Force v Rebels - Round 5

[Alison]

I don't know if I can do it anymore, this is seriously depressing me

Me too SB, me too :-( I'm ready to pack it in for the sake of my health!

[DazloT]

Btw by no means is Godwin the only problem, just a visible sign to me of a team belief oroblem

[valzc]

Au contraire I thought Kyle and Junior really stepped up tonight - their impact was quite good to me IMHO. The problem seems to be in creating some space to move, and Mitchell looked really good - just bustin for a crack. But my mantra this season is gonna be "give Mafi the ball!"

[boof1050]

Can i please have some of what Val is on!

[Alison]

Kyle needs to get tackled. He seems scared to get tackled on the sideline and grubbers it. Twice in the last two games he has done it on full time and fucked us. His bloody panic station is to grubber, Foley needs to pull him and teach him a lesson.

Rosolea needs to forget stepping, he is not a Kiwi. Straight and hard.

Mitchell Scott needs to start.

Holmes needs to stop going sideways first and take the line on.

Tonight's reserves needs to start next week, they showed the mongrel we expect.

Unfortunately the backline looked better with Sias, when he didn't kick.

Rohan Hoffman needs to go back to Portugal and start referring soccer.

Could not agree more!

[Dom15]

Gigs20,
Law 9 b states that players must not handle the ball in the scrum or pick it up with their legs.
Law 9 c states that players must not try to win the ball in the scrum by using any part of their body except their foot or lower leg.
Check the tape around the 71 minute mark - the ball is not at his feet to pick up, and he is reaching into the scrum.

[Alison]

Higgers is the dirtiest player in the game!!

[shasta]

Shasta are you KG's mum or sister? Next time your buttering his toast can you please ask him to not try to chip or grubber kick the ball and pass it to the kind honey badger on the outside who can then teach him how to use it wisely.

Yeah nah.

[chibi]

I wonder if Alby Mathewson can play fly-half?

Higgers is the dirtiest player in the game!!

Ha! And here I was, thinking it was Dave Dennis!

[Burgs]

I can handle a player like Mafi making the odd mistake because he is making an impact and busting the line more often than making a mistake.
Wykes on the other hand is not.
He is so out of form that he shouldn't even be starting, let alone attempting to play 80.
As a player, to look up 0-12 after 22' and see your Captain walking around blowing with his hands on his hips, you'd have to think "We're fucked...". After 10 years he is our first mistake as Captain and for one of several reasons Hodgo can't return soon enough.
After tonight's display Foley has to go to Coleman or (Fitness status?) Steenkamp to demonstrate everyone is accountable for their own performance.
I was impressed by the endeavour of Heiberg in a lost cause and, while he continues to have brainfarts, you couldn't ask for more passion than you get from Hoskins.

Now the Backs...oh boy...
I can't imagine Junior getting out of bed without doing a goosestep!!! FFS champ, you are a one trick pony and guess what, the opposition know what it is. Here's an idea to catch them napping, TRY RUNNING THE FUCKING BALL AT PACE!!! You just might make the gain line for once...

We have far too many light, playmaker type players out of position.
All fair to good as individuals playing were they have been developed but no show against hit up players like Ellison and Inman.
Inman, jeezsus what would we give to have him still here at this point (and in the Forwards don't even get me started on losing 50 Cap Jones...).
For mine, despite an unfortunate "in the air" penalty, Brache continues to impress and might justify a dabble at 13 or 15.
Badger was probably at 50% for his own standard but did some stand out defensive work and at least went looking for work.

Overall a very frustrating affair and without a major arse tearing and rejigging by Foley, we are in for a very difficult tour of the Republic.

[SNOB]

God I hateFriday night rugby. It leaves you with the whole weekend to be depressed!

[SinBin]

Speaking of scrums, why was Higginbotham not penalised on a couple of occasions towards the end of the game, ...

Agreed, but we could do with a smart player like him, pushing the boundaries and getting away with it... He should've been binned towards the end when he stopped Prior taking a quick tap close to the try line - cynical.

[Alison]

God I hateFriday night rugby. It leaves you with the whole weekend to be depressed!

Same. And with today's weather forecast, I might just stay in bed all day :-(

[The InnFORCEr]

My highlight was watching my mates boy playing at half time, those kids really showed some endeavour and perhaps our men need to hang about at half time and get some lessons in passion.

[Ralto]

Higgers is the dirtiest player in the game!!

The "physical" part of the game is missing from the Force, Timani, and to a lesser degree Higginbuttock tore the Force a new one at the breakdown - the stats might not support it, but the physical approach worked last night. Not to say the chap who swung his arm and smashed Pek deserves any accolades. It's a part of the game that is just missing from Wykes. I think the Force were just as bad as this after the first few matches last year, then someone flicked the switch, hoping it happens soon.