skeepe
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Just got back from the Brumbies vs Waratahs trial at Viking Park... boy what a snoozer.
Waratahs won 15-7 in a game marred by one of the worst refereeing performances I've ever seen.
Honestly, at one point it seemed like he didn't even know the lineout laws. The Waratahs kicked it out, Brumbies took a quick lineout and kicked it out downfield, but the linesman didn't like something so called it back. It looked like the referee was aware of the linesman's call at first, but a couple of Waratahs, oblivious, took a quick lineout themselves from the kick by the Brumbies, and set off downfield with nobody in front of them as the whole Brumbies team is setting for the original lineout. All of a sudden, the referee sprints over to where the Waratahs are running the ball in for a try, and looks set to unbelievably award one, before seeming to remember the original ruling by the linesman and bringing play back for a Brumbies lineout.
Absolutely farcical. That wasn't the worst part though, although I really think that the worst parts of his performance were where he was probably applying the laws to the letter. It's really not his fault that the Northern Hemisphere arseholes ensured the death of the ELVs that made the game so much better last year, but if this is the way the Super 14 is going to be officiated this season, I really don't think it's going to be all that watchable.
As for the two teams, it actually looked as though the Brumbies were the better team for most of the match, just lacking execution at crucial moments. Josh Valentine looks like he's going to be an awesome pickup, he had a great game. If it weren't for dropped balls with the line begging, or passes to open men going behind them or in front of them, the Brumbies would have won by 30. Lineouts were absolutely woeful, I think they only won about 30% of their own ball which is something that needs urgent attention, and they kept getting penalised for collapsing the scrum, although it appeared that NSW were equally at fault, but they got off scot free. The Brumbies were more interested in working on combinations than winning, never once taking the easy shot at penalty goal despite having 4 or 5 penalties 10 metres out right in front. If their attack clicks, they'll be unstoppable, especially from broken play.
NSW were largely unimpressive, although their on-goal defence was top-notch and the backline - when it got any ball, which was extremely rarely - really clicked well. If they can get the ball to the backs more often, they're going to be a great team to watch. Looked a lot sharper with Berrick Barnes at fly-half than when the 21, Ben Seymour I think his name was, took over. Nemani Nadolo looked really impressive as well. Overall though they really struggled, Phil Waugh looked really out of sorts (highlight was seeing him get flattened by a one-handed palm from Alfi Mafi) and they struggled to get the ball out to their impressive backline. When they did, the backline looked great but on initial impressions it looks like it'll be the same problems they had last year where the backs stood catching a cold for most of the match.
I think there's a lot of improvement left in both teams, but the feeling leaving the game was that I really fear for the future of the sport if dour contests with 40 penalties like this one become the norm.
Waratahs won 15-7 in a game marred by one of the worst refereeing performances I've ever seen.
Honestly, at one point it seemed like he didn't even know the lineout laws. The Waratahs kicked it out, Brumbies took a quick lineout and kicked it out downfield, but the linesman didn't like something so called it back. It looked like the referee was aware of the linesman's call at first, but a couple of Waratahs, oblivious, took a quick lineout themselves from the kick by the Brumbies, and set off downfield with nobody in front of them as the whole Brumbies team is setting for the original lineout. All of a sudden, the referee sprints over to where the Waratahs are running the ball in for a try, and looks set to unbelievably award one, before seeming to remember the original ruling by the linesman and bringing play back for a Brumbies lineout.
Absolutely farcical. That wasn't the worst part though, although I really think that the worst parts of his performance were where he was probably applying the laws to the letter. It's really not his fault that the Northern Hemisphere arseholes ensured the death of the ELVs that made the game so much better last year, but if this is the way the Super 14 is going to be officiated this season, I really don't think it's going to be all that watchable.
As for the two teams, it actually looked as though the Brumbies were the better team for most of the match, just lacking execution at crucial moments. Josh Valentine looks like he's going to be an awesome pickup, he had a great game. If it weren't for dropped balls with the line begging, or passes to open men going behind them or in front of them, the Brumbies would have won by 30. Lineouts were absolutely woeful, I think they only won about 30% of their own ball which is something that needs urgent attention, and they kept getting penalised for collapsing the scrum, although it appeared that NSW were equally at fault, but they got off scot free. The Brumbies were more interested in working on combinations than winning, never once taking the easy shot at penalty goal despite having 4 or 5 penalties 10 metres out right in front. If their attack clicks, they'll be unstoppable, especially from broken play.
NSW were largely unimpressive, although their on-goal defence was top-notch and the backline - when it got any ball, which was extremely rarely - really clicked well. If they can get the ball to the backs more often, they're going to be a great team to watch. Looked a lot sharper with Berrick Barnes at fly-half than when the 21, Ben Seymour I think his name was, took over. Nemani Nadolo looked really impressive as well. Overall though they really struggled, Phil Waugh looked really out of sorts (highlight was seeing him get flattened by a one-handed palm from Alfi Mafi) and they struggled to get the ball out to their impressive backline. When they did, the backline looked great but on initial impressions it looks like it'll be the same problems they had last year where the backs stood catching a cold for most of the match.
I think there's a lot of improvement left in both teams, but the feeling leaving the game was that I really fear for the future of the sport if dour contests with 40 penalties like this one become the norm.