Boomer
Alfred Walker (16)
Yeah, keep on thinking about the match after this. You've got this week in the bag.
2011 Rnd 1 Reds v Force
- Thread starter Ruggo
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Yeah, keep on thinking about the match after this. You've got this week in the bag.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
By no means at all, and I doubt the Reds are thinking that way.
However, I'd be surprised if the Force won the tight forward battle, and just as surprised if the Reds won the loose forwards battle, although we all know that winning in tight is the key to the game.
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Waylon
Guest
I'm not a fan of JOC (James O'Connor) at 10
His talent is his pace and acceleration and agility and stepping.
You want his hands on the ball but you don't want him catching and passing and kicking and organising.
You want him hitting holes at pace. I'd prefer him at 12
Wearing the 10 jersey for the Force is also a curse. he's likely to suffer a season ending injury
His talent is his pace and acceleration and agility and stepping.
You want his hands on the ball but you don't want him catching and passing and kicking and organising.
You want him hitting holes at pace. I'd prefer him at 12
Wearing the 10 jersey for the Force is also a curse. he's likely to suffer a season ending injury
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Waylon
Guest
I think the Force tight five are better than they are given credit for
Sharpe is one of the biggest hitters in Australian rugby and a lineout supremo. If he goes off they might be in trouble though.
Mccalman is a very hard grafting player who won't take a backwards step.
Fairbrother at tight head is a fierce scrummager and tough competitor who came through a very hard rugby system at the Canes. He can play.
Pek Cowan is very hard on the ball at the breadown. He takes the ball up hard and is underestimated. Whittaker at hooker could be anything. He is rated highly at the Force
They will give a good account of themselves
The Force bench is where the weaknesses lay. They are a bit thin on quality replacements and may struggle at the back end of the game when the benches are cleared
Sharpe is one of the biggest hitters in Australian rugby and a lineout supremo. If he goes off they might be in trouble though.
Mccalman is a very hard grafting player who won't take a backwards step.
Fairbrother at tight head is a fierce scrummager and tough competitor who came through a very hard rugby system at the Canes. He can play.
Pek Cowan is very hard on the ball at the breadown. He takes the ball up hard and is underestimated. Whittaker at hooker could be anything. He is rated highly at the Force
They will give a good account of themselves
The Force bench is where the weaknesses lay. They are a bit thin on quality replacements and may struggle at the back end of the game when the benches are cleared
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
It's almost perfect except for the front-row. And yeah that front row does suck.
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Waylon
Guest
compared to Daley and Fainga'a who had their heads shoved up their own @ss by the poms?
Lets get it on. The Force have been hulking up. It's show time
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TOCC
Guest
i think its a 'industrious' pack(for lack of a better word), Fairbrother is one of the better scrummager's in Australia, and Sharpe is the foremost line-out maestro in Australia, so its hardly going to be a capitulation at either of those set pieces by the Force, on top of that the backrow speaks for itself.
The terms of this match will be dictated by the style of game that Link implements, JOC (James O'Connor) whilst a highly talented player has not played much at 5/8, his decision making and general tactical kicking skills are going to be lacking somewhat. On the other hand, Quade is Quade, im guessing by the size of the Reds pack they are expecting to be kicking to the corners and planning to dominate territory. The Reds have a distinct advantage in this area due the difference in kicking ability between 5/8's, Cameron Shepherd will be regularly called on to use his booming boot to get them out of trouble(cue Reds counter-attack).
In saying that, if Hynes or Quade is having a off-night on the boot, then the Force back 3 have the potential to do some real damage in the counterattack department as well. Richard Graham's niche is broken play, i expect them to use there pacy outside backs(and JOC (James O'Connor)) to target the broken play with the mobile backrow sweeping through in support.
The terms of this match will be dictated by the style of game that Link implements, JOC (James O'Connor) whilst a highly talented player has not played much at 5/8, his decision making and general tactical kicking skills are going to be lacking somewhat. On the other hand, Quade is Quade, im guessing by the size of the Reds pack they are expecting to be kicking to the corners and planning to dominate territory. The Reds have a distinct advantage in this area due the difference in kicking ability between 5/8's, Cameron Shepherd will be regularly called on to use his booming boot to get them out of trouble(cue Reds counter-attack).
In saying that, if Hynes or Quade is having a off-night on the boot, then the Force back 3 have the potential to do some real damage in the counterattack department as well. Richard Graham's niche is broken play, i expect them to use there pacy outside backs(and JOC (James O'Connor)) to target the broken play with the mobile backrow sweeping through in support.
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Waylon
Guest
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TOCC
Guest
to be honest, i didnt watch many Force games in 2010, my opinions based on what ive heard from other people
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I'm surprised Charles is on the bench... Fairbrother is a decent scrummager...
The Force seem to be trying to field all their best players at once in the pack and in doing so they've sacrificed their set piece for extra mobility...
McCalman is just not big enough to be a top grade lock... and with three opensides in the backrow they look a little light...
No.
Seriously? You rate Pek Cowan?
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I watched every Force game (I don't think I missed any Super rugby games tbh..) and their scrum was never dominant, it was even sometimes but mostly they were heavily penalised. Reports from the trial in Nowra say the Tahs scrum destroyed the Force's - might have something to do with a lack of back 5 for the Force but the same front row.
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Waylon
Guest
His lineout throwing is letting him down
Whittaker gets first crack. He has muscled up and is starting this week at 113KG although he'll be about 110KG by fulltime based on the weather forecast. Whittaker could be anything. This kid is good. He's about 9Kg bigger than Chales according to the RugbyWA website. Charles will add good aggression and mobility off the bench.
Pek Cowan is only 24 or 25 I think but has now had about 3 seasons in the top grade if memory serves me well. He is a big loosehead at 116KG but has surpriising mobility. I think with his offseason work and with a few seasons under his belt now, he will make an impression this season. He is very aggressive at the breakdown.
Fairbrother tips in at a very fit 114KG and has a lot of experience at tighthead.
116KG + 113KG + 114 KG = not to be underestimated. McCalman might be a bit light on to lock the scrum
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TOCC
Guest
meh, the French scrum has demonstrated that a lighter frontrow can easily manhandle a heavier frontrow
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Waylon
Guest
Starting Force tight 5 in Nowra trial was
1. Pek Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3.Tim Fairbrother
4. Phoenix Battye
5. Ben McCalman
QLD has lost Weeks as well.........the unsung hero. Fainga'a isn't a great scrummager. Daley was schooled at international level but it showed up some serious floors. Slipper is the new mesiah but is he? Time will tell
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Waylon
Guest
Was that in the 59-16 loss?
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TOCC
Guest
i suggest you watch the 6nations and learn to pay respects to a good scrum when you see it
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