QLD Reds 2010

[Jets]

Reds team for the weekend

QR Reds team to play the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night (from fullback): Peter Hynes (GPS), Digby Ioane (Sunnybank), Morgan Turinui (Sunshine Coast), Anthony Fainga'a (Souths), Rod Davies (GPS), Quade Cooper (Souths), Will Genia (Norths), Scott Higginbotham (Wests), Daniel Braid (Sunshine Coast), James Horwill (University), Van Humphries (Souths), Adam Byrnes (University), Laurie Weeks (University), Sean Hardman (Brothers), Ben Daley (Gold Coast). Reserves: Saia Fainga'a (Souths), James Slipper (Gold Coast), Ezra Taylor (University), Andrew Shaw (Brothers), Richard Kingi (Sunnybank), Tim Walsh (TBC), Will Chambers (TBC).

Interesting to see Walsh ahead of Lucas and Slipper as the reserve prop. I also thought Morahan may have been on the bench.

 

[Ash]

Sigh. McKenzie's huge problem with the Tahs was bizarro selections sometimes, and he's done it again in my book.

Horwill at 6? Fail.
Davies over Morahan? Fail.

Walsh over Lucas is another interesting call, and another I wouldn't necessarily agree with.

Ezra Taylor was pretty poor in the game vs the Force, by the way. He looks like a hard working player, but he's very unspectacular. Vs the Force he just couldn't inject himself into the game, and noticably fell off a very weak attempted tackle of Sharpe.

 

[Geronimo]

I am also concerned with Horwill at six, he is not mobile enough. Good to see Slipper there also and I am told Lucas has a severe cork from last week's game (I would have him as reserve half and reserve 10). I would have liked to see our other Coastie in the team but Davies has pipped him in what I agree would be a close call.

 

[Lee Grant]

Yeah Horwill is a surprise at 6. True, Mumm is playing there for the Tahs, but he can shift a bit. At least the lineouts should be willing, with 3 specialists in each team.

Am looking forward to A.Fainga'a getting a start at 12 as much as I am Beale for the Tahs. Neither midfield would worry any other S14 team on paper and it's up to the 4 players to change their minds.

I wouldn't worry too much about Morahan - he will get a run or two at the start of the season and if he is the better player we will find out soon enough.

Walsh instead of Lucas makes sense to me but the bean counters will be gnashing their teeth - especially if he plays a few games. He was good in big games for Randwick and reportedly made the difference when he came on in the trial against the Tahs. If he plays well after a couple of rounds and AF doesn't, he could find himself with a 10 jersey.

Will be interesting to see Will Chambers come on after his good game for the Qld Twos.

This game will be chock full of interest but the 2 biggest questions will be: will the Reds forwards front up for the physical stuff better than they did in the Force trial - will the Tahs kick any goals?

 

[Geronimo]

Yeah Horwill is a surprise at 6. True, Mumm is playing there for the Tahs, but he can shift a bit. At least the lineouts should be willing, with 3 specialists in each team.

Am looking forward to A.Fainga'a getting a start at 12 as much as I am Beale for the Tahs. Neither midfield would worry any other S14 team on paper and it's up to the 4 players to change their minds.

I wouldn't worry too much about Morahan - he will get a run or two at the start of the season and if he is the better player we will find out soon enough.

Walsh instead of Lucas makes sense to me but the bean counters will be gnashing their teeth - especially if he plays a few games. He was good in big games for Randwick and reportedly made the difference when he came on in the trial against the Tahs. If he plays well after a couple of rounds and AF doesn't, he could find himself with a 10 jersey.

Will be interesting to see Will Chambers come on after his good game for the Qld Twos.

This game will be chock full of interest but the 2 biggest questions will be: will the Reds forwards front up for the physical stuff better than they did in the Force trial - will the Tahs kick any goals?

Mumm is a fair bit more mobile than Horwill and I believe he is better suited for the transition to 6. It is interesting to look at the relative lineout strengths and the battle should be very healthy. As for the twelves, Fainga'a has a great defensive game whereas Beale's game is built around attack. I think Morahan is the better wing option but I may be biased. I think he also is a better future prospect. I also feel this way about Lucas. Walsh is past his best and Lucas is a player of the future. Also Walsh cannot tackle. l went down to Lismore and my mates and I missed what Walsh supposedly did in that game other than kick some very good pressure goals. I'm not sure Chambers is ready for this level as yet and I will be nervous if he gets on.

 

[RugbyReg]

I am not a fan of the Horwill selection, but I reckon there's every chance his work rate will be higher than Mumm's. Mumm seems to go missing too often in games. No doubt he's fast, but if he's just going to use that speed to run aimlessly around the field, then who cares?

If your looking for a more traditional blindside flanker role of strong running with the ball and a physical presence at the ruck/maul and able to pull off the big hit I think Kev is arguably better suited for the role.

 

[Scotty]

It will be wait and see for me with Horwill, but he certainly works hard, makes a few cover tackles and gets his hands on the ball at the ruck more than any other lock in Oz.

 

[Jets]

I think Kev will be much more suited playing in the backrow against the Tahs as opposed to the Force. The Force have a mobile backrow that would show Kev up but I think he will know what he has to do on Saturday night and I think he could be a big difference in the game. I expect him to be back at lock in the coming weeks though.

 

[RugbyReg]

I think Kev will be much more suited playing in the backrow against the Tahs as opposed to the Force. The Force have a mobile backrow that would show Kev up but I think he will know what he has to do on Saturday night and I think he could be a big difference in the game. I expect him to be back at lock in the coming weeks though.

yeah, bang on. Will be interesting to see comes into the side then? Ezra? Shaw? Tasi maybe?

 

[liquor box]

Horwill will do alright, Surely some speed will come with time if he is training to be a 6. I am thinking that Byrnes will get 10 minutes in the bin within 15 minutes of the game starting, he will kick something off!

 

[tranquility]

I love that when Byrnes was at the Tahs his nickname was Satan - and that he used to regularly get into punch ups at training. ha ha, he truly is a loose cannon.

 

[liquor box]

I love that when Byrnes was at the Tahs his nickname was Satan - and that he used to regularly get into punch ups at training. ha ha, he truly is a loose cannon.

I think Horwill was a lot better when he was a nutcase before he became captain, hopefully Byrnes will bring the best out of him.

THis is what Australia miss in internationals, we dont have any second rowers/locks who are nutcases who want to be violent because it is fun. Most other teams that are good have someone whose idea of fun is to rip someones eyeball out for the hell of it.

If QLD with its size can get some mongrel this will force the opposition forwards to get involved in every breakdown to try to get even for cheap shots and this will free up our backs to run wide with no forwards. Most defensive teams only need 2-3 players at the breakdown to cover an aussie attack and so we run a lot of phases to draw in some of the opposition.

A few cheap shots at the start of a game fore the opposition to come to the breakdown in numbers for revenge and then we get what we want.

For QLD this will work as Cooper has the sweetest pass in world rugby and can link to Digby or Hynes from a long distance if the forwards can draw in some forwards while we have the ball.

Bring on the cheap shots!!!

 

[Scotty]

Yep, cheap shots. I'm sure that will be the game plan.

For QLD this will work as Cooper has the sweetest pass in world rugby and can link to Digby or Hynes from a long distance if the forwards can draw in some forwards while we have the ball.

As long as he concentrates on catching it first.

 

[TOCC]

Ben Lucas is out injured, he has a corked calf muscle

 

[liquor box]

Yep, cheap shots. I'm sure that will be the game plan.

For QLD this will work as Cooper has the sweetest pass in world rugby and can link to Digby or Hynes from a long distance if the forwards can draw in some forwards while we have the ball.

As long as he concentrates on catching it first.

Byrnes obviously thought it was!

 

[spectator]

Some observations from yesterday's curtain raiser....

Scoreline was 40 something to 5.

Gee it was hot, I really did pity the poor players. No more afternoon starts in Brissy at this time of year please officials!

I always feel a pity for the select sides that are put together at the last minute to take on state "A" sides. Some good players out there for the Brisbane premier side, but not having any time together as a team really puts you behind the eight ball.

Leroy got through the game without any apparent side effects from his injury, so that's a good sign.

Ditto for Holmes.

Luke Morahan came off earlyish in the second half with an injury. Hope it's nothing too severe.

Vaalu actually looked quite useful at 13.

Qld has plenty of good backs.

 

[TOCC]

Reds have finally put the profiles up for the Reds Academy players... one that surprised me

Paul Alo-Emile
Place of Birth Auckland, NZ
Weight 127kg
Height 1.79m
Club Sunnybank


I knew he was a solid lad, but 127kg! fark, and the last time i saw him his not exactly fat either, rodney blake was around that weight but he was pretty fat, Paul is just a solid specimen.

Will be good to see his development over the next couple of years

 

[TOCC]

Qld Reds' Davies hopes to emulate Ioane

Shock Reds selection Rod Davies hopes to save his young Super 14 career by modelling himself on tackle-busting teammate Digby Ioane.

Winger Davies has been watching videos of Ioane, studying his damaging running style and following the Wallabies three-quarter's roving lead to transform himself from the unsure rookie who struggled in 2009.

The 20-year-old flyer, picked ahead of Wallabies tourist Luke Morahan, was impressive in Queensland's painful 30-28 loss to NSW to suggest he'll be retained against the Crusaders on Friday night.

If so, he'll come off his wing and roam around Suncorp Stadium, like Ioane, looking for work and trying to drive his legs through tackles.

"Digby is a really good person to look at to see, especially around the ruck," said Davies, nicknamed Rocket.

"I'm trying to emulate that a bit more, and to go off my wing and look for the ball.

"The (Reds) wingers have got a free rein to do what we want."

A schoolboy star who struggled with injury in two years at the Brisbane Broncos, Davies arrived at Ballymore with a two-year contract and plenty of expectation.

But he failed to impress in five matches in 2009 and knew, as the fourth best winger at best, that 2010 could be his last without a significant turnaround.

"I'm playing with a bit more confidence and starting to get to know the game a bit more," he said.

"I feel I have a lot to prove as last year I didn't deliver and people would have thought I should be a lot better.

"The couple of years at the Broncs I struggled and coming back to union last year I struggled so I had to have a good off-season otherwise I would have been out in the workforce."

Davies learnt a great deal playing under David Nucifora in the Australian Under-20 team which finished fourth at the Junior World Cup in Japan and has continued to improve his positional play under Ewen McKenzie and Reds backs coach Jim McKay.

"He's one guy who's really knuckled down and focussed on correcting perceived weaknesses and that's why he's on the team," McKenzie said. "He's an example of the progress being made.

"He's the fastest guy in the squad and that obviously helps too."

Hooker Sean Hardman remains in doubt for the Crusaders clash due to an ankle injury but the Reds are hanging on to hope of positive scan results.

The Crusaders won't have All Black hooker Cory Flynn back from his own ankle injury but Test prop Wyatt Crockett and centre Ryan Crotty are set to return after missing the 32-17 win over the Highlanders.

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/br...ies-hopes-to-emulate-ioane-20100215-o2pm.html

early days, but obviously link sees something in him, he is doing well to hold Morahan and Chambers out of the starting side

 

[tranquility]

hes is a gun - no question.

 

[TOCC]

Tranquility, i think there are still plenty of questions if you watched his 2008 performances, i think everyone is just hoping that he has improved significantly on last year