1
The Brumbies outline where they must improve to beat Chiefs
While a 27-point win over the Rebels looks good on paper, the ACT Brumbies were far from happy with their opening Super Rugby Pacific match and are out to make amends in Melbourne on Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Brumbies will face the Chiefs at AAMI Park as part of Super Round, with all 12 teams in action there over the weekend.
The Chiefs were also first-round winners, exacting some revenge from last year’s grand-final loss to the Crusaders.
Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa said the scoreline against the Rebels at the same venue had flattered his team and they’d identified areas for improvement.
Among the telling statistics the Canberra team missed 42 tackles and conceded a whopping 20 penalties.
“The score was good and we scored some points off some individual brilliance there with Charlie Cale and and Corey Toole, but there’s definitely plenty to work on and that’s something that we’ve touched on throughout the week,” the injured prop told AAP.
“We’re in for a massive game on Sunday – the Chiefs played really well against the Crusaders and that was a great game – so we’ve spoken about a lot of areas that we need to improve that will be key for us.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Penalties have been a massive point for us especially ones that we can control around the ruck area, so we need to make sure we’re better there because that could definitely hurt us this weekend.
“That’s an area we’ve focused for this match and through the season.”
Playing at No.8, Cale had a breakout Super match scoring two tries including one where the 23-year-old kicked ahead down the sideline and regathered to touch down.
Alaalatoa said he wasn’t surprised by the athleticism of the Dubbo product, who has replaced France-based former Wallaby Pete Samu at the back of the scrum.
“It wasn’t a surprise to me because he’s been delivering that training for the last couple of years and been learning a lot off Pete (Samu) and has been biding his time,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Some of the stuff he does, he has a skill-set of another back.”
Rupturing his Achilles during a Bledisloe Cup match last July, Alaalatoa has been working his way back to fitness and said he hoped to start running next week, targeting a return to Super Rugby in late April.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy 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!
5 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 …
33 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.
5 Go to comments