Australian Club Grades Week Five

A superb week for the Australian teams in Super Rugby this week. It isn’t often in the recent memory that you can say that. Here are the grades from the weekend:

Brumbies – B

A much needed win for the Brumbies in their first home game of the season. It could have been less nerve-wracking were it not for a late try conceded and some heavy pressure after that but a win is a win.

Another 2 tries scored but a pleasing stat would be that their kicking off the tee was the difference here after a couple of bad weeks kicking for points.

Reds – A

The Reds succeeded where the Waratahs failed last week and came away from Buenos Aires with the victory. Brad Thorn’s young side continue to defy their doubters and picked up their third consecutive win.

After conceding an early try – and given what happened to the Tahs last week – you would have been forgiven for thinking that the Reds might succumb to the same fate but after Nicholas Sanchez kicked an 8^th minute penalty they did not concede another point, their defence and discipline was superb.

Waratahs – A

This could have been a very different story after 35 minutes of the game. The Rebels led 20-3 and the Waratahs were making error after error and being shredded at every opportunity.

Whatever Daryl Gibson said at half time worked as they scored 41 points in the second half and played some scintillating rugby. A great comeback after last week in Argentina

Rebels – D

They simply fell apart in the second half. Bringing an unbeaten record to Sydney they started off like a team bristling with confidence. Their first try was luck but it was aggressive defence and strong running that earned them their half time lead.

The second half will be one that they would like to forget in a hurry although they did score four tries again. A big test of character will now be how they respond next week at home against the Sharks.