Brumbies v Highlanders
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I apologise for the refereeing.
Don't think Abel threw more than 2 line-outs straight all night either.
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Brumbies got rub of green... but highlanders went old school d and won it in the trenches
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Suck a dick Brumbies. The advantage of some terrible home refereeing and your boring rugby deservedly lost.
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@Damo pretty on the nose to not call something so blatant and then go the other way for the ambiguous "no arms" tackle.
I don't see why Smith is being called poor. One or two dud kicks but otherwise went well i reckon, certainly not stand out like we used to see but steered them around well.
Buckman back where he belongs! Wouldn't mind seeing how him and Thompson go...
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@Damo said in Brumbies v Highlanders:
FWIW, I didn't mind the no arms call. That type of tackle is very dangerous as it can destroy knees - especially at lower levels. Got to stamp that out from the game so youngsters don't copy it.
Agreed... Although dragging lineout jumpers down can be pretty damaging too...
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@Bones said in Brumbies v Highlanders:
Oh and why the ref chose to ignore the high tackle on Wheeler is pretty baffling. Not like it wasn't clearly visible on the replays. In saying that, wtf tmo?
Wheeler's face when the ref said he didn't see it, was classic.
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Fuck it, I'll gladly take that win, not least because it'd annoy Larkham who displayed the most pathetic sulking I've ever seen from a pro rugby coach last time these teams met, and fuck the Brumbies for being so boring and living for lineout mauls - crunts
Christ on a bike it's a tough year so far for Landers fans. It's demoralizing stumping up for games knowing all those AB's and front liners are unavailable. It's a such a log jam fitting the top 4 kiwi teams into 3 that you need to snatch some kiwi derbies and to do that you need your top team fit. However the Landers have lacked a little class but still look organised, play to a plan and are putting in the work - making the best of a dire available roster, particularly the loosies.
But it's always a handy win in Canberra
Funnily enough the Highlanders actually make progress when they don't have the ball (I think there are stats and tactics which have referenced this preference). The moment they took the lead and needed to preserve it they started defending and actually caught the other team about 30-40 metres behind the gain line, then the blonde Tongan got pinged and that pressure was relieved.
But mostly the Highlanders stayed calm, kept witht he script and got a win against a team who had enough ball and talent to take that game as a home win.
If McCaw was a cheat, what the fuck is Fardy? Loved the way Wheeler stood up to him at the end as hard man Fardy wanted to say something despite his team being gifted with an opportunity (lineout obstruction anyone?) - must be team trait to pretend you should win when you fail to score more points.
Aaron Smith is not he same guy he was before his toilet infection - just not the same, wonder if he'll ever be?
New openside was a willing runner
I actually think the Ref is the SA version of Gardner. He didn't have his most accurate game but has a similar feel for wanting to let things flow and being straight up with the players. Been watching him for a couple of seasons and he's a good ref I reckon
So a good solid win which Larkham would have felt the Brumbies "did enough to win that" and hopefully a couple of injured players come back for each week over the next month
Oh and NZ Rugby needs Buckman if only for facial expressions, hair, hardness, and some cool and occasionally spectacular touches - always something happening around the 'cuda -
@Bones said in Brumbies v Highlanders:
I don't see why Smith is being called poor. One or two dud kicks but otherwise went well i reckon, certainly not stand out like we used to see but steered them around well.
Really @Bones ? You didn't see who the poster was who criticised him? (Hint: it rhymes with "one-eyed-anerbry").
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@Mattasaurus Beating the brumbies at Canberra has always been hard. Always, no matter how bad they are.
I really hope they don't get cut.
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@MajorRage said in Brumbies v Highlanders:
@Mattasaurus Beating the brumbies at Canberra has always been hard. Always, no matter how bad they are.
I really hope they don't get cut.
I agree, I've been bemused by the anti Brumbies and wish for them to be cut stance. They're a team I like NZ teams to beat and they're been a powerhouse at various times so I'm happy for them to hang around.
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@MajorRage said in Brumbies v Highlanders:
@Mattasaurus Beating the brumbies at Canberra has always been hard. Always, no matter how bad they are.
I really hope they don't get cut.
I agree.
I can understand the commercial reasons behind supporting the Rebels and Force over the Brumbies. But isn't that what has got Australian rugby into this mess in the first place, making commercial decisions at the expense of good rugby decisions?