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Aussie Rugby grades - Week 19

That’s a wrap for the Regular season for Super Rugby 2018. A season to forget for most of the Australian teams.

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Here is how the teams finished the season:

Reds – A

Another game where the Sunwolves were the victims of a very soft red card. That being said, the Reds put them to the sword. Not in the same fashion as the Waratahs last week but the scored 26 points in the second half. 6 wins this season is their best return from a season for 5 years so Brad Thorn will hope to continue the upward trajectory

Queensland Reds 2018 season review

Rebels – C

So close but yet so far from the Rebels. I thought they had thrown away their chance of finals rugby with their defeat last week at the Reds and it turned out that was a crucial defeat. Had they beaten the Highlanders then they would have qualified for the finals for the first time and despite 27 points from Reece Hodge, including 2 charge down tries and holding a lead 34-22 in the second half they left with only a losing bonus point. This meant that they had to rely on other results going their way which didn’t happen, so it was a case of ‘What if’ for the men from Melbourne.

Melbourne Rebels 2018 season review

Waratahs – D

Once again they scored a lot of points at home but the ‘Tahs will be looking at the game with the Highlanders with a sense of trepidation after the Brumbies, at times, tore them apart in Sydney on Saturday night. They conceded 3 tries in the opening 20 minutes to really put themselves under pressure. A win would have guaranteed 2nd spot and home finals matches until at least the semi-final but their performance didn’t warrant it and now they will have to do it the hard way should they make the big dance.

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Brumbies – A

On the other end of the spectrum are the men from the capital. After the Rebels bonus point in New Zealand earlier they knew that they were unable to sneak into the finals but that didn’t stop them performing superbly. Other teams will be breathing a huge sigh of relief the Brumbies will not be involved in the finals as they are in red hot form and playing some good rugby. It is a big summer for them to keep hold of the majority of this squad and add a couple of payers. If they do that and carry the momentum from the end of this season then they will be a force to be reckoned with.

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Brumbies 2018 season review

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Nickers 28 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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