Waratahs vs Brumbies: Super Rugby live scores, blog

I haven't been able to rustle anything concrete up, but apparently McKellar made some cryptic comment on facebook that would align with this.

He was also an extremely effective nuisance at the breakdown, buying his team enough time to get set so the Tahs couldn't outflank them with their game plan to go wide. So perhaps they wouldn't have won without Pocock.

No excuse!!

Also the man is not of international standard; never has been!! Sorry over-rated!!

No - no leadership. Foley missing in direction? Simmons missing in direction? and others!!

Fionn - your comment below. Give the Toomua a rest. He is playing well in England and is unlikely to return. And he is an accident (or bad head injury) waiting to happen. Softer grounds in England offer some assistance in preventing injuries. When he comes back to Australia - if his poor tackling technique or tackled hard and hits the ground - head injury. If the Brumbies cannot deliver someone of equal talent - poor recruitment. Lealiifano, mate he has never had anything, never will and has returned worse than before. He is a fill in, nothing else. He would be best going overseas.

Sorry I missed this call last night MrRobC... and good on you for sticking your neck out! :)

Is it just me or did Angus Gardner look off side in that ruck.

Thought the same. The Brumbies looked like a NZ team last night. They took points when ever an opportunity arose. Game awareness was great. Offloads and support for the ball carrier looked like a part of the NZ constitution.

I'm hearing Toomua may be going to the Rebels. Would like to see him and CLL linking back up. Then with Banks and TK. That's a Wallabies back line right there. Interesting story about McKellar though. May well be the reason they have gone so bad this year. Speight and TK looked back to their best last night.

Imagine if we had got back Toomua as well! 9. Powell, 10. Lealiifano, 11. Muirhead, 12. Toomua, 13. Kuridrani, 14. Speight, 15. Banks If Speight left then Verity-Amm and Dargaville are both good players also. I hope we target Barnes given that the Top League is off for a season, or even Giteau perhaps... Although perhaps he wouldn't be able to play Super Rugby anymore.

Really interesting perspective, if true. Thanks for the insights. Hopefully whoever coaches, this highly skilled (NZ) style of play will continue for the Brumbies in 2019. Michael Cheika and his team should take note.

Brumbies looked potent. Really how we thought they should have been all season based on the roster. Lets hope they are smart enough to retain CLL.

The leaders/players took over attack. Ryan coached the defence wanting no input from McKellar.

That's sad but interesting to hear, thank you. Well the attack certainly turned around in the second half of the season. Hewat's influence, or Fisher's? Either way, it seemed to be working, and, importantly, the players looked like they were having fun!

Yep well don't judge a book by its cover they say. Yells and screams and Carey's on like a spoilt brat at trainings and players have had enough. Also lacks very immature on the game. Even the results in NRC were poor considering he had a very good list. The screaming goes through these times as well. Leaders and Fisher took over and changed the way they were playing. It's worked so looks like McKellar has to go. Hewitt on shakey ground also but will stay under Fisher!

Interesting to hear, mate. I hadn't heard anything, but I guess it would explain some of the turnaround if there was a quiet change in coaching staff, but it does make me sad for Dan, whom I've met personally and was very polite and kind in person. I'll keep my ears out now. Cheers.

McKellar given option to leave early. Looking to Japan as Europe is full

I don't really use raw stats to judge defensive ability. For example, Pocock's missed tackle on TN was during a Waratah counterattack in broken play where Pocock was the only man within about 10m of space and TN was at full speed. In that context and with TN moving at speed and Pocock static a missed tackle isn't nearly as bad as just missing one in the line. I saw Banks 'miss' two tackles on TN from memory. The first one Banks was on the Brumbies' try line and he was standing static straight in front of TN about 1m in front. If he had stepped to the side and tried to hit him at an angle (where it's easier to make the tackle) then TNs speed would have carried him over the try line and he would have scored before Banks got him out. The second option was to stand right in front of him and to tackle high in an attempt to stop him from getting over the try line, despite the likelihood of being bumped backwards. It was the better play. He was bumped backwards back over the try line, but was then able to step forward and tackle TN again, only now TNs momentum had been stopped. Thus, he was able to hold him and stop him from getting over the line and wait for the cover tackler to come and push TN out, which happened. It was good defensive play when attempting to tackle someone much bigger and stronger than you running at speed. At least one other time he hit TN near the sideline and slowed his speed right down so the next tackler could hit him out, which also happened. Banks is faster than Folau and works much harder in getting in position to make the tackle, so he both has more difficult tackles and contributes more defensively, which isn't picked up in the stats. However, Folau contributes a lot defensively in terms of defusing high balls, which also isn't picked up in the stats.