Israel returns Waratahs to the promised land

Maybe just maybe if Beale was missing Foley would step up. I reckon it would be hard to play well with that demanding prat outside you waving his arms around in frustration at his team mates.

Agreed

The Tahs are a team of stars but they have yet to become a star team.

I really enjoyed watching the little bugger rush around last year. I was hoping he would be further developed with regular exposure this year. He rolls the dice with quick flat passes, which ensures receivers have to run onto the ball as opposed to just catching it (from memory never saw him throw a forward, nor make any more mistakes than the guys ahead of him) and has a real go at darting through opposition D.

Phipps isn't the answer, but neither are the other two, they've had their chance in the past and weren't good enough. Beale has been setting up most of the Tahs tries. Don't understand the criticism.

Agree. Tahs forwards look better this year. Don't think the answer for the scrum is on the team atm though.

The criticism of Phipps is unwarranted imo. He is an excellent player and miles above Mckibben and Lucas. I doubt very much if those two will be in the squad next year. I'm no fan of Beale. The Tahs are a frustrating team to watch. They are so close to being the best team in the comp but just make error after error. One night every pass will stick and they will annihilate someone!!

I think if the Tahs want to play an up-tempo game the best halfback by a country mile is the one who has had no game time this year - Lucas. He's quick to the rucks, often makes his decision on the way there and has a very crisp pass off the ground(at least he did when seen last year...) I am over the whole chunky halfback/pseudo-forward thing (after many years watching Sheehan kill Tah chances!) If you look at the stats Phipps is pretty much the worst regular starting halfback in the Aus conference!

Agree it was negative, a little disappointed the Tahs got sucked into the same style though. The bulls will win plenty back home where the refs will be a little more accommodating of their style.

While I agree about the Bulls style – the penalty guaranteed the bonus point with a chance to draw the game. Seeing as there was no time to win, it was grabbing their highest chance of points on the ladder.

Double post.......

@ biltongbek : it seems Bulls are playing a penalty oriented game due to their 2 prime strengths - the scrum and the rolling maul. if a team can nullify these two wepons, then Bulls seem to run out of ideas. IMO the big issue for them is lack of personnel, due to injuries and transfers, etc. now this begs the question , why SA want to have another team in the competition? to me, the dilution of talent among many teams has resulted in low quality matches. on the other hand , if u saw chiefs v crusaders, it was trench war!!! a brutal battle in the rain between 2 quality teams, with many world class players. there was one period of play, where the chiefs hammered the 'saders for over 25 phases , just a meter from the try line and was defended and beaten back without conceeding a penalty or a a try. that was super :D

I am a long term Tahs member and have watched many games at this stadium going back to when it was an east-west sports ground, but last night was the most negative team that i have seen play the Tahs. The Northern Bulls' strategy might work in the high altitude of Pretoria or Johannesburg, with a stand-off that is useful only for converting penalties or kicking field goals, and a brutal pack intent on commanding set piece and obliterating smaller opposition. Last night the strategy was found wanting and excessively negative. I have never seen a a team so reluctant to pursue try-scoring activities, and to commit so many breaches at the breakdown. The thuggery associated with attempted decapitation of Michael Hooper is worthy of further Sanzar consideration. Has anyone ever seen an attacking team opt for a penalty in the last 2 minutes of a game, when 10 points behind, simply to secure a solitary point. The Bulls were disgraceful and they and their coach deserve condemnation for their approach. Fortunately the TAHS never succumbed to this negativity, and played with great structure and verve. Also I think that great players such as Matfield and Van De Merve ( as great as they have been in the past) are past it and should not diminish their phenomenal reputations beyond this season.

It went both ways though. For example, first scrum of the night the bulls put a good shove on but Tahs hold together. Bulls front rower pops up, then a few seconds later the Tahs front row pop up. Penalty bulls for Tahs coming up was the call, but in reality it was purely a reward for a dominant shove, not because of an infringement. If it was for coming up then it has to be penalty Tahs because bulls were up first. I'd personally prefer it if refs just stopped looking for reasons to penalise at the scrum and just let it play out.

sure and cummins was nothing special against the bottom aussie team rebels, oh and the force lost.

Well playing for penalties didn't really work out all that well for them, in fact in the first half it worked against them, eh?

Yes attack pattern changed, because multi angle attack is only possible when forwards give you time and space. Scrum and set piece not working that well. And opposing teams have started to work out how to deal with the Tahs big boys, ie tackle hard, low. Force game 2 showed the way. Tahs backs not able to contribute to the battle up front, unlike the Brumbies. So their options are limited. Secondly their scrum half, doesn't seem to challenge their opponents in the ruck, so the opposing forwards are able to spread out a bit more

Other than a lucky try before the opposition had realised the game had started I didn't think Izzy was anything special. The Tahs were lucky they didn't come up against one of the good teams.

' the NSW pack got smashed all night' Absolute nonsense. They were beaten in the scums, but not by much. Certainly not enough to lose them the match as in years gone by to teams like the bulls. NSW lifted their game in the line outs, and in general play were more than a match for the Bulls pack, with Skelton, Potgieter and Hooper superb. Looking forward to your debut positive comment.

Haha exactly!