ACT Brumbies vs Melbourne Rebels: Super Rugby AU live scores

Thank's Rob, the fast pretty boys usually get the chocolates from tv commentators. They need more ex-piggies in the commentary teams. :silly:

Undoubtedly true given they have lost twice but that doesn't mean it was the wrong tactic in those two games as they almost won against teams they weren't expected to beat. If they had executed a couple of things better the game was there to be won.

It may have worked but it didn't. 0/2 and nothing is going too make the highlights reel. Apart from the purists going "how good is all this goal kicking" it's not really selling the game is it? It's not even winning. Would people be singing their praises of they did? They'd be heavily criticising referees since neither ref had a great game with a few howlers. Especially that last penalty against the Reds. So it's a big fail for this tactic so far.

Yes, it wasn't "played the Australian way" ie attack with the ball in hand and go for the try whether it is smart or not and damn the consequences. However it was smart rugby that played to their strengths and but for a couple of bounces of the ball it may have worked.

I agree. The Rebels missed with a penalty shot against the Reds and had the tables turned on them re the Brumbies. They could be 2 from 2 in those games and everyone would be signing their praises. Personally, I loved the game, not just because I had a few dollars on a Brumbies win. The Reds better watch out. If they keep giving up so much ball, it will come back to haunt them.

Australia needs a 5/8 who can create a try.

I disagree Doc. I thought it was a great game and the rebels played smart and took the kickable points 8/8. It would have worked if not for I’ll discipline in the last minute or if the rebels ball went to hand and they picked up the try. Either way the game showed promising signs for aus rugby and I thought it was anything but boring.

Play boring. Lose games. I'm missing something obviously about this current strategy of theirs.

Gotcha....see where you’re coming from. As a Brumbies fan, I love seeing the Tahs get beat......but, within reason. For Aus rugby, they need to be at least competitive. I reckon some of those youngsters will be pretty good if they are supported, not sure what’s going on behind the scenes, but something isn’t right. We had a similar time in 2011......as much as many outside Canberra decried Jakeball....JW brought the right culture back, and it’s been a great boost. :silly:

Playing in a more competitive environment improves performance. Even now with my tennis which I don’t take too seriously, when I play with people rated higher consistently I definitely play at a higher level than when I play with other friends. But it does beg the question(s): 1. Do the Brumbies have the two best 9s in Aus?; and 2. Should Lonergan sooner or later start ahead of White for the Wallabies. Having a >95% kicker who can nail them from >50m at an angle is a huge boon.

I know mate, he's actually in exactly the right place. Was just having a stir after numerous people last week suggesting that the likes of Harrison, Bell and Swinton should move teams to aid their development.

Doubt it....that’s why Powell moved, Lonergan is seen as the future in Canberra, Joey saw the writing on the wall. White is only signed for this year and next.

Let’s hope the Force raise to the occasion. It will be needed.

It could be either I reckon mate, but definitely, they even mentioned it in the tahs game, the dew/sweat and humidity has had an effect. Hopefully the humidity drops as we get more into Autumn/winter and that can help the handling/game speed.

Yes, I mean to get points and not care what the crowd thinks

Yeah Rhys. It's interesting to me that there was a similar ball dropping session at the start of the 2nd half in the Force-Tahs game. I wonder if it's an attitudinal problem - maybe overplaying the instructions at half time - or could it be physical - more dew on the surface (and hence the ball) over the break.

Probably getting close to the point that he should move for opportunity. Too good a young player to be getting minimal game time behind the Wallabies 9.

I always love this argument from NRL fans. Go check the stats. The average number of tries per match between Super Rugby and the NRL is almost identical. Has been for over a decade. Last full season of both, 2019, was 6.7 average in NRL, 6.4 in rugby. Sooooooo much more exciting with all those extra tries. If I watch 3 NRL games I'll see one extra.

Also it ignores that the rebels attacked the broke the line plenty. As somebody else said, the oppo shut down their attacking raids illegally, got penalised and the Rebels then just chose to take the points

To be honest I felt the Rebels were pretty lucky at points, but I guess I would say/think that. Thought they won a lot of breakdown penalties where they weren’t supporting their own weight, like that first one of the match. But I agree, I feel for the Rebels who played very well.