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Force v Reds, Round 3 HBF Park, Perth 7:35pm

Strewthcobber

David Codey (61)
As I recall in the first game last year the Force back row went very hard at the Reds breakdown, while the Red's back row were paying a bit too much attention to their ball running roles, and not enough on securing the ball. Was this the game that Harry Wilson dropped the kickoff twice as well?

They obviously addressed this, and then some in the second game with a Ryan hatrick and the Red's back row getting 3 of their own

Will be interesting to see the tactics play out.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
All this talk has convinced me. Reds are clearly underdogs. With a wallaby and a try scoring machine on the wings the back three are clearly shit. McReight only had a hand in four tries and scored one himself so he clearly on a downward spiral. Force by 50.

No you don't. Reds clearly favourites!
 

Adam84

John Eales (66)
Hearing team news that Dre will start 12, Murray 15 and Anderson to start with Ryan to bench
Heremia Murray is an interesting one, he played well versus Bristol but that was on the wing, and most of his ITM Cup appearances were on wing also.

Anderson offers a bit more staunch in defence and might be used as a bit more of a crash ball player to get across the advantage line now that Paisami is gone, not that he was very effective in that role last week but he at least carried strong.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Michael Lynagh (62)
Sully (I think) made the observation last year that the Reds find the Force’s style hard to combat. I think that could still be an issue.

A lot of it will come down to set peice IMO. I suspect Swain’s intimate knowledge of the Brumbies Lineout was a big help to him last week. Hopefully this week the Reds can do well on their own ball and in the scrum.

I also think bringing in all of their Wallabies late hurt the Brumbies last week. Most of them were looked a bit short of a run - probably because they were.

Still - the Force are only going to keep improving and with momentum and a home crowd behind them the odds definitely look off to me.
Do they?

Just had a squiz over the last 5 match ups and its 4/1 to the Reds with the Reds having scored 221 points to the Force 106. I know theres been coahing changes and personnel but other than the 40 v 31 win to the Force last year in Rd 5 it's pretty one way traffic ending with a spanking 59 v 13 in rd 14.
 

Wilson

Rod McCall (65)
Do they?

Just had a squiz over the last 5 match ups and its 4/1 to the Reds with the Reds having scored 221 points to the Force 106. I know theres been coahing changes and personnel but other than the 40 v 31 win to the Force last year in Rd 5 it's pretty one way traffic ending with a spanking 59 v 13 in rd 14.
Yeah, the Reds biggest issue with the Force in recent times (since their readmission) has been not taking them seriously on occasion, usually when heading to Perth. Last years trip and 2021's trip when we had the comp sewn up are both times where we came in cruising and got caught unawares as a result. The flow on from this is usually a couple of demolition jobs in the return fixtures, with the Reds making no mistake about it. Reds have also done better off poor preparation for these games - the 2022 game coming in off flooding all week in Brisbane is a perfect example. The team was absolutely on song that night despite a very interrupt lead up and O'Connor effectively ended Kyle Godwin's wallaby aspirations.

Given last years loss and the way the coaching and playing staff have been stressing the need to improve on those unexpected losses from last year (Moana, Force, Drua), I don't think the team will be switched off for this one, particularly after the Force's win over the Brumbies. None of that is to say I think it'll be a walk over, but I don't expect them to have the same problems as this fixture last year (or that the Brumbies had last weekend).
 

TSR

Steve Williams (59)
Do they?

Just had a squiz over the last 5 match ups and its 4/1 to the Reds with the Reds having scored 221 points to the Force 106. I know theres been coahing changes and personnel but other than the 40 v 31 win to the Force last year in Rd 5 it's pretty one way traffic ending with a spanking 59 v 13 in rd 14.
Yeah - maybe I’m over egging the pudding. But the Force have given us a couple of headaches and last year was a classic example.

And it’s 2 v 3 on the table isn’t it? Hopefully it’ll be a cracker.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Michael Lynagh (62)
Agree @Wilson . Will be a good test for the Force for the rest of the year now. Not flying under the radar and teams have to bring it for the fixture. You can benefit at times from being a side that others arent as worried about even though they would never admit such a thing.

Yeah - maybe I’m over egging the pudding. But the Force have given us a couple of headaches and last year was a classic example.

And it’s 2 v 3 on the table isn’t it? Hopefully it’ll be a cracker.
How good is that part. Australia may never lose again
 

LeCheese

Peter Sullivan (51)
Any news on players returning from injury? Salakaia-Loto, Wright?
Wright is expected to be back, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is out until I think ~week 8. Others not due for another couple of weeks I don't think. Henry would've been handy to have this week.
 

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
Wright is expected to be back, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is out until I think ~week 8. Others not due for another couple of weeks I don't think. Henry would've been handy to have this week.
Week 8, fk me. There's half the season. JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen), Gibbon, Hodgman?
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Michael Lynagh (62)
I feel like Wright coming back into a derby game is just a recipe for another 10 weeks out for that guy. Shame Club Rugby hasn't started yet and he could be given good minutes and ramp up the intensity and confidence in the body. I worry about guys that have had so many back to back injuries and then the lack of confidence and what it can contribute to other injuries when your'e just not as sure.

Gibbon, JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) and Hodgman will have the biggest impact when back. Having such depth in the front row is unreal. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is good but the Reds have the luxury of a guy like Uru who seems more physical these days and then the likes of Brial and Bryant around to fill out a bit of that role even though they aren't Locks.
 

Major Tom

Ted Fahey (11)
I feel like Wright coming back into a derby game is just a recipe for another 10 weeks out for that guy. Shame Club Rugby hasn't started yet and he could be given good minutes and ramp up the intensity and confidence in the body. I worry about guys that have had so many back to back injuries and then the lack of confidence and what it can contribute to other injuries when your'e just not as sure.
I heard that the Reds Academy is playing a prem team this weekend (they played wests last weekend). He could have a trundle there. But honestly if he's medical right to go then he's right to go. It would just be fitness that's an issue, but he can do a job off the bench for either Fraser or Uru IMO.
 

Ignoto

Peter Sullivan (51)
Week 8, fk me. There's half the season. JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen), Gibbon, Hodgman?
Week 8 probably isn't right, I thought I saw it was week 6 which lines up as 8 weeks post break.

JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) I thought was after round 4? Haven't heard any peep out of Gibbon or Hodgman.
 
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