The Rebirth of the Queensland Reds: Bob Dwyer analysis
The Queensland Reds, for more than a short while, cellar-dwellers in the Super 14 competition, have made the rugby world sit up and take notice with their well-deserved win over the Bulls at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Reds had been a long-time powerhouse in Australian, and perhaps world, rugby for a considerable period in the 70’s and 80’s, but it’s been some time since they could dare to hope for a return to those glory days, at least until last Saturday night.
The Reds played quality, attractive, passionate rugby to outplay the champion South African team and, in the process, won back a legion of previously disenfranchised Queensland rugby supporters and moved into the ‘top four’ on the table for the first time this season – actually, for many seasons.
How has this happened? It can’t be a fluke; they’ve been steadily improving from their good, but not great, opening game against the Waratahs. I’ve come up with a few thoughts, but it’s a complex mix, and you might have a few more of your own.
The Squad.
The squad have built up steadily, after Queensland dominated selections for the Australian schoolboys and age-group teams for the last five or so years. Many of these newer players are now coming of age – in their early twenties – and are ready to play their best rugby at the higher level.
There are the obvious ones – Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane and Peter Hynes – but just this year, Ben Daley, Laurie Weeks and Saia Fainga'a have made an enormous contribution from the front-row, to the total team effort. Van Humphries is a ‘fair dinkum bloke’ who has served his (late) apprenticeship and is now able to lead his young charges. Lock, Rob Simmons, is another developing young talent who will be around for a long while and backrower, Scott Higginbotham, has convinced me – actually a couple of weeks ago – that he will be a Wallaby this year. Daniel Braid has been enormous for his team, and, by my guess, not just on the field.
Anthony Fainga'a has been vital to his backline’s performance and is an excellent foil for Quade Cooper’s extravagant talents. I’ve seen him play better than he did against the Bulls – it’s important to keep the line straight, but it’s also important to pass the ball to take advantage of the space which you have thereby created – but he has had an excellent season to date.bob_dwyer_logo_stacked
Will Chambers looks very good; this was a great signing. He has improved steadily – full marks to the coaching staff – and his extra pace adds a lot to his team’s performance.
The back three, whoever they choose, also have pace to burn. Add strength, agility and toughness and you’ve got a lot to give you confidence at the back.
The Coaching Staff.
I don’t know them all, but I do know head coach, Ewen McKenzie, and backs coach, Jim McKay, very well. Ewen is very experienced, intelligent, knowledgeable and hard working. Jim is not so experienced at the highest level, but is the equal of Ewen in all other respects. Jim also believes implicitly in the value of giving his players the opportunity and the ammunition to allow them to play the game to the full extent of the laws.
Selection and preparation have clearly been of the highest order. Game plans and, more importantly, execution have been exciting, fun and successful for all involved – including the fans.
Performance.
What are the Reds doing this season that has everyone talking about them and in glowing terms? Simply, they do the ’simple’ things well and this allows their natural talent to shine.
Their set plays are good. They have excellent pace across the board.
Their catch and pass skills are ok and will get better.
Importantly, they pass the ball in front of the receiver.
They chase back with urgency and this gives them the opportunity to counter-attack.
Their forwards chase the ball and are not preoccupied with the ‘next’ phase.
The inside backs chase the pass – Quade Cooper is getting many ‘second touches’ on the ball.
In defence, they obviously have the appetite for the job and tackle with enthusiasm. That’s a good start, but, at the tackle contest, they strive to immediately take the space beyond the ball. This makes it difficult for the arriving attacking players to get over the ball. It’s not ‘counter-rucking’; this happens before the ruck is formed.
Character.
They remain modest in their achievements to date. Once again, full marks to the coaching staff. At the after-match TV interview, Will Genia said that “they don’t want to get ahead of themselves.” This is honest and wise. They clearly enjoyed their performance and their victory, but they know that, now, only next week’s game matters. They did convincingly beat the Bulls, but the Bulls have never won the last game of their ‘tour’ since Super rugby began in 1996.
Recently, a mate of mine was asked what qualities he looked for when assessing the potential of a young player. His immediate reply was, “Good manners, because that makes them coachable”.
Ewen must have had this in mind when he, also at an after-match TV interview, said that his squad were all very ‘coachable’.
The performances of the Queensland Reds and the Stormers last weekend, proved to me, yet again, that rugby, when played at its best, has no equal in sport.
My sincere thanks to all involved with these two teams.
