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The Waratahs lost to a last minute try scored by Dom Shipperley (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
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Rugby is an 80-minute game and the Queensland Reds used every second when flying winger Dom Shipperley ran 75 metres to touch down as the final siren was sounding to clinch a nail-biting 25-21 win over arch-rivals New South Wales at ANZ Stadium last night.
That was gut-wrenching for the Waratahs, given the men-in-blue were the better outfit on the night for 79 minutes and 30 seconds, leading 21-18 having scored two unanswered tries.
But it’s never over until the fat lady sings, and she sure sung long and loud for Queensland as most of the 32,071 crowd sat stunned.
There were two critical moments in this fascinating battle where both teams were a little rusty, but totally committed.
First up, in the 54th minute, rival wingers Tom Kingston (NSW), and Queensland’s Digby Ioane both leapt for a high ball that came off Kingston and clearly went backwards into the waiting hands of Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau who scooted 40 metres to outpace Will Genia and Luke Morahan to score.
Not so ruled referee Jaco Peyper, incorrectly believing the ball went forward.
Had skipper Daniel Halangahu converted the “try”, New South Wales would have led 18-15 and it may well have been a vastly different ball game.
The second critical moment led to the Shipperley try.
Waratahs’ replacement half-back Brendan McKibbin made a snap decision in mid-field with a minute left on the clock to kick to his unmarked winger Kingston.
McKibbin didn’t find Kingston or touch that allowed the Queenslanders to mount their last-ditch attack that Shipperley finished off so superbly.
The standouts:
Top of the list, Queensland’s goal-kicker Mike Harris, the fly-half replacement for chief play-maker Quade Cooper. Harris will never be a Cooper in general play, but his deadly-accurate goal-kicking is worth his weight in gold.
That is especially so in this penalty-ridden era, where refs are constantly blowing the pea out of their whistles.
So far Harris has landed 15 from as many attempts on top of 10 from 10 in the trials. When Cooper returns from injury, coach Ewen McKenzie must find a permanent place for Harris.
The Waratahs unearthed an exciting prospect in utility back benchman Bernard Foley. His days on the bench should end immediately. With his speed, great hands, and ability to read a game in a flash, he’s a starting XV must.
Waratah lock Kane Douglas has plenty of weight to throw around, and last night he did so with gusto. Standing 202cm (6ft 8), and stopping the scales at 122 kgs, Douglas made his presence felt all night. He has future Wallaby written all over him.
South African half-back recruit Sarel Pretorious came to New South Wales from the Cheetahs with the reputation of a poor defender. Pretorious put that myth to rest by tackling everything that moved. And his combination with much-maligned stand-in skipper Halangahu totally outshone the Reds’ combination of Genia and Harris.
On the other side of the coin, Queensland rarely win when champion play-makers Genia and Ioane take a back-seat. Both were as quiet as church mice for the entire journey.
On that basis alone, the Queensland Reds will still be the side to beat once Genia and Ioane hit their straps.
The same applies to the New South Wales Waratahs once their injured Wallabies Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell and Berrick Barnes return – while Dan Vickerman and Lachie Turner will be watching Super Rugby 2012 from the player’s enclosure.
Leaving the worst until last, let’s have no more of referees Bryce Lawrence and Jaco Peyper, who controlled the two Australian rivalry games.
Neither can cut the mustard at this level, missing so many glaring infringements, and making obviously wrong rulings.
I’m tempted to suggest they learn their trade refereeing under 15s. But that would be grossly unfair to the kids.
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February 26th 2012 @ 3:56am
Johnno said | February 26th 2012 @ 3:56am | Report comment
I wish this match war in an ARC or a trans tasman NRL style series, would make the more exciting, and meaningful, if it was in a ARC or a trans tasman series.
Also on a side not great that Palu is back, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and a fully match fit and fully fit Palu would of made a huge difference to our World Cup campaign if he participated more in it. And Rob Horne looked fit and sharp I really liked Horne in the world cup he is all class, AAC still does not impress me he got showed up by his full back counterpart Isreal Dagg last world cup badly , so I would not have AAC in my starting team,. Dagg is a considerably more talented rugby union player than AAC.
For mine AAC is not truly World class not in the class of the likes of Dagg, Cullen, or or some one like Ben Foden, or Rob Kearney, or Beale, or JOC, or Frans Steyn. AAC lacks the kicking ability of Frans Steyn too .
Against NZ we may not of won but it would of made a big difference. And TPN looks good too, TPN seems to be so dominant at super 15 level he wasn’t as dominant in the world cup, maybe fitness issues.
But for me Palu looking fit and strong was a great sight, on song he is in the top class of no 8′s in the World. He Palu at full fitness is better than Samo, or Ben Mcalman or Ben Mowen .
Palu sure roughed Beau Robinson up in that 1st had with a bit of a physical stoush during the 1st half, im sure Beau Robinson would have a sore head after that Palu pushed his head quite hard into the field.
February 26th 2012 @ 11:58am
sheek said | February 26th 2012 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Yep, that’s the weakness of super rugby. It’s not an Australian comp, it’s not OUR comp. It’s only one-third Aussie. Unlike AFL, NRL & A-League, which are either ALL-Australian or 90% plus Australian (one Kiwi team each in NRL & A-League).
Somehow, it would be different if these guys were competing in an APC or ARC. We would feel we owned the comp…..
That’s the beauty of the Currie Cup to Saffies & NPC (& variants) to Kiwis.
Which is why I advocate a truncated Heineken Cup style super rugby comp complemented by national domestic comps in each country. The best of both worlds…..
February 26th 2012 @ 12:17pm
kingplaymaker said | February 26th 2012 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
sheek funnily enough today I was thinking of a remark you made on the league part of the site, where you pointed out that it’s strange how league doesn’t travel, which made me wonder how rugby has been so successful in Perth and Melbourne where league has not. It could be a number of things, but perhaps this is one place where the nature of Super rugby is to rugby’s advantage. The NRL and AFL are essentially parcochial in their support, and operate on a small and local scale. So while this means any new area WITHIN this parocial neighbourhood is of huge fascination to the rest and vice versa, these local districts have no interest whatsoever to states outside, i.e. Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania.
On the other hand it is precisely BECAUSE Super rugby is not parochial in its format, but is both national and international, that when it arrives in a big new market they can quickly IDENTIFY with it. What do all the different corners of NSW mean to Melbourne? (i.e. there is no fascination in playing Cronulla, or Illawara etc…) Not very much. But what does playing big cities like Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Cape Town mean to them? Something much more interesting and coherent. Not only that, but the glamour of suddenly having these international teams and being part of this big international thing is something they can instantly relate to. What’s more they can also relate to RUGBY AS A SPORT immediately through the Wallabies which is an entity ALREADY INCLUDING THEM.
So rugby can pick up and absorb the interest of these new areas immediately, and this is one area where Super rugby is very appealing, despite the many problems in terms of creating parochial interests it has because of it elsewhere.
The conclusion of all this, is that rugby would probably be a rip-roaring success in Adelaide and even Tasmania, who would be over the moon to be brought into this international intercity rivalry (and with very few competing sports). They would fit in immediately and crowds would rush in.
For me Adelaide is the sitting duck of a market to end all sitting ducks.
What do you think?
February 26th 2012 @ 12:51pm
Darwin Stubbie said | February 26th 2012 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Good god … after this weekend of poor games we get the SR expansion post …. And are you really trying to Say AFL doesn’t exist in tassie, WA, SA … it’s obvious you have no idea on the sporting landscape of Aust
February 26th 2012 @ 1:32pm
kingplaymaker said | February 26th 2012 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
DS there is no ELITE SPORTING TEAM in Tasmania from the AFL or NRL: it is an open market (500,000) with zero competition: what do they have to watch or go to? Nothing. Everywhere else there is either an NRL or AFL team. So rugby can step right in and take it. And in Adelaide, there is no NRL, which given the market’s size (SA 1.7 million) effectively makes it a walkover.
February 26th 2012 @ 1:50pm
Darwin Stubbie said | February 26th 2012 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
We don’t have an AFL side in the NT – it doesn’t mean we aren’t an AFL territory… Tassie has provided a mountain of players into the AFL … Where’s your evidence rugby has the base to consider a team there …. Sub standard rugby is already plentiful within SR already – why the obsession for more and more …
February 26th 2012 @ 2:03pm
kingplaymaker said | February 26th 2012 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Of course AFL is the major code, but the moment an Elite sporting team appears it can take over with no competition. It would be the only winter sporting focus for the whole island.
February 26th 2012 @ 2:09pm
Whites said | February 26th 2012 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
It’s also the case that rugby union always had a far higher level of interest across the southern states then rugby league ever had.
You also have to remember that in many of the so-called rugby union expansion markets(Japan, South America, USA etc) the game has been played for well over a century.
February 26th 2012 @ 2:11pm
kingplaymaker said | February 26th 2012 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
That’s true Whites which is why the absence of a team in Adelaide is incomprehensible to me (1.7 million!), and I think the international expansion into Japan, the U.S, Argentina and Canada will success SO LONG as the teams they put there are competitive.
February 26th 2012 @ 2:21pm
sheek said | February 26th 2012 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
KPM,
I was just responding (briefly) to the remark above by Johnno.
However, to respond to your query would require a longer answer, perhaps a thread of its own, which I’m disinclined to do at the moment.
The success of the Force in WA & Rebels in Vic is by no means a lay down misere, & its initial success requires some thought to explain, but not along code wars.
Per se, rugby has no chance of expanding to any worthwhile degree while it continues to produce tepid rugby in Australia. Although apparently, the Tahs-Reds match had its moments…..
February 26th 2012 @ 2:08pm
kingplaymaker said | February 26th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Johnno Palu is for me the outstanding Australian forward when very rarely fit, as even Pocock relies on a referee favourable to him at the breakdown. Had he made it to the RWC semi-finals what might have been. He has that extraordinary physicality that can make Australia a top team.
February 26th 2012 @ 2:33pm
Johnno said | February 26th 2012 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
I agree KPM Palu is our best forwad when fit. Better than Vickerman, TPN, Pocock, Steve Moore, Rocky
Elsom, Samo, Higgers, Horwill anyone you can throw at me and the rest of aussie rugby fans i can not think of a better forwad.
Samo has the athleticism and is intimidating just as Palu is equally as intimidating, but what Palu has over Samo is Palu is younger and he just seems to have more endurance and likes the hard tough stuff more.
Samo is in no way in the slightest soft same with Higgers, but they do not do the work close in Tight that Palu and Elsom or schalk burger or Toby Falateu do, which especially in test rugby in world cups your forwards who do not do the tough coal face stuff get cruelly exposed as seagulls and bring the team down with low workrates.
Plus Palu is very explosive in attack and defence runs so hard and is just as if not more abrasive and aggressive and younger than Samo. So ball running Samo and Palu are equal but Palus work rate is much better than Samo, and he just like Samo are fare more abrasive than Mowen or Mcalman, who are just plodders. And i loved watching Palu rip in the equally abrasive Beau Robinson was great sight. Beau Robinson offers more than matt hodgson to and he should of gone to world cup last year Beau Robinson unlucky that is for sure.
But yes at full fitness he is our best forwad better than any other forwad in the team Palu, and he looked shaper off the bench in the world cup just got cut down vs injury.
Definatly Palu when fit is in the league of the best no 8′s in world rugby. NZ kieren Reid, Wales Toby, Falateu, Irleand’s Jamie Heaslip,and the imperial serge parisee and the imperial Horinuadaqy. Maybe even the best out of the lot.
And KPM for energy and passion the 6 nations last night were really good, euro rugby is really on the up and french rugby too i have watched a lot. The depth factor of super rugby this year is a real worry, JON should move to private woenrship if the super 15 is to survive in it;s current format. The kings of south africa want in, but after this weekend i know the numbers tv wise are there for a NRL or netball style trans tasman rugby comp.
Just have a hunch how many real rugby fans out there want a comp, and i think to maintain expense and tension like in france have a top quality 2nd division too great for tv ratings and make division 1 more cut throat and tense which is great for making the matches feel meaningful and having the players genuinely feel the comp is meaningful not just a job where they pick up there pay cheques. we need real clubs with real fans in a real comp KPM , fans to me are to flip flopped in some weird commercial flip flopping around the globe thing that is super 15.
The fans do not understand what comp or what they are cheering for, where as in the HEK cup and french rugby there is real tribalism , as it is local as in the AFL and the NRL and soccer in europe, and currie cup and ITM cup.
The iTM cup tv ratings were good despite not many all blacks. Imagine trans tasmans series with more stars back from europe if aussie teams can be privately owned.
That what really got to me most. Watching last night’s match and the chi one Blues vs Crusdaders , good teams but with south africa in the back of my mind it just killed my meaningfulness and motivation unlike i now get when i watch french rugby, japan rugby, or HEK cup, or the aviva premiership it feels domestic and local just super 15 isolate to many proud rugby communities eg like in the currie cup.
February 26th 2012 @ 5:01pm
Red Kev said | February 26th 2012 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
Blah blah blah, Palu is our best no.8 when fit and in form, just like Elsom is our best no.6 if fit and in form. The problem with both is that Palu has not been fully fit for the last three years making it impossible to evaluate his form (he barely played above a canter last night); and Elsom has not been fit in 24 months or in form since returning from Ireland.
Deans picks them on wishes and hope.
February 27th 2012 @ 11:12am
Funk said | February 27th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
I’m with you RK, one good game in every 10 does not make you the best. On the day that Palu is fit (rarely) and on the day he decides he wants to give it his all (again rarely) he is an awesome player, but for the other 9 out of 10 game he is MIA!
February 27th 2012 @ 1:16am
kingplaymaker said | February 27th 2012 @ 1:16am | Report comment
Johnno sorry for the slow reply but I had to be away from the computer for a while.
Palu seemed to me to find his place at test level in the EOYT two years ago, and he was phenomenal then. It’s a real shame he couldn’t last just two or three matches more at the RWC, because the problem with Australia was that, as usual, they were bullied off the pitch by the New Zealand forwards. Palu is the one player who has the physical power to reverse such bullying and could quite possibly have changed the whole nature of the match.
Watching some of the matches over the last weekend and the encounters feel somehow lonely with only five teams for each country. If there were many of them in it, representing each area, then things might be different. But it feels odd having all of New Zealand represented by these 5 entities.
The problem in Australia is that rugby does not satisfy tribalism, as there are not many teams in one place, as is the case with the NRL in NSW/Queensland and the AFL Victoria, nor does it even satisfy desires for a fully national competition, as South Australia is left out and big towns like Gold Coast and Newcastle are unrepresented.
February 27th 2012 @ 1:48am
Johnno said | February 27th 2012 @ 1:48am | Report comment
Palu yes he did KPM on that EOYT 2 years ago really play well and became the leader of the pack, and was rated the best no 8 in the world . I have seen him before when walking out and about in sydeny there was a waratah fan day in the shopping mall and all the Tahs were there, and Palu and Vickerman stood out in a big big way, very naturally big men.
Men like Rob SImmons , Mcalaman, ben Mowen, ben alexander, dave dennis, simply do not inspire me to as you say and i think too and many other do , have the ability to bully or take it to the AB’S . players like Brad thorn or Kaino or keiren reid , are not worried by them. But men like Bakkies botha, Matifeld, burger, juan smith, spies, Palu, Vickerman, steve Moore they respect that is for sure.
Australia really needs to develop some more mongrel or power in the forwards. That is why I am not giving up yet on Timani as hope. He is one man who is big and strong the kiwis will respect his physical size and he has a go. I watched the samoa match , he dropped th ball a bit but only game ever he has dropped ball, but he at least hit the rucks hard and contested the breakdown far more abrasively than what Rob Simmons has ever done or Nathan Sharpe for that matter who is good player just a bit old now.
But Rob SImmons just ha snot impressed me yet in any matches vs the AB’S KPM.
We need more like Palu, and TImani, and vickerman.
Just 2 men who you would not want to annoy or get on there bad side or have them run at you or tackle you. intimidating real men with natural strength not gym training strength just natural core power that you have to be born with. Samo has it too but is a bit old now, and his work rate is not up to test level vs the big teams eg ALL Blacks , france, south africa when the pressure is really on at world cup time.
KPM I agree the energy of the weekend felt lonely and hollow and very empty and lost in the matches i watched. The NZ ones wer okay they had some bit and meaningfulness but with an end of like now what, almost like an energy from kiwi fans of feeling trapped by the aussies and the south africans. Kinda like this feeling KPM . From the NZ fans angle and the NZ players angle.
We have the best players and best rugby development system in the world (if one doesn’t believe that fact KPM just look at the junior all blacks under 20 world cup record scarily good statistics i think they have made the semi of every 1 or even won every 1 some ridiculously good record).
But the sad thing is NZ only have 4 million and probably needs Australia in a trans tasman series to pay the bills, and prevent players from going to Japan and Europe. But in a perfect world NZ have the depth they don’t need any other rugby nation, just they need the money hence why they need australia at least to help pay for therre bills which is sad.
And this is the feeling i got KPM form the NZ fans on the weekend in the ground. A trapped feeling how they would much prefer to just kick the aussies and south africans out but need there money. Sad.
But the brumbies v force match was boring, and the waratah v reds match had potential but it just felt lost in a super 15 series.
And the south africans don’t really want any other teams either they love there currie cup , there just scared to leave SANZAR too.
But i think a promotion nd relegation thing would work in a trans tasman comp, coz as french rugby and england soccer proves, people like a good 2nd division comp too if it is played with passion and high quality.
Just also look t the Adelaide aussie rules comp the SANFL, and in WA the WAFL, they are well run 2nd division comps that do well too.
February 26th 2012 @ 5:09am
Jiggles said | February 26th 2012 @ 5:09am | Report comment
Written like a true NSWelshman. They were not the better team for 79 minutes, far from it. Perhaps watch a replay of that “try” hey. it was a tight contest which could’ve gone either way. Pretorious had a number of defensive lapses so I am not sure what you’re on about there. Genia was quiet but there is no way Halangahu outshone Harris. Halangahu was woeful. He is a solid club player who cannot make the step up to Super Rugby.
Morahan made AAC and Horne look silly a few times so I was happy with that.
All in all it was a scrappy first round match and it is exactly what I thought it would be. a tight win by either team. I am happy we won this by such a tight margin, it makes up for 2010 a bit, which makes it extra sweet.
February 26th 2012 @ 5:41am
David Lord said | February 26th 2012 @ 5:41am | Report comment
Written like a true Queenslander Jiggles. But your Reds are still the team to beat. By the way, who topped my list of the standouts?
February 26th 2012 @ 11:12am
Sage said | February 26th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Mmmmm. A little more objectivity would be appreciated David. “Better outfit for 79minutes and 30 seconds” is glaringly inaccurate and that ball to TPN was mariginal at best with the ref and touchy in good position. To call it “clearly going backwards” is a little myopic. Heart on the sleeve can be admirable but moreso for a journo, un-blued objectivity is preferrable
February 26th 2012 @ 1:08pm
IronAwe said | February 26th 2012 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Have to agree with Sage and Jiggles here. Qld was clearly dominant at half time.
The Kingston ball did not clearly go backwards?? When Tommy landed the ball was behind him in Tatafu’s hands, HOWEVER this was IN FRONT of where Tommy last touched it. Good call.
February 27th 2012 @ 12:59pm
peterlala said | February 27th 2012 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
On Halangahu, I can’t imagine why the new coach would pick such a marginal player to captain the side?
February 26th 2012 @ 7:22am
Justin said | February 26th 2012 @ 7:22am | Report comment
Horne badly missed Shipperly. Cost them the match.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:15am
El Gamba said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Horne drifted off him, Alcock missed him.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:21am
Red Kev said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Alcock was drifting wide to cover, Horne was the man marking him – it was a 2 on 3 mark up the way of the defensive side out wide meaning Shipperley had no right to make any sort of break – but Horne slowed in the line and was on his heels (probably thinking of being first man over the top to take the ball at a breakdown) instead of going for the man – it was a terrible defensive lapse. AAC was rushing up and got wrong-footed too, but his lapse was compounded by Horne’s.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:28am
El Gamba said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
You may be right, I thought it was Alcock too slow on the inside as Horne drifted off. Doesn’t really matter but thought it was due to Shipperley’s pace over the tiring number 7 rather than an error by Horne.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:38am
El Gamba said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Just had another look, terrible defence by not just Horne but AAC, Alcock and a second rower (Douglas?).
It definitely looked like Horne drifted off him, there was no-one outside to drift onto though. AAC ran up into the line for no reason and the inside players were lazy. All in all Shipperley beat four lazy players by himself.
February 26th 2012 @ 11:59am
Justin said | February 26th 2012 @ 11:59am | Report comment
El Gamba, that was my point exactly, Horne drifted off him to no one at all. There should have been better talk and awareness that they all needed to swamp Shipps. He was isolated and they let him run. A very poor error that cost them the match…
February 26th 2012 @ 4:45pm
Rory said | February 26th 2012 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
You’re all missing 1 important thing – if McKibbin hadn’t been so STUPID as to kick that ball when 3 pick and drives would have wound down the clock, it wouldn’t matter who was in the defensive line out wide. DUMBEST play of the decade!!
February 27th 2012 @ 4:16am
granville said | February 27th 2012 @ 4:16am | Report comment
overall it was Horne’s best game in 2yrs……hopefully he has a injury free season, he’s a small frame man who can really hit and has good running lines……im still not impressed with Simmons, i hope Timani gets another chance……Palu looks impressive with TPN, the Waratahs frontrow should be the Wallabies frontrow with Stephen Moore………the locking combinations from the Brumbies looks promising…..Harris looks comfortable at #10. AAC has lost his mojo. Shipperley is a future Wallabies….Morahan is playing out of position at #15. Alcock is very impressive with his work rate. looking 4ward to watch O’Connor and Beale next week…….
February 27th 2012 @ 5:06am
Jiggles said | February 27th 2012 @ 5:06am | Report comment
was it his best game because he didn’t go off injured?
He was very bad in defence making a number of positional errors, one in particular which cost the Tah’s the game.
February 26th 2012 @ 7:35am
anopinion said | February 26th 2012 @ 7:35am | Report comment
David,
Early in the piece you complain that ref’s “blow the pea out of their whistles” and later complain that they miss “many glaring infringements”, which is it? I think people who complain about refs usually do not enjoy the sport they are watching and like to try to wreck it for the rest of us. A big thank you to the thousands of refs who cop uneducated and myopic abuse each weekend, without you we would not get games for our kids.
Imagine a stadium filled. A ball is bobbled laterally, by that I mean (excuse the redundancy) exactly horizontally at a perfect 90 degree angle with the sideline. Half the crowd wearing red see it go backwards and the other half wearing blue see it go forwards. Is there a word to describe this phenomenon?
February 26th 2012 @ 7:50am
Rabbitz said | February 26th 2012 @ 7:50am | Report comment
“Is there a word to describe this phenomenon?”
Yes. It is called “perception”.
The ol’ brainbox will build a picture that is based on an individuals experience and current mental state. This is why five witnesses to an event will recall five different scenarios, and none are lying. They all perceived the happening differently. It is a human trait and unavoidable.
In this case, David needs controversy to sell his tabloid articles. So now he perceives the ref’s as incompetent. The referee manager may well see it differently as he wants them to be good. Who is right? Actually they are both right and both wrong. Ain’t the human mind a complete balls up?
February 26th 2012 @ 9:29am
simon said | February 26th 2012 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Haha. Although, sometimes one point of view is true and the other is inaccurate. But I get your point.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:16am
El Gamba said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
If a tree falls in the forest does it make a noise?
February 26th 2012 @ 12:26pm
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | February 26th 2012 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Either way it was a BIG call to disallow TPN’s try.
I don’t know whether to applaud the Ref & assistant for having the balls to make the call or wonder if there should be a system for it to be referred upstairs.
From the get go I saw it as okay but wondered about it. Some would say that’s because I’m a Tahs fan. I would say ‘no that’s because I’m a Rugby fan’. I would feel the same way if it was Queensland hard done by. Anyway I thought the replay was pretty compelling.
Of course that’s not to say the Tahs would have won.
February 26th 2012 @ 2:10pm
jeznez said | February 26th 2012 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
I am the sound of one hand clapping
February 26th 2012 @ 8:33pm
p.Tah said | February 26th 2012 @ 8:33pm | Report comment
One hand clapping… Solved
February 26th 2012 @ 8:19am
Rockin Rod said | February 26th 2012 @ 8:19am | Report comment
Kane Douglas had a good crack at the REDS Wallaby locks last night, i hope he has a great season. Was great to see Chris Alcock stand up also
February 26th 2012 @ 9:34am
mikeylives said | February 26th 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
I thought Foley looked much better in attack than AAC for the 15 or 20 minutes he was on. The commentators were saying he is a potential long-term 10. Would like to see more of him.
AAC was good in defence, but crap in attack.
February 26th 2012 @ 12:02pm
Justin said | February 26th 2012 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
I talked about Foley before last week and that having him on the bench was a conservative selection. He is a live wire and should get more opportunities than he is getting now. I would imagine he will go somewhere else if he isnt getting a decent run by the end of the year.
February 26th 2012 @ 9:40am
ohtani's jacket said | February 26th 2012 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Where’s KoG and his comments about the Australian and New Zealand conferences now? That was the least nail biting conclusion to a close game you’ll ever see. Both sides were inept. James Horwill at the end was an embarrassment. The Reds got another cheap win, but the Waratahs’ decision to kick was so stupid they deserved to suffer.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:26am
Darwin Stubbie said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Going on history he’ll pop up only to have a cry about Henry’s latest comments
February 26th 2012 @ 12:16pm
johnny-boy said | February 26th 2012 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
Henry will get his come uppance in time – being a successful fraud only lasts for so long
February 26th 2012 @ 10:30am
El Gamba said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Easy OJ. There was a fair bit of rust in most of the games, except maybe for Force/Brumbies. Rust doesn’t seem a strong enough description of how crap both of those teams were.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:30am
warren said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Inept is a nice way of saying one of the worst games I have seen in years. I understand it is the first game of the season but the poor tackling, poor handling of the ball and silly tactical decision were beyond belief. Rugby has now got to contend with another AFL side this year apart from the usual NRL teams that via for support. Although the GWS area is not a traditional rugby area it will never be if games like this are dished up every week. More so was the difference in quality between the Australian and NZ teams. It is fine to have an Australian side guaranteed a place in the finals but it really does not help the sport overcome a fundamental issue of actually entertaining people. Very disappointed as I was really looking forward to much better from what should be one of the pinnacle events in the Australian sporting calendar.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:37am
mikeylives said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
You could count the poor tackles on one hand and they all happened in the final minutes (missed tackles on Faiinga and Shipperly) – Fatigue. The excellent defence was a major reason why this game was less exciting – Less line breaks. It’s for this reason that the Australian provinces really need to work on offloads and pop-passes and not rely on a second man crash ball going to ground as the predictable first phase play.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:43am
warren said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
You obviously watched a different game to me. Look at the replay as the game was littered with missed tackles mostly arm grabs that didn’t get close. The last lot were the worst of them. There were no real line breaks as they kept dropping the ball. I would be interested to hear if my views are really that different to others.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:52am
nickoldschool said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Am 100% with you Warren. poor, poor rugby. big big disappointment. I didnt expect much rorm the force and Burmbies as they are ‘rebuilding’ but last night was supposed to be the ‘main event’ between the 2 arch-rivals, 2 SR contenders etc(am talking about the tahs and reds)…it sure wasnt.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:50am
Boonzie said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Agree. The defence for 79mins 30s was pretty tight. I wouldn’t have wanted to be on the receiving end… the didby blindside of horne in particular!
February 26th 2012 @ 10:32am
mikeylives said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:32am | Report comment
A fair bit of drop ball, but that was a tough, highly physical match. Don’t let the lack of Tahs crowd noise fool you into thinking nothing was going on.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:56am
warren said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Mikey there was some good tackles also but to me the game did not flow. It is though running rugby is dead with the emphasis on kicking to get field position to then rely on a mistake from your opposition. This may be one of the consequences of the professional error with more emphasis on defence but for me possession is 9/10th of the law I can not understand the need to kic the ball away in nearly ever instance.
February 26th 2012 @ 4:28pm
Jiggles said | February 26th 2012 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
Good teams get those cheap wins when playing crap. The All Blacks have been doing it for the last 3 years thats for sure. The Wallabies did it many times under Eales.
That game was everything I thought it would be, scrappy slug fest with low skills. The Red v Tah games often are. For that matter the Reds often save their worst for the other Australian teams. They only dominated the Rebels last year, but who didn’t? It’s against the New Zealand and South African teams in particular where they shine and often get 5 points.
I am happy for the 4 points, getting that game out the way, and to break NSW hearts like Palu did to us in 2010.
February 26th 2012 @ 5:08pm
Suzy Poison said | February 26th 2012 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Based on that performance I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tahs top the Aussie conference this year. The Tahs were without 7or 8 top players, and they held the number one team, until the end. For me, that was a very very lucky escape for the Reds. So much for the Reds running game? Also Jiggles, let’s see how the Reds go against those easy beat Saffas this year? They play the Bulls at Loftus and the Sharks in the tank. There is an old Zulu saying that goes:” Don’t wrestle the crocodile in the river!” The reds team without Quade look a lot more predictable. I think Tahs have a lot more improvement left in them.
February 26th 2012 @ 8:05pm
Rugbug said | February 26th 2012 @ 8:05pm | Report comment
I think the Reds struggled to be honest, so much talent yet they looked very rusty and had it not been for a monumetal stuff up from the Tahs they would have gone home losers. The Tahs lost this game as much as the Reds won it. in saying that it was a fine piece of work that they created something from nothing.
I agree with you SP the reds will find it tough on the road not only in SA but also NZ if Friday nights match was anything to go by between the Blues and Crusaders who the Reds will play in consecutive weeks.
February 26th 2012 @ 8:49pm
johnny-boy said | February 26th 2012 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
Suzy unless Harris improves dramatically at 10, which he may do with a bit more experience and confidence, McKenzie will have to move him to fullback and bring Lucas in. Harris’s punts are soooo slow he will be easy pickings for the kiwi and saffa teams for charge downs
February 26th 2012 @ 9:24pm
Suzy Poison said | February 26th 2012 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
I may be contradicting myself, but in defence of the Reds, there is only one Quade. He was incredible last year, I don’t even know if he knows what he is going to do. If the Reds can hang in until he returns winning ugly, thru the boot of Harris then it’s mission accomplished. Reds weren’t on fire, but they still won. Winning has become a habit with this team, it will be interesting to see how they go in the Republic and NZ. I rate Ewen, but the Tahs are serious threat this year too. 14 more rounds to go. Bring it on,
February 26th 2012 @ 9:49pm
Jiggles said | February 26th 2012 @ 9:49pm | Report comment
No Need to get hostile Suzy. I don’t think you can read to much into how the reds will go due to a game against the Tahs. They are not, and never have been, an indicator as to how good either team is.
Have I ever advocated the Reds have a running game? No. they adapt their game plan depending on who they play. Look at the Stormers game from last year, for a brief example.
The point about the south africans is that the reds have have the wood on them for the last couple of years, and thats where they have got the most of their points from. They only team they have lost to since 2010 is the Sharks. The Bulls at Loftus and the Sharks in Durban will be a huge challenge, just like the Stormers as Newlands last year.
If you are going to debate a persons perspective, debate their perspective as written.
February 27th 2012 @ 11:35am
Suzy Poison said | February 27th 2012 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Apologies Jiggles, Reds will be there at the pointy end. It’s just I think the Tahs are a better team this year, and it showed.
February 27th 2012 @ 2:13pm
Jiggles said | February 27th 2012 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Definitely a more talented team on paper, as they were last year too. the Reds should be there but I will eat my hat if they win it again. The top teams in South Africa and the top NZ teams in NZ will be the big ask. if they can take 8 points from those 4 games I will be happy.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:00am
kingplaymaker said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:00am | Report comment
OJ despite much quality, there was also a decent amount of ineptitude in the Blues/Crusaders match, not least on the tactical front.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:25am
johnny-boy said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:25am | Report comment
And even more in the Highlanders/Chiefs game – soooo precious
February 26th 2012 @ 10:15am
Red Kev said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Bernard Foley needs to start in 10, I agree with David Lord on that – Halangahu was pedestrian I thought. Foley and Pretorious could be something special in the halves.
The Reds looked the better side in attack for the whole night but dropped far too much ball, and their phase play was stifled because the Waratahs were much much better at the breakdown – I thought Alcock, Dennis and Douglas did exceptionally well in the tight stuff.
The talk up of Palu by the commentators was embarrassing, he was barely playing past a canter and I thought had a pretty ordinary game. Nice work to be Johnny-on-the-spot and get a meat pie but Pretorious did all the hard work.
Shipperley made Horne look inept in defence – that was his tackle and instead Dom ran straight through untouched – he wrong-footed AAC as well. Interestingly Morahan also made Horne look poor in the defensive line a couple of times. He’ll need to pick that up if Deans is going to continue his love affair with the man in the centres.
Genia either needs to learn how to box kick or be banned from using it, my god his kicking from the base is poor (his general play kicking is still okay, just not his scrumhalf kicking).
Harris will be starting fullback once Cooper returns because they cannot afford to be without his goalkicking and can do the 10-15 offense-defense swap again to protect the nancy boy Cooper.
All in all a poor outing for both teams and one I thought neither deserved to win.
February 26th 2012 @ 10:24am
nickoldschool said | February 26th 2012 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Didn’t see any standouts last night (except Harris with the boot). If that’s our 2 best franchises, well….