Queensland Reds 2025

[dru]

The Reds scrum has also been very solid for most of the year. With the lineout a bit off, it'll be interesting to see if they opt for more scrums off penalties when they're within 10m of the try line.

The problem is a dominant scrum is often rewarded with a free kick and we're back to the non-performing line-out again. We really do need to sort the thing out.

The Reds are still coming dead last still in Optajohnny's rankings of the lineout success rate for the 53 teams in the major comps they track.

To be fair, that poisition might have come from the complete capitulation of the line out in the last few games. Any way of finding out where we were, say, a month ago?

 

[Major Tom]

The problem is a dominant scrum is often rewarded with a free kick and we're back to the non-performing line-out again. We really do need to sort the thing out.


To be fair, that poisition might have come from the complete capitulation of the line out in the last few games. Any way of finding out where we were, say, a month ago?

Yeah the story of the game against the force. Reds win scrum penalty > kick for the lineout > lose said lineout > ball is cleared by force repeat. Still rather go for the try than 3 points. I’ve always thought the ABs want us to take the 3 because know they’re likely to secure the restart and score on us.

 

[Strewthcobber]

To be fair, that poisition might have come from the complete capitulation of the line out in the last few games. Any way of finding out where we were, say, a month ago?

A month ago they won 76% against the Crusaders, and a week before that 73% against the Force (I stopped checking there but rugbypass has every game if anyone else wants to have a look)

I don't think it's one or two games

 

[dru]

A month ago they won 76% against the Crusaders, and a week before that 73% against the Force (I stopped checking there but rugbypass has every game if anyone else wants to have a look)

I don't think it's one or two games

My recollection must be faulty then, I thought the line-out started the season adequately.

Yeah the story of the game against the force. Reds win scrum penalty > kick for the lineout > lose said lineout > ball is cleared by force repeat. Still rather go for the try than 3 points. I’ve always thought the ABs want us to take the 3 because know they’re likely to secure the restart and score on us.

First and foremost we need to ensure the scoreboard kicks over in a way that leads to a W. I love the 10m line-out option (no complaints about our maul) but think we need to look at the win before the 3 try BP. Noting of course that our BPs are really important on the table.

Best resolution is to get the fricking line-out back to at least adequate.

 

[TSR]

The Reds scrum has also been very solid for most of the year. With the lineout a bit off, it'll be interesting to see if they opt for more scrums off penalties when they're within 10m of the try line.

I reckon they’ll back themselves to get their lineout right. There really isn’t a good reason not to have a strong lineout. All of their locking and 6 options are good in the lineout and Wilson is handy too when he isn’t parked midfield. Fez & Nasser are both normally pretty accurate and Asiata is capable.

Most importantly Zane Hilton has a good reputation for his work on the detail of the lineout and with the maul being such a dangerous weapon I can’t imagine they’ll be keen to reduce using the lineout.

Les Kiss’ mantra seems to very much be around backing your ability so I reckon they’ll back themselves to get it right.

 

[Mark Panga]

My recollection must be faulty then, I thought the line-out started the season adequately.



First and foremost we need to ensure the scoreboard kicks over in a way that leads to a W. I love the 10m line-out option (no complaints about our maul) but think we need to look at the win before the 3 try BP. Noting of course that our BPs are really important on the table.

Best resolution is to get the fricking line-out back to at least adequate.

I think the problem with the line out is the constant rotation of players in front, second and back row, the whole forward pack. I don't think there has been one game where the tight five, let alone the forward pack, has been the same from the week before. Quite the opposite - they are always completely different, a new team every week. With a completely different forward pack every week, it's impossible to have settled set piece. The players don't know where each other are - they have one/two days in the week to run combinations after they find they are in the game day 23 and then they are on. They would know what the calls are but - that's a lot different than a well drilled machine where every player instinctively knows where the other players will be.
Looking at the other Aussie teams - they have all had a fairly settled starting and bench tight five. The Reds have not only had to deal with disruptions from a lot of injuries but have additionally adopted a constant rotation of players not based on form but on rotation for rotation's sake. Sure - after a season or two of rotations, real depth will be built for the good of the Reds- but at the cost of set piece and cohesion in the interim.

 

[TSR]

The trade off, of course, is that the Reds have good depth across their forward pack with everyone getting good minutes and also meaningful rest. I expect that there will be less rotation in the back half of the season - although you could understand if they continue to rotate fhe THPs and locks. But in the event of injuries it is unlikely they’ll be pulling someone in who hasn’t already played good minutes this year. Equally it is unlikely anyone will be getting to finals football and they are completely spent.

There should be benefits even beyond the Super rugby season. Last year one of the reasons given for Ryan Smith missing the Final Cut for the Wallabies was he was that he was fatigued after such a heavy workload with the Reds. This may well have only been a small part of the reason but the Reds should, hopefully, hit the finals and beyond in good nick.

 

[rugbyAU]

Ryan Smith heading off to Ospreys

 

[LeCheese]

Mentioned in the match thread, but Harry Wilson's out for 6wks with his second fractured arm in as many seasons.

I do wonder whether it's result of his ball carrying technique - I've noticed before that he leads with his arm more prominently than most. Even Rugby.com.au's instagram post of the announcement has a picture demonstrating this.

 

[JRugby2]

Ryan Smith heading off to Ospreys

Nothing announced?

 

[rugbyAU]

Nothing announced?

Christy Doran either on ESPN Scrum Reset or Roar Podcast

 

[Adam84]

Probably recycling the same rumours posted here previously about it, which is based on Welsh reporting

 

[Wilson]

I wouldn't expect anything concrete as far as signings with Welsh teams go for a couple of weeks - Cardiff going into administration means all their players are technically free agents (ala the Rebels) and they've got a week or two to decide if they want to sign new contracts with the WRU run Cardiff Blues. Even if they all stick around at Cardiff it'll probably take some time for things to settle in Wales.