Reds 2011

[Lee Grant]

Reddy there's a vid of Toua on youtube that gives you an idea of what he's like:http://www.youtube.com/embed/tzb8_VIrXr8

Thanks for posting that vid link. I hadn't seen Toua play 15s since his school days except for in the U20 comp last year and it brought back memories of when I first saw him playing U16s.

He was born to play fullback; so I don't know why they put him on the wing. Maybe they think there is a defensive issue and he needs the touchline to help him. I saw him miss a couple of tackles for Oz 7s - but so did everybody else.

I hope he stays healthy so he can get back to where he would have been had he not been hurt. There are a few more contenders around for the back three now than there were before, but he has the talent to be a Super player and I'll back him.

 

[Reddy!]

Big wraps. Did he ever play in the ARC? I have a feeling he did.

 

[Red Rooster]

Why the hell are these wankers playing Jimmy Horwill at blindside flanker ? They'll ruin him.

He got man of the match v brumbies on the weekend playing at Blindside - ruin him in what sense anyway?

 

[Jets]

Big wraps. Did he ever play in the ARC? I have a feeling he did.

No he was still at school in 07.

 

[fatprop]

He got man of the match v brumbies on the weekend playing at Blindside - ruin him in what sense anyway?

being a lock?
doing tight forward stuff?

 

[Red Rooster]

being a lock?
doing tight forward stuff?

you obviously haven't watched the way he plays at 6 - he is no seagull

 

[tranquility]

you obviously haven't watched the way he plays at 6 - he is no seagull

Too be honest, I'm not really sure I like him on the side either.

 

[RugbyReg]

I didn't at first, but thought he was fantastic v the Tahs last year. He's got the mobility and allows us to play a tighter backrow game, that we wouldn't get with Higgers.

The balance of the backrow for that first game v the Force will be critical, given the quality the Force have. At the same time, we have to get the balance right in the tight 5 as that's an area we can get one over the Force, given Sharpe's absence. In fact we can really monster the Force in the pack and particularly dominate the lineout. With McCalman likely to play lock, who knows with whom and then there mobile yet short backrow, the Reds could play 3 x 2m locks and maybe even Higgers at 8. Not just gangly jumpers either. Actual aggressive bastards with high work rates (Van, Kev and Simmons). Chuck Robinson at 7, as I'd suggest is what would happen, and that's a pretty impressive pack I reckon.

A Fainga'a will be critical in combating Pocock. I assume he will be back.

 

[Ruggo]

Horwill at blindside is just an indication of the Reds great depth. He carved it up in tight as well in the loose. If he remains fit he is only going to get better further into the season. I suspect link wants Samo getting game time at lock. I don't care where they play but both Horwill and Samo in the same side was friggin' destructive. Samo played a very tight game against the Brumbies which I presume that this is What link wants more of.

The depth at openside looks more positive also. Quirk played a bloody good game and was no slowch at pinching a bit of ball also. Robinson was good as was Gill.

 

[Ruggo]

I didn't at first, but thought he was fantastic v the Tahs last year. He's got the mobility and allows us to play a tighter backrow game, that we wouldn't get with Higgers.

The balance of the backrow for that first game v the Force will be critical, given the quality the Force have. At the same time, we have to get the balance right in the tight 5 as that's an area we can get one over the Force, given Sharpe's absence. In fact we can really monster the Force in the pack and particularly dominate the lineout. With McCalman likely to play lock, who knows with whom and then there mobile yet short backrow, the Reds could play 3 x 2m locks and maybe even Higgers at 8. Not just gangly jumpers either. Actual aggressive bastards with high work rates (Van, Kev and Simmons). Chuck Robinson at 7, as I'd suggest is what would happen, and that's a pretty impressive pack I reckon.

A Fainga'a will be critical in combating Pocock. I assume he will be back.

Fainga'a looked right on Friday night on the side line but Saia came off with a busted knee. My guess is Anthony will be fine I don't know how serious but it was enough to keep him in the sheds after the game.

 

[Reddy!]

Yeh Ruggo, the depth is looking real good. Same reason why I think A. Fainga'a will miss out on a starting spot for Chambers and Ioane in the centres.

 

[Groucho]

Yeh Ruggo, the depth is looking real good. Same reason why I think A. Fainga'a will miss out on a starting spot for Chambers and Ioane in the centres.

Surely Ioane is best on the wing with a roving commission and Chambers at 13 where he excelled last year? Can't see the value in moving everyone in at Fainga'a's expense.

 

[tranquility]

I hope A Finger runs at 12 in round one, he was superb last year and offers the perfect foil type game to balance Quade's eccentric nature. Even though we have much talent in the back three much of it is very inexperienced, especially if Hynes is unavailable. Diggers will add real value in organizing a back three that could realistically involve some real youngsters.

In the forwards I had Liam Gill pegged as a certainty for the bench for round 1, but now that I think about it Quirky probably makes more sense. He is faster than Shatz, and dynamic enough to play 7 (albeit a Schalk Burger type, as opposed to a Heinrich Brussow) but is by definition a blindside. He is also a year older than Gill and probably deserves to be ahead of him on the ladder, player management and all that.

 

[Hawko]

Horwill at blindside is just an indication of the Reds great depth. He carved it up in tight as well in the loose. If he remains fit he is only going to get better further into the season. I suspect link wants Samo getting game time at lock. I don't care where they play but both Horwill and Samo in the same side was friggin' destructive. Samo played a very tight game against the Brumbies which I presume that this is What link wants more of.

The depth at openside looks more positive also. Quirk played a bloody good game and was no slowch at pinching a bit of ball also. Robinson was good as was Gill.

I think you are right about Link wanting good tight forward play. That's not so much for round one against the Force but more getting ready for the round two away game against the Tah pack. I think the two clashes against the Tahs will decide the conference winner and the forward battle will be titanic. On paper the Tah pack with Palu and TPN has got an edge, but paper's cheap. How well the forwards play, especially in tight, will be what decides the outcome and round two is still very early on in the season. What I think Link is doing is preparing his pack for a massive encounter, looking for parity in the forwards so he can win it through the backs. I expect almost the reverse from Hickey - looking for parity in the backs so his forwards can overrun the QLD pack.

I can't wait.

 

[qwerty51]

I personally would not swap the Tahs backline with the Reds.

 

[RugbyReg]

good for you qwerty.

Anyway, getting back to productive chat. A Fainga'a will definitely play if fit. Didn't he get the most turnovers last year for the Reds? Even more than Braid? He's crucial up against Pocock. Even more than whoever plays 7.

 

[Ruggo]

I think you are right about Link wanting good tight forward play. That's not so much for round one against the Force but more getting ready for the round two away game against the Tah pack. I think the two clashes against the Tahs will decide the conference winner and the forward battle will be titanic. On paper the Tah pack with Palu and TPN has got an edge, but paper's cheap. How well the forwards play, especially in tight, will be what decides the outcome and round two is still very early on in the season. What I think Link is doing is preparing his pack for a massive encounter, looking for parity in the forwards so he can win it through the backs. I expect almost the reverse from Hickey - looking for parity in the backs so his forwards can overrun the QLD pack.

I can't wait.

You will go after our scrum and we will go after your lineout. If Horwill plays 6 he will offer what Palu does for you with a power game. I think the packs may cancel themselves out in this game. The battle of the back three's has me moist. What will be interesting for the Reds will be facing the Force pack then the Tahs. They couldn't be anymore different.

I'm with you, I can't wait.

 

[disco]

So you'd honestly pick Tom Carter & Ryan Cross over Fainga'a, Chambers & Ioane?

 

[Hawko]

So you'd honestly pick Tom Carter & Ryan Cross over Fainga'a, Chambers & Ioane?

Only one of Cross and Carter will play at any one time unless injury strikes. Carter will play his limited but effective game in the same way Fainga'a does. Both have limitations in their skills and unless they show a wider range I wouldn't let either of them near a Wallaby jumper, but doing what they do well they become very effective cogs at Super level in teams that both have stars inside and outside them. Cross looks to me to have some slightly different skills shortcomings to Carter but overall they are close in ratings.

Chambers has to be rated against Horne/Turner. Chambers had a massive season last year and could develop into anything. But Horne would be a better player at this stage - he gave Smith a massive touch-up in the match against the Hurricanes last year and Smith is supposed to be the world's best 13. Turner is still learning 13, but he's learning fast and is not that far away.

Ioane is to be compared to Mitchell, Turner and Pakalani. They have different skill sets but Ioane is line ball on Mitchell and he's slightly in front of Turner. Pakalani still has his L plates.

There is not enough between the two backlines that it doesn't come down to personal preference and how you want to see the game played. If you're a Tah fan you'll probably choose them, if you're a Reds fan likewise. The big advantage the Tahs have is Kurtley. Right now, no team in the world has a better 15.

 

[Lachlan]

Only one of Cross and Palmer will play at any one time unless injury strikes. Carter will play his limited but effective game in the same way Fainga'a does. Both have limitations in their skills and unless they show a wider range I wouldn't let either of them near a Wallaby jumper, but doing what they do well they become very effective cogs at Super level in teams that both have stars inside and outside them. Cross looks to me to have some slightly different skills shortcomings to Carter but overall they are close in ratings.

Fainga'a showed some glimpses of a golden touch a couple times through last years s14. A lovely grubber in heavy traffic against the Bulls to put Digby Ioane away in the corner as well as a some nice hands at crucial times (same game, Rod Davies try in the other corner). Hopefully we'll see him develop these aspects of his game throughout the year.

For what its worth I'd take Carter before Cross any day of the week. Cross' speed is beginning to drop off and he has the tendency to go for the cross field crab, giteau style. They're both solid defenders but Carter is well established in the Tah's backline and can play the 'hit the pill up/defend' role better than Cross who doesnt have the ticker and agro to enforce himself in the mid field.