players like Phipps, Burgess and McKibbon are considered ahead of him. I've watched him throughout his career and he's just about the best technical scrum half in Australia, probably only behind Genia. If he doesn't get a starting gig next year, it's a waste of talent. He could potentially unseat Nic White by the end of the year IMO.

 

[Mint Condition]

White has been very good as well to be fair. Can't see him losing the starting spot myself. The Waratahs really should have gone after Prior.

Brumbies certainly look the real deal this season. Very good, well drilled rugby side. Just saw the replay of the first half against the Sharks and it was textbook.

Didn't see the Reds / Force match but it's a pretty surprising result. What's most shocking for the reds is their inability to cross the line. I've said it before, but their attacking game has really declined.

 

[Lions1024]

White has been very good as well to be fair. Can't see him losing the starting spot myself. The Waratahs really should have gone after Prior.

Brumbies certainly look the real deal this season. Very good, well drilled rugby side. Just saw the replay of the first half against the Sharks and it was textbook.

Didn't see the Reds / Force match but it's a pretty surprising result. What's most shocking for the reds is their inability to cross the line. I've said it before, but their attacking game has really declined.

Arguably the best half I've seen from any Australian provincial team in a long time. It was textbook perfect. Ian Prior played a big part of that. His passing from the base is elite and provides real direction around the park. Nic White has a tendency to be a bit scattered at times. It's certainly a tough decision for Jake White. It's a bit like the Kaenpernick/Alex Smith decision for the 49ers in the NFL, you've got a player in good form and deserves the starting spot, but another who fits the system a lot better.

I'm not too worried. In the first half when we got the ball, we looked a lot more fluid in attack and if it wasn't for some incredibly good defence from the Force we probably would've scored once or twice. With that being said, The Reds have the youngest team in the Australian conference and I think we're still a year or two off a championship run. The positives are that the Reds are really producing highly quality youngsters who are playing well above their age. The likes of Gill and CFC shouldn't really be on the field at their age.

 

[S120]

Just watched some of the Brumbies match and you're alright with Prior. Bullet like pass that guy has.

ACT looked unstoppable in that first half. Auelua is such a beast.

 

[Lions1024]

Waratahs are absolutely killing themselves atm. They've dominated this half, yet they're 24-10 down. You know you're in trouble when Fat Cat shouts out "Come on Guys, we have to do some work". The first thing Cheika should do is sack Dennis as captain, he's just about the worst loose forward going around in Australian rugby. It's obvious he isn't cut out as a leader, it's affecting his game big time. He's gone from a good super rugby player to a horrible one. Hopefully the Tahs can show a little bit of spirit in the second half.

 

[S120]

Started very promisingly but the Blues cut them to ribbons in the last 20.

 

[Lions1024]

Started very promisingly but the Blues cut them to ribbons in the last 20.

Ended promising aswell! Dennis redeemed himself with 2 great runs at the death, but I would be looking at handing the captaincy to Robinson or TPN. Thought AAC and Mitchell played good games. Paddy Ryan and Robinson industrious as always. It's a good sign for Australian rugby when the Reds scrum dominates the Bulls and the Tahs scrum dominates the Blues, two traditional scrum powerhouses.

 

[Mint Condition]

Great comeback. Waratahs definitely deserved to win that.

In other news...Kurtley Beale in trouble again. Players have been sacked for less.

 

[S120]

Good for the Tahs. They were the better side and were deserving of a win.

Ryan, Robinson, Timani, AAC, Mitchell I thought were probably the best of the lot. Folau did some outstanding things but is still learning. He's so athletic and strong that even if he still doesn't quite know what he's doing, he'll be very valuable.

Was pleased to see Foley have such a good last 20 minutes because before that I thought he had been pretty disappointing.

Matt Lucas was pretty impressive too in his time on the field.

 

[S120]

Bad to worse for the Rebels. Smacked by the Sharks and then Beale gets himself in another bout of trouble.

Is there any more specific information about what went on? I mean I take it that Vuna and Beale got in to some sort of fight for some reason after the game but I can't say I'm sure what happened and the context of it all.

 

[Lions1024]

Bad to worse for the Rebels. Smacked by the Sharks and then Beale gets himself in another bout of trouble.

Is there any more specific information about what went on? I mean I take it that Vuna and Beale got in to some sort of fight for some reason after the game but I can't say I'm sure what happened and the context of it all.

Apparently Delve asked Beale to put a shirt on and Beale snapped at Delve and then approached him outside the bus. Vuna tried to stop Beale and they ended up throwing a few punches.

Edit: On another note, apparently Vuna is not being sent home because he stepped in. He's being sent home because he was stupid enough to twitter it. I'm not sure about the accuracy of this though, I've just heard it from someone who has connections with the ARU.

 

[S120]

Vuna certainly was a complete fool to put that shit up on twitter. Not surprised he's been sent home for that.

I'm still not confident until I hear the full story but Kurtley is dicing with death here. Potentially putting the Lions tour on the line, his contract with the Rebels etc.

BTW, someone please tell the Rebels investing in a front row would be a good idea at some stage.

 

[Mint Condition]

The rebels don't have money to invest in anything at the moment. Harold Mitchell wants out and the club will reportedly be run by the amateur VRU. Not great times for them.

 

[Lions1024]

Reds are starting to look pretty good. Cooper is starting to regain form and it shows.

 

[Mint Condition]

Reds are starting to look pretty good. Cooper is starting to regain form and it shows.

Cooper is a much better player when Genia is playing.

That said he seemed a little reluctant to run himself at times last night. Bombed at least 1 try early on by not taking the gap that opened up in front of him.

 

[Santana]

Hell of an ending to the Brumbies vs Bulls game!

Bulls scored a try in the last two mins to tie it up with a Steyn conversion, they get the ball back in their half, time up, they give away a penalty near midfield, and Lealiifano kicks it over for the win.

 

[Lions1024]

Hell of an ending to the Brumbies vs Bulls game!

Bulls scored a try in the last two mins to tie it up with a Steyn conversion, they get the ball back in their half, time up, they give away a penalty near midfield, and Lealiifano kicks it over for the win.

Bulls were robbed. It was a Bulls penalty if anything, Nic White went off his feet and laid on top of the ball. Disgraceful call.

 

[S120]

Glad I didn't bother going to the Tahs and stayed home to watch Pies vs North. Good on them for winning it but I was pretty confident it would be a bit of a grind against the Force dominated by penalty goals and I was right in my prediction.

Important win for them though, keeps them right in touch with the top end of the ladder.