Bursting the Brumbies' bubble

A better captain would of got the group together and told them in no uncertain terms that no penalties were to be given in the last few minutes. I am talking about the last few minutes when they were in the Kings 22. Instead they are allowed out of their territory with a penalty and another to score a try. Poor captaincy. He did not talk to his players enough. He did not change the game plan. He did not manage the ref. He did not play well either.

Agree, if Katrakilis was playing their execution would have been a few notches better.

Peer K, poor captaincy didn't cost the Brumbie a win but poor ill discipine from senior players who should know better.

what he worked hard but made no impact? so another journeyman that adds little. Fact is Mowen has played very well against aust teams and not performed against sa teams except for 1/2 game against sharks. Also his captaincy was very poor against kings. Never changed to a plan b when going up the middle plainly was not working.

Toomua has never played as well as CL has at 10. Toomua has a good short passing game, I do not see long straight passes from him. He has been competent this year nothing more. Cooper in better form this year.

How often do nrl clubs use a rotation policy.

Believe that when i see it. Shocked white picked McCabe at twelve. Doesn't have the size to punch holes. Nor the skills to create them and not fast enough for back three

The teams with smaller squads in Europe struggle to compete on too fronts. Leinster for instance have been gutted by injuries but are still in the running for the Amlin and Pro 12. Their reserve side is in the B&I Cup semi finals. It's competitions like the B&I Cup are providing more ready made back up players.

Brumby Jack I couldn't agree more. Mowen was by far and away the pick of the forwards. I do think that he should have taken the points on offer just before half time and in hindsight it didn't work out. I have seen blogs blaming him for the loss but really he shouldn't have to tell Alexander not to tackle someone without the ball or you should use your arms in a tacke. Once again for the 2nd time in 3 weks we have Kimlin ( who has been good this year) in the backline throwing passes that have led to tries. I thought that Sio,Kimlin,Alexander,Smith were well down on previous efforts but Moven ( even injured) was having a crack.

CL is the more dangerous player, perfect for 12. Toomua has the long passing game and rugby smarts required in a top level 10. I don't think we should pick teams on form displayed a year ago. I can barely remember what happend last week.

I thought Ben Mowen stood out in this game, the Kings out scored Brumbies 4 tries to 2 yet only got a draw, why? Because the captain took the right options when he had to, got through the pain barrier when lesser guys would have just come off, made some great runs, won his lineouts as well as taking theirs. The Sydney Morning Herald got it right by selecting him in their team of the week. JP & PK which game were you guys watching?

When I mention A Smith it was in regards to last year. CL had an inferior backline for most of his games with McCabe and A Smith and excelled better than Toomua has this year with CL at 12 and Kudrani at 13.

Kuridrani played 13, Smith was on the bench. When McCabe went off Smith replaced him. JW despite not being ahead as expected, should have had the courage to bring Zack Holmes on for McCabe, and shift CL to his natural position of 12. Could have been a very different story. SA teams find it much harder to defend against multiple playmakers, rather than an average 10 with centres they know arn't going to pass.

they lost to the stormers

I know people will be sick of me saying this but when is Tomane going to get a chance to play in his proper position - 13!!! He has world class stamped all over him and could, I honestly believe, transform the wallabies!! Check his stats, he is one big human - think Roberts, SBW or tuilagi. On top of his unmatched and untapped potential on attack he defends like a mother trucker!!! Wish the powers that be would give him a chance!!

Its funny how quickly people in Australia swing their opinions. If it where the reds, there would be a list of reason, accepted and forgiven. Lets not forget they have not yet lost a game. Every single team in this com will have bad games. Its ridiculous to suggest their "bubble has burst". They had a bad game, probably didn't prepare right, under estimated the Kings, rested players and shuffled the back line. Its a bit early to doom the Brumbies who still sit easy at the top of the log. I think its the right time for a wake up call yes, better now then at the end of the season when its knockout time. CL had one bad game at 10 and still did not lose the game for the brumbies, how many bad games of Cooper has cost the Reds and the Wallabies.

Each of these comments is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all. Chortle as you might, but I've now also had a quick look at several Internet sites that describe the inside-centre/2nd 5/8th position. (Which, unfortunately, still does not make me an expert - instant or otherwise!) It's an interesting position, that's for sure. Perhaps you think differently, but it is hard for me to consider the position as being predominantly a defensive one. If it is even 50-50 offense to defense, I still think from an offensive perspective it is better to have the capacity to pass - and to do so - than not. Removing that capacity from the position seems to me a significant handicap that can't really be covered for elsewhere. It's true that taking the ball to the line alone can suck in defenders and create space, but not if the ball can't - or won't - be passed or offloaded in the tackle or recycled quickly enough. At any rate, whether a player is being coached not to pass (thereby automatically relying on recycled ball, whether quick or not) or whether the coaching tries to accommodate a player's strengths (say, on the off chance that once in a hundred times the defence is caught napping by a pass from a player who usually doesn't), the lack of passing by an inside-centre seems more disadvantageous than not. Again, thanks for the comments. And apologies for being behind the curve on the subtleties.

John - Good article. Only 1 area do I take exception to. Based on 1 game you rule out CL as a possibility at 10 for the Lions. Sure if he does not get more time there it is very likely he will be picked at 10 but that is a different issue to the inference I feel comes from your statement. CL did have a poor game at 10. However I still think he is a genuine opton at 10 for the Wallabies IF he gets time at 10. Last year , even with the limited no passing McCabe at 12, he was the form 10 until injury. He played better at 10 last year than Toomua ever has. People write that Toomua is a good distributor with a good pass, well IMO CL is far better at both only matched by Cooper (in Australia). Toomua has NOT , ONCE played 10 as well as CL did most games last year. Also considering CL had to put up with an inferior backline, ie McCabe at 12 and A Smith at 13. Toomua is blessed to have CL at 12 yet is not a patch on CL (or Cooper) as a genuine playmaker.

Yeah, Monday quarter-backing is always easy, but even at the time they'd had their lead eaten away and you just got the sense that the Kings weren't going to fall off during the second half, as expected. And the message it sent was just wrong. You can just imagine them using that for motivation in the sheds at half time.

I actually concur with that Markus. I'm not sure if he's limited by his stature. My best friend played all through the age groups to under 23's at rep level and everyone who saw him play thought he was a legend. But his height was a factor when he punched into the line. The thing that used to impress me with Aaron Major another running second five is the way he could get his upper body through. Tapuai has size and height to accomodate this. I just see a number of times when McCabe almost gets through and frees the hands. If he could the backs would shred it. But there are many who aren't natural distributors like Nonu, Tualigi. But McCabe is not the downfall of the side. I think some just like to find a scapegoat. By the same I was really pleased with how Taps came on when he made the side. One of the centres needs to be a distributor is all. The game is such it can be either 2nd five or centre. When Joe Stanley played for the AB's the 2nd five was a distributor. When the centre like Smith is a distributor, the 2nd five can be your crash ball specialist. I think the advantage of crashing the ball at 2nd five is quickly recycled ball becomes more dangerous as you tend to have more options even though your second five has been committed, you still have a centre who distributes and can break tackles with your outside 3. Anyway those are just my thoughts.