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Rising line out 40m out..20 sec on clock
Short arm pen to Spirit
Into touch...Game over...Spirit win 20-16
Jono Lance Man of the Match
Great way to start the campaign. Now that scrum has to be fixed if we are going to get any more wins!
May the FORCE be with you!
Scrum was much better in the second half after Ainsley was injured :/
Great day out on the hill despite the weather.
Lads played well, Meakes looks the goods tackles well, breaks well not scared to get involved in the rucks.
Most had good games, standouts for me today were Jono, Brynard, Billy, Hunahunga, Sham, Luke , Joe.
Hopefully the momentum can take us to more than a few wins.
We probably had more offloads and passes sticking than the Force had all season, good effort and due reward.
Great to see a decent crowd on the hill and look forward to the next one at home
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Once again a great day out at the spirit game. I really enjoyed the fast, running, attacking rugby we played. Jono Lance once again controlled the game really well and he seems to get better and better (he just needs to have some time practicing kicking for post). Billy Meakes looks like a fantastic signing, can tackle, has pace, can break the line, gets involved in the ruck. Future force program looks very successful with great games from Onehunga and Vui. Thought stander haad a much improved game, really playing up to 'the rhino' nickname. Morahan's pace came in very useful again. I was very impressed with how Louwrance played, he could definitely by our starting 9 next year. Our back line without DHP, Rona, ect... looked very strong, cant wait to see it with them in the mix.
Did we have a loosie who was fast enough and with enough skills to get out amoung the backs? All the Kiwi sides have and that is one of the big holes in the Force.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
I thought 15 Manihera? Had some great touches as well. Good skills and quick speed. All in all a great game by both sides. Their attitude alone puts the Wobblies to shame.
Scrum got molested but plenty of highlights for the Spirit.
Bill Meakes had a good outing and could be a very good signing.
Jono Lance, Luke Morahan, Manihera eden in green and gold nrc team of the week
Honorable mentions to Billy Meakes and Onehunga Havilli
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc...m-of-the-week/
Who did the work at the breakdown against the Melbourne Rising?
Remember:
1. Early means 1st or 2nd of player’s team AFTER the ball carrier has been tackled and brought to ground.
2. Impact means active engagement: strong physical contact, changed shape of ruck, clean-out, protecting ball etc. (more than hand on someone’s bum or arriving after the hard work has been done). Yes it’s subjective - but as I collect all data at least it’s consistent.
3. Impact DOES NOT equate to Effectiveness. I’ve concluded that coming up with an effectiveness measure is just too hard in the time that I have available – but open to suggestions.
Comments:
1. Good season-opener by the Spirit with a 20:16 win against the Rising – a team with 19 players from the Rebels SR squad (Spirit had 13 from the Force SR squad).
2. The Spirit generally showed quick support – something that was missing in the Force’s game this year.
3. Good step up in involvement in the 2nd half and particularly in the last 10 minutes when the Rising was pressing to get the win.
4. Scoble the stand-out Front Rower. Erasmus some good early involvements.
5. Both Locks, Knapp & Stringer, were consistently involved with strong support of the Spirit’s ball carriers and willingness to pressure the Rising ball carriers..
6. Impressive 40 minute effort by Koteka.
7. Havili maintained strong pressure on the Rising’s ball carriers.
8. Stander a full game effort.
9. Impressive impact off the bench by May – particularly in the closing 10 minutes.
Haven't collected stats from the Rising as just too hard as too many wide angle shots from the single camera coverage.
Last edited by andrewg; 31-08-16 at 13:51.