Highlanders V Brumbies Super Bang Bang quarter finals

Chris B.

Brumbies lineout let them down badly on the night. Lost confidence that they could put together a winning rolling maul at the death - when that's been their go to play.
 
Squire, Dixon and Aaaron Smith probably the best for the clan, though AS won't look back at his final touch with much pleasure.
 
Onward and upward.

Damo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="598992" data-time="1469181967">
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Larkham looks like he can't believe they lost. He's a shit coach, which surprises me given he was such a smart player. Timmy Horan if you walk your own scrum around the corner because you're going nowhere you don't deserve a penalty.
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QFMFT

Crazy Horse

When the scrum goes down and the ref plays on are the flankers allowed to disengage before the ball comes out? That happened quite a bit tonight.

reprobate

i like that ref. talks well. doesn't get everything right, but he is consistent, he lets people know where they stand better than anyone else, and he isn't card-happy.

Mattasaurus

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="598983" data-time="1469181286">A 15-8 penalty count with no yellow card. Highlanders were very cynical in the scrums and mauls, yet they kept a full team on the field. 
 
Also, the Dixon shoulder charge. You'd be screaming blue murder if that play was reversed.</blockquote>
 
Need to see incident. . You sure u haven't mixed up team dixon boys.. cos of you did you had a very unique camera view

antipodean

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://vine.co/v/5mq5D7iLqg0'>https://vine.co/v/5mq5D7iLqg0</a>

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="598991" data-time="1469181894">
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I don't mind it it I suppose, I enjoy seeing different styles of rugby competing. 
For the same reason I'd love England and South Africa to be strong again, the best test matches were always the tight low scoring ones in my opinion. 
Anyway, highlanders deserve the win, I'm not disputing that.
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I like different styles of rugby - I just like to see a forward oriented game played skillfully. If you are going to play a forward game you should probably make sure you kick accurately and the Brumbies didn't do that.

ACT Crusader

The conditions were shocking but I still liked the endeavour of the Landers. Decision making let them down though rather than bobbling slippery ball. 
Faddes and Osbourne particularly guilty. 
Wasn't a fan of the chipping and would've liked to see more garry owens. 
Brumbies were pretty effective defensively and that one inside ball to Tevita was a good move. But overall they lost confidence in their lineout and their best attacking weapon. 
Well done back 5 of Landers.

Damo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="598983" data-time="1469181286">
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A 15-8 penalty count with no yellow card. Highlanders were very cynical in the scrums and mauls, yet they kept a full team on the field. 
 
Also, the Dixon shoulder charge. You'd be screaming blue murder if that play was reversed.
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I think a big part of the reason the ref didn't go to the pocket was because Moore (and then Fardy and Pocock) kept demanding it all the time. Highlanders were probably a bit lucky not to get a card after one of the mauls. Was it luck though, or just bad management by the Brumbies?
 
Don't agree that Dixon did anything wrong. The Brumby had passed the ball and Dixon just braced himself for impact rather than put on a late tackle. What was he supposed to do, short of a Star Trek style "beam me up"? 
 
Also those last couple of scrums should have been PK's to the Highlanders. Brumbies tried to go forward, then when they couldn't, the back 5 just walked it around, assuming that the ref would give them a PK. Fortunately the ball popped out both times so the ref didn't have to make a decision.

Smudge

2-3 years ago, that's the kind of game we would have lost. Master of the close losses we were, back in the day. So I'll take that. And we'll take a heck of a lot of improvement from that.

pukunui

Wooo that whole game had my heart rate up. Especially the last 10mins. Fuck off Brumbies, got nothing but a scrum and maul and a whole lot of whinging. 
Really like this ref. The way he told Moore to shut up was great, not getting flustered and making his point clearly. 
I was happy with the Dixon non penalty for a shoulder. His left arm was out and you see that a thousand times in a game. Could see it go the other way though. 
Thought the Brumbies got a bitof the rub of the green at scrum time. Sio was clearly angling in at times. 
Still Highlanders had one of their shitter games. They have had a few this year. But they should be better nek week. 
Who are they likely to face?

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="599000" data-time="1469182498">
i like that ref. talks well. doesn't get everything right, but he is consistent, he lets people know where they stand better than anyone else, and he isn't card-happy.</blockquote>
 
Angus ain't bad really.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="599008" data-time="1469183888">
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Angus ain't bad really.
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I can't recall bagging him, which means he must be.
 
Seriously, he's had an excellent couple of years. Brumbies fans aside, Wallabies must be spewing they don't get to have him as a ref.

Damo

Angus has one the NZ v SA game in Auckland. Big step up for him, but he seems to be up to it from what I have seen this year.

Smudge

Tell you what, I hope the Whitelock at white lock experiment is shelved. Sure, helped us in terms of mobility, but lack of strength in the scrums exposed us. Ironically, our lineout was one of the best things going . . .

Mattasaurus

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="599017" data-time="1469185731">Tell you what, I hope the Whitelock at white lock experiment is shelved. Sure, helped us in terms of mobility, but lack of strength in the scrums exposed us. Ironically, our lineout was one of the best things going . . . </blockquote>
 
Dry game would've been genius....but wet conditions not hood for tat particular call

Sapetyvi

Moore is an absolute shambles when it comes to managing the ref. He should be stripped from the Wallabies captaincy too, a test team captain must stay on the right side of the ref. Thats how you get the rub of the green, not being a whiny little bitch like Moore is.

Chris B.

The other thing I don't like about Moore being captain is that he's invariably subbed around the 65 minute mark.
 
"Right lads, we're right in this - just need a huge effort from everyone - hold nothing back - it's do or die - and I'm off".

Bones

Is the only Whitelock that hasn't played lock the one that's got the most descriptive name of all? Hey fella, you're a dam white lock. Change positions.

pakman

Not sure I've got my head around the play off format -- am I right that it's not as simple as the Clan play winner of the (e.g.) Canes/Sharks game? Or is it third placed p[lays second placed of those making semi's??

The Silver Fern

Highlanders V Brumbies Super Bang Bang quarter finals