Brumbies
27
Match Complete
NSW Waratahs
20
| 73 |  | B. Donaldson | ||
| 73 |  | W. Harris | ||
| N. Lolesio |  | 71 | ||
| 58 | | B. Donaldson | ||
| 57 | | A. Bell | ||
| N. Lolesio | | 49 | ||
| I. Simone | | 47 | ||
| N. Lolesio | | 37 | ||
| N. Frost | | 35 | ||
| 32 | | B. Donaldson | ||
| 21 | | B. Donaldson | ||
| N. Lolesio | | 12 | ||
| N. Lolesio | | 6 | ||
| R. Valetini | | 4 |
| 3 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Super Rugby Pacific round three wraps up with a thrilling all Australian clash as the ACT Brumbies take on the NSW Waratahs at GIO Stadium, Brisbane. Join The Roar for live scores from 7:45 pm (AEDT).
The Brumbies have started the season well with two good wins but they haven’t been truly tested yet by one of the top sides so it’s a little hard to judge exactly where they are.
But what is clear is that they have some of the best players in the competition in their ranks who are really beginning to put in the consistently excellent performances that can see teams go all the way.
Players like Rob Valetini and Irae Simone are playing some really good rugby and if the Tahs want to stand any chance of leaving Canberra with a win then they need to keep these two quiet, especially in the opening 20 minutes.
There is plenty of rain forecast for game time so you’d expect the Brumbies to rely upon their pack to do a lot of hard work and play a tight game – this will suit them though and with the Tahs struggling with a big lack of forwards available to them – Lachie Swinton, Geoff Cridge, Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, Michael Hooper and Ned Hanigan are all out – the Brumbies have a great chance to dominate the forward battle.
Noah Lolesio has been easing his way back into form and a big game from him today would be important to keep the pressure up on the likes of James O’Connor who played very well against the Force on Friday.
The Tahs are well aware of the Brumbies strengths and coach Darren Coleman has made it clear that his side are not going to try and grind the opposition down but instead will go out fast and hard and look to knock them out as early as possible.
“I think you’ve got to throw punches,” Coleman said this week and went on to explain that control is a key part of the game plan.
“It all starts with your discipline. If you give those penalties around the halfway mark when they are in multi-phase, you going to be defending your line out 5-10 out and that’s where they are at their strengths.”
Charlie Gamble has been impressing many and his match up with the Brumbies back row will be an exciting one to watch while the centre pairing of Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese can bring a lethal combination of power, pace, aggressive defence and even some deft creativity.
Prediction
The Brumbies are at home for the third game in a row and have the better pack and backline so should pick up another victory here over the Tahs who are still finding their way back towards being a genuine threat.
Brumbies by 9.
Game Information
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT), Saturday 5th March 2022
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Brumbies $1.31, Waratahs $3.45 – odds via PlayUp
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referee: Reuben Keane, Matt Kellahan
Teams
Brumbies
1. James Slipper, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Tom Wright, 15. Tom Banks.
Reserves:
16. Billy Pollard, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Ed Kennedy, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 23. Jesse Mogg.
Waratahs
1. Angus Bell, 2. Davie Porecki, 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4. Jed Holloway, 5. Max Douglas, 6. Hugh Sinclair, 7. Charles Gamble, 8. Will Harris, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Ben Donaldson, 11. James Turner, 12. Lalakai Foketi, 13. Izaia Perese, 14. Dylan Pietsch, 15. Alex Newsome
Reserves:
16. Tom Horton, 17. Te Tera Faulkner, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Jack Grant, 20. Langi Gleeson, 21. Carlo Tizzano, 22. Will Harrison, 23. Tevita Funa.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Yeah they were a couple of very fun years for us after not having won a first grade premiership in any division since 2000, and in Kentwell since 1974....
jameswm
Roar Guru
Always is!!
OMO
Roar Rookie
I think some of the tahs reserves like Roberts and even Harrison helped a bit with the midfield but the Brumbies bench did seem a little shake in comparison to the tahs bench. Was a good game, it was tough being a tahs fan at GIO.
Double Agent
Guest
The Shammies had a helluva team back in 2017/18.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
I love Charlie, he helped my shammies to a kentwell cup before he became famous, but Hooper's experience in an inexperienced team would be massive.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
And teammates!
jameswm
Roar Guru
If the Brumbies reserves weren’t good enough, that’s part of it.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Mysterious...surely a guest comment couch potato with the depth of barely a sentence knows better than the professionals!?! :laughing:
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Why would his teammates select him as best player if he’s such a powderpuff? One wonders!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
The same Malo at a guess. Plus a few other names
Double Agent
Guest
Surprised they never looked at the NL no arms shoulder charge. Was a lot worse than Newsome's.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Well, that's just like, your opinion man :laughing: Curiously though, the more experience and knowledge one has in rugby, the less they seem to agree that Hopper is a "powderpuff"... :silly:
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
The new “Malo”?
Geoff
Guest
Hooper would make the tahs worse He is a powderpuff at the tackle area.Gamble is better imo.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Ken, I wouldn't call Berry a home crowd ref like ol' Angus Gardiner, just ask Rassie. I think offsides are pretty much brought to the refs attention by the AR's these days. Who were the AR's? I think one was Reuben Keane not sure on the other bloke. Maybe they could be the crowd pleasers?
ethan
Guest
I thought they were missing Swinton just as much. Gamble plays a good game, but Sinclair couldn't match it with the Brumbies.
jameswm
Roar Guru
True. Inexperience.
TC
Roar Rookie
KCOL would only take the Assistant refs focusing more on this..Who cares where the ball goes out when kicked..All players winge anyway..Concentrate on parts of the game that Really Matter
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
NickO and TC, utterly agree. Offside is one of the simple fixes in rugby that referees choose not to fix. Kick chase offsides are endemic. Chasers are rarely all behind kicker, especially box kicking 9s stepping back. Don’t start me on last feet. Or chucking away the ball after penalty whistle. My two grassroots clubs are feeders for the Brums, but their cynicism and ‘luck with the ref’ are Sader-esque. I live in Sydney, but struggle to get tribal about the Moore Park Tahs. Just want to see a fair fight Think Berry might be a crowd pleaser. Plays his whistle to the local audience.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see this tahs team with Hooper in, it could make all the difference. How far away is he?