No bonus for Brumbies
10 Feb 2006
The Brumbies beat the Force 25-10 in front of 35 000 fans at Subiaco Oval, but failed to get the bonus point for four tries.
The Brumbies were expected to gallop around the Perth pitch, but barely got past a trot. The Canberra-based franchise has stubbornly stuck with the game plan that won them two Super 12 titles, but their phase play has become predictable. In fact, the scariest thing about the 2006 Brumbies is the new hairstyle of coach ‘Gandalf’ Fisher.
The Force came out firing in the first half, and their early display was typical of a new franchise playing in front of their home crowd for the first time. However, it was never going to last and John Mitchell’s men were eventually trampled by the more street-wise Brumbies.
The Brumbies only led 8-3 at the break, but blew two try-scoring opportunities when winger Clyde Rathbone knocked on with the tryline in sight and fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper held on when he had an overlap out wide. The Brumbies’ only first-half try came from a Force mistake, when a pass from scrumhalf Matt Henjak was intercepted by lock Mark Chisholm, who ran 50m to score.
The Force missed 18 tackles in the first 40 minutes and should have been buried by the break. Instead, former Australian U19 flyhalf Scott Daruda was successful with his second attempt at goal to reduce the deficit to five. The Force were also kept in the game by the whistle of Stuart Dickinson, who sent Brumbies flank Julian Salvi to the sin bin on the half-hour mark.
When the history of the Force is told one day, there will be a special section dedicated to their first try in the Super 14. It came five minutes into the second half, when former Taranaki fullback James Hilgendorf broke through the Brumbies defence and offloaded to left wing Digby Loane, who found Matthew Hodgson on his inside. The flank passed to Henjak who gave No 8 Scott Fava the try-scoring pass. Daruda converted and the Force had a shock 10-8 lead.
Like a No 11 batsman who gets past 10 and starts dreaming of 50, the Force began to believe that an upset victory was possible. However, it was the Brumbies who scored next when the ball was swung wide to replacement loose forward Joe Tawake, who put Joel Wilson away in the corner.
Two minutes later, a simple backline move from a scrum saw Matt Giteau score his side’s third try and at 22-10 the Brumbies had ridden off into the sunset, albeit with a slight hobble.
SCORERS:
Force – Try: Scott Fava. Conversion: Scott Daruda. Penalty: Daruda.
Brumbies – Tries: Mark Chisholm, Joel Wilson, Matt Giteau. Conversions: Stirling Mortlock (2) Penalties: Mortlock (2).
40 Comments
10 Feb 2006, 15:08 pm
so, maybe this year it will be aussie teams propping up the log. one can always dream.
10 Feb 2006, 15:09 pm
Doesn’t really matter if you dont get any bonus points for a away win… Youmust get bonus points at home though
10 Feb 2006, 15:13 pm
Lovely picked the Brumbies by 15, should do wonders after this mornings little hiccup.
10 Feb 2006, 15:20 pm
i saw RedCard, i got them by 11
10 Feb 2006, 15:21 pm
considering the poor pre season form and most of the team were in quarantine this week you have to take it.
10 Feb 2006, 15:25 pm
Freakkin Hell, it could turn out that only one home team wins this weekend. Cant really see the Saders losing at home. But then again…
10 Feb 2006, 15:28 pm
that’s what you gotta love about round one … it is always hit and miss.
The good thing is the Cheetahs/Bulls are likely to produce the best of the three games as the other two were ordinary
10 Feb 2006, 15:36 pm
Good call RedCard .. now we just hold thumbs for the Cats tomorrow … good weekend everyone …
10 Feb 2006, 15:37 pm
so the second blue shirt team lost – 3 in a row anyone?
10 Feb 2006, 15:44 pm
bulls to hit and cheetahs to miss.
sorry PA, sri lanka in blue beat aus in yellow / orange.
10 Feb 2006, 15:44 pm
and sri lanka were underdogs, like the bulls. seeing as the cheetah holds the cup and all
10 Feb 2006, 15:44 pm
Fairly ordinary game to say the least. Looks like Gregans main comp for the Wallabies is Giteau if Knuckles wants to try him there which he damm well should.
10 Feb 2006, 15:46 pm
damn jusm,
had to come and spoil the fun now.
i cant wait for this one – going to be a cracker – and i guess a lot of bruised bodies.
extremely difficult to call this one.
10 Feb 2006, 15:50 pm
i know PA i am sweating like a pig. so hard to call, should be real close. on the udder hand, one team could score a couple of quick tries, you just don’t know. start of the season like keo said.
i’m obviously hoping for the quick blue tries scenario
as for your boys tomoz, gotta say i’m not too bothered either way. hoping for a good game i suppose. will pick who i support when the game starts. as long as rugby is the winner. lol
10 Feb 2006, 15:53 pm
You can’t expect fireworks in the first round! All the sides are going to be a bit rusty. I expect three weeks into the comp sides should be firing on all four.
Considering the Brumbies were flattened with a bug during the week, and played 10 minutes without a man, their win was not too bad. They should, like all other teams, improve over the next two weeks.
10 Feb 2006, 15:53 pm
jusm,
i gave it to the cats with 7 or something.
i dont mind an away loss to be honest, but i want to see the T5 and backline shape, thats it.
but if they pull another CPT semi-final display, i will be concentrating on my tipping and fantasy league teams!
10 Feb 2006, 15:57 pm
hehe ja PA, the fantasy rugby does bring another dimension into it. i don’t have internet at home at the mo, which is a pity. last year i spent hours selecting my team. now i have to do it on the sly in the office.
you said cats 10. i said stormers 2.
i’m gonna gou-gou skiet across the road to get some booze for the game. no prizes for guessing what i’m getting. lol.
it’s casual friday and i got my bb shirt on in the heart of sandton. now gonna buy some lekker brannas as well. hehe. gotta love it.
10 Feb 2006, 16:06 pm
enjoy the game – check you on monday
10 Feb 2006, 16:57 pm
I seriously feel negative about this season I dont think the south african teams will do well just a repeat of last season
10 Feb 2006, 17:01 pm
Jason – Dont blame you for feeling negative coz we do kuk every year, maybe they will play better coz of the relegation
10 Feb 2006, 17:03 pm
Jason, we might just be surprised, try and take something away from a Saffa and suddenly the start taking it very personal. We might just pull it out of the bag.
Expect a guy like Jorrie to have a good season, dont laugh, I think he knows that if the Cats get relegated he is f@#$ed cause no other franchise would touch him with a borrowed ****.
10 Feb 2006, 17:44 pm
there is a good article on 365 re first game from coaches view – very good read – it all about taking chances and that’s why the Stormers will win.
10 Feb 2006, 17:56 pm
Any article on Louis Moolman passing away?
10 Feb 2006, 18:03 pm
yep go to supersport site they give details – sorry for the Bulls fans on this and there big game tonight too.
10 Feb 2006, 18:05 pm
Can’t understand how the Brumbies are still considered as possible semi contenders. They epitomise the current state of Australian rugby, and if it weren’t for the Farce, they would be at the bottom of the heap of the aussie sides.
It was only a few lucky ref decisions that got them a few home wins last year that kept them in the running, and this year they should be targetted by all SA sides as a definite win!
10 Feb 2006, 18:10 pm
Anyone see this from ARU;
Australians reveal inferiority complex
AUSTRALIAN players have overlooked homegrown stars to name three New Zealand heroes as the most feared and respected figures in the Super 14.
An exclusive poll by the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) – involving more than 120 players contracted to Australia’s four provincial teams – has turned up results suggesting the Australian game is in the grip of an inferiority complex.
The survey probed opinions on a broad range of topics, from the dirtiest players to the least liked grounds and the worst referees, and predictions on who would finish with the wooden spoon and this year’s Australian rookie of the year award.
But key questions surrounding toughness and the esteem in which Australian players hold domestic and foreign opponents revealed a three-ringed aura over All Blacks Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw and retired skipper Tana Umaga.
Invited to vote for any player in the tournament RUPA members plumped overwhelmingly for Umaga as their most respected opponent.
The veteran centre received 27 per cent of the ballot, ahead of back rower McCaw with 16 per cent. Wallabies five-eighth Stephen Larkham was the best-placed Australian, in equal third position with 6 per cent, alongside All Blacks pivot Dan Carter.
Of the 121 players surveyed, 81 answered the “most respected” question, and Wallabies skipper George Gregan received just one vote. South Africa skipper John Smith failed to poll at all.
The “most feared player” category produced a Kiwi trifecta.
Back rower Collins was a convincing winner with 26 per cent of the vote, followed by Umaga on 10 per cent. McCaw finished third.
New South Wales centre Lote Tuqiri was the only Australian player to receive a vote from outside his home state.
Jerry Collins 54 per cent
Sam Tuitoupou 12 per cent
Oli Avei 4 per cent
Eighteen of 25 NSW players went for Collins while another New Zealander, centre Sam Tuitupou, finished second in the overall count. Tuitupou has shifted from the Blues to the Chiefs.
Rookie Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, who will come off the bench for NSW against Queensland tomorrow night, was the only Australian to attract a vote from outside his own state.
Dirtiest player
De Wet Barry 14 per cent
Bakkies Botha 12.5 per cent
Troy Flavell 11 per cent
While the Kiwis scooped the pool on respect, the South Africans dominated the ugly on-field behaviour category.
Springboks centre De Wet Barry, captain of the Stormers this season, topped the poll ahead of Test second rower Bakkies Botha.
Barry has been constantly under the spotlight for high shots in midfield, while Botha was at the centre of biting and gouging allegations in a Brisbane Test against the Wallabies three seasons back.
Another player with a chequered past, former All Blacks forward Troy Flavell, returns to Super 14 this season after a stint in Japan. He finished third in the ballot, just ahead of Springboks veteran A.J. Venter.
10 Feb 2006, 18:11 pm
Also one now on 365 but better one is the one on supersport
10 Feb 2006, 18:15 pm
Wow and I was thinking that England had the dirty players!!!
10 Feb 2006, 18:15 pm
Obviously an indication of the Aussie psyche which will hopefully be exploited by SA teams this year. After all, our Boks played them into the ground.
Go Bakkies! 3 seasons back and they are still harping on about it! What a joke. Plus the whole De Wet story, must just be intimidated by him. Reminds me of when Butch James was targetted out of the game.
10 Feb 2006, 18:17 pm
Yep they must have forgotten Jappie when he broke DWB jaw
10 Feb 2006, 18:23 pm
Looks like SA rugby has jumped above the OZies so it looks like they will be holding up the log this year
10 Feb 2006, 18:28 pm
Yep, hope so. Typical Oz mind-games though, guess if you can’t play your the game on the field then one resorts to trying to get an edge off the field.
10 Feb 2006, 18:38 pm
I reckon the Waratahs are the only team that isn’t going to embarrass itself this year. The Brumbies, Reds and Farce should be in the bottom half of the table.
10 Feb 2006, 18:39 pm
So true Wolverine, they’re always very loud off the field and then don’t show the goods when it really matters
10 Feb 2006, 18:41 pm
Cheetahs 36 Bulls 31
10 Feb 2006, 20:17 pm
If all the home teams lose this weekend, then bring on the Super14. Saders at home, well, they usually start the season off with a loss or a bad win and end it the way we all expect them too. Go Highlanders, hoping for a repeat of 2005 NPC Semi-final game.
11 Feb 2006, 01:21 am
Surprised Justin Harrison did not make the dirtiest player list. DWB, yes, Flavell, yes, A.J. yes, where is Harrison?
11 Feb 2006, 01:23 am
My toughest players would be:
Jerry Collins
Schalk Burger
Richie McCaw
Sam Tuitupou
11 Feb 2006, 04:00 am
CSI, Harrison is playing for Ulster.
11 Feb 2006, 05:53 am
Jeremy Paul out of tour to SA with a calf injury.
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