2011 Rnd 1 Reds v Force

[RugbyReg]

A few of the guys you mentioned didn't attend training, but apparently they were at a funeral.

One thing of note is that Lucas spent a lot of time at fullback (and scrumhalf), so he will cover both. Hynes looked very good though too.

Interestingly Genia spent some time at fullback too, but he dropped back a times last year to help with counter (nice long passes to get across the field etc).

 

[Ruggo]

Lucas will spend a lot of time at full back this year. Prior impressed me from what I saw of him. The back three will also be tough to select. I like the idea of Holmes as the starting LHP.

 

[BDA]

My team for the first week would be

1. Daley
2. Fainga'a
3. Slipper
4. Van
5. Horwill
6. Higgerz
7. Quirk
8. Houston
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. A. Fainga'a
13. Chambers
14. Davies
15. Hynes

16. Hanson
17. Holmes
18. Simmo
19. Robinson
20. Lucas
21. Harris
22. Morahan

- I would definitely prefer to see Holmes starting against the better scrummaging sides but I think Daley should get the no.1 jumper first week.

- I’d be okay with either Simmo or Van starting. If Sharpe is playing, Van should on the field, if not they are both fine.

- Against the bigger forward packs I think we should be playing Samo and horwill in the Backrow.

- Much prefer Morahan at 15 than Lucas. He should be Hynes understudy this year. He was fullback for Australia u19s at the world championships last year and played of the Wallabies’ tour. Link should be exposing him to as much game time as possible. Scored the match winning try against the force last year that really kick started the Red’s season. He could very well come of age this year. Lucas is an adequate utility backup, but that’s about it.

- Keep Ioane at wing for the time being, but no doubt he’ll play centre at times during the season.

Should be a very entertaining game! Both teams have some flashy backs and will look to spread the ball. The Force have the better backrow and if they can win the contest at the ruck, they are going to definitely make a game of this. But IMO the Reds have the upper hand in every other area. The two areas in particular where I think the Reds will win this are:-

1) 9-10 – Genia/Cooper is probably the premier 9/10 combo in the world (bar none) and at Suncorp Stadium they are virtually untouchable. They will ensure that their outside backs get quality ball all night long.

2) Tight five. Reds tight five is underrated IMO. They will be even better this year with Daley, Fainga'a, Simmo, Slipper and Van all having trained with the wallabies in the off season. Slipper in particular could hit another level this year. This time last year he was a virtual unknown. This year I think he’ll become a world class prop. So including the return of Horwill, their tight five will be stronger than it was last year, and last year they were impressive. I think they will still need to rearrange the make up of their pack to suit different teams. In particular would start Holmes against the strong scrummaging teams and put Shepardson on the bench in place of Daley. If Sharpe there is nothing in that Force five to trouble the Reds at home.

All of this means that the Reds backs are going to get a lot of quality ball. And if they as explosive as last year this could be great to watch.

Reds by 15 (with a bonus point)

 

[BDA]

"Scored the match winning try against the force" - sorry i meant th Chiefs

 

[Tiger]

BDA - good first up contribution from you! Welcome to the board

 

[tranquility]

I will be very interested to see first 22 selected by link this season.

I will also be very interested to see the odds offered by the TAB for a first up reds win. Just so I can work out what percentage of the house to put on it.

 

[Lee Grant]

Put the kitchen on it - you can always get home delivery of something tasty.

 

[spectator]

I hope that the squad is not investing too much in the trial results, or reading this forum and the press. The Force are going to love coming into the game as underdogs, and will be well primed to cause an upset. Plenty of Qldrs in the squad who would love a win at "home".

 

[BDA]

Cheers Tiger...spent the last few years posting on the South African rugby sites. Didn't realise Green and Aold existed.... i feel at home. ahaha

 

[Lance Free]

BDA. I like the cut of your jib, son. Very good analysis and prospective selection.

I'm picking a Reds win against the Force but it'll be nowhere near the shellacking of last year's proportions.

From memory (yeah, wonky I know), the Reds had a pretty good scrummaging side anyway, and now it's been bolstered by Daley's and Slipper's experience + Shepherdson's arrival. It's not as though they are packing down against Leicester every week (god help them if they were - geez, if I was an Australian franchise I'd be trying to sign Argentinian Marcos Ayerza as a marquee player, any day).

I can't wait for the team announcement for Saturday. Openside - Quirk, Gill or Tomiki. I originally thought the latter but suspect that he may never be a contender (he's been a Tahs casualty previously).

A Chambers + Ioane midfield would be dynamic - only the coach would know whether it's a goer or not?

I'm hoping Hynes is fit. Hopefully his chronic knee is better....

For the sake of Australian rugby Big Kev has to start in the 2nd row - like Ben Alexander, no way play him out of position this year. No way! No way Jose!

Slipper to start at tighthead. He's comin' along and the future.

Higgers a No 8 contender? Why not?

 

[TOCC]

Yeah its not nearly going to be the shellacking it was last year, its going to be much tighter and physical

The Western Force are a bit of a unknown at the moment, new coach, new 5/8 and new forwards coach completely changes style of play.

 

[OLDDOG]

Yeah its not nearly going to be the shellacking it was last year, its going to be much tighter and physical

The Western Force are a bit of a unknown at the moment, new coach, new 5/8 and new forwards coach completely changes style of play.

I agree tocc, up till the 50 minute mark, then I reckonthe reds are gonna put the afterburner on......and stack up another 14-21 points!

 

[Lee Grant]

1. if I was an Australian franchise I'd be trying to sign Argentinian Marcos Ayerza as a marquee player, any day).

2. For the sake of Australian rugby Big Kev has to start in the 2nd row - like Ben Alexander, no way play him out of position this year. No way! No way Jose!

1. We couldn't afford him, nor Castro, nor even Stankovitch from the same Leicester team. The Poms would lock up Cole, though we could probably get Farmer White.

2. Agree on Big Kev. I don't think the average Oz fan realises how talented this guy is. Somebody who can scrummage as a tight head lock, be adept in the lineout, yet mobile enough to play 6, is a rare rugby bird. He has to play lock for Oz though, ergo he should be there for the Reds.

 

[Red Rooster]

1. We couldn't afford him, nor Castro, nor even Stankovitch from the same Leicester team. The Poms would lock up Cole, though we could probably get Farmer White.

2. Agree on Big Kev. I don't think the average Oz fan realises how talented this guy is. Somebody who can scrummage as a tight head lock, be adept in the lineout, yet mobile enough to play 6, is a rare rugby bird. He has to play lock for Oz though, ergo he should be there for the Reds.

Who says he has to play lock for Australia? With Vickerman back and Sharpe why wouldn't Kev be a great option at 6, especially as you say he is very talented. He is wasting time in the Reds second row when they already have Van, Simmo, Harrison and Samo and the big point is whether rocky will be fit. The re-occuring injury problems must be a significant concern going forward - Captain or not - The RWC will be won on performance not on history

 

[RugbyReg]

that's a pretty valid point. Our (Wallaby) depth at blindside aint crash hot and Rocky did take a while to find his feet last year. Now he's injured again...

KEV for Wallaby skipper!

Get those Kevin 11 shirts back out!

 

[Lee Grant]

With Vickerman back and Sharpe why wouldn't Kev be a great option at 6,

Vickerman is a long shot to get back to Wallaby form though it is possible. Sharpe is not a TH scrummaging lock though he has packed down there. He should be the Wallaby LHP only. Horwill is the only valid tight head lock in the country which is why we missed him so much to help out the THPs in scrums in 2010.

Young Douglas, another good TH lock, may prove himself as a Wallaby squad candidate this year though I suspect his Wallaby time will come after the RWC.

Again - let's not go talking about international locks as though they can switch from the loosehead side to the tight head side of the scrum and be just as effective scrummaging as a specialist TH lock is. Vice versa is OK in the rare case that a team has two good TH locks.

 

[Ruggo]

Kev for Wallaby THL in 2011 for all the reasons you mention Lee. Beyond opens right up as Douglas develops experience but a future Wallaby 4,5,6 of Simmons, Douglas and Horwill is very dynamic.

Playing the odd game at 6 for the Reds will not harm Kev. It accomodates Simmons to develop lineout control skills under the guidance of Humphries. If anything Horwill at 6 Benifits the Wallabies playing 6 for the Reds as after this year sombody is going to have to take control of the Wallaby lineout and Simmons is the future.

 

[Set piece magic]

Ticket Update: Looks like good sales for next weekend, platinum is sold out, can somebody give me an update on the number of platinum seats at suncorp? And if anyone has any idea, the number of platinum members.

I didn't get a membership because I wanted to go with my mates, but redeeming enough is that I'm bringing twenty of them along

 

[Ignoto]

I didn't get a membership because I wanted to go with my mates, but redeeming enough is that I'm bringing twenty of them along

Honestly, if youre going with that many, I'd suggest just going Gold or Silver, because with the sheer number of lads youre going to the game with, alot of them will just be hitting the booze.

You'll see the game just as well in either Silver or Gold, but youll have some extra cash to spend on the grog and enjoy the atmosphere and game.

Some of us will have to settle with being on the other side of the country for the weekend

 

[hench]

When will sides be announced?