Brumbies triumph in a thriller 33-31

At the end of the day a win’s a win, especially after shipping a point a minute during the first quarter, but the way they failed to put the Highlanders away (they looked gone for all money after 55 minutes)should worry those in command.

Positives were…George Smith being his usual brilliant self, a scrum that worked, Stephen Moore proving what a great buy he really was, Mortlock being his usual inspiring & brilliant self, Lealifano having a good start to the season.

Negatives….some gaping holes in the backline defence at times, a poor turnout in Dunedin (which is nearly unheard of). Although I don’t believe at all that Rugby is dying a not-so-slow death as Beserk Keyboard Warrior does…I think it has more to do with the fact that Otago are pretty much rated as wooden spooners this year & that perhaps Canberra doesn’t have a monopoly on fickle crowds.

Cast your mind back a few weeks previous to that and we handed them their asses. Not by the same score but still in a dominating fashion.

Last I checked that was also LAST year. From watching every S14 game this year thus far we have nothing to fear from the SA teams. 2 Australian teams winning in NZ with bonus points. Yeah, we’ll all be rrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooned!

to vg..umm, maybe you missed it, but the last time the Wllabies played the Yarpies they kicked our ass big time….does 53-8 ring a bell? I remember it as i was in SA at the time..

I was at the game in Dunedin. Friggin freeeeeeeeezing I tells ya! Still, myself and the other 50 or so people who were there enjoyed a great game. That the South Islanders are rugby mad clearly seems to be a bit of a myth given the pathetic turn-out. Really disappointed at the atmosphere (or lack of it). With 10 minutes to go before kickoff there was literally about 100 people in the stadium and most of them were kids who got in for free.

Rugby is dying a not-so-slow death IMO.

I’d certainly say its a good thing its not on free to air. I watched this at the RUC last night and damm near had a heart attack in the last 5 minutes. I can’t say I know that much about rugby having grown up with AFL in tassie but i thought it was a corker of a game and the atmosphere at the RUC was pretty good too

The defence out wide is a huge concern, but the forwards were winning a lot of lineout and scrum ball as well as driving a mile of territory.

Even at 19-0 down all the stats were Brumby positive, something we had the composure to capitalise on later.

Next week against the ‘Saders at home will be the test I guess.

Ramblingted

To quote something I was told as a 7yo

‘Look at the scoreboard’.

What do the Yarpies have that we should fear, after the Wallabies did them some damage last year?

Given that the Brumbies were nowhere until the Highlanders lost two All Blacks to injury in the first half, I don’t think there is too much to get excited about…except for George, we were soft at the breakdown…Rathdown’s only involvement was to spill a ball in our danger zone, and to attempt to use his head as a speedbump, with obvious and painful results….had it not been for the incomparable Mortlock, we were gone..I fear what the Yarpies will do to us…

crabb said :

Do I presume the Super 14 games are still not available on free-to-air TV?

And probably never will be.

On the bright side it encourages us to go to the pub and meet new people and fans.