Reds 2011

[Richard D. James]

Robbie Fruean is going to tear it up this season, especially playing outside SBW.

As good as Chambers potentially is, I would take Fruean. Would love to be proved wrong though.

 

[Dumbledore]

Fruean is an absolute beast of a man, he'll be playing for the ABs before long. I'd take him over Chambers as well, and SBW over Fainga'a.
Still, it's all about how they work together.

 

[cyclopath]

Fuckin can't wait to watch the boys roll some ****s. WOOOOOOOOO!

Get out of our thread, dirty Mexicans.

If we leave all you banjo-pluckers to yourselves, it isn't a thread but a thrashwank.

 

[Jets]

For the first time in a long while I am happy with the Reds squad at the start of a Super season. Sure we have some areas of concern but I am looking forward to someone stepping up and making it their own (Reserve hooker and openside). The other great thing is that we have a coach that the players believe in and who has some fantastic ideas about how to use the players in the squad. I can't wait for the season to kick off.

 

[cyclopath]

For the first time in a long while I am happy with the Reds squad at the start of a Super season. Sure we have some areas of concern but I am looking forward to someone stepping up and making it their own (Reserve hooker and openside). The other great thing is that we have a coach that the players believe in and who has some fantastic ideas about how to use the players in the squad. I can't wait for the season to kick off.

Indeed, it is a good squad with a lot of promise, after whetting our appetite last year with many glimpses of what might be to come. And it is rugby to look forward to. Now keep them on the park.
As the old truism goes, Qld rugby strong, Aus rugby strong...

 

[nathan]

Fruean is an absolute beast of a man, he'll be playing for the ABs before long. I'd take him over Chambers as well, and SBW over Fainga'a.
Still, it's all about how they work together.

From what I saw in the ITM, they work together really, really well.

 

[Tangawizi]

Why don't you guys set up a Crusaders thread and take that conversation there?

Back to the Reds - it will be interesting to see how they go with the weight of public expectation on them - have shortened from $15 to $11 at Tab to win the comp so plenty of people are confident about their chances.

Also does anyone know what is going in Section 332 this year as was blocked off for members? Is it a "St George Redszone" or something?

And, who is going down for the Tahs game?

 

[nathan]

Why don't you guys set up a Crusaders thread and take that conversation there?

Back to the Reds - it will be interesting to see how they go with the weight of public expectation on them - have shortened from $15 to $11 at Tab to win the comp so plenty of people are confident about their chances.

Also does anyone know what is going in Section 332 this year as was blocked off for members? Is it a "St George Redszone" or something?

And, who is going down for the Tahs game?

Woah on the defence much? It's relevant to the Reds playing the Crusaders in 2011 and the centre match ups. It's not like I'm walking in here shouting about how good the Warratah's are every second post.

I'm excited to see Chambers back in action, as I was really hoping he'd have EOYT last year. What I've been most impressed with is the depth that the Reds have in their squad. When you think back to last year, especially in the Brumbies game...they lost both locks and were really on the brink of a Force type situation where the player stocks were looking pretty bare.

Fast forward 9 months and all of a sudden there's fierce competition coming from the Academy into the main squad. Harris sounds like he's not the conservative fly-half that some have made him out to be, and seems to be blossoming in the reds attacking culture.

I'm excited.

 

[disco]

I am a mad reds fan but if i had both backlines today 1 maybe 2 reds. genia infront of ellis maybe. I'm a fan of the rocket but would like to see a bit more than speed. Ioane can swap sides and play for maitland. carter does not need to be anywhere near peak form to be ten lengths in front of cooper.
The canterbury 12/13 is also miles ahead of ours at present. Is hynes the second best 15 in australia? I would pick robbie deans before him!

Genia is in a different league to Ellis there isn't one area of the game that Ellis does better than Genia wether it be tackling, running, passing, kicking & even steering the team around the park.

Cooper is closer to Carter than Ellis is Genia.

I think everyone is rating Fruean from his NPC form & not his Super Rugby. He's a big bustling ball runner but he struggled in defence last year & was caught flat footed on more than one occasion.

 

[Gingerbeer]

If anyone cares, the St Geoge bank logo did not look too bad on the Reds jersey.

I care. I had decided that 2011 was a year for a new jersey. When I first saw the new jersey (a photo of it anyway) I had serious doubts about the plan. I'm waiting to see it in the flesh before deciding.

 

[Gingerbeer]

Also does anyone know what is going in Section 332 this year as was blocked off for members? Is it a "St George Redszone" or something?

Our 2010 seats were in section 332. So when I was renewing I asked about what was going on there. QRU informs me that it will be a "cheer squad" section which I think is great. They did offer me the option to renew our seats in the "cheer squad" section so I think it was just new members that they were blocking from getting seats there (though I personally decided that 2011 was the year for better seats).

 

[Ruggo]

Why don't you guys set up a Crusaders thread and take that conversation there?

Back to the Reds - it will be interesting to see how they go with the weight of public expectation on them - have shortened from $15 to $11 at Tab to win the comp so plenty of people are confident about their chances.

Also does anyone know what is going in Section 332 this year as was blocked off for members? Is it a "St George Redszone" or something?

And, who is going down for the Tahs game?

Judging from what I saw at their training, they should have no trouble with second year syndrome. They looked well focussed. I also had my doubts until I saw it for myself. I think the depth of the squad will allow them to be far broader in their tactics than they were last year.

 

[RugbyReg]

The early season QAS Reds 2nd XV schedule has been announced with five games to be played throughout February and March.

2011 QAS Reds 2nd XV Schedule – All games kickoff at 6:30pm local time

Game 1 – Saturday, February 19 at Ballymore: QAS Reds 2nd XV v Fiji
Game 2 – Wednesday, February 23 at Ballymore: QAS Reds 2nd XV v Samoa
Game 3 – Monday, February 28 at Ballymore: QAS Reds 2nd XV v Tonga
Game 4 – Saturday, March 5 in ACT: QAS Reds 2nd XV v Brumby Runners
Game 5 – Saturday, March 12 at Ballymore: QAS Reds 2nd XV v Hawkes Bay

Four of the five games will be played at Ballymore with the sole away match to be played in the ACT against the Brumby Runners on Saturday, March 5.

Their opening three games against Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are part of the new-look IRB Pacific Rugby Cup where the Reds 2nd XV, Junior Waratahs and Brumby Runners face each of the Pacific Island teams.

The Reds 2nd XV is made up of St.George Reds not in the matchday squad, members of the QAS Reds Academy and Wider Training Squads, and standouts from the Premier Rugby competition.

The program is designed to give players high intensity match practise against quality opposition and for coaches to evaluate talent coming through the ranks.

“These games are an important part of our development program with many players in the past using the Reds 2nd XV matches as a stepping stone to the top squad,” Queensland Rugby Academy Program Coordinator and Reds 2nd XV coach Paul Carozza said.

"It's also a way for those non-playing 22 to impress and hopefully push for futureselection."

A new coaching appointment has been made for the Reds 2nd XV in 2011 with Easts Premier Rugby coach Pat Richards announced as assistant coach.

Richards is a highly touted coach who led the Tigers to a 22-21 victory over Brothers in the 2008 final. He also coached the City at the City v Country carnival last season, along with the Premier XV.

 

[Jets]

Good to see Pat Richards get the gig with the 2nd XV. Has done some good work over the years.

 

[Boomy]

A little bit of footage from the trail matches played posted up on the Red's twitter account.

[video=youtube;W0Cq3Lsq6V0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Cq3Lsq6V0[/video]

 

[Jets]

2 things of note.

1, Toua looks really good

2, Diggers hair looks really bad

 

[RugbyReg]

also, despite a few longer distance tries at the end, there's a fair number of strong forward type tries barrelling over close to the line. It is vital to turn position into points, and if you can get within 10m of the tryline you need to be scoring. Looks like the Reds did a bit of that during the trials.

Oh and that lovely pass from Genia to Chambers for the try under the posts v the Cru.

 

[vidiot]

Never thought I'd be supporting St George. Nice to see the Ioane gallop again, even with that hair cut.

 

[Reddy!]

Who is the bloke who makes the break at 2.37, I think he passes it onto Chambers for the Ioane try?

 

[Lee Grant]

Never thought I'd be supporting St George.

You get used to it after 50 years. It is a bloody awful haircut for Diggers though it may not be too bad when they finish it.

Geez there was a bit of loose defence near to the rucks, not that the Tahs were much better the other night. Also those manic offloads one after the other when defenders are yawning waiting for the real deal to happen are a bit silly. Much better an offload in the tackle or just before it with the receiver running at pace off your hip, than standing still playing hot potato in front of the other team.

Still, some impressive moves from the Reds and they looked sharp. Geez the Brumbies looked the opposite.

Reddy I think the guy is Mike Harris.