The Melbourne Rebels are top dogs in the Australia conference after a third straight win, while the Brumbies have slumped to a 1-2 record.
1) Referees should let their common sense prevail more often
After a string of cards and penalties that have left the rugby faithful nonplussed, the referees finally showed some common sense last night.
In the second half, Dane Haylett-Petty made contact with a Brumbies player while he was in the air. Lets not blag on about it, but there was nothing in it.
The referees convened and decided that Henry Speight’s interference complicated the situation. We hear that player safety is paramount all the time, and I agree, but these soft incidents in a full contact sport tells me that it’s governing bodies safeguarding themselves from legal action above all.
Lets just hope we move forward with the buzz phrase, common sense.
2) Despite the Force axing, four teams is the right amount for Australian Rugby
Before anyone kicks off here, I’m not praising the decision to cut the Force as a good call.
Australia can only handle four teams with our current depth, and the move back to four teams has been completely necessary.
Some competitiveness is a nice change from previous years. The Rebels are fielding a decent team now and could well top the conference.
Any other professional teams and the field is thinned too far.
I hope the Rebels continue their good form on the field because it’s good for rugby in Australia.
While the other teams have underperformed so far, they too have benefitted from the sprinkling of Force players to join their ranks. It’s much more sustainable for professional rugby in this country.
3) Amanaki Mafi and Isi Naisarani are the two most damaging No.8s in the conference
These blokes are devastating, end of. The Brumbies look at their best when Naisarani runs the ball, and boy does he run it well. Constantly makes yardage and is a physically dominant powerhouse around contact.
Similarly, Amenaki Mafi is terrorising opposition packs at the minute. What I would give to have this bloke eligible for Australia. He’s a genuine all-rounder, with great running, tackling, ball skills, pilfering and set piece nous.
Both these men lift their respective packs up a gear, and it kills me to know that both these men will be playing against the Wallabies, rather than for them.
4) The Brumbies have already lost their way
The return of Pocock can’t come soon enough for the hapless Brumbies. Predicted by many to win the conference with some ease, they’ve already suffered two consecutive and bad losses to the Reds and Rebels.
They’ve got a decent roster, but look disjointed, clunky and a complete shadow of their former selves.
Its not great signs in the nation’s capital, and they need to steer this ship away from the rocks, because the financial pressure of a failing Brumbies is something Rugby Australia and the community can ill afford.
5) Keep an eye on Jack Maddocks
The kid is an excitement machine, and its time to move him off the wing. As much as Debreczini was the touted youngster a few years ago, I like him less and less as the weeks go on.
Maddocks is a young fly-half who would benefit from playing outside Genia, and vice versa. Its fantastic for him he has joined a franchise well and truly on the rise, and he will benefit from being in an environment filled with optimism and promise.
He possesses speed, silky skills and a penchant for attacking rugby; if anyone was to lead the rugby renaissance in this country it could be Maddocks.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Recommend specsavers for markus, DHP was running straight at where the ball was going to land, speight cut across him causing his change of angle as he bounced off... .
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Well perhaps they should not have given over 30 mil to a useless team in the capital of AFL.. bit like all pigs are equal, just some are more equal than others - especially when alleged dishonesty is involved... No report yet on where that 30 mil ended up.. did the (e) aru ever release the relevant financials - if not - why the f... no ?
Ex force fan
Guest
I heard $20 million is actually $14 million of which 30% ends up at the VRU to help fund some of the operating cost of the Rebels in the next 3 years. In return the ARU "gave" Victoria a Lions test and multiple Bleddisloe tests plus other test to a total of 8-10 test. A terrible deal for the ARU compared tomthe $5 million they got for one Bleddisloe test in Perth.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
The Rebels major sponsor is the Victorian government. They have agreed to bankroll the Rebels. Or have I got this wrong and that the $20 mil was for ARU bribes.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Some more than others. According to the senate inquiry the Rebels had the Force Agreement not long after it was minted. They had a lot longer to prepare.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Ha ha, I thought it was McMahon at first as well!
jeznez
Roar Guru
As I said in the comments higher up - it is worth giving him a run late in the game. They can play a back three of Naivalu or Koroibete with DHP and English giving them the freedom to sub Maddocks in for Debreczeni late in the game. Until we have a look at him in the position it is all wild speculation - even if he did throw a nicely weighted pass for an assist against the Reds. They should start with what seems to be their preferred backline - Genia, Debra, Naivalu, Hodge, English, Maddocks, DHP Late in the match they can finish with Ruru, Maddocks, Koroibete, Meakes, Hodge, English, DHP Would let us find out if this is a genuine option or if it is just hype and wishful thinking.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I have only seen the highlights and am looking forward to seeing the full game soon. I was thrilled to see Richard Hardwick's bolter from the base of the ruck. I did a double take and thought it was MacMahon. Great to see him back from injury. A number 7 with speed that can move bodies about in a ruck. All he needs is a silly haircut and patented "Stay down" socks and he might just get another shot at a wallaby jersey. There is a Michael Hardwick running around in the Pindan Comp that will be another one to watch in the next few years.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Dream on, we will suffer the same sky blue faces and the same old 1 dimensional game plan come june and september. The same players were firing at the Force yet couldn't get a look in until 5 other guys were injured, then straight out again.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I too am less than impressed about the Maddocks @10 rhetoric He played the position at school and he had a chat with Larkham about it in camp and now the Fox puppets are talking it up as though it is fact and he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. In reality anyone in the Rebels outside backs is going to bag a lot of tries and going to feature prominently on the highlights reel. It is the coal mine canary, and measure of the sides health. We are duped by the media hype around Folau's try scoring prowess, where he too is just another finisher. Maddocks is good at what he is currently doing, and I have seen him do well at 15 for the Rising. Why mess with a good thing? If/When things start to go bad through loss, injury, or poor individual performance, then it might be time to change it up. The only Justification I can think of is to get Marika back into the starting 15, Jack D would be the victim in this scenario, and not something I agree with, With Niavalu in the side, I am not sure he is needed.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Spot on! By reducing the habitat, species diversty and numbers dwindle. Junk Logic! The reality is that they are unable to fund 5 teams, and that is part of a much larger and more complex problem.
andrewM
Guest
Or they were given documentation that showed that they were no longer in the firing line..
Markus
Guest
Haylett-Petty's running line was nowhere near the ball until he cut back infield past Speight to take Muirhead's legs out from under him in the air. He had no idea where the ball was coming down and was never in a position to take it. That should have been a card.
Ex force fan
Guest
...proof in the pudding.." Sorry the evidence show the opposite. The Reds sise of 2018 is on paper much weaker than the 2017 side, they didn't benefit from the Force carcass but play much better. It is only the Rebel that merged with the best of the Force that looks better. All this proof is that you need a coach that can build a team, someone like Thorpe and Wessels and that means that you need to cut prima donna's to size or cut them.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Also every team had advanced notice. In April they said they were cutting a team... The Rebels were at least smart enough to see either there’d be players available, or they’d be gone and wouldn’t need to worry about players.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Does that “44” include Jono Lance, Alex Toolis and Nick Stirzacker who have actually departed? I’d say it also includes Hunter Paisami, Trevor Hosea and Esso Ha’angana who are actually just supplementary players, not fully contracted.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Speight collided with DHP causing DHP to collide with the bloke while off balance.. hence no card/penalty. DHP would not have made the same contact..probably would have been worse.. recommend specsavers... :)
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Speight may bot have changed his line but he did continue his line angled across in front of DHP... hence the collision..
Jboons
Guest
Great article tommy It was absolutely refreshing to see a fairly balanced refereeing performance for a change DHP call was spot on! If henry speight wasnt playing silly buggers changing his line which is a penalty in itself then DHP never would have found himself in that situation in which he pulled out of so no harm no foul and ive atleast got 1 game were i dont have to come up with excuses to people why the game has gone so unbelievably soft so alas! the right call was made and the refs talked through the proceedings so people could clearly understand the decision. Its painful days for force fans and im sure they dont like hearing it but proof is in the pudding thus far! its a very good looking side and the best start to the season that the force or melbourne have ever accomplished and hopefully with the broadcasting deals soon to finish something can be done to bring the boys from the west back! I would just about give my left nut to have mafi be australian what a wonderful talent! And as for jack mad dog if stephen larkham being a fullback turned 5/8 and the best australia has ever produced has cast his eye over him and given him the nod of approval saying he will be a future wallaby 5/8 who are we to say otherwize . I have been and will be watching him closely as everything im seeing now is very exciting!!!!!!
Pete
Guest
Well said I am struggling with any benefits for Aussie rugby when the improvements have been off the carcass of the force. How many people actually turned up to watch the game that paid for a ticket