2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games
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@Stargazer said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:
@Duluth Thanks for the updates! What was your impression of both teams? Which players stood out, if any? Noticed any particular issues? I know it's only a PS game, but I really would have liked to be able to watch these games.
I'm sure both sides are unhappy with the number of penalties. The Blues late in the first half and the Canes late in the second half.
Most of the penalties were for offside.. I think they were more 'lack of urgency' offsides rather than cheating. It's worth noting that it was stinking hot so that probably explains some of the effortCanes would be concerned about the scrum in the first half
I wouldn't read too much into anything else. I was paying more attention to the Blues but most of the starting XV were subbed around half time. Attack became one off the ruck, running into contact.
The initial Blues locking pair worked well together - Tupou (who was captain) and Scrafton. With PT missing that might be the starting second row.
They had an interesting initial loosie combo too:
7 Gibson
8 Ioane
6 Pryor
I would have thought Gibson would be the one more likely to move to blindside..Some other comments on the Canes:
- Lowe was impressive at centre
- Luamape is a beast. Using him off the bench against tiring defence makes sense.
- J Barrett needs to use his arms when he tackles
- Goosen looks flakey under the high ball. Canes fans should be nervous if he starts matches
- NMS was tidy without any freakish moments. He spent a lot of time at first receiver.
- Clearly I paid no attention to the Canes pack
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One area of improvement will be avoiding giving away so many penalties at the tackle and breakdown, but Umaga said it wasn't a big issue.
"We wanted the referees to be very hard on us so we can adapt...it's not a hard one, our boys just need to be disciplined around that area."Simple, effective messaging. The question will be if Tana has managed to address an obvious work on for the Blues over the last few years; discipline and effort.
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@Stargazer Seems defence was optional in the last 15 mins.
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Went to the blues pre season as well and the open day before it. Kids loved it and got a few autographs, met the players etc. My crack up son said Sbw could only sign his arm and not his blues jersey as he was yet to prove himself as a blues player haha. Was in front of Jerome too who we know from school and kids rugby quite well. He just laughed!
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From 'THE ROAR'
The Brumbies got some bad news on Saturday with scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli injured in their trial match against the Waratahs.As if that wasn’t bad enough, they also happened to get thumped in the contest, losing 53-17.
The 27-year-old Argentinian International came off the field in the 39th minute and didn’t return, suffering a knee injury that appeared to cause him significant discomfort.
He’ll now go in for scans to find out just how bad the injury is and just how long he might be on the sidelines.
As one of the Brumbies’ most important in 2016 and a key plank of a revitalised backline, he’s not a player that they’ll be wanting to spend too long without.
However, this could prove to be an opportunity for young gun Joe Powell, unexpectedly brought into the Wallabies squad last year, to make his mark on the No.9 guernsey.
The Brumbies have been significantly weakened in terms of experience lately, with flyhalf Christian Lealiifano still recovering from a bone marrow transplant, and the loss of former skipper Stephen Moore to the Reds.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:
The Brumbies got some bad news on Saturday with scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli injured in their trial match against the Waratahs.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, they also happened to get thumped in the contest, losing 53-17.
The 27-year-old Argentinian International came off the field in the 39th minute and didn’t return, suffering a knee injury that appeared to cause him significant discomfort.
He’ll now go in for scans to find out just how bad the injury is and just how long he might be on the sidelines.
As one of the Brumbies’ most important in 2016 and a key plank of a revitalised backline, he’s not a player that they’ll be wanting to spend too long without.
However, this could prove to be an opportunity for young gun Joe Powell, unexpectedly brought into the Wallabies squad last year, to make his mark on the No.9 guernsey.
The Brumbies have been significantly weakened in terms of experience lately, with flyhalf Christian Lealiifano still recovering from a bone marrow transplant, and the loss of former skipper Stephen Moore to the Reds.
Apologies if I'm wrong, but that reads like plagiarism...
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@Billy-Tell Sorry forgot to header it. It's an extract from a report on the ROAR website.
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Time for the 20 minute heat/water break in the preseason game between the Chiefs and Bulls in Brisbane, and the Bulls lead 14 to 7.
The Chiefs try was scored by Brad Weber and converted by Steven Donald.
The Bulls twitter feed is saying that it is a high paced game (despite the heat).
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Bulls team:
15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handré Pollard (captain), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Nic de Jager, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Substitutes: 16 Edgar Maruthlule, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jason Jenkins, 19 Ruan Steenkamp, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Warrick Gelant, 23 John-Roy Jenkinson, 24 Jacobie Adriaanse, 25 Renaldo Bothma, 26 Francois Brummer, 27 JT Jackson
Not a bad side but probably should not be 21 points better.
Good to see Pollard back though.
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@Frye said in 2017 Super Rugby - Preseason games:
Not a bad side but probably should not be 21 points better.
Good to see Pollard back though.I wonder if that's the difference the Bulls need.
