Games of rugby played in extreme conditions are always rubbish, be it rain, wind, cold or in today’s case, heat. A 36 degree day in Brisbane certainly qualified as being extreme conditions.
At times the game seemed to be just one big knock-on, punctuated with kicks and stoppages in play, the Reds tried to play sexy rugby but it just wasn’t to be.
From the kick-off the over-heating Cheetahs looked as if they were playing for the final whistle. The first half was owned by the Reds who played their usual up-tempo fast break rugby, indeed, the first half stats revealed the Reds had over 70% of possession.
What the Reds did with that possession was an abomination. The Reds, who are serial ‘try bombers’, today found a way to bomb a try that even the most inventive rugby supporter couldn’t predict – a Quade Cooper shoulder charge. Sounds funny, and it was. Indeed most of the game resembled a comedy routine, such was the lack of skill and execution both teams displayed.
The Cooper shoulder charge not only denied the Reds the chance to score a vital four try bonus point, it also denied Madness McMeniman a try on his return to rugby after an early season false start. Madness should have run over and given Cooper a real shoulder charge, not only as an act of revenge, but also to show him how to deliver one properly.
There were some bright spots for the Reds – the return to form of Berrick Barnes and Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane’s continuing education at no.13 and a forward pack that totally played their opponents out of the contest. Mungo McLinden was also rewarded with a try after some fairly solid performances in recent weeks.
The best for Reds again, was undoubtedly Quade Cooper (apart from the afore mentioned ‘wet lettuce’ shoulder charge), who heaped pressure on the Cheetahs with his pin-point kicking game and dangerous ball running, if only he would stop those silly Riverdance impressions he’s prone to.
The on-going confusion about who is the best half-back for the Reds remains unsolved with Ben Lucas having a solid but, unspectacular game, but once again his goal-kicking radar was scrambled. Neither he nor Will Genia seems to be able to have a sustained impact on a match. I wonder if Phil Mooney was watching goal-kicking half-back Brendan McKibbin in the Reds 2nd XV game before the main match? I was, and he looks pretty good.
In all, a passable, if not erratic showing by the Reds under trying conditions – they look as if they have the game that may well provide the first real stern test for the safety first Tahs on Friday. Can’t wait.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1478 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=1478">6 Comments
Despite probably spending the least on them, the Reds have the best backs in the comp. Except for that other winger. What’s his name? Valia or something? Get that blonde 20-year old instead.
I they get rid of him and if they could get some of those forwards to stop trying to get in on the exceptional back action, they might bomb a few less tries.
To be fair on the forwards, I don’t know how you could expect anyone to follow the ball around all night given the conditions last night. Did I hear Juan Smith went to hospital with heat exhaustion? That probably shows what you’d get if you tried.
i can’t believe i’m excitedd by a reds vs tahs game.
tahs have yet to been tested and have gotten lucky playing really under done NZ teams. if they’d played the canes on friday they would have been killed.
QLD look better then they have in years. Cooper is the goods. big time.
it’ll be interesting to see what hicko does. 12 will be a big role. carter can be really solid when needed. they key for the tahs will be holding onto the ball for phases which they haven’t really done.
what about the match-up at 13? Could be the big-time for Ioane!!
Damned shame if Horwill still isn’t back.
My U17 team played in Brisbane at the same time the Reds were playing at Suncorp (interesting scheduling you might ask?). The conditions were pretty tough but the boys adapted OK – although the game did finish early due to an injury. We played a four quarter match with plenty of hydration etc and it all panned out from an exhaustion perspective. A lot of the players are on schools footy programs so their conditioning is good.
Watching the Super 14 tape afterwards, I’d have to say that the Reds played in a similar manner to my boys….sort of ‘throw it around a bit – headless chook’ sort of stuff. I thought the game lost its shape because of that but, mistakes aside, at least it was an entertaining brand of footy. Unfortunately, it won’t be a winning brand against more exulted company. The ‘winning ugly’ style will squeeze the life out of the Reds in the first instance and feed off their mistakes.
Van Humphries was my player of the match, with Diggers and Braidy ‘mentioned in despatches’. Leroy’s handling was below par (even tho’ the ball would have been fairly sweaty) and I’d suggest he’ll be the first casualty next season if Rocky returns home. What can you say about Diggers…..man, can he really go or what! Barnes had his best game to date and in a few years time (once he gets the schoolboy crap out of his game) I feel that Quade Cooper will develop into the Dan Carter of his time….big call I know but he’s just oozing talent waiting to be harnessed.
Would have been interesting to see how the headless chook stuff would have held up under some better pressure from the Cheetahs. Likewise for how much Quooade has come on.
They were pretty fuckin awful
And another thing… What about the state of the turf at Suncorp Stadium? It was shit…..huge divets every time someone was tackled and seemed very sandy under foot. I wonder how much of a problem it is to run and step on, although it didn’t seem to stop Cooper. Looked like there was no depth in the root system…….bit like Candice Falzon?