Force v Bulls Round 6

[valzc]

FFS - how does that happen? Why did the Force cop all the muppets this season?

[blueandblack]

And in other news. Ref Nick Briant is looking to clock up his 50th penalty against the Force this week.

and George Ayoub as TMO again?

[SinBin]

Well, we've just got to be a whole lot smarter than last week on how we handle Briant.

[GIGS20]

Well, we've just got to be a whole lot smarter than last week on how we handle Briant.

Agreed, it's time we stopped worrying about which ref we get and play so well he can't touch us.

The crusaders and the All Blacks have been doing it for years

[Ralto]

Sheez.. tough crowd on the player votes for the Bulls game. Discipline aside, I think it was a great performance all round.

Too true, I had it down for a 50 point landslide. I hope it's a turning point.

[Nipper]

I don't think it's that Moono, It's not like he was given the ball and did nothing with it, he wasn't given the ball.

It might be something to do with a centre pairing that's still in flux, maybe once everybody's comfortable and the teams humming we'll see more of him, Maybe missing the pre-season and playing in Japan sees him out of position more than we need.

I agree that we need more from our wingers, not sure what.
Perhaps the wingers need to look for more work?
Perhaps they should do more with the counter attack. If they're not in the general play, they should have the energy to get behind the footy and run it hard on the counter?
Maybe the inside backs don't trust them?

More questions than answers unfortunately.

I think it's a combo of the center pairing finding their feet, and the wingers not looking for work. The one (I think it was the only) time Marcel came infield, he made a great break.

At a time when we're struggling to break the line (Bulls game notwithstanding), you'd think they'd have at strong runner like Badger coming in off the blind wing, in the same vein as the Barbarians game.

[The InnFORCEr]

we get what we deserve, unfortunately

Does that mean the Sharks are not getting what they deserve

[travelling_gerry]

Agreed, it's time we stopped worrying about which ref we get and play so well he can't touch us.

The crusaders and the All Blacks have been doing it for years

Agreed, but if you were to break down his penalty count then its badly skewed that he is only looking at the Force and not the opposition. We need to get away to a fast start and LOOK impressive and maybe he will look to the other side.

[brokendown gunfighter]

Does that mean the Sharks are not getting what they deserve

sometimes they do throw a ref to the sharks.

2 red cards and you get Briant!

[GIGS20]

sometimes they do throw a ref to the sharks.

2 red cards and you get Briant!

So he can give more red cards to you because he's a whistle happy twat?

Sounds like a never ending cycle.

[andrewg]

Have only now watched the game.
Absolutely gutted by the result and our poor discipline.
22 Penalties to 10 and 2 Yellow Cards.
Briant wasn't the problem. Only ourselves to blame.
Penalty Goals - 1 from 4.
Despite all of the above should not have lost this one - esp with 2 mins to go.
Ongoing improvement, BUT...............
Bulls have got problems if that's the best they can do at home.

Ruck stats as below:

Attachment 3740

Attachment 3741

PS. I can't count time on bench as playing time.

[palitu]

seems like there were less people just hanging off a ruck, which probably showed in the score.

[GIGS20]

Is Luke Burton the only back mentioned because he was the only one to hit a ruck or was he just a notable stand-out performance.

To be involved in 13 rucks when three of our forwards have done the same amount of work (in roughly the tame time) is impressive from a back. All three of those forwards are front rowers as well!

Even Sam (who had a great game with workrate and impact) only hit 4 more than Burto with similar impact rates, not bad for a little bloke.

Nice to see everybody standing up and making a difference where it counted!

[andrewg]

Hi Gigs

Burton rates a mention as he was the standout Back - who competes way above his weight!.

Other double digits by Ebersohn and Cummins (when he wasn't playing the "Invisible Man").

[Tonkar]

I am with others about negative threads written here picking on individual players I Have been at times harsh and take some blame that I've written a few posts with some negative manner..

I have only watched the 2nd half of the game and would like to congratulate the team on a gusty show against the Bulls in SA.
Players must have a troll here watching the posts as man everyone stood up when required in some way.. No it wasn't the best game we seen but players looked interested in the game.. They did somethings different changed game plans for good for worse but they tried..
As for the reffing, as said above lets just get ahead of the officals and work out how they ref and play to it.. Maybe some training videos should be just on the ref and his history of games and not the upcoming team. We have shown we can beat any team so lets now try and beat the ref..