Melbourne Rebels vs ACT Brumbies: Super Rugby AU live scores

confirmation that he is leaving to Japan after Super rugby

From what I see, its more the team with the ball works hard to wheel the maul one way, tying defenders on one side and/or forcing them to re-engage into the maul. then some of the team with the ball break out in a pod on the other side, still protecting the ball carrier (truck-n-trailer anyone?) and make further ground. Straight off WR Law 16:3 "Once formed, a maul must move towards a goal line." That means straight, no wheeling left or right. You get pinged in a scrum for wheeling yet its OK in a maul. It doesn't make sense. One of the biggest problems is so little is written down so there are loads of varying interpretations by local Union referee boards and even individual refs. A maul starts when someone with the ball, who is not on the ground, and one of his team-mates contest for the ball with members of the opposition. I would like to see this added to Law 16 for starters. "If the original ball carrier is not in the pod moving forward with the ball, then it ceases to be a maul". That would instantly stop all truck and trailers. Blokes hiving off the back or side of a maul and protected by 3-4 teammates in front would be pinged immediately.

Lolesio and Simone complement each other really well. Kuenzle was a real step down there too, showed some reasonable defence and was in the right place for his try, but otherwise fairly invisible. Pasitoa is being developed as a 10, but for me showed far more impact at 12 already too.

I think we have several very good 12's this year so at the very least the requirement to play a non 12 as 12 will not be there

Noah really stepped up without Simone outside him. It also showed Simone’s value in the Brumbies structures.

The law says a maul can continue without the defensive team as long as the defenders leave intentionally. I guess the question is what’s considered intentionally? The Brumbies shift the ball to the back, then manage to make the defensive team split or sheer off, would that constitute the defenders leaving intentionally as they are pushing in the wrong place. The Brumbies players don’t pull back to disengage, a group of players (lifters, jumper, and one or two others) work hard to make the defensive team wheel off to one side then magically a pod is in the open still bound as a maul.

Referees looked to have a directive to place a lot more scrutiny on the mauls for the weekend's game. I am all for it, some of the things the Brumbies got blown up for were sloppy and showed complacency, they will probably look to clean that up among other things during their bye week.

Marcus, you are correct. I've always wondered about the legality of most pick-n-goes but they seem to have been around forever, I still remember Cliffy Palu killing the Chiefs (SR2015 I think) with pick and goes all night. I guess its an unwritten allowance, similar to referees allowing mauls to be turned and 3-4 blokes hiving off from the back of the maul with the ball. My guess is that >>50% of maul tries are earned by this tactic? The disallowed Brumby try was "scored" in that manner and both the referee and linesman paid it as OK. It was only when the TMO intervened on another issue that it was disallowed. The Brumby maul try that they did score from seemed ok in that the push went straight and they trucked it up straight and over the line. Mind you I did think at the time that one of the Brumby players got between the catcher coming down and the Rebels front row, so it was a possible penalty there. I really would love the ch9/Stan people to bring in spidercam, often that's the best (only) way of sorting mauls and scrums out.

I hope Dave Rennie does not play an out of form 10Toomua as Wallaby 12. It`s a disaster waiting to happen.

Brumbies locks Swain and Nevile should be the Wallaby locks as they are clearly the best combo with Matt Philp as the third lock. The Brumbies rolling maul is the best in the business with Samu Slipper Faainaga`a AAA Neville Valetini Swain and Sio. Add Thor McReight and Philip to a mostly Brumbies Wallaby pack and you cannot get any better than that .No more players who cannot scrummage or maul Rennie, The Brumbies maul is a serious weapon so utilize it will you.

:thumbup:

How bad was Toomua? 3 games in a row he has looked like a bunny in the headlights.He is so slow, and that kick to gift a try to the Brumbies was comical. He surely now has played himself out of Wallaby jersey Noah outplayed him comfortably . I really hope Rookie Test Coach Rennie is watching games this year.He didn`t watch last year.

According to World Rugby she is reffing the Women’s competition only, which she also did in 2016.

Interesting point, HiKa, about speed and fitness of the ref. A criticism of Amy Perret has been a lack of those qualities and yet she has been chosen for the 7s at the Olympics.

Yeah I didn't articulate that very well - they always feel like a much better team having a bad day, maybe?

100% correct. Penalty every time. Isi does it a lot as does Uru.

The change in scrummaging was from the start of the second half. There was a scrum reset where the ref said something like “if you want reward push through the mark first”. I liked that statement...

He did go off with ice on his groin against the Tahs

I thought that as well TWAS, Miller was off his feet playing at it. Murphy missing again?

Plus his playing background was 7's also hopefully he realises his calling and stays over in the 7's game.