So for this weekend just gone, I set myself a challenge: I am only going to talk about the positive from the Aussies, and I’ll challenge the discussion following to follow suit.
Fortunately, my timing for such a challenge was pretty good
The Rebels kicked off my love-in weekend on Friday night, and as the Hurricanes raced out to a 17-0 lead, I was genuinely concerned that my sum total of positive notes for the new boys was going to be “scrum strong and holding shape very well,” and “Nick Phipps’ passing is crisp, flat, and generally quick.”
Twenty minutes into the game though, something clicked. The Rebels’ multi-national backrow of Welshman Gareth Delve, Englishman Michael Lipman and South African Jarrod Saffy began working the breakdown and the tackle area as a unit, and this in turn began producing the odd turnover, and with it came momentum.
Some vintage Stirling Mortlock tackle-busting and a free arm saw Lipman cross for the Rebels’ third try, and then right on the half, Danny Cipriani slotted a magnificent penalty from halfway, which he faded beautifully inside the right-hand upright.
Come the second half, the Rebels kicked up a gear and rolled on.
Phipps, Cipriani and scrumhalf cum fullback Richard Kingi sparked the attack, before more excellent ruck phase work saw lock Al Campbell snare his second try. Cooper Vuna unleashed an old fashioned ‘Maori sidestep’ to score after a great break from Phipps and Mortlock. A boilover was well and truly on, and my tip was gone.
Most impressively though, the Rebels’ scrambling defence was excellent as the ‘Canes staged a belated fightback late in the game, only for a late Phipps try after Kingi made the break chiming into the backline from a scrum feed.
The Rebels were home, and in the process proved they’ll be a handful for all teams visiting the Victorian capital.
Saturday afternoon saw the Reds hosting the giant-killing Cheetahs, and wasn’t it brilliant to see rugby played in radiant sunshine again. May there be more of it, though visiting teams might argue about playing in the early-season Brisbane warmth.
From the outset, the Reds looked in control and it was really just a matter of when the Cheetahs opened up. Whenever the first tackle was broken, the ball carrier was blessed with options, as red-jerseyed bodies in motion popped up everywhere.
The Reds defence was impressive too, and former Waratah Beau Robinson was all over the breakdown contest. Robinson’s off-season gamble to relocate to Brisbane has quickly become the feel-good story of the year, and it’s hard to see anyone else wearing the red no.7 in 2011.
However, the Reds had also learnt from the mistakes of the Waratahs the week before, and it was obvious that they had a plan to attack by first going wide, and then bringing the wide runners back on the inside.
Digby Ioane was a regular benefactor, and whenever Quade Cooper drifted left, you could see the gap Ioane was about to motor through open up inside.
The best part about this plan though, was that it somewhat removed the Cheetahs head pilferer Heinrich Brussow from the equation, and he wasn’t able to inflict on the Reds anywhere near the breakdown carnage he dished out on the Tahs. It was smart coaching, and even better execution.
The positives for Queensland were everywhere, and it’s hard to think of anyone who didn’t play well. James Horwill was strong in his 60-minute comeback, and James Slipper was very good around the park too. The Reds are a deserved Australian conference leader, and scarily, they still have some room for improvement.
Saturday night saw the return bout of one of last year’s least interesting games, where the Brumbies and Waratahs played out a local derby snooze fest.
Happily, this year’s first encounter of these teams was nothing like the 2010 version, though I couldn’t help notice descriptions over the weekend describing the match as “uninspiring”, and even the great David Lord had Wallaby coach Robbie Deans frowning as the Brumbies and ‘Tahs failed to play “the attacking rugby that makes them a joy to watch.”
Maybe it was my positive motivation over the weekend, but I found the game quite entertaining actually, even one of the better derbies played between these teams in recent years. And though the execution wasn’t always brilliant, both teams chanced their arms more as the game went on.
That was certainly a positive.
The Brumbies, finally, looked more like a rugby team and less like 15 blokes awkwardly wearing the same outfit. From kick returns and in broken play especially, the Brumbies looked quite dangerous, and it was this unstructured play that troubled the Waratahs impressive defence the most.
Matt Giteau and Christian Lealiifano combined well as a 10-12 pairing, and both were able to make the most of the straight running of Andrew Smith, who admirably filled the understudy role to the injured Pat McCabe.
Most impressively though, the Brumbies were able to make the most of their possession when it counted, and the timely late try to Ben Alexander was the sort that went missing in recent weeks.
Giteau’s pressure conversion, too, was exactly the sort of kick he’s previously been prone to spraying left or right.
But the Tahs got the chocolates, and it was just reward for patience.
Though they went through the game for long periods with little or no ball, they stayed in touch thanks the Kurtley Beale’s goal kicking, and made the most of their opportunities to jag the two tries they did.
Their defence was outstanding all night, highlighted no better than the ten minutes Tom carter spent in the sin bin, where they Waratahs conceded just the one penalty goal.
It’s clear the Tahs are employing a dual flyhalfs attacking system – not to be confused with the New Zealand first- and second-five eighths setup – where Berrick Barnes provides the direction, and Beale the spark and spontaneity while slotting into the backline between the two centres.
In the end, the Waratahs did what they had to do win the game, and that was something that was lacking the week before against the Cheetahs, where they seemed to play as if they just had to turn up to win.
The Cheetahs debacle was obviously just a hiccup; the Tahs will still be there or thereabouts come finals time.
The final Australian game of the weekend had the Western Force taking on the Stormers in Cape Town, and unfortunately for my positive outlook weekend, not to mention Nathan Sharpe’s record-breaking efforts, they found themselves on the end of a NSW election-esque thrashing.
There was still one positive though (two if we acknowledge Sharpe’s record) and that is the continued excellent form of James O’Connor at flyhalf. Perhaps inspired by Stormer Peter Grant’s recent sole-scorer run, his cracking try, conversion, and three penalties would be all his side would post for the night.
I never imagined saying this previously, but it seems O’Connor is mounting a pretty irresistible case for higher honours at No.10. It’s certainly nice to know the Wallabies have another option if Quade Cooper was hit by a bus.
So there you have it Roarers, the positives were out there thick and fast over the weekend, and I’ve managed to keep up my end of the bargain.
Question is, can you guys also keep it positive? I do wonder who’ll be the first to crack.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Incidentally, B. du Plessis spent by far the most time with the fans after the game. All the other Sharks players gave a wave and then shuffled onto their bus.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
Somethings going on there Brett.........the fish rots from the head down. The only way I can see the Tahs winning a Super rugby title is to change out the culture first. Clean out all the current administration and start again. Probably never happen. But the ox is slow but the earth is patient. I can't be any clearer than that. PS I agree with Rob, The Link would be a good source for the article! But maybe you're too close to the Tah's anyway........
Rusty
Roar Guru
Thought I had replied to this already - DOH! I think that in the first half the Saders ran the Sharks forwards off their feet and thats why they were blowing so hard. Alberts along with Bismark are the leading tacklers for the Sharks and I reckon they were very busy on Sunday. Bismark is simply an angry cyborg and if he ever looks tired then his biltong/plutonium battery needs filling
Funk
Guest
Oh so now that he's been in WA for like 3-4 freaking years he's now a Westralian is he? For this I am utterly sorry, but I don't think the Pococks can go back to Zimbabwe at the moment so they had to call someplace home and it happened to be Qld, which IS where he was poached from! Ok now for the positive spin, for those of you living in say Tassie or South Australia....... according to Dinby, if you fly over WA you can then be regarded as Westralian!
Funk
Guest
Keeping to the positives the reds didn't let Kingi slip away, they gave him a their blessings as they knew he was a great player but Sanchez had cemented his place and Lucas was covering. So rather than keeping him sitting on the bench or worse the let him go to get his chance to shine! Which he is starting to do (like almost all other players thrown back to fullback after playing other positions he struggled a bit under the high ball, he'll come good, as he's a quality player)! It was a shame to se him go.
Mike G
Guest
Iron, agreed that this would be the best way to use those 3 outstanding players Now... Let's see if Hickey agrees (that's the nicest possible way I could put this!!!!)
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
the Melbourne Rebels are truly a joy to watch. passionate supporters, a great ground, a multi racial team, great rugby. awesome stuff.
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
Not all is positive ToddH but the aim is to see the positive as well as the negative with the negative all too frequently focused on by some. Good work crashy as very interested to hear about WA. Would be nice if there was a publication started which was similar to the NZ Rugby news to give us these updates, background stories as like some I can't get access to Fox so unless Sky sport in NZ carries a story for interest on Aus rugby or the very brief IRB world view then I rely on posts such as yours or trolling the internet like a rugby perv.
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
Tad busy lately but good piece Brett, enjoying the games as a spectacle can be lost when we focus too much on the negatives. The Super 15 competition needs to be promoted for what it is, which in my view is the most exciting thing to hit rugby union in a very long time. One extra team shouldn't add that much but the conference style format and the increase in home games has jumped on the back of this and lifted it up. As well we now has me watching far more rugby than I used too and even watching games with teams that I would never have given the time of day before, i.e. the Highlanders. Loving my rugby and encourage the positivity fully, be constructive in your honest opinions but celebrate the best as well.
ToddH
Roar Rookie
You're living in fantasyland if you think all is positive in Australian rugby.
Crashy
Guest
Here are some positives re the game of Rugby. From WA 'The number of teams participating in the senior men’s competition has increased to 80 this season, up from 76 last year, which is another terrific step forward for growth of rugby in Western Australia. The U18’s grade has seen the most significant increase with an additional three teams joining the competition'. Re their developmental Academy / Force A team 'Rugby continues to grow in WA with 17 Bankwest Academy representatives, who all play their club football in Perth, and a further ten Premier Grade club players donning the ocean blue jersey for the Emirates Western Force ‘A’ side during the Super Rugby season'. In QLD 'Queensland schools have once again trounced schools from other states in the number of participants taking part in rugby activities during Super Rugby Week. Last year we exceeded 102,000 player participants across Queensland for the first time. Now in 2011 we have got this impressive result with schools and it just confirms that Rugby is on the way to becoming one of the most popular sports for children." From melbourne 'Rebel Rising ( Rebels A) made it a good Friday all round at AAMI Park, getting up 32-24 over their counterparts from the Western Force in the evening’s curtain raiser.Encouragingly, there were ten Victorian Premier Rugby stars amongst the victorious 22, a clear indication of the growing strength of the local competition'. From the ACT 'A commanding performance across the field from the Brumby Runners guided the team to a 54-21 win over the Junior Waratahs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday Night. The Runners scored eight tries to three in a match that is sure to impress the CA Technologies Brumbies coaches' From NSW 'The Sydney Rugby Union was officially reformed last night with all 12 Sydney Premiership Clubs attending the inaugural Annual General Meeting at the IBM Centre. “The Sydney Premiership competition is clearly the number one Club competition in Australia and the Board will be working to raise the profile of the competition through marketing, media and sponsorship opportunities” Mr Birch added “we are keen to speak with potential sponsors for the 2011 season with vision for long term brand association”. There you go... feel better everyone? Crash
Ben S
Roar Guru
I'm slightly bewildered by Alberts rusty (sorry to break the positive vibe, Brett). On some occasions I've watched him he has put in some great coalface work, and yet other times I've watched him he has made a few big carries and then plodded about with his hands on his head. On Sunday at Twickenham I saw the latter. I know that fatigue and travel is a factor, but Bismarck du Plessis, for example, played hard all game long. Alberts did the occasional stint and then nothing. I don't think he's fit enough. I also thought it quite informative that when he scored nobody rushed to congratulate him. Whilst we're on the subject of fitness Mtawarira looked completely out on his feet. He was either on one knee sucking up air or standing on the wing.
Brett McKay
Expert
relax Jimbo, I only meant it as in place of birth - Lipman was born in England but grew up in Sydney, schooled at Joeys...
PeterK
Roar Guru
I hate hearing how a prop is good around the park, and only gave a few penaltys away in the scrums. That says to me the prop is no good, he cant do his main job. It is FAR worse than a scrumhalf who cant pass but is good around the park. Alexander and Daley are good rugby players but poor props. Thankfully, and here is the positive, Slipper, Palmer and Blake went really well in the scrums. Blake is picked on for not being fit enough, who cares he smashed the Canes scrum and helped them dominate the mauls, eat more pies I say.
Denby
Guest
The Tahs were awesome to watch............for 2 games. On the positive they can actually play amazing, attacking rugby
IronAwe
Roar Rookie
My positives: The Reds, Force and Rebels have all been awesome to watch this year, regardless of whether or not they have been winning or losing. Loving their rugby at the moment.
Jack
Guest
Soory for negativity Brett commenting on the Brumbies v the Tahs. the goal kickinhg was really good and mildly entertaining.
IronAwe
Roar Rookie
It's been confirmed now that AAC has gone to the Tahs. One would think the backline will now be; Beale 10, Barnes 12, and AAC to 15.
JohnB
Guest
Formative years Denby!
sheek
Guest
Brett, I'm with Blinky & Stillmissit on this. I know exactly where you're coming from - you want to talk about positives for a change, because usually there's too much negativity on The Roar. But I also believe in calling it like it is. Life isn't a 'gimme', nobody owes us other than treating us with the respect of fellow human beings. We should all accept personal responsibility for our behaviour - our failures as well as our successes.