As a Brumbies supporter it was a deeply disappointing weekend of rugby. However, Waratahs fans must be happy after what I thought was a fantastic display, with all players really living up to their potential.
It’s no surprise that Force and Waratah players dominate the team of the week.
1. Pek Cowan
Referee Steve Walsh had some issues with Pek early but he seemed to adjust and the Force scrum seemed pretty solid.
2. Nathan Charles
Stephen Moore was down on form for once. Pat Leafa had a shocker for the Rebels. Tatafu Polota-Nau was very wayward with his throwing again which left us with the always good Nathan Charles.
3. Kieran Longbottom
Kieran completes the all-Force front row. He was very good in the scrum but also across the park.
4. Sam Wykes
None of the locks really impressed me this week. I actually looked through the fives to see if I could cheat, orr pick a reserve like Will Skelton who I thought went well when he came on but not quite enough to beat out a starter. Sam stood out to me more than the other loosehead locks this week.
5. Luke Jones
The best of the Aussie locks on the weekend. Not his best game but still very good and got through 17 tackles which is nothing to be sneezed at.
6. Angus Cottrell
Also not his best game but still very good. He made 14 carries and didn’t miss a tackle. Narrowly fends off Dave Dennis, Colby Fainga’a and Scott Fardy.
7. Matt Hodgson
Michael Hooper played very well. He had 11 carries for 58 metres including one try and a decent amount of tackles. But I thought Matt Hodgson was better and the stats say the same: 16 carries, less metres but two tries and more tackles.
I wrote the other day that I wonder if McKenzie is tempted to try the two fetchers model again because both Hooper and Hodgson are having very, very good seasons.
8. Wycliff Palu
Wycliff gave himself a nudge this weekend for the number 8 spot. Ben McCalman was good and in losing teams both Ben Mowen and the much maligned Scott Higginbotham were also solid. However, Palu did enough and scrapes into the side.
9. Nick Phipps
Nothing brilliant but a good solid display from Nick.
10. Bernard Foley
Bernard Foley was awesome from the outset. Really pushed the tempo while still running straight and hard. Surely put to rest anyone doubting he should be in the Wallabies squad and staked a bit of a claim for the starting side.
11. Rob Horne
Another whose inclusion in the Wallaby squad was inexplicably questioned over the past week. He is one of the most in-form Australian players and proved it again on the weekend.
We remember the breaks he makes, but he also made a cracking tackle in the midfield on the Rebels’ first real foray into Waratah territory and ripped the ball loose.
What he was doing defending there, I don’t know – showing his centre roots I guess – but he seems to be everywhere. I heard a stat that he hasn’t missed a tackle all season – and he has made a few! I don’t know if I can believe that but fine effort nonetheless.
Nick Cummins ran more metres than any winger with 149, but I’m deducting marks for the worst kick ever in Super Rugby on the 77-minute mark. Admittedly he was put under a lot of pressure and inside his own goal, but it was a poor effort.
12. Kurtley Beale
Still stealing space of his outside players a bit but I think I can see him desperately trying to curb this tendency. For the most part he succeeded on the weekend and credit to him.
Mitch Inman I still like very much. In the first few minutes of the match against the Waratahs he put a stop on Israel Folau like I have never seen anyone do to date.
Honorable mention to Luke Burton who I think looked pretty good in his debut.
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
Some good, tough competition for this spot for once. Chris Tuatara-Morrison I thought was fantastic for the Force with a lot of involvement in attack and bagging himself a good strong try. Kuridrani looked a bit better and also bagged himself a try. Tom English didn’t do too badly in what is surely a fairly new role for him.
Adam Ashley-Cooper takes the honours again though with 11 carries for 45 metres and also one try.
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
The second time I’ve awarded this to Dane. I was much chastised the first time and expect to be so again. Henry Speight for the Brumbies had some sensational touches and was one of the few bright lights in a losing team.
Henry made more metres off fewer runs but there were a couple of sensational runs and he bagged a try for his efforts.
I have to give it instead to Dane who ran fewer metres but had 16 carries compared to 6 from Speight and you have to give credit to the guy for getting himself involved.
Telusa Veainu for the Rebels was also good , running 108 metres and bagging a try.
15. Israel Folau
Retains his stranglehold on this spot. No challengers again this week.
So there you have it. The side is basically made up of the Force forwards plus the Waratahs backs, with a couple of others thrown in.
Brian
Guest
Don't even bother with Blue Blood. He thinks it's all a conspiracy that Hooper is ahead in the pecking order and no amount of reasoned discussion about the Force's game plan requiring more tackling etc. will change his mind. Wait until he starts talking about Hooper being an 'east coast sales job', then it get's really interesting.
jutsie
Guest
if bob is so pro tahs, why did he not even mention foley in the article? his choice for wallaby 10 was toomua and he criticised both cooper and beale. in addition he praised phipps for the play he made that led to beales try but he did not suggest phipps should be the wallaby 9 he nominated white.
jutsie
Guest
since when has tries scored ever been a kpi for an openside flanker? hodgson has more tries because the force backline has nowhere near the attacking potency of the tahs so the majority of scoring opportunities are in close with the pack, hooper doesnt need to score tries because he has izzy, beale, foley, horne, aac etc in the backline. dont get me wrong, hodgson has had a great season but ur argument is not logical.
mikeylives
Guest
Run metres?
mikeylives
Guest
Which ever way you want to look at it. 30% possession is demolished.
jameswm
Guest
You seriously think Hodgson is a chance to start AHEAD of Hooper?
El Gamba
Roar Guru
One eyed tah fan?
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Cheers mugsy. Hope you are enjoying Japan.
mugsyinjapan
Guest
I'll add my support. I don't comment much, but I read the roar daily from Japan and really enjoy your TOTW articles as I don't get to watch many games. I really hope these articles continue and that you are involved.
Blue Blood
Guest
I think the most important stat that was obviously different was 2 tries to 1 this weekend. That is 2 for Hooper's season and 6 for Hodgson including 2 doubles. Tackles (even if the stats are a little out - and they probably are) - Hooper 132, Hodgson 179. Pilfers - Hooper 17, Hodgson 19 And Hodgson has leadership credentials that Link must be excited about. Bolter for captain? Link could do a lot worse.
jeznez
Roar Guru
But just as a kicker can have an off night, he could have had a night on! I can't debate you on the basis of the throws - I only caught the last half hour of the game and Roach was on for the last six minutes of those. I'm just a bit sceptical of a single poster rubbishing the guy's performance in this match (I agree he is usually poor in this area) when the stats, the referee and his assistants don't support your position. You could be right but by your own admission you were at the ground meaning you only had a decent view of a fraction of the throws. Anyway - I only commented because WNM's comment seemed wildly at odds with the bits I saw and the stats. Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers.
Nick
Guest
I saw this post on green and gold, it probably should be titled "why quoting stats to try and win an argument is nonsense." Stats on the same player vary so wildly from one site to another they are worthless. Actually published stats below. Fox stats say hodgson scored 2 tries had 15 runs for 43m with 5 defenders beaten and 2 line breaks. Sanzar stats say hodgson scored 2 tries 16 runs for 21m 1 defender beaten and no line breaks. G&G says hodgson had16 runs for 15m no line breaks. Quite a difference Which site is correct?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah - getting the Roar editors to organise makes sense - you should keep your arbiter hat and do the mid-season and end of season summary/reviews. It could work really well.
PeterK
Guest
I am thinking of resurrecting my Aussie Form teams for next year it being a RWC year. This is where people score players in games. I watch all the games and act as arbiter to limit outliers ie giving far too many high or low scores. Then at the end of the week I publish that weeks result and the accumulative result.
Kipper
Guest
WNM - hope you do continue next season - one of the first articles I look for on the roar after a weekend of matches.... Keep up the good work
Hoges
Guest
WNM - stick to your guns. If you follow Bob you will end up just like the SMH, who immediately write down Hooper and Izzy and then try to fit as many Waratahs around them as possible in the team of the week..... seriously it is usually the Tahs Team Sheet. It amazes me that Phipps continually gets a gig in Super rugby or the Wallabies. His pass is usually erratic and misguided, his tackling is ok but not in Burgess' category. He does get to the base of the ruck quickly - but usually does something unfathomable at that point.... Nic White is by far the most in form of the scrumhalves at the moment. Genia looks like he needs a nice lie down and a rest from all forms of rugby at the moment.....
Digby
Roar Guru
Now that makes sense as to why he wasn't picked!
PiratesRugby
Guest
There's no doubt who won the contest. I took issue with the expression "demolished". That's just not right. The Rebels forwards were generally pretty good and dominated a number scrums, but certainly not all. The Rebels backs were pretty ordinary and lacked any penetration or even threat.
PiratesRugby
Guest
I was sitting just outside the 22 on the eastern side. I got to see a number of lineouts in that area on the eastern side and at least one which was directly opposite on the western side. I also saw other lineouts where the ball went to the Tah's outside hand. As I said, one of the throws actually went well onto the Rebels side, but they weren't contesting so the Tahs caught it easily. Do you think that TPN suddenly became a good thrower just for this game? Look, you won. Easily in the end. The Rebels couldn't win their own throw much less one of yours. I'm sorry but all of your players did not have a perfect game. Jeez, its like talking to a Reds fan. TPN can't throw straight.
jameswm
Roar Guru
He's improved I must say. He used to be way out of his depth.