tigerland12
John Thornett (49)
Won't be seeing Shipperely, Davies or Morahan with ball in hand then.
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The Red Baron
Chilla Wilson (44)
Not that much of an issue, we haven't been getting the ball out that far very often this year. And everytime we do, Davies drops it, or overruns the ball.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
Can't remember Shipperley passing it so far this season?
tigerland12
John Thornett (49)
It just occured to me that UJ Seuteni has been playing pre-season games down at Easts. So he must be available for selection this week?
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
tl12 does have a good point though. Diggers is rightly highly rated as a superb line breaker and gap reader and then penetrator, but he's overrated as: reading the right time to pass (instead of holding 5-15 secs too long), ball security-fiend (he can more than occasionally lapse into dropsies and knock ons when he's having a less than good day) and mustering his support (he can run out too far or wide and misplace his support, then isolation in the tackle yields a turnover). The occasional bad missed tackle is creeping in as well.
In summary, I have never believed Diggers is the complete winger or even OC (as I consider D Mitchell in recent 2 years to be as winger and, bar kicking, I think Shipps will be), but what he is good at can be match-turning, and when he's good at it, he's extraordinarily good and we love him then as never before.
In summary, I have never believed Diggers is the complete winger or even OC (as I consider D Mitchell in recent 2 years to be as winger and, bar kicking, I think Shipps will be), but what he is good at can be match-turning, and when he's good at it, he's extraordinarily good and we love him then as never before.
spectator
Bob Davidson (42)
According to a post in the Club thread he is 23rd man for the Reds this weekend. Given current injury levels one of the injured brigade might be on the bench with Frisby. Didn't I read that A Fainga'a is due back this week?
Grandmaster Flash
Johnnie Wallace (23)
Foxsports reporting (via AAP) that Digby will be at 13 and Ant will be on the bench, but said he's ready to play the full 80 if needs be. AWH also brought over as cover for Van.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
That is very good.
When Digby was at the Force he was a limited player, a brilliant runner but not much more. He was particularly deficient in being the assistant fullback on those occasions when he had to cover when the 15 had to go up the field or to the other side of it.
He was not a lot better when he was in the Wallabies in those days. I remember an occasion, it was against Wales on an EOYT, must have been in 2008, when he dropped an inside pass from Giteau with the line open to him.
Anyone can drop a catch, but the point is that I remember not being surprised that he did it, such were his patchy handling skills then. Then towards the end of the game he took a miracle ball near his ankles to score a try and give the Wobs a chance to win.
He was already with the Reds then, and I had a mental "not a good footie player" asterisk against his name, but he became a better player after that: not 3 dimensional, but not 1 dimensional either.
We can't expect Diggers to be giving too many golden balls or even silver ones, but he is a better ball player than when he was out west.
Are these deficiencies acceptable in a match turner? Damn right.
.
tigerland12
John Thornett (49)
They also said Samo and Robinson will start, so we can't be sure how reliable that is
Brumbieman
Dick Tooth (41)
Assuming he doesn't break again, watch how the next few games with Fainga'a back, suddenly your backline has a spine again.
The defensive line will be a LINE, and come out as one, the attack will be much more efficient with the available space, and the wingers will be getting more open space in front of them because Ant always forces the oppositioon backline to watch the inside angle of attack.
The defensive line will be a LINE, and come out as one, the attack will be much more efficient with the available space, and the wingers will be getting more open space in front of them because Ant always forces the oppositioon backline to watch the inside angle of attack.
tigerland12
John Thornett (49)
Just read an article posted on the Super Rugby app saying that Samo has been dropped for Ed Quirk.
6-Robinson
7-Gill
8-Higginbotham
19-Quirk
20-Shatz
6-Robinson
7-Gill
8-Higginbotham
19-Quirk
20-Shatz
redstragic
Alan Cameron (40)
How I wish this be true. Put in the guys who will be at the Reds for years to come. Love DK but he has been off the pace this year.
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
I think it was a major error to start Samo last game. This is not 20/20, he has been playing softly all 2012, and his defence has been awfully uneven. Vs the Stormers, asking for (big) trouble. Same re Beau and Liam, both should have started vs a team of that strength. Whatever, we let in 2 tries, etc, etc, and as Link himself said after the game re the 1H score: 'it's hard when you're chasing the scoreboard'. If you let the latest and greatest Stormers run over you and run away, you'll never come back in time, partly as their defence is so good.
It was interesting how the Reds betting market odds worsened significantly once the team was announced.
When I saw that starting team, the mystery of the way the 2012 Reds are being managed deepened further for me.
It was interesting how the Reds betting market odds worsened significantly once the team was announced.
When I saw that starting team, the mystery of the way the 2012 Reds are being managed deepened further for me.
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
Blues team announced, some interesting developments:
http://www.theblues.co.nz/Draw-And-Results/Players/2012-04-27.aspx
http://www.theblues.co.nz/Draw-And-Results/Players/2012-04-27.aspx
No4918
John Hipwell (52)
Pretty generous to the Blues.
Dare i say the Reds have the edge in the forwards, Blues in the backs (just). Suddenly feeling a bit more confident about this one with Harris, Lucas, Ant and Diggers back.
Good move by the Blues to drop Lowrey to the bench. I think he has been very average this season.
TheBigDog
Nev Cottrell (35)
As Tigerland said earlier it looks like Samo has been dropped out of squad all together, he was present at GPS club training on Tuesday night. Maybe he'll be spending a few weeks playing premier grade to try and find some form. Odd though considering his age and you'd think his form has been more based on being tired and lazy.
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