Brumbies beat Force to ruin Sharpe exit
By Chris Pike, 1 Jul 2012 Chris Pike is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Brumbies, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Zack Holmes
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A dominant four-try first half set up the Brumbies’ 28-17 win over the Western Force at nib Stadium on Saturday night to ruin Nathan Sharpe’s farewell in Perth.
Sharpe is the inaugural captain of the Force and it was his last game in Perth ahead of him retiring at the end of the Super Rugby season, but the Brumbies had no room for sentiment with the 11-point victory taking them back ahead of the Reds to the top the Australian conference.
The first 16 minutes could not have possibly gone worse for the Force or better for the Brumbies with tries to Jesse Mogg and Ben Alexander, and then flanker Matt Hodgson went off injured for the home side.
From there it was a procession for the Brumbies with two more first-half tries to Zack Holmes and Henry Speight to have the bonus point sewn up but the Force wouldn’t go away in the second half.
A pair of tries to Nick Cummins and one to lock Toby Lynn had the Force just eight points down but the Brumbies held on for the crucial win.
It was only three minutes into the game when the Brumbies flexed their muscles with Mogg collecting a pass from Holmes, easily getting through Cummins and David Pocock, around Ben Seymour and crossing for the try.
Prop Alexander then cruised through Richard Brown and Will Tupou to make it 12-0 after 11 minutes when Holmes converted for his only successful kick of the first half.
The score was locked on 12-0 for 18 more minutes, but the Brumbies finished the first half with tries to winger Speight and flyhalf Holmes, who gave a beautiful dummy and then stepped through a lacklustre defence to make it 22-0 at halftime.
However, the Force didn’t lie down and winger Cummins held his ground out wide on two occasions in the first 10 minutes of the first half to cross for tries.
Then Lynn grounded the ball from a rolling maul in the 67th minute and David Harvey converted, the Brumbies led just 25-17 and then opened the lead to the final 11 points with a penalty from Holmes in the 73rd minute.
The Brumbies now finish their season against the Waratahs and Blues with the Force ending on the road to the Blues and Crusaders.
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The Crowd Says (26) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Brumbies, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Zack Holmes
July 1st 2012 @ 8:41am
PeterK said | July 1st 2012 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Cummins was the best outside back for either team by a large margin.
How he did not make the Wallaby squad is beyond me.
A far better winger than Vuna, and IMO better (just) than Shipperley. Cummins can also play 13 where he is better than Horne.
He should be in the squad for the Northern tour at the minimum. If Mitchell doesnt come back to form and JoC is injured I would have him as the wallaby winger in the 4n’s.
July 1st 2012 @ 9:05am
Bakkies said | July 1st 2012 @ 9:05am | Report comment
I think he was selected for the Wallabies a few years ago but got injured at the wrong time. I like the look of him apart from his hair and he is very good at beating first up tacklers.
July 1st 2012 @ 10:53am
the bone said | July 1st 2012 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Totally agree, the honey badger was outstanding
July 1st 2012 @ 2:27pm
Mantis said | July 1st 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
I like Cummins, agree about him being better then Vuna, but I would pick Tomane ahead of him.
July 1st 2012 @ 9:06am
Jack said | July 1st 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Cummins doesn’t play for NSW. Its hard to understand what the selectors were thinking. The primary reason that the Wallabies struggled to beat Wales was the number of players from a middling team. The Waratahs brigade will be found out when the Wallabies play the Blacks and Boks.
July 1st 2012 @ 9:37am
Blue Blood said | July 1st 2012 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Try point. Deans comes over twice a year and catches up with only Pocock. He lives in Mosman and likely goes to most Tahs games and many more east coast games. No surprise he barely knows who the Force players are.
Much like Brett commenting on the live feed:
“Phil Kearns has just said Matt Hodgson has had a disappointing season for the Force and needs a big game. Wow, I thought he’d been one of their best in 2012!!”
If the commentators haven’t a clue about our stand out players and the national coach doesn’t care either, the Force is in dire straights.
Pocock will leave the Force. I’m becoming more certain of it every week. If Hodgson is the captain maybe Phil Kearns will pay more attention? Deans I’ve given up on.
July 1st 2012 @ 9:53am
Bakkies said | July 1st 2012 @ 9:53am | Report comment
How often does Kearns commentate at Force matches?
July 1st 2012 @ 11:16am
sittingbison said | July 1st 2012 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Unfortunately too often lol
July 1st 2012 @ 10:12am
Garryown said | July 1st 2012 @ 10:12am | Report comment
The Force have a number of problems and one big one is the behavior by Pocock. The captaincy was taken from Sharpe in his last year and given to him as an inducement. What a pity ,Sharpe has shown what loyalty is, which Pocock hasn’t shown by making everyone here in Perth for months- his team mates and loyal spectators- wonder where he is going. It couldn’t have helped the teams morale. Really there is not much deference in his integrity and that shown by the other big heads-Cooper , O’Connor and Beale.
The Force fought to have him allowed to have his first super game and has nurtured him since to what he is now. No matter how many disliked Mitchell he was lucky to have him as his 1st coach who also had a lot to do with starting McCaw on his illustrious career.
The other big problem for Perth is the poor attitude from the ARU. They bent over backwards to help the Rebels but continue to ignore the Force.
July 1st 2012 @ 10:44am
Bakkies said | July 1st 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
To me you would be mad to sign a new multi year deal (as I don’t think Pocock seems to be the type that would sign 1 year contracts) while there is no coach announced for the next season. At this stage it appears that Pocock is waiting on the Force bosses to finish their search. The new coach will also have an effect on who is hired as the assistants. So I wouldn’t be swinging at Pocock and he doesn’t want to make the same mistake Michael Hooper made by signing with the Tahs. With the Brumbies on the right track Hooper agreed early (around Easter time) to join a team that was already in disarray.
July 1st 2012 @ 11:50am
Blue Blood said | July 1st 2012 @ 11:50am | Report comment
I agree. Pocock in my eyes should have shown leadership and commitment by extending his contract when he agreed to be captain. Noone should be captain of a club for one year. If he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be at the Force long term then he should have turned down the captaincy. As a captain he is supposed to build the culture and set the direction for the future. He works with the coach but that is his job regardless of who the coach is. If he wasn’t the captain then it wouldn’t bother me at all if he waited to see who the coach was then decide where he wanted to play. As a general player he is a free agent with only a commitment as long as his contract. After Graham’s departure the Pocock issue has been a negative presence in the minds of most all season long. I expected more from Pocock, but that is my folly not his.
I think that if he really wanted to stay in Perth with the Force he would have already signed. It is just my gut feel that he is going. I think he wants to go and is looking at a justifiable reason that sits better with his conscience than just walking away because it is hard. It happens all the time just a shame that the circumstances are what they are. I have to remind myself that he is still in his early 20s and probably got the captaincy too early on. Perhaps he wants less pressure during Super season do he can just enjoy life more? On a human level it makes sense. But my disappointment for a one year captain remains. The Force will miss him as a player. But worse I think is that he has had the year handover as captain from Sharpe and then he doesn’t stay for the Force to benefit from that decision. New coach, new captain and new 7 next year by the look of things.
July 1st 2012 @ 3:00pm
Jutsie said | July 1st 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
Talk about armchair critics. Why would pocock commit till there is certainty surrounding who will coach the team in the future.
July 1st 2012 @ 3:30pm
Blue Blood said | July 1st 2012 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
For all the reasons regarding leadership I just highlighted?
July 1st 2012 @ 7:45pm
Bakkies said | July 1st 2012 @ 7:45pm | Report comment
Would he be a leader under whoever is the next coach?
July 1st 2012 @ 10:58am
the bone said | July 1st 2012 @ 10:58am | Report comment
I thought Locky Mccaffrey was very good for WF last night, but gee they need a #9 and #10. Where is Justin Turner, he was ahead of Nick White and Nick Phipps in Aussie 20s only 2 years ago???
July 1st 2012 @ 11:06am
Bakkies said | July 1st 2012 @ 11:06am | Report comment
They have signed Sias Ebersohn from the Cheetahs and Sam Norton Knight for next season. Not sure who will kick goals with Shepherd gone. I think Turner has had some bad injuries and Sheehan just has more experience.
July 1st 2012 @ 11:28am
sittingbison said | July 1st 2012 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Turner was a long term injury, he has played club rugby for past three weeks or so, I’m not sure where he is at right now.
As I’ve just posted on the live game blog, Josh Holmes (9) and Ben Seymour (10) – and to a lesser extent Rory Sidey (12) all chose the first half to have brain explosion games (after appearing promising in previous weeks). All three are third choice. with both halves and inside centre malfunctioning, its game over. The difference was astounding when Dellit replaced Sidey and Sheehan replaced Holmes, then Harvey for Seymour steadied things.
Pocock has consistently said all year he will not sign a contract until the season is over, even before GrahamGate.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:52am
Bakkies said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:52am | Report comment
A backline of
9. Turner
10. S Ebersohn
11. Mafi
12. Tapui
13. Tupou
14. Cummins
15. Norton Knight
That’s pretty handy. Hopefully they will get Haylett Petty back
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:16am
sittingbison said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
The problem Bakkies has now moved from 10 to 12 – we don’t have Tapui. We do have Jordan Rapana, and a new signing from Australian Sevens Junior Rasolea, but both are completely unknown factors. The other problem is 9, as Turner is not signed and is injury prone. Is he worth a gamble? Consensus is yes, but not as starter. Sheehan has unexpectedly signed, but will be another year older.
We beleivee the talent is almost there, but it is not being directed, there is no distinctive “Force Style”, the younger players when under pressure resort to the braindead aimless kick gameplan of Richard Graham. The Force have an excellent back row, ok tight five, more than competitive outside backs but fall away terribly in the halves and inside centre. Ebersohn partly solves this, outside centre is now covered well.
The ingredients ar in the cauldron, the real issue is to get the alchemist to bring it all together.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:24am
kingplaymaker said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:24am | Report comment
sittingbison I think the frustrating thing for the Force is that with just two more high quality players in forwards and backs they would be vey competitive. If every weak link of a player were replaced by a better one then it would be ok. They’re really not far off.
What the Force really needs is someone like Rapana or Rasolea to provide real attacking penetration. The first match of Joe Tomane seemed to have a galvanising effect on the Brumbies (when he scored two individual tries) and the Force need some brilliance to give them confidence and kick them into life. It would be good to know when Rapana’s back too.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:57am
kingplaymaker said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Bakkies it’s not that handy, relatively. Still needs one or two big players.
Remember that in theory Jordan Rapana should be back for next season.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:38am
Bakkies said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
The Brumbies don’t have a star studded backline and they run better then the Waratahs and Rebels who have ”stars” in their backline. It’s to do with the coaching and if the Force sign a good coaching team to allow Ebersohn to run the backline with freedom.
July 2nd 2012 @ 8:42pm
Bakkies said | July 2nd 2012 @ 8:42pm | Report comment
KPM the Force have already been down the path of buying star players. The Brumbies failed at it too. Maybe they should hire a proper coach and develop young players from scratch.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:43am
kingplaymaker said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Bakkies yes…..you’re right in way but look for example at Tomane, Speight, Mogg and the Force equivalents and you see the difference. They may not have stars yet but there is talent.
However I agree with your point that coaching is a huge difference.
July 2nd 2012 @ 2:48pm
sittingbison said | July 2nd 2012 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
Force outside backs are actually pretty good. Its the halves and more importantly the coaching.
For all his personality faults, Mitchell had the Force playing a nice style, employing running, and passing it wide. The development Force struggled with cohesion, but now have a very solid pack.
Richard Graham introduced a brain dead aimless kicking game, probably because of the quality of back row and dearth in halves. It will take more than a few weeks to iron 2 years of this RG aspect out.
Lets not forget Ben Seymour (21yo) is third string 10. Also Josh Homes is third string 9 (only arrived mid season). The actual 9 this year was meant to be Justin Turner (Sheehan backup) and actual 10 Willie Ripia (Chucky back up). Turner has been badly injured again, Ripia sacked pre-season, Chucky then injured most of the season. So there is no continuity in the halves.
July 2nd 2012 @ 10:46am
sittingbison said | July 2nd 2012 @ 10:46am | Report comment
OK, back to the game itself.
Young Ben Seymour at 10 chose this game to have a brain explosion. he was truly woeful in every aspect of the game passing catching kicking and tackling. We know he is not that poor, I believe this kind of aberration happens with young inexperienced players. One problem is the Josh Holmes was also poor, whiuch compounded the problem. Force lack of possession was not helped by Seymour and JHolmes licking the ball back to Mogg and Speight. Force suffered an early cruel blow with severe ankle injury to Hodgo.
The Brumbies were aware of a possible ambush because of the Sharpe factor, and came out swinging. ZHolmes was dynamic, and White delivery far crisper and cleaner. The Brumbies forwards put enormous presssure on Force pack, which was also missing Maafu with a broken arm, and had a prop and lock on bench brought over from east for this one match – a truly exasperating situation that highlights the complete breakdown of rubgy in Australia by JON and ARU.
No academy, no second tier, 30 players roster and salary cap have completely hamstrung the Force in particular, how are they expected to compete?
Well constructed four first half tries to Brumbies, although one was a pass so far forward it was like a quarterback throw. Hard to tell on the telly (although its loopy nature gave it away), but obvious to everyone in the southern half except the AR who was right next to it. ZHolmes failed to nail the coffin by missing three shots. One issue was Larkham, ostensibly a “water boy” but in reality issuing instructions on the field , and incredibly talking to the ref!! Dont believe me? Watch the match live with sportstalk turned on. This issue of a coach on the field should be looked at.
I don’t buy the Brumbies turning off at half time with the game won. They are in a dogfight for the finals and every point of every kind will be vital. The Force made some positional changes, eventually 9 10 12 replaced. They also made some tactical changes, stopped kicking and started passing, with ball retention and phase play. Result was three quick tries, two excellent out wide to Cummins and one a rolling maul to Toby Lynn at lock. Just like ZHolmes missing kicks in the first half, Seymour missed first two, incredibly not making the distance from 23m out to compound his off night. The last 15mins was a dogfight with both teams threatening a try, the Force suddenly only 8 points behind and giving the Brumbies vapours. To their credit they held on and forced a late penalty to diffuse the game.
So what started out as a drubbing turned into a quite entertaining game in the second half, although the disappointment for the sea of blue at the first half performance is impossible to overcome. To me the real highlight of the game was Cummins. He was the only contributor in the first half with a couple of aggressive penetrating runs from no possession. He demolished Mogg twice in the second half, both his tries requiring precision and power to shrug the first tackle and get over under pressure with the sideline beckoning. A third try was almost on the cards, Sharpes final flick pass under pressure going forward just out of his reach.
Cummins deserves a shot at Wallabies, he has done everything asked of him, he is the best attacking power player we have. The option to select Vuna was a disgrace and shown up for its idiocy with his woeful defensive efforts. What about picking a talented player who has 50 games of experience, without any glaring deficiencies.