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Joined August 2022
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Journalist by day, rugby fanatic by night. Always trying to find ways to bring new eyes to Rugby Union, whilst aiming to bring easy to understand analysis to those who already love the game. Objectivity is a must, but passion for one's team is non-negotiable.
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The ACT Brumbies’ struggles against New Zealand opposition in 2024 has been a shock. The side is heavily laden with Wallabies and has strong…
The Rebels are the second highest Australian team on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, and halfway into the season it shows they have a…
Teams are heading into the midway block of the Super Rugby season and for many sides it will be crucial to shaping their final…
The Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies will battle it out under the lights of Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, and one team will…
So far in 2024 the ACT Brumbies have managed to close out tight wins despite not being at their best. This ability to eke…
The Queensland Reds’ victory over competition favourites the Chiefs was the third consecutive game where they improved, and this consistency of performance speaks volumes…
The Waratahs' comprehensive win over the Crusaders was the upset of Super Round, and should be celebrated accordingly, but emotionally fuelled desperation cannot be…
It would be easy to focus on the Queensland Reds’ expansive gameplan and herald the razzle dazzle of the outside backs, but there is…
The 2024 season offers a rare opportunity of continuity for Australian Super Rugby sides despite being at the start of a four-year world cup…
Amongst the rugby lessons of 2023, a key one was that a strong scrum can win games. Conversely, a weak scrum can see a…
The word depth in the world of rugby is a positive one; coaches want it, clubs strive to build it and countries around the…
Rugby World Cup 2023 may not have brought much delight to Wallabies supporters but there has been some amazing talent on show, talent that…
Sure, the Wallabies could mathematically still make the quarter finals but it’s highly unlikely, so Australian rugby fans must look for greener pastures elsewhere.…
Australian rugby supporters are on their knees after a humiliating Rugby World Cup campaign. The players are undercooked, the decisions in the top office…
The Wallabies loss to Fiji was owed to the islander’s ferocity and clinical execution at the ruck. But, let’s be clear, Wales is not…
The Wallabies are anew after registering their first win in 2023 and a crucial cog in Eddie Jones’ new "F1" supercar are his halfbacks.…
Perhaps no other position or jersey is more coveted than the number 10 jersey, it bares with it a responsibility like no other. The…
Eddie Jones has decided to fight fire with fire as the Wallabies face-off against Rugby World Cup host nation France in the lead-up to…
The Wallabies are now in France for the lead up to the Rugby World Cup and although there’s wiggle room ahead of the tournament…
There are some parts of rugby which are more important than others and the relative importance of some parts are dictated by the level…
Althogh I don’t want to see more penalties, rather a ref to call “lost” or ask players to let the ball come.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
Agreed!
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
Changing the system with an entire preseason is not a bad move, however it looks like not everyone understands the system and how to employ it, which could be a cooaching error in their clarity in communiticating and showing how the system should look.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
Cheers FF! I think it could come good in a couple of rounds but getting it right on the weekend is a big ask!
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
The Tahs’ defence is more conservative and do not have an aggresive edge to it and therefore players can get infront of the attack and land a good two man tackle.
They also have some bigger bodies in their pack who are of a riper age. Some of it as carnivean says is atitude but a lot of what makes a system work is technique and the Tahs are getting the smaller parts right.
Different systems account for the difference in first up tackle percentage.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
Thanks JJ!
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
I have written that the execution of the system is at fault, not the system itself. The change and the evident lacking of uniform uptack is what is hurting them. The system works for a lot of teams around the world, but the execution is poor.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
The conditions in Auckland robbed them off their premier attacking weapon which is kick-regathers. It also robbed sure footing for speedster Corey Toole.
It was just not their night in attack. Poor handling and decision making hurt them. Player error, not system.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
I think this is actually a huge issue globally for the game. It makes for quick rucks and attacking rugby but it kills the contest.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
In a rush defence missing tackles in of itself is not an issue, SA have one of the worst first up tackle stats of the top sides but their system accounts for it and when they do tackle they are doing so with great technique and intent.
The Brums’ system is lacking those safeguards and the clinical execution of tackle tech.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
100% that’s why I have suggested the counter ruck, very hard to be pinged and requires more bodies to be in motion over the ball, hence slows ruck speed. Very few players in SRP are great pilferers.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
They are just able to hold their focus for longer and don’t get bored when doing the tough stuff up the middle. Aside from their technical proficiency, their patience is probably the most impressive thing in 2024.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
The Brums have picked a more agile but lighter backrow, but are bolstered by AAA upfront. However, I think Scott is a great player, I just worry about his size in the contest, even though he has great defensive qualities.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure
For sure Jimbo81, Brumbies showed last night they are they are learning how to put the foot on the throat, it’s a discipline which has lacked in Aussie teams for a very long time.
I think that, coupled with their willingness to counter attack a little more, and counter in a more structured and more purposeful way shows their ceiling is higher than in previous years.
What is pleasing as well is that they are building as opposed to peaking.
But yes, very interesting to see when they play the heavy weights like Blues and Hurricanes.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Cheers Jezdexter! very interesting three rounds ahead!
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
HAHAHAHA Go the Force, are you watching?
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Dmac factor has them pipping the Blues just, head to head very even sides but put Dmac in they would be favoruites.
The chiefs have scored 166 points with Dmac and only 32 without, it’s a huge inconcistency which shows why they are not top three.
The Reds were able to neutralise him and get the win, very impressive in only their 3rd game under a new coach.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Blues have beaten Drua at home, Highlanders neutral venue, lost to Hurricanes away, beat Tahs by 2 points away, thumped the winless Crusaders at home, and thumped Moana by 39 points.
Only played 1 top of the table team and lost, and only managed to thump a depleated Crusaders team and Moana.
Perofeta, Sullivan, and Tuipolotu are all injured with the second worst performing scrum in the comp. Worst for goalkicking and have conceded the most turnovers.
Not to mention their very high (fourth highest) penality count.
It doesn’t look like they have proven so far that they are a top three team, so 3rd seems a little too high?
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
They lost to the Hurricanes by a try after leading and then conceding at the death to the team who are undefeated and clear favourites, beat the Cheifs and lost to the Brums in extra time with lots of room to grow.
The loss to the Force in Perth does dampen the party and their spark, but at this stage it looks like a blip, as opposed to an indication of their form.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
I have been quietly impressed with the Landers and I like JRK, Nareki and Timoci togeher with Ajay and Patchell running the cutter off the service of Folau but their wins came against Moana and the Tahs away. Hence why they are both higher than those teams but at the same time have still lost game by more than the Tahs have lost theres to similar teams in similar circumstances, it just doesn’t look like they’re cieling is as high as a Crusaders or Drua. Drua are yet to drop a game at home and Saders run the Chiefs close in round 1 then beat them, then only just lost to the Blues, two teams I can’t see the Landers beating.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
I will look to have this fixed, structure and fonting is out of my hands.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Hey TWAS, nothing against your Rebels, just calling it as I see it.
The main thing splitting the Tahs and Rebel’s is defence. The Burn City boys are just leaking too many points, heavy defeats at home to both the Brums and Reds as well as a blowout against a Hurricanes side that made 14 changes to their matchday squad were big factors behind the lower ranking.
The wins against Moana and Force were good and the win against the Tahs but the for and againsts plus their shotty goal kicking has meant they ranked just below them.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Blues have beaten Drua at home, Highlanders neutral venue, lost to Hurricanes away, beat Tahs by 2 points away, thumped the winless Crusaders at home, and thumped moana by 39 points.
Only played 1 top of the table team and lost, and only managed to thump a depleated Crusaders team and Moana.
Perofeta and Tuipolotu are both injured with the second worst performing scrum in the comp. Worst for goalkicking and have conceded the most turnovers.
It doesn’t look like they have proven so far that they are a top three team, so 3rd seems a little too high?
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
I’m not saying he was Wallabies standard, I merely said he looked good. He beat a heap of defenders and made a lot of metres in traffic.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
aggressive line-speed is what I was meant to write. So the Tahs are not rushing out as quickly and therefore are able to control their point of contact better and are not as vulnerable to opposition’s footwork at the line.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure