Blues no Matt(ch) for Brumbies
Roar Rookie By nird99, 10 May 2009 nird99 is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Blues, Brumbies, Matt Toomua, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
Matt Toomua proved that his age shall not be a determining factor when the Brumbies met the Blues at Canberra Stadium last night. Toomua was instrumental in ensuring that the Brumbie backline had momentum when it counted.
He was cool under pressure and showed why he has been chosen in the Australian under 20 squad to play the World Cup this year. He kept the Blues defence in two minds with a mix of running, kicking and passing that would have impressed the watching Stephen Larkham.
The Brumbies had a nervous start with some poor wide defence before settling the ship with a Toomua drop goal mid-way through the first half.
Stirling Mortlock had another impressive game on the wing, scoring the first of the Brumbies tries.
As always, Mortlock impressed with ball in hand, breaking the first up tackle before setting the Brumbies for quick ruck ball. Mortlock became the leading Super Rugby point scorer when he converted his own try, eclipsing Andrew Mehrtens’ Super points scoring record.
Mortlock also inspired his team with some strong defence in the Blues half that ultimately led to another Brumbies try.
Supporters of the running game would have been thrilled with the match at Canberra Stadium tonight, as it provided what the fans have been craving. There was a mix of exciting attacking rugby, hard defence and quick ruck and maul ball. There were hard scrums with neither team having the complete dominance, and a very contested breakdown throughout the game, as well as some exciting backline play from both sides.
We managed to see seven tries during the game and were thoroughly entertained.
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- Explore:
- Blues, Brumbies, Matt Toomua, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
May 10th 2009 @ 6:43am
Matt said | May 10th 2009 @ 6:43am | Report comment
Great spectacle (at times), but gee the defence was leaky, especially from the Brumbies. They will get hammered by the Chiefs if they can’t fix up the work around the ruck during broken play.
May 10th 2009 @ 9:42am
Glenn Condell said | May 10th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Mortlock was the difference. How often does his desire and directness lift the Brumbies and the Wallabies? During the week I saw a message board on one of the big UK papers run a few Dream Team threads about the greatest Lions, prompting some of the commenters to pick SH sides to combat them. Mortlock appeared more often than anyone else at 13. After Tahu’s coming out party last night and Cross and Ioane playing strongly thru most of the year, we have options but it is hard to see how the old man could be left out after his last two weeks. At this level the top two inches are the most important and he has that ruthless mindset – like Steve Waugh toward the end – that psychs out oppositions.
It helped that Toomua played as well as Beale or Cooper ever have, though Beale went well again last night. That U20 side will have some go in the midfield.
May 10th 2009 @ 10:18am
Nird99 said | May 10th 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Glenn, I think that you are right about Mortlock. Not only is he a great player he is one of those guys that every team needs, the eternal optimist. Nothing is ever to hard and the game is never over. He ispires that is for sure.
May 10th 2009 @ 12:30pm
Harry said | May 10th 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Mortlock still has that vital “X” factor even when stuck out on the wing, clear choice for Wallaby capitain and number 13. Toomua was excellent, I presume he is getting some good coaching/advice from Larkham in the last few weeks, just looked a natural leader around the park and not afraid to run himself at times. Alexander also was excellent, he did well around the park (we know that already) and held up well in the scrum against an All Black front row – he will gain a lot of confidence from that.
May 10th 2009 @ 1:22pm
Nird99 said | May 10th 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
I think the Brumbies front row has been fantastic all year. They have held their own against all packs and even managed to dismantle a few, like the Tahs scrum. I do think the Brumbies need a bit more work in the lineouts. Winning their own ball is definately not a certainty, and the defence around the ruck, particularly with the players coming back at the angle needs to be sorted out as well. It was obvious early last night that the blues had done their homework and had picked some weaknesses, but i dont think that they could stick to their game plan. This seems to have been a problem for the Blues all year.
I did see Bernie at the game quite early last night and know that he has been around for the last few weeks so maybe he has been giving toomua a few pointers, as he certainly looked like he has a solid game and could be a player to watch in the future.
I do think that the wing spot is good for mortlock at the moment. earlier in the season he was getting the ball in some very difficult positions from a backline that was not going forward in attack and he seemed to lose his way a bit. but having the second playmaker in fairbanks has helped and mortlock is more free to run the ball. I do remember Mortlock on the wing for the wallabies early in his career. At the time I thought he was not much more than a goal kicker, bad judge I turned out to be.
May 10th 2009 @ 1:33pm
Mark said | May 10th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Toomua great game. Hes one to watch. I think theyll gives the Chiefs a bit of grief next week. How anoying were the commentators for the Sharks v Tahs game, a Kiwi and a Pom??
May 10th 2009 @ 2:35pm
Greg Russell said | May 10th 2009 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Toomua is interesting. He was preceded at 10 in the Australian Schoolboys by Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper, about whom there was tremendous fanfare. Their team did not beat NZ Schoolboys. In 2007, Toomua’s did, for the first time in a decade (when Craig Wing and Ryan Cross were the outstanding players).
Toomua’s Aust Schoolboys backline included many players who already look like they will be stars at senior level: Rob Horne (NSW), Afusipa Taumoepeau (Brumbies), James O’Connor (Force), Joseph Tomane (Melbourne Storm). No wonder scouts commented at the time that it was “the best batch of schoolboy rugby union players to emerge in the past decade.”
I guess I am just contrasting all the hype over Beale and Cooper with the relative quiet over Toomua, and yet it may actually turn out that he is the better player.
Incidentally, did anyone notice last night what his defence is like? WIth ball in hand he looks to have a full suite of skills, but he looks a bit small to me. As the case of Beale shows, you cannot make it to the top any more unless you can tackle well.
It’s also interesting that the 2008 Australian Schoolboys went one step better than the 2007 crop, by winning in New Zealand. Who should we be looking out for from that team? The only one who has attracted much media interest so far was the winger (Nick Price) who signed for the Gold Coast AFL franchise!
May 10th 2009 @ 2:53pm
Working Class Rugger said | May 10th 2009 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Don’t remember any of their names. But even the Kiwi’s were impressed by their backline. Sad to hear one went to AFL. The lack of opportunity in Aus Rugby is a travesty.
May 10th 2009 @ 4:11pm
Brett McKay said | May 10th 2009 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
Greg, Toomua was reasonably solid in defence last night. Most of Toeava’s line breaks in the first half came from forwards dropping off, or not matching his footwork, with Kimlin and G.Smith being notable victims. Once Toomua starting running at the line, partcularly in the second half, it gave Fairbanks and T.Smith the room they needed. Mortlock was outstanding as has been said, but possibly came off his bell-ringer on Tony Woodcock second-best.
But I want to know what Andy Friend said at halftime, and what was in their drinks?!? If the Brumbies were race horses (pun intended), they’d have been swabbed at full time!!
May 10th 2009 @ 5:46pm
matt said | May 10th 2009 @ 5:46pm | Report comment
Toomua is quite a solid defender from what I have seen (even a big hit or two).
Brumbies playing well despite the doomsayers (Hemjay where are you now?)