The ACT Brumbies were excellent last night, completely outplaying the Queensland Reds.
Rugby has very little in common with boxing. However, one similarity is that the effects of pressure in both sports are often cumulative. Repeated blows to the head or body will stop any opponent.
The Brumbies applied their pressure throughout the game. The pressure created a constant stream of penalties that gave the Brumbies possession, field position and points and eventually a two tries to nil and 24-6 score line. The Reds conceded 13 penalties to the Brumbies 8 or 60% more.
The Brumbies also applied pressure to the Reds brains trust, Quade Cooper. He had no time or space all night and slowly receded into the seclusion of the pocket. Cooper seemed to lack inventiveness, imagination and a desire to take control of the game. Pocock and a resurgent Kimlin will do that to you. Genia’s drive, creativity and spark was sorely missed.
Unlike last year, when the Brumbies would go to sleep for periods, often in the third quarter, and then wake up again, last night they played with passion, speed and for the most part, precision for the full 80 minutes.
The best for the Brumbies were forwards Stephen Moore, Noodle Kimlin and late bloomer Scott Fardy. Pocock was outstanding and a real menace.
I prefer Lealiifano at 10 however, but even at 12, he dominated the game by his involvement: 13 runs and 11 tackles. Mogg knows how to play fullback and uses the inherent space so well. Nic White and Matt Toomua combined well.
White was very good half back in 2012 but, on this performance, will be even better this year. Toomua throws a lovely pass but I prefer him when he straightens the attack.
Clyde Rathbone had limited opportunities in his 65 minutes, but he ran Ioane down from behind after Ioane had used a shepherd to bust the mid field. To say he swooped would be accurate except that White Rhino’s don’t swoop!
The Reds were disappointing and can do much better. They didn’t have the calibre of troops when compared one on one to the Brumbies on paper. This was borne out last night in the game. The Brumbies dominated the Reds in the middle five.
Ioane tried hard but was well marked whenever he went on any of his 11 trademark, jinking runs. Tapuai made 19 tackles but only four runs and Harris, playing at 10 in defence, made 12 tackles.
Lucas didn’t spark anything. Nick Frisby asked questions of the defence with more zip and four off loads in 31 minutes.
The Reds will get back Genia and Horwill and this will significantly improve their morale, leadership and attacking options. By then, the 2013 season could well be over as there are now three teams, Reds, Brumbies and Waratahs, competing for probably one or a maximum of two finals spots from the Australian conference.
The Rebels and the Force have improved on their 2012 performances, particularly in the tryscoring department. Both are genuinely capable of tripping up an unsuspecting opponent.
The Brumbies are a much more complete team thanks to Pocock’s arrival, the bitter 2012 ending and the experience gained by their youngsters. Jake White is a masterful coach and should be the next Wallabies coach.
bennalong
Guest
A good piece LAS I agree with most of your points but feel that the Brumbies performance was primarily based on agressive defensive pressure across the park and the inability of the Reds game plan to adapt. As has been said they went out to nullify the Brumbies themselves and were out enthused. The Reds hung in there but the ref, who was accepting of their tactics in the first twenty had swung firmly against them in the second half. I would contend he stopped any chance they had of picking up momentum, and adversely affected the game. I wouldn't want to take anything away from the Brums however, who are continuing the form shown last year Do I take it you have carried out your threat and switched your allegiance from the Tahs to the Brumbies?
Mike
Guest
Well Malo that was good for a laugh, I will give you that: Seven world cup winning teams have had a home-grown coach is a clincher for you, whilst completely ignoring the fact that in most of those world cups there was not a single top-tier team participating that had a foreign coach. You are on a winner with that one - if none of the realistic prospects in a world cup has a foreign coach, then ipso facto no foreign-coached team will win that world cup. In further breaking news, the sun rose today. Also, if you are going to respond to my arguments, can you at least TRY to read them first? You wrote: "...saying we have no confidence in the oz system to produce quality coaches". Who has said that? Or even hinted at it? Some logic is sorely needed - "Get the best person for the job" does NOT equate to "I have no confidence in Australian system to produce quality coaches".
Suzy Poison
Guest
Reds definately have to be commended for not only reaching the finals, but winning it! In 2011, watching Quade, Genia and Digby mesmerising teams was awesome for any rugby lover. However, I think other teams have figured them out, last year and now at the start of this year. The surprise factor is gone. Also, it's pretty obvious that style of play, needs quick front foot ball. And the Reds forwards particularly have been exposed, last season. The Saffa teams particularly had great success at denying the Reds quick ball. The Brumbies realised last weekend, that winning the breakdown battle would go a long way to winning the match. Without the forwards to get over the gain line I think the Reds will struggle again this year. So in that respect, I think they are a team in decline. I expect the Reds to finnish 3rd in the Aussie conference, and around midway on the overall table. They will still tear up some teams at home, but it's the Red forwards that are the issue, not the backs.
Malo
Guest
Winston you win the discusssion with me, it is not a business, lots of roarers treat rugby as if it is a corporation but passion and pride etc is correct,, it basically gives a bad reflection on the state of oz rugby saying we have no confidence in the oz system to produce quality coaches. Clincher though 100% rwc with homegrown ones. The counter argument was weak.
Gareth Hardy
Guest
First time posting long time supporter. I personally find it all very interesting the coaching situation, we must all remember that Rugby is a business now not just a sport. Thus if we look at any business, when we choose our CEO or Chairman, what do we do??? We find the best of the best and hire him. Do we hire him because he is Australian or Kiwi or even a South African, no we hire him because he has a track record that is a proven success? Let’s look around the world now and find how many coaches are actually coaching their national team? Mr Gaitland has just been handed a job that is seen in the UK like royalty. Is Mr Lancaster English??? (Scottish) All this being said my preference is to have a home grown coach! But wining means more to me then where the coach comes from. I think there are bigger issues then where the coach comes from etc etc. How about where our players are being developed?? Club rugby third tier competitions. We as a country are going to continual struggle unless we address the sustainability of our Sport both front office and back office. I think Mr Harris (Rupa) is on to something with his proposal, like it not, he was a part of the Sydney uni dynasty and this set up has sustainability all over it. Let’s look at where this was born….The American Uni system produces more professional athletes than any other organisations around the world, regardless of the sport. Why???? The facilities, who pays for them????? Just some thoughts gents, look forward to the counter opinions.
Red Kev
Guest
I don't think they're in decline, I think they merely punched above their weight in 2011. Luckily they knew how to grasp their chance when it came. Plenty of teams don't. The Sharks have made 4 finals, the Waratahs 2, and always come up short. Still finishing middle of the table is still better than cellar dwelling which is where we were for so long.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Well let's talk after round 3. I will be surprised, perhaps even shocked if the Reds manage to win even one of next two games. The Tahs will roll them and so will the Canes. Jiggles, I think you need to face up to the facts, the Reds are a team in decline. The rot started last year, when they were beaten at home by the Saffa teams, the Sharks and the Stormers. Injuries as a excuse only holds water for so long. There are 13 Wallabies in the Reds team, and they were soundly beaten by a team with 5. I have never seen a Reds team so bereft of attacking ideas. Clackie summed it up when he said:" At no stage in the game, did they even look like scoring a try".
Bakkies
Guest
Considering that the Brumbies missed at least 5 shots at goal it took them a long time to put the Reds out of their misery.
Mike
Guest
HI Winston, responses to above: 1. I didn't write that I thought Deans "was and still is the best man for the job". Not at all. Read again what i wrote. This is not about me adopting absolutist positions - you are the one doing that! 2. Hmmm intangibles as the basis for an argument.... I seem to recall Australians fought well under a certain Sir Bernard Freyberg VC at one point. What country was he from, let me think... ;) And accents - have you any idea how many South African and Kiwi accents there are in Australian rugby teams already? That's one of the reasons Wallaby coaches loved Dan Vickerman - easy to pick the Saffa lineout calls when the lock is fluent in Afrikaans. This applies to other codes as well - witness how popular and successful Guus Hiddink was as coach of the socceroos. But if you don't understand that, then good for you - WE aren't overcompensating! 3. No, what proves nothing is your assumption that because it hasn't happened on seven occasions before, that therefore it never will. Or your assumption that this proves something. 4. Does the expression "circular reasoning" mean anything to you? 5. Deans agreed that the AB team were good, and that it will take a great deal for any side to beat them. He was 100% accurate and sensible. Players and coaches in New Zealand say the same thing about their opponents - they don't talk them down, if anything they talk them up. Its not an excuse, its smart. I will give you a cogent counter-argument when I get a cogent argument to oppose it to!
Mike
Guest
No problem. We Roarers can't solve all of Australian Rugby's problems in a single afternoon, just most of them! :)
winston
Roar Rookie
reply is with mods.
winston
Roar Rookie
Mike, As an AB fan I am happy for Aus to continue with foriegn coaches. 1: So you still think deans was and still is the best man for the Job? 2: To think that a Ausie coach can't instill more national pride in the team than a foreign coach with a thick kiwi or SA accent is naive at best. Intangables are difficult to calculate yet have a significant effect. This isn't a business this is country on country. 3: 100% winning ratio to rugby's greatest prize proves nothing? A lot of assertions that people take for granted are based on far less rigorous statistical analysis than that. eg passive smoking 4: Do you think these great rugby nations would consider a foriegn coach? If not, do you think they would have a reason? Or are they just racist? 5: Thats in context IMO. It wasn't that Aus played badly it was that the Abs were just too good. and was has also been well discussed. That AB team was far from what Deans, Quade and Genia were making them out to be. So maybe a cogent counter argument from you is in order. But then I am really happy to disagree.
Mike
Guest
Yes we have been over this territory quite a few times, and the reasons you state now don't stack up any more than they did before. To respond to your points: 1. So what? Its not a matter of whether there is home grown talent, but whether that talent is the best person for the job. 2. Thank you for the unsupported and incorrect assertion. 3. Which merely reflects the very restricted rugby world when RWC started. Sooner or later it will happen. 4. Which proves nothing at all about whether its workable. 5. Nor has anyone else used that excuse. Go back and look at what Deans actually said, in context. When you think of a single cogent reason why we should not use a foreign-born coach, do let me know. (And no, I have no particular thoughts on who our next coach should be, nor am I pushing Jake White's barrow. At the end of this year we will have a new coach - unless we fix the deeper issues in Australian Rugby, he will achieve the same results as his three predecessors).
winston
Roar Rookie
Really??? I think we've been over this territory a few times. for starters: 1. There is plenty of home grown talent 2. They are a national team and national pride, purpose and passion are important intangibles that a foreign coach cannot instill. 3. Every World Cup WInning team has had a home grown coach 4. South Africa and ABs would never consider having a foreign national coach 5. An Ausie's coaches excuse for losing would never be, the ABs are the best team in the world.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
They'd be better than that.
Mike
Guest
Why?
winston
Roar Rookie
Yeah next Aussie coach needs to be an Aussie
Justin2
Guest
True, point being the game was much closer than LAS makes out. I'm a neutral and I wouldn't say the Reds were hanging on for dear life!
The Battered Slav
Guest
If that were the case, the Tahs would be the Crusaders...
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Well to be fair, it's not unusual for the team with the more linebreaks to be the beneficiary of the most missed tackles...