QF1 2012 - Reds vs Sharks

[Joe Blow]

What was Link thinking?? Genia to 10 after you tried that in the same fucking game earlier in the season and it failed miserably? Why did you start Saia Fainga'a who is just terrible, a really dumb rugby player - he should've been hooked much earlier.

S.Fainga should not get anywhere near the Wallaby squad again. His ball handling is terrible and he draws penalties because of his thuggish play.
His two knock-ons today really stymied any momentum the Reds had in the first quarter when they really needed to score and put the brakes on the Sharks accumulation of points.

Moving Genia to 10 was a big error from Link. Genias speed and decision making from the base of the ruck is what gives the Reds their edge most of the time.

A disappointing end to the Reds season but a very good all around performance from the Shorks. Congrats to them.

 

[barbarian]

Goddard was an awful ref, he had quite a few shockers. Goddard was also head of the refs association when he was reffing, a huge conflict of interest. Goddard used award himself the Sydney club final each year, no matter how bad or (rarely) good he was reffing.

Pretty sure that's incorrect, not sure Goddard was ever head of the association (it's always been a NSWRU hack AFAIK), very sure appointments are handled by a different body.

It's off topic I know, but couldn't let that go.
.

 

[Lior]

The Gill no-try was confusing.either it should have been a try or a penalty to either side either for Gill off his feet (not sure if he was) or it should have been a penalty against the Sharks for playing it illegally and offside. I didn't hear Kaplans talk to the TMO but I judge it was dubious to say the least and despite the obvious lack of proper questioning of the TMO it just shows Kaplan lacked clarity. Shws that the TMO needs more teeth as well.

The no yellow until the 80th minute was embarrassing bordering on incompetence. There was room for two yellow cards to ensue and really he may as well have not shown the one.

The QLD crowd sticking around to boo Kaplan is wrong. The guy doesn't deserve to be booed. He quite simply isn't up to the level. SANZAR and Lyndon Bray deserved to be booed for putting an incompetent referee in charge of a game where one of the teams is from the same city as he is.

Link should take his fair hit for his poor early decision not to replace Taps with Lucas and move Harris to 10. This was clearly a mistake and when decisions are made with the anticipation of having a game changing effect are made and that decision doesn't come to fruition then that person must take the blame. Crosby had barely had one minute at half back.

Sharks well worthy winners but idiocy by many parties will undermine the win and more questions will come about.

 

[flat_eric]

Extremely puzzling decision by Link playing the world's best halfback out of position, especially when you consider there was the perfectly reasonable option of bringing Taps on at inside centre. Reds were supremely unlucky to lose two flyhalves in a week. Lucas further cementing his title as the glass man of world rugby.

 

[Ash]

Pretty sure that's incorrect, not sure Goddard was ever head of the association (it's always been a NSWRU hack AFAIK), very sure appointments are handled by a different body.

It's off topic I know, but couldn't let that go.
.

Crap, my bad. You are right, but it wasnt a NSWRU hack. Almost certain that it was George Ayoub, not Matt Goddard!

Both weren't very good refs though. We just haven't produced good refs like NZ and SA have.

 

[qwerty51]

That backrow of Kankowski, Daniel and Coetzee along with Alberts is just insane. Their ball skills in attack is the best in the competition.

Again, poor stuff by Kafe in his analysis.. he's clearly only been watching the Sharks in the 1st half of the season where they were a completely different team. Instead of analysing their poor (now decent) ruck defence he should've focused on the brilliance of JP Pieterson, Keegan Daniel and Marcel Coetzee lately because their play in all areas has been outstanding. I mean JP Pieterson is in career best form, he's right up there with the best wingers in the world at their peak. His defence is incredible. Coetzee and Daniel combine perfectly, making a thousand tackles a game whilst still having that offload game.

The Sharks should easily account for the Stormers.

 

[crangs81]

Again, poor stuff by Kafe in his analysis.. he's clearly only been watching the Sharks in the 1st half of the season where they were a completely different team. Instead of analysing their poor (now decent) ruck defence he should've focused on the brilliance of JP Pieterson, Keegan Daniel and Marcel Coetzee lately because their play in all areas has been outstanding. I mean JP Pieterson is in career best form, he's right up there with the best wingers in the world at their peak. His defence is incredible. Coetzee and Daniel combine perfectly, making a thousand tackles a game whilst still having that offload game.

The Sharks should easily account for the Stormers.

gonna be one hell of a travel schedule if they do beat the stormers and have to travel back to nz after their travel dramas this week

 

[Ash]

He played fullback for the u-20's didn't he, perhaps a bit rusty. I sometimes forget that Genia has a rocket pass because I just remember his equally impressive running game.

He played a couple games at full back and a game or so at halfback. Can't be easy switching specialist positions like that.

And he has been coming off the bench for the Reds onto the wing mainly.

 

[Ruggo]

Easy to say with hindsight but Frisby needed more genuine game time in his proper position throughout the year.

He looks a bloody good talent though and will only mature over the next few years.

 

[Bullrush]

Slightly off-topic but.....it amuses me that people call Genia the best half-back in the world. That claim should only be made on international form, not Super Rugby. And Genia has far from proven he the best on the big stage.....

 

[Ash]

Pretty sure that's incorrect, not sure Goddard was ever head of the association (it's always been a NSWRU hack AFAIK), very sure appointments are handled by a different body.

It's off topic I know, but couldn't let that go.
.

My bad think you are right!

I was told a few years ago it was Ayoub by a friend. Seems Ayoub was the first pro ref but didn't hold a more official position.

 

[qwerty51]

Slightly off-topic but...it amuses me that people call Genia the best half-back in the world. That claim should only be made on international form, not Super Rugby. And Genia has far from proven he the best on the big stage...

Who is if it's not Genia? He was pretty good against Wales.

 

[Ash]

My bad think you are right!

I was told a few years ago it was Ayoub by a friend. Seems Ayoub was the first pro ref but didn't hold a more official position.

Found it. No more off topic sorry. Ayoub was the NSW ref rugby manager in the early 2000s.

 

[Sluggy]

Go the Sharks!

lets hope the ref does not become the talking point after the game.

Not much chance of that now.

 

[crangs81]

My bad think you are right!

I was told a few years ago it was Ayoub by a friend. Seems Ayoub was the first pro ref but didn't hold a more official position.

Ayoub was boss and used to do the finals when i was living and playing colts in Sydney

 

[flat_eric]

Slightly off-topic but...it amuses me that people call Genia the best half-back in the world. That claim should only be made on international form, not Super Rugby. And Genia has far from proven he the best on the big stage...

To continue slightly off topic, surely you can admit he is one of the best in the world... I can't remember the last time he was out played by a rival half back at international level.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Cracking game of footy and the Sharks earned every bit of that win. The defence in the second half was awe inspiring.

Kaplan had an absolute shocker with the whistle. Time for him to be put out to pasture I think. Didn't affect the result though. The pivotal point was that intercept try. You could see the heads drop after that. Lucas going off injured didn't help either, but Genia was outstanding in his place.

 

[Joe Blow]

Slightly off-topic but...it amuses me that people call Genia the best half-back in the world. That claim should only be made on international form, not Super Rugby. And Genia has far from proven he the best on the big stage...

He would be one of the first picked in any world 15(at 9).
Unfortunately he cannot play 9 and 10 at the same time for the Reds

 

[No4918]

5/ Looks like the Reds got what they deserved. They looked cocky and I guess we were going to just show up as a formality as the home ground advantage and the winning record were going to get us through. We did not look to respect our opposition and we payed the price.

I was really worried about this pre-game and said early on that complacency may become a factor.

Had they been more worried about this game i think they would have appealed the Cooper decision as well. They the case for no suspension was very strong prior to the hearing. Not thinking they would need him was a big call.

 

[kiwi_rugby_fan]

Sharks have just infringed so much in the Reds ruck second half and escaped a yellow. Getting annoying.

What is Annoying is the whining when reds were never in the game. Also a little perspective, the disallowed Gill try would not be an issue if Genia is penalised at earlier scrum. Whilst Simons should have Benin yellow carded for constantly interfering with defence on wrong side of rucks. I think the guy believes he plays for opposing teams by the amount of time he spends on the wrong side!!!!

Take the patch off people, well and truly beaten despite being gifted a home game