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Aussie Rugby grades - Week 19

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That’s a wrap for the Regular season for Super Rugby 2018. A season to forget for most of the Australian teams.

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Here is how the teams finished the season:

Reds – A

Another game where the Sunwolves were the victims of a very soft red card. That being said, the Reds put them to the sword. Not in the same fashion as the Waratahs last week but the scored 26 points in the second half. 6 wins this season is their best return from a season for 5 years so Brad Thorn will hope to continue the upward trajectory

Queensland Reds 2018 season review

Rebels – C

So close but yet so far from the Rebels. I thought they had thrown away their chance of finals rugby with their defeat last week at the Reds and it turned out that was a crucial defeat. Had they beaten the Highlanders then they would have qualified for the finals for the first time and despite 27 points from Reece Hodge, including 2 charge down tries and holding a lead 34-22 in the second half they left with only a losing bonus point. This meant that they had to rely on other results going their way which didn’t happen, so it was a case of ‘What if’ for the men from Melbourne.

Melbourne Rebels 2018 season review

Waratahs – D

Once again they scored a lot of points at home but the ‘Tahs will be looking at the game with the Highlanders with a sense of trepidation after the Brumbies, at times, tore them apart in Sydney on Saturday night. They conceded 3 tries in the opening 20 minutes to really put themselves under pressure. A win would have guaranteed 2nd spot and home finals matches until at least the semi-final but their performance didn’t warrant it and now they will have to do it the hard way should they make the big dance.

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Brumbies – A

On the other end of the spectrum are the men from the capital. After the Rebels bonus point in New Zealand earlier they knew that they were unable to sneak into the finals but that didn’t stop them performing superbly. Other teams will be breathing a huge sigh of relief the Brumbies will not be involved in the finals as they are in red hot form and playing some good rugby. It is a big summer for them to keep hold of the majority of this squad and add a couple of payers. If they do that and carry the momentum from the end of this season then they will be a force to be reckoned with.

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Brumbies 2018 season review

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Phantom 2 hours ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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