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Brumbies vs Waratahs trial

skeepe

Immortal
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48,373
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.
 

skeepe

Immortal
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48,373
Ah turns out it was Kurtley Beale in 21 and not Seymour. Thought it looked like him, but he wasn't named so I wasn't sure.

He was woeful.
 

Bazal

Post Whore
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103,820
Beale is sh*t, we know this. But I'm interested in your thoughts on the decision not to even penalise the Brumbies number 16 for running in to a bit of push and shove, punching a Waratah in the back of the head, and then pulling him away and driving his face into the turf? All less than 5m from a touch judge who looked straight at the events.
 

skeepe

Immortal
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48,373
Beale is sh*t, we know this. But I'm interested in your thoughts on the decision not to even penalise the Brumbies number 16 for running in to a bit of push and shove, punching a Waratah in the back of the head, and then pulling him away and driving his face into the turf? All less than 5m from a touch judge who looked straight at the events.

Hmm, I didn't see that, is that what happened? I'm assuming you're talking about the argy bargy in the first half near the grandstand? Or maybe in the second half around the same area but more towards the corner where the dressing rooms are? I was on the other side of the field near the scoreboard, so didn't see exactly what happened.

If true, then he should have been sent off, no question. I've never been a huge fan of Huia Edmonds in any case, and with Stephen Moore in the team hopefully he gets as little game time as possible.

I'm assuming you were there, so surely you can agree that the officiating as a whole was completely sub-standard.
 

Bazal

Post Whore
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103,820
This incident was the second half in the corner opposite the scoreboard, when Harrison and one of the Tahs (couldn't see who) shaped up. The refereeing was terrible, but don't make it sound like it was biased against the Brumbies or favoured the Waratahs in any way. It was just sh*t, no one benefited.
 

skeepe

Immortal
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48,373
This incident was the second half in the corner opposite the scoreboard, when Harrison and one of the Tahs (couldn't see who) shaped up. The refereeing was terrible, but don't make it sound like it was biased against the Brumbies or favoured the Waratahs in any way. It was just sh*t, no one benefited.

I agreed. Stop trying to find meaning in my words that aren't there.
 

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
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154,199
how come the ref always has a shocker when the Tahs beat the Brumbies skeepe ?
 
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