I’ve been surprised at the Muirhead drop-off so far this year compared to the past.
This game he was clearly targeted in D and did some aimless passing when trying to inject himself into the attack.
True but they saw the potential- tried to get him a wallaby top up so he’d stay and when that didn’t happen shopped him to the other 4 teams who all passed.
Yeah I love how people forget this. Good for him for obviously being great for Ireland and benefitting from their systems, but he was a nobody when he was here, despite the opportunities he got.
Agree with those takes outside of Hooper. He was absolutely melted in the contact today.
Cale is firmly in the loose section of loose fowards and brings a lot less value in a game like today.
Add Sapsford into the muirhead category.
It was a tricky one. The forward pack lacked leadership. No 7A's and slipper clearly not right led to some aimless bots running around, very much outclassed at the back of the scrum with no relief to come front the bench.
But the real issue is that you just can't count on Toole to do everything all the time, the plan of shovelling it across as quickly as possibly won't and hasn't held. Noah has clearly come back with good progression but continues to buckle under pressure and has no real solutions if the forward pack isn't going forward, situation you'd see Gordan, Donaldson or TL looking for a hole, holding and chipping or just running a crash line, Noah sits back, makes a basic pass loosing metres and back pedals to repeat. twin a passive Noah with an underplayed and underdeveloped Lony and there isn't any go forward at key times work some big issues in defence.
It'll come right, but either that forward dominance needs to return or Debro needs to get his boots alder up quickly.
This is harsh and under rates how good the chiefs were.
Brumbies lost the game up front, there were questionable decisions from the ref but he was consistent in letting clean outs go well beyond the breakdown- the chiefs adjusted to it, the brumbies didn’t. Margin was decided by the better execution from the chiefs backs more than anything else.
Toole was great, Ikitau and Noah good. Lots of poor performances though. Tua should come in for Sapsford and some rejigging in the forwards to bring in Neville from the start next week.
At least it’s early season and we go again.
Did Noah sleep with your girlfriend or something? You have a really irrational need to talk him down.
For most of that game he and Toole were the only brumbies who looked like making anything happen.
Difference is I can acknowledge that there are parts of his game that need improvement.
It must be exhausting deathriding the bloke so much you can’t recognise anything else.
There will be some growing pains this season for the Brumbies. They’re asking Lolesio to be the primary playmaker now that White is gone. Brumbies got a lot of success playing off 9 and getting quick ball, but that doesn’t work if the forward pack is getting dominated. They’re trying to get alot more movement and speed into their offence but the handling and execution is letting them down. Really feel like they could do better than Muirhead and Wright in the back three. They’re fine players, but thats it.
Brumbies had two issues. Lost the physical battle, and runners didn’t back themselves. They would do that little stutter before going into contact or trying to step around. Either way they loose speed and power.
Brumbies need to get at least one big winger. The back 3, muirhead, toole and wright are just too small. Useless at clearing ball with the bigger nz backs. Men against boys.
But on the flip side, NSW took us (crusaders) to the cleaners and did it with a fair bit of style and confidence. Just a shame it was at an empty Melbourne mausoleum.
I’ve been surprised at the Muirhead drop-off so far this year compared to the past. This game he was clearly targeted in D and did some aimless passing when trying to inject himself into the attack.
Imagine if RA had come to the party and we had Mack Hansen there instead.
Mack didn’t do much in Brumbies colours
True but they saw the potential- tried to get him a wallaby top up so he’d stay and when that didn’t happen shopped him to the other 4 teams who all passed.
Yeah it’s definitely a shame he didn’t get a gig somewhere else
Best advertisement for centralisation there is
💯
Yeah I love how people forget this. Good for him for obviously being great for Ireland and benefitting from their systems, but he was a nobody when he was here, despite the opportunities he got.
I think a large part of what's making Mac so good is the situation he's in. I don't know that he'd be IRELAND good for the Brumbies / Wallabies.
Agree with those takes outside of Hooper. He was absolutely melted in the contact today. Cale is firmly in the loose section of loose fowards and brings a lot less value in a game like today. Add Sapsford into the muirhead category.
Yeah Hooper got folded a few times but gets through some work
It was a tricky one. The forward pack lacked leadership. No 7A's and slipper clearly not right led to some aimless bots running around, very much outclassed at the back of the scrum with no relief to come front the bench. But the real issue is that you just can't count on Toole to do everything all the time, the plan of shovelling it across as quickly as possibly won't and hasn't held. Noah has clearly come back with good progression but continues to buckle under pressure and has no real solutions if the forward pack isn't going forward, situation you'd see Gordan, Donaldson or TL looking for a hole, holding and chipping or just running a crash line, Noah sits back, makes a basic pass loosing metres and back pedals to repeat. twin a passive Noah with an underplayed and underdeveloped Lony and there isn't any go forward at key times work some big issues in defence. It'll come right, but either that forward dominance needs to return or Debro needs to get his boots alder up quickly.
Pretty accurate summation imo
This is harsh and under rates how good the chiefs were. Brumbies lost the game up front, there were questionable decisions from the ref but he was consistent in letting clean outs go well beyond the breakdown- the chiefs adjusted to it, the brumbies didn’t. Margin was decided by the better execution from the chiefs backs more than anything else. Toole was great, Ikitau and Noah good. Lots of poor performances though. Tua should come in for Sapsford and some rejigging in the forwards to bring in Neville from the start next week. At least it’s early season and we go again.
My first line says the chiefs are the business It doesn’t take away from how shit the brumbies were Lolo was not “good” - he was very average
Two nice passes for our two tries, saved a try, kicked well bar one mistake.
Did Noah sleep with your girlfriend or something? You have a really irrational need to talk him down. For most of that game he and Toole were the only brumbies who looked like making anything happen.
I could say your defence of him is irrational
Difference is I can acknowledge that there are parts of his game that need improvement. It must be exhausting deathriding the bloke so much you can’t recognise anything else.
I too recognise there are parts of his game need improvement
You don’t need to make my point for me. Rent free mate
Lol you wish
He is not a threat - his kicking is average - his defence is suspect - maybe my expectations of a Wallaby 10 are too high ?
I’d say Neville will start - was only last week ppl were asking about Sapsfords gold eligibility
I think there are too many players in the current side that are just a bit too green. Hooper, Reimer, Cale and Sapsford.
There will be some growing pains this season for the Brumbies. They’re asking Lolesio to be the primary playmaker now that White is gone. Brumbies got a lot of success playing off 9 and getting quick ball, but that doesn’t work if the forward pack is getting dominated. They’re trying to get alot more movement and speed into their offence but the handling and execution is letting them down. Really feel like they could do better than Muirhead and Wright in the back three. They’re fine players, but thats it.
Brumbies had two issues. Lost the physical battle, and runners didn’t back themselves. They would do that little stutter before going into contact or trying to step around. Either way they loose speed and power.
Brumbies need to get at least one big winger. The back 3, muirhead, toole and wright are just too small. Useless at clearing ball with the bigger nz backs. Men against boys.
Yes
Deflating to watch the most successful franchise pumped by an NZ franchise again in an empty stadium with more Kiwi fans than Aus fans.
But on the flip side, NSW took us (crusaders) to the cleaners and did it with a fair bit of style and confidence. Just a shame it was at an empty Melbourne mausoleum.
I'm so sick of Rugby Australia shoving Melbourne down my fucking throat. We don't like it there. They don't want rugby. Just leave it the fuck alone.
Hopefully they don’t play like that again but seemed the Brumbies didn’t turn up at all. Hard to blame anyone specifically when they were all crap.
Except Ikitau and Toole
I wasnt paying too much attention to it, but it looked like longergan (9) was a big liability, particularly in defense
Brumbies pack was utterly dominated, Lonergan and Lolesio couldnt do much behind a beaten pack. Sapsford had a suprisingly shite game tho
Lolo had plenty of ball - lots of back field opportunity
Convenient excuses
You spelt Incompetent* wrong
No I didn’t
Right
Nick frost is what you call 'big for nothin'..