Aussie Club Grades - Week 18
There is only one week left of the Super Rugby season. For some teams the end can’t come soon enough, for others the records came tumbling at the weekend and their form might bring a few surprises. Here are how the Australian teams graded this week:
Reds – A
It has been a tough 2018 for the Reds. Brad Thorn has overseen a huge transition in the roster but they have had some big results. Friday night saw them pick up one of those results. They came from behind to beat the Rebels at Suncorp in a vital match for the Melbournians but a game in which there was nothing but pride to play for. They showed heart, determination and no shortage of skill in the win. Finish the season well next week and they will have some momentum to carry into next campaign.
Rebels – E
They blew it. It was probably only a small chance that they could make the finals with the Waratahs final two games at home but this was as huge occasion for the Rebels, arguably one of their biggest games and they simply wilted. They somehow went in at half-time behind after recovering from the penalty try but they seemed to visibly freeze in the second half, which is a surprise with some of the experience they have in their team such as Reece Hodge, Dane Haylett-Petty and Marika Koroibete. One game left then time to regroup and go again next season.
Brumbies – B
Having been kept scoreless in the first half this could have been a thrashing but just like last week against the Hurricanes, the Brumbies gave their fans hope for the future, nearly snatching it in the second half but getting a good bonus point. After the torrid time that Australian teams have had against Kiwi sides for the past few seasons, the Brumbies have run a few close away from home and beating the Hurricanes last week with a great performance was a huge fillet for them. Their season is ending at the wrong time, and they are paying the price for a poor start to the season.
Waratahs – A
It can’t be anything less. They were up against a Sunwolves team that gave everything in the first half and ran out of energy in the second, which was compounded by Semisi Masiwera’s red card just before half time but the ‘Tahs could only beat what was in front of them and beat them they did. Their 77 points is a franchise record in Super Rugby and Taqele Naiyarovoro’s 14th try of the season made him the single season record try scorer, overtaking team mate Israel Folau’s best effort of 12 in 2016. It looks as though the Waratahs will have a home final in a couple of weeks and a bit of momentum behind them as long as they beat the Brumbies next week, no team will want to play them in Sydney at the moment.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments