QF1 2012 - Reds vs Sharks

[Brisbok]

I can't load the whole video unfortunately, internet speed in my part of the world isn't the greatest..

But i think the Sharks have take a very interesting approach to this game by playing a back rower at lock..Do they plan on playing a quick recycle and high retention running style of football? If thats the case, even minus Quade I'm not sure thats a smart option..

I don't think the selection of Alberts in the second row is any indication that the Sharks will look to change the way they play the game. They will be playing the same way they have all season. One of their second rowers - Pieter-Steph du Toit was injured last weekend against the Cheetahs and was ruled out of coming on tour. Another second rower - Steven Sykes has been out injured for a number weeks and only returns to the squad this week. He's starting on the bench though.

I believe it was also a case of the Sharks wanting to get as many of their big, damaging ball runners on the field at one time for this important knockout clash. With the loose trio of Kankowski, Keegan Daniel and Marcell Coetzee performing so well in recent times, Plumtree has decided to squeeze Alberts in at lock (where he has played before) so that he doesn't have to break up the loose trio. Kankowski provides a very good lineout option and Daniel also takes some ball at the back of the lineout at times, so I don't think they will lose too much there.

The Sharks gameplan is all about generating go forward momentum through their big ball runners - Bismarck, the Beast and Coetzee, and Alberts is crucial in this aspect as well.

 

[No4918]

Could be Higgers last game for the Reds. It will still require a semi-miracle to get back in front of his home crowd again even if they do win.

 

[Scotty]

Pit are you and Skotman going to the game?

Definitely. (for my part anyway)

 

[Blue]

I can't load the whole video unfortunately, internet speed in my part of the world isn't the greatest..

But i think the Sharks have take a very interesting approach to this game by playing a back rower at lock..Do they plan on playing a quick recycle and high retention running style of football? If thats the case, even minus Quade I'm not sure thats a smart option..

Again. Alberts has played plenty lock including in a Bok jumper. He is completely suited to playing number 4 where he has to play a tight game hitting rucks. Added benefit is the ball carrying which is the core of the Sharks way of playing. They are not suddenly going to change that now and they never really alter it based on who they play. Their problem has always been that their execution can go to shit in a week after playing well.

Btw Kafer last night picked up on an interesting thing. Because the likes of Daniel and Kanko play quite loose they tend to defend in the backline leaving space around the ruck. Will be interesting to see if they can plug those holes this weekend.

 

[Scotty]

The Sharks forwards look scary in terms of ball running ability, but I wonder if it is also a weakness? I'm not sure they will be able to slow the Reds ball down quite as effectively as the Highlanders, or even Tahs did at times, and this could play into the Reds hands out wide.

I expect Genia to be doing a lot of ball playing. Multiple runners and face balls to angled runners. Blindside snipes. The Reds will look to attack close to the ruck with their forwards and guys like Digby.

The Sharks forward runners are better than the Reds in the wider channel. As with most teams, but especially the Sharks it will be important to get that first runner to ground fast, otherwise they will be lining up and getting over the ad line time after time.

 

[Scotty]

Again. Alberts has played plenty lock including in a Bok jumper. He is completely suited to playing number 4 where he has to play a tight game hitting rucks. Added benefit is the ball carrying which is the core of the Sharks way of playing. They are not suddenly going to change that now and they never really alter it based on who they play. Their problem has always been that their execution can go to shit in a week after playing well.

Btw Kafer last night picked up on an interesting thing. Because the likes of Daniel and Kanko play quite loose they tend to defend in the backline leaving space around the ruck. Will be interesting to see if they can plug those holes this weekend.

I wonder about Kafer's stats, and how different they would be for the last 5 games.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

Pit are you and Skotman going to the game?

Wish I could PB, but I think you are probably closer to Suncorp than I am at the moment! Would take a 16+ hour flight for me to get there. Going to the Stormers game next weekend would be about half that . My support is limited to a financial membership at the moment.

 

[The Red Baron]

My mother in law got me tickets to the game, seated right on halfway! Now I will actually be able to see what is going on without having to resort to watching the big screen!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The Baroness-in-Law is a keeper.

Very Jealous. In Chez Jarse we celebrate the annual Nice Word from the La Jarse Senior. Some years the annual Nice Word is not used by the M-I-L. Seldom does she exceed her allocation in good years.

 

[boyo]

The Baroness-in-Law is a keeper.

Very Jealous. In Chez Jarse we celebrate the annual Nice Word from the La Jarse Senior. Some years the annual Nice Word is not used by the M-I-L. Seldom does she exceed her allocation in good years.

Is it a bit like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s annual allocation of passes?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The same concept. We tend to keep track of certain rare events in Chez Jarse.

Stuff like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) passing the ball, Waratahs winning, Darkness losing, Soap Dodgers being humble in victory, Mungoballers not running across field, Parents making honest assessments of their offsprings rugby abilities and performances, M-I-Ls being nice, Spectators who abuse referees actually knowing the Laws of Heavensgame .... etc etc etc.

Footy tickets for the Grandies would never cross the mind of our M-I-L.

 

[qwerty51]

Reds planning to announce their team 5 mins before the game?

I wonder about Kafer's stats, and how different they would be for the last 5 games.

I was waiting desperately for someone to call Kafe out about his Sharks' analysis. All the footage he showed was from the early weeks of the comp, none from the last 5 games where the Sharks have really hit their straps and have no doubt fixed their weaknesses. It was completely irrelevant what he was analysing.

 

[something]

i'm pretty positive... yes, we are missing cooper but reds have had an entire season without him. Lucas has proved he is solid at 10.

sharks missing Steyn and Lambie... thats pretty rough. i dont know enough about the sharks to give a proper analysis but if I was coaching a team with both steyn and lambie i'd be shitting bricks if both of them were out

 

[tigerland12]

1. Greg Holmes
2. Saia Fainga'a
3. James Slipper
4. Rob Simmons
5. Adam Wallace-Harrison (vc)
6. Jake Schatz
7. Liam Gill
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Will Genia (c)
10. Ben Lucas
11. Digby Ioane
12. Mike Harris
13. Anthony Fainga'a
14. Dom Shipperley
15. Luke Morahan

16. James Hanson
17. Ben Daley
18. Radike Samo
19. Beau Robinson
20. Jarrad Butler
21. Nick Frisby
22. Ben Tapuai

 

[Sandpit Fan]

1. Greg Holmes
2. Saia Fainga'a
3. James Slipper
4. Rob Simmons
5. Adam Wallace-Harrison (vc)
6. Jake Schatz
7. Liam Gill
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Will Genia (c)
10. Ben Lucas
11. Digby Ioane
12. Mike Harris
13. Anthony Fainga'a
14. Dom Shipperley
15. Luke Morahan

16. James Hanson
17. Ben Daley
18. Radike Samo
19. Beau Robinson
20. Jarrad Butler
21. Nick Frisby
22. Ben Tapuai

That'll do me. Glad to see Greg Holmes getting plenty of starts this year. He's stood up against some big opposition, starting with the saders in last years final. This game will be pretty bloody hard with the Sharks front row in great form.

 

[Jiggles]

Who is Butler?

 

[something]

Who is Butler?

young bloke, born 1991 i think.. plays 6 & 8.

 

[tigerland12]

Who is Butler?

He's played the last two games, check the Highlanders thread if you want his background or whatever.

 

[AlexH]

A pretty decent looking team. Adam-Wallace Harrison should have a blinder. I am looking forward to seeing Beau cause problems for the Sharks when he comes off the bench.

 

[Scoey]

A lot has been said (albeit from Fox) about the Reds win rate without Quade (6/11 or something similar) and with Quade (5/5) this year. It's their be all and end all stat apparently.

But from memory, we rarely had the same backline for the front end and middle of the season. Since Quade has been back we've been lucky enough to run close to the same back line every game right? I may be wrong but. This would certainly count for a lot of our last 5 games success surely?

We had at least 5 different 9/10 combo's in the early part of the season that I can think of. Hard to win games consistently with that sort of stat and the 6 from 11 probably isn't that bad.

I guess, looking at it objectively doesn't make people tune in and watch the game on Fox but right?