Reds 2011

[TOCC]

i was hoping for something a little different, but i think its purely going to have a little bit of a 'text' under the QLD logo saying 'QLD Flood Appeal'

 

[RugbyReg]

 

[qwerty51]

Get him off my screen

 

[spectator]

Anyways back to Qld footy. How many native banana benders are in the squad this year?

As I've been away from Yoku Rd for a wee while now, any decent players come into the squad from the Premier comp?

I think most are home grown but products of the QRU pathways, rather than being bolters from the local comp.

 

[meatsack]

Looks like James Horwill has been replaced on the brisbanetimes blog roster by Link:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...r-the-super-not-so-simple-20110217-1awxv.html

Small jab at South Africa there I think.

 

[Elfster]

I notice that St George is now a major(?) sponsor of the Reds. So at least the Reds have got one "NSW" entity back up there.

An interesting sponsor, but should be good I think.

 

[TOCC]

I notice that St George is now a major(?) sponsor of the Reds. So at least the Reds have got one "NSW" entity back up there.

An interesting sponsor, but should be good I think.

I dont know what would be worse, being sponsored by a NSW entity or by a pommy entity(HSBC)

 

[Tangawizi]

I think an Australian Bank is much better than the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation as sponsors.

Few more branches around, that's for sure.

But back to the main event - when is Link naming the side?

 

[Ash]

Elfster; I think we might need to wait to see if Moody's downgrades the Big Four before we can be confident of their continued largesse in Australia sport

 

[Lee Grant]

Looks like James Horwill has been replaced on the brisbanetimes blog roster by Link:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...r-the-super-not-so-simple-20110217-1awxv.html

Small jab at South Africa there I think.

A good article by Link - and thanks for flagging that meatsack.


There is always whingeing in the Heineken Cup when your team is in a pool without an Italian team in it. I'm aware that some Italian teams in the last couple of years have caused upsets, but by and large you want to be in one of the two pools which have one of them in it. The rationale is that you can rack up more bonus points such pools than in the other 4 pools - and especially when you play Italian teams at your home ground.


In the Super Rugby set up there could be a thought that, based on 2010 results, the presence of the Lions in the SAffer conference would give a theoretical advantage to the other SAffer teams in gaining the 4th, 5th or 6th final spot in 2011. The Lions had a points differential of over minus 300 and the next worst was about minus 100. The SAffer teams would get to play the Lions twice yet some teams from Oz or NZ wouldn't get to play them at all.


Sure - the Lions will likely be better this year, but you know what I mean.


In the case where a country has two weak teams in any one the year the dogs from the other countries would be howling more. There would also be howling in strong conferences deploring that they can get just one guaranteed spot in the finals and that the bonus points of their other teams would be meagre because they have to play their tougher conference members twice.

 

[Aunt]

I think an Australian Bank is much better than the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation as sponsors.

Few more branches around, that's for sure.

But back to the main event - when is Link naming the side?

Queensland: Peter Hynes, Rod Davies, Will Chambers, Anthony Fainga'a, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Leroy Houston, Ed Quirk, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Van Humphries, James Slipper, Saia Fainga'a, Ben Daley. Res: James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Scott Higginbotham, Beau Robinson, Ben Lucas, Mike Harris, Aidan Toua.

 

[en_force_er]

I hate seeing Horwill play 6 in a WC year.

 

[Tangawizi]

Good looking side that!

Well done to Toua for cracking a bench spot. Think he'll provide good spark in attack late in the game.

 

[RugbyReg]

I hate seeing Horwill play 6 in a WC year.

why?

 

[MrTimms]

I hate seeing Horwill play 6 in a WC year.

If you can wait to hear the podcast (I know there are plenty who can't), we discuss exactly that.

 

[TheTruth]

Queensland: Peter Hynes, Rod Davies, Will Chambers, Anthony Fainga'a, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Leroy Houston, Ed Quirk, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Van Humphries, James Slipper, Saia Fainga'a, Ben Daley. Res: James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Scott Higginbotham, Beau Robinson, Ben Lucas, Mike Harris, Aidan Toua.

They look the goods - probably only selections of Leroy and Quirk and Higgers not definites. Thought Robinson might have got the 7 spot over Quirk but maybe a bit of Queenslander loyalty has come to the fore and I have no problem with that.

 

[Reddy!]

The best part about this Queensland team is the continuation of very strong combinations from 2010, particularly in the backline, which is unchanged from 2010 victories over the Bulls and Stormers.

Look at teams like the Force and Rebels and you cannot say the same.

 

[en_force_er]

why?

Because it takes him away from the scrum, Australia's Achilles' heel.

Ewen is a coach that loves scrums and thus there is no better environment for Australia's premier tighthead lock to be playing TH lock in a WC year then at the Reds. But he isn't even playing in the tight forwards.

I don't mind the idea of it, just the post Super season potential repercussions, like a teething period of Horwill converting back to lock. This is all presuming that this isn't a one or two time thing but Horwill has played most of his rugby with McKenzie at 6.

 

[Scotty]

Who knows, Simmons may prove to be better than Horwill as lock? He is certainly big enough now - he looked to have put on a lot of muscle when I saw him block out the sun the other day.

 

[Ruggo]

Because it takes him away from the scrum, Australia's Achilles' heel.

Ewen is a coach that loves scrums and thus there is no better environment for Australia's premier tighthead lock to be playing TH lock in a WC year then at the Reds. But he isn't even playing in the tight forwards.

I don't mind the idea of it, just the post Super season potential repercussions, like a teething period of Horwill converting back to lock. This is all presuming that this isn't a one or two time thing but Horwill has played most of his rugby with McKenzie at 6.

I would not read too much into it. The other option of a big pacey blindside in Samo was not an option this week. Look on the bright side as it is allowing Simmons to develop his game as a THL and that is a positive for the Wallabies depth.