Australian Super Rugby issues using the Stroke Index

Touché

Hi Ray, you are correct that Ita Vaea does a hell of a job for the ponies, but is just too short for an international #8. Incidentally Keiren Reid isn't too bad a #8, and most of the time you would be excused for thinking that he is playing outside centre. Which is a pretty good position to be if a breakdown occurs wide and you have big boofy K.Reid to hit the ruck early. He does a hell of a lot of damage. If Jeb Holloway is half as effective, I will be a happy lil Tah. Mind you the AB and Crusaders have a tough tight 5 to do the heavy hard work up close, so they can afford him swanning out wide sometimes. Can the WB do the same, that's the big question. We need locks and a front row who just eat raw still bleeding meat for a week before a WB match. :)

Still Miss It, re: Jake Debra of the Rebs, I wasn't surprised at all. Last year he was touted by many as the new 5/8 star, many called for M.Chieka to drop B.Foley or Q.Cooper for J.Debrezini. How I wish he was, but his right-side passing isn't up to scratch and he often gets caught out in defence. For a couple of years I thought Mitch Inman might be our new boom inside centre for the WB, but in the last 4-5 games (watched more than 10 minutes of) I have seen the Rebels play his defence also has been scratchy. Consequently the Rebels #10 - #12 channel is too leaky. Every player has a form drop and I'm just hoping that's all it is with these two, but I don't expect the Rebels to go far in this SR XVIII unless they improve dramatically. I agree with you in the loss of Scott Johnson. Unfortunately he was around when the WB politics (esp the management side) was toxic, Scott wasn't appreciated while his ideas were claimed by others, so he left to greener pastures. He is doing well in Scotland although there is resistance. I found this gem which is hilarious, especially his line about NZ in 2004. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/10596933/Six-Nations-2014-Scotlands-big-haired-mouthy-Aussie-Scott-Johnson-eyes-a-final-fling.html

I know how to mall. I go to Westfields, then usually either scrum or maul at the sales. :)

@ stillmissit : coaching may be one of the issues BUT my pet peeve is that ozz have 2 too many teams in super than they can successfully and conssistantly feed. just look at the 5 squads and count the number of imports - am sure u will have at least one full squad of imports among the 175 players. then if u take a more close look, there will be another squad who are not really super rugger class but just in these squads to make up the numbers. imo oz have really good super class talent for 3 strong squads. so what they shud do first is to seperate the chaff from the grrain and concentrate their coaching resources in 3 teams rather than going for state glory at the expense of national team.

I think the Rebels are an interesting case in point. McQueen was the inaugural coach with Hill his assistant. The former out of the game but with the leadership and name to entice players to sign, the latter as the succession plan with SR experience but with runs on the board at Shute Shield experience- three in a row I think (?) with Sydney Uni under Hill described by then new coach Robbie Deans as the "equal of any ITM Cup side". Hill subsequently showed he didn't have what Melbourne needed in terms of building the culture and managing personalities like Beale and JOC. It probably set the franchise back 2 years. I think McGahan is the deadset right bloke for the Rebels and has done well to manage the season so far with all its injuries. The Highlanders game was cringe worthy, I can only hope they fix things in time for the Tahs.

Should be Jai Ayoub, Sorry. I am not sure of any relationship with George. http://eastwoodrugby.com.au/woodepedia/jai-ayoub-and-the-croatian-connection/

channel 7 Two Saturday 3 PM

Is Shute Shield back on Saturday afternoon TV, do you know?

After Nick Phipps who have we got? N. Frisby B. Meehan Both the Brumbies & Force have imports. The half back situation is a worry. After Bernard Foley who have we got? Lelelifano/Touma Debreceni Anonymous Qld Five Eight Peter Grant Import (though Jono Lance played well before injury) The best displays from 5/8 ths were on Saturday's Shute Shield. Jay Ayoub had a blinder.Eastwood's last try he handled the ball 4 times. Archie King of Easts was good. Took the line on,showed speed & acceleration, scored 2 good tries. Maybe ball skills & speed are more important than the Gym.,

Yes this was the case against the rebels this weekend. Meehan was well outplayed and gave slow service to Debrecini who had few ideas also apart from shoveling on or kicking possession away early as well. Hopefully Stirzy comes back strong, although it might take a while. I love watching A Smith ply his trade enthusiastically

Surprised you say that. I was just thinking this weekend he is not shining at all for me. Too often he makes poor decisions and gets caught with the ball and loses possession. No doubt brave but lacking the X factor I had hoped for to become a strong wallaby

Agree on the scrum halves waiting with the ball at the back of a ruck. All it has ever done, is place pressure on your own side, big time. You cannot beat quick ball, and everytime I see a scrumhalf do this, I wish I were the coach....because I would not hesitate to drop him immediately. .......along with the scrumhalf taking a step or three before passing, or running sideways....before releasing hospital passes. Just standard fare from scrum halves around the world, and they are not a patch on the greats who have gone before......and Gregan is not on the list as he was as slow as a snail for the same reasons.

Personally I think the difference over the last five years has not been the fact that Australian rugby has gone backwards but more that NZ rugby has improved at a higher rate, and part of that is the increase in the number of derby matches. Our sides prepare each season to play the best sides, usually other NZ sides, and that has made our sides stronger. Oz sides also prepare in a way that makes them the best Oz side, perhaps thinking that will be enough to compete overall. And in 2011 and 2014 it was. But the rate of improvement is always going to lie where more sides that are capable of winning the tournament are playing eachother the most, and in the last five years in NZ, four of the five have made the final, one twice as runner up, one winning it twice, and the other two winning and runner up respectively. The Rebels, Force and Reds after 2011 have never had squads capable of getting near the final, making the level of competition amongst it's derby's one where the top sides are not improving their standards by playing those sides. I also think the increased level of competition in the NZ conference is reflected at the test level, the winning rate since the Derbys started in 2011 higher than any side in the past. Some complain NZ has it harder with the conference we have, where I think the opposite is true, because the standard is being pushed higher every year.

Even during our rare winning occasions against the Kiwis, it has been manifestly obvious that the All Blacks play hard, professional, non-stop Rugby while the Wallabies play the next step up from 'schoolboy stuff'. This both starts and is carried on in Super Rugby. Sure the Brumbies will win a few but, in the end, they too will find it hard to keep up. Specific skill training is the answer coupled with a non-stop 'fight to the end' attitude.

I am really starting to believe in Cheika now stillmissit. What he got out of that lazy lot looks much better now in hindsight. I am beyond disappointed in the aussie teams excepting the Brumbies this year. Perhaps Foley might bring the Waratahs into things but who will save the force reds and rebels from mediocrity. Excepting the Red scrum and Brumbies maul there is not enough on show to win anything.