Super 14 Rugby 2010

G.Wood wrote:jeez the tahs give rugby a bad name.

I've even preferred to watch the reds win this year to sitting through 80 minutes of their trash

aye, they were gash.

My observations fwiw;

HTF Palau & Carter have professional football careers is beyond anything that I can comprehend.

They need a passing halfback. Anything the current clown can offer with his running is well & truly offset by his jolting delivery.

Make Barnes or Robinson the captain immediately & look for an escape Clause in Waugh's contract.

They should have tried to poach Genia instead of Barnes (or quite possible as well as)

Barnes re-signs with Waratahs GREG GROWDEN (from SMH)
March 8, 2010 - 2:47PM
Berrick Barnes re-signed with the Waratahs for another year.

The Wallaby vice-captain signed a two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union through to the conclusion of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand but had originally only agreed to terms with the Waratahs for the 2010 season.

Barnes’s decision to stay on until the end of 2011 has ended speculation that he would join the new franchise Melbourne Rebels.

‘‘You weigh up everything that’s put in front of you and in the end I know its definitely the right decision to stay at the Tahs,’’ said Barnes

‘‘I’m glad I have made the call and I don’t have to worry about it anymore.’’

‘‘I’ve really enjoyed the culture here, thus far. It’s been a tough four weeks but I feel as if the squad is moving in the right direction and it is something I feel excited about being a part of for another year.

‘‘New South Wales definitely has a winning culture and there’s a high expectation of success both internally and externally, which drives you as a player.’’

Barnes had been a prime recruiting target for the new Melbourne Rebels franchise which joins the competition next year but they said they withdrew because he only wanted to do one-season deal.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said Barnes’ impact on the squad had been immediate and his recommitment augurs well for the future of the team.

‘‘Everyone knows what a quality person Berrick is both on and off the field so it’s obvious we’re really happy to have him on board again in 2011,’’ Hickey said.

‘‘As soon as Berrick joined us, he slotted into the culture seamlessly and spent a lot of time in the pre-season working with the younger inside backs to help them with their development.

‘‘It’s great that he has his future sorted now and can just concentrate on his rugby.’’
with AAP

Brumbies scrape through against the Sharks.

JGK wrote:Brumbies scrape through against the Sharks.

With their three leading try scorers this season all being forwards. Weird.

The McKenzie factor. I'm lovin' it.

I went to the Force game on Saturday

No commentary and the screen was too far away to guess what the penalties were for ...plus I dont know the rules anyway

Any body who saw the game ...and knows something about rugby....

Were the Force smashed by the referee or were they ill disciplined and rightly penalised ?

That Force v Tahs match was just about the worst game of rugby I have seen at this level.

I did walk out and say to my mate it was like watching Richmond vs Freo

ill disciplined and rightly penalised

Thanks Mick

Farquen idiot players ...hopefully Mitchell kicks them up the arse for it

As per history - Smith looks like having a good first year at the Roosters - history then predicts a downhill run till he is sacked.

Oops - wrong thread.

Wrong thread?

embee wrote:Thanks Mick

Farquen idiot players ...hopefully Mitchell kicks them up the arse for it

It's tough to control injuries and it can be very tough to recruit and maintain talent. The obvious offset available to Mitchell is superior fitness. Fatigue leads to dumb decisions and extraordinary endurance presents another way of winning.

Mick Sawyer wrote:

embee wrote:Thanks Mick

Farquen idiot players ...hopefully Mitchell kicks them up the arse for it

It's tough to control injuries and it can be very tough to recruit and maintain talent. The obvious offset available to Mitchell is superior fitness. Fatigue leads to dumb decisions and extraordinary endurance presents another way of winning.

Should be interesting with the new franchise next year, Mick.

I'm led to believe that several players at the Force are on contracts allowing them to negotiate with 'any other Australian franchise' for 2011. The Wozzies may be in deep shtook.

Should be interesting with the new franchise next year, Mick.

Was always going to be in some way/s taips.
They have a couple of real advantages over the wozzies; they are freer to recruit non Aussies, the $A is as strong as it's been in decades.

And they're not light years removed from the rest of the country.

The Force only have about 3 or 4 players worth keeping

OConnor , Pocock Brown and Hodson.

The rest are very replaceable

embee wrote:The Force only have about 3 or 4 players worth keeping

OConnor , Pocock Brown and Hodson.

The rest are very replaceable

Agreed, however McKenzie seems to have found a way of building something with 26 Nevilles & 4 names. The Crusaders do the same thing. Over to you Mitch.

Mick Sawyer wrote:McKenzie seems to have found a way of building something with 26 Nevilles & 4 names.

McQueen did the same thing with the Brumbies.

Be afraid of the Rebels next year.

McQueen did the same thing with the Brumbies.

Yep. He is a fantastic appointment.

Mick Sawyer wrote:

embee wrote:The Force only have about 3 or 4 players worth keeping

OConnor , Pocock Brown and Hodson.

The rest are very replaceable

Agreed, however McKenzie seems to have found a way of building something with 26 Nevilles & 4 names. The Crusaders do the same thing. Over to you Mitch.

It's been nice Mick but Sith Africa beckons.

It's been nice Mick but Sith Africa beckons.

What have I missed?

The Aussie teams, and in particular the Waratahs, will fade in the second half of the season like they always do.