Reds 2011

[Bowside]

Surly we will see morahan and either chambers or harris in for the injured Lucas and Tapuai?

 

[Ruggo]

Reddy!, Simmons is world class? Even for you that's a hefty call.

Might be a bit over the top but boy the bloke has promise. Sharpe is playing fantastic but what could be a problem for him is if we see a Horwill Simmons locking partnership for the rest of the year and the Wallaby selectors opting to keep the partnersip intact. Regardless of that, I am confident that these three will be the locks in the Wallaby 22. Injury to one of these three is the only thing that will save Chisholm or Mumm. Douglas's lack of experience will count against him and he is best regarded as a 2012 prospect.

I tend to find "world class" a bit eye of the beholder anyway.

 

[redstragic]

Is it me or does robinson give the reds extra guts and heart. My new favorite player. Watched him yesterday and his work around the ruck was brutal. For me his is the fairytale of 2011.

Also does anyone know what happened to toua?

 

[DPK]

Might be a bit over the top but boy the bloke has promise. Sharpe is playing fantastic but what could be a problem for him is if we see a Horwill Simmons locking partnership for the rest of the year and the Wallaby selectors opting to keep the partnersip intact. Regardless of that, I am confident that these three will be the locks in the Wallaby 22. Injury to one of these three is the only thing that will save Chisholm or Mumm. Douglas's lack of experience will count against him and he is best regarded as a 2012 prospect.

I tend to find "world class" a bit eye of the beholder anyway.

I'm compelled to agree with you again: just go with it . I'd be very pleased if Sharpe, Horwill, Simmons and Douglas were all picked in the Wallabies squad at the end of the Super season. I'd wager that Sharpe and Horwill are the current incumbents, with Simmons and Douglas being the heirs to their thrones, so it would be nice to see the four of them in the same squad.

 

[Reddy!]

Horwill is only 24/25 - I don't think he will be stepping down from his throne any time soon. Simmons world class, not yet, but will be very soon. He is a hell of a lot more productive than Mumm or Douglas who are just big bodies blumbering around the field like a giraffe who thinks he is a donkey.

 

[Ruggo]

I'm compelled to agree with you again: just go with it . I'd be very pleased if Sharpe, Horwill, Simmons and Douglas were all picked in the Wallabies squad at the end of the Super season. I'd wager that Sharpe and Horwill are the current incumbents, with Simmons and Douglas being the heirs to their thrones, so it would be nice to see the four of them in the same squad.

I agree. I find Horwill's abrasiveness and Sharpe's organisation a very good balance and on that basis I would dismiss Simmons on the same basis as I dismissed Douglas. Simmons is probably not ready to inherit the organizational role but 2012 could be his time. He has developed to play both sides of the scrum adequatly and that serves him well to take the reserve spt in the 22. Simmons on the bench suits me just fine.

Actually on second thoughts I think Al Campbell could be a smokey for that 4th lock position in the RWC squad. Has the experience and his form for the Rebels is good.

I love that so many are putting their hands up to be considered this year in a number of positions.

 

[spectator]

Well done to Prior and Shipperley for making the SA trip squad. Prior will obviously be on the bench next week with the injury to Lucas. It will be interesting to see who plays at fullback next week.

 

[Ash]

Fullback, I guess, will either be Harris or Morahan. Morahan is probably more likely as he replaced Lucas this week, but Harris for Lucas is more of a like-for-like replacement.

Wondering if Chambers will replace Tapuai at 13 this week? At the very least, I guess Chambers will move onto the bench with Lucas being out.

 

[Richard D. James]

I think so Ash, or at least someone should, possibly Diggers?

I know it's not his position, but he has offered nothing so far.

 

[Godfrey]

His defence has been really good.

 

[TheTruth]

Robinson certainly not a Daniel Braid but by God, NOT FAR OFF IT. Got plenty of mongrel, tough and a good fetcher. Has been VERY good for the Reds. Stupid Tahs for letting him escape

 

[Ash]

Yeah, Tapuai has been fine in defence, but he's struggled in a backline who've done plenty of attacking in the last few games. Ioane in a roving role got a lot more involved. Which is why I like Diggers on the wing - letting him rove around, looking for work seems to generally work well for him.

 

[Scotty]

I'm compelled to agree with you again: just go with it . I'd be very pleased if Sharpe, Horwill, Simmons and Douglas were all picked in the Wallabies squad at the end of the Super season. I'd wager that Sharpe and Horwill are the current incumbents, with Simmons and Douglas being the heirs to their thrones, so it would be nice to see the four of them in the same squad.

The only issue I have with Simmons is that he appears very slow. I like the additional speed of Douglas, but can't be sure who puts the most work in close to the ruck.

 

[Scotty]

Yeah, Tapuai has been fine in defence, but he's struggled in a backline who've done plenty of attacking in the last few games. Ioane in a roving role got a lot more involved. Which is why I like Diggers on the wing - letting him rove around, looking for work seems to generally work well for him.

Neither of the centres stood out. Cooper was making so many good breaks himself and has such a good long pass all he needs is quick guys on the wing to finish of the moves.

The centres will be more important against a tighter defense.

 

[Lee Grant]

I know this is a Reds thread but there has been mention of Douglas, As topo mentioned elsewhere: he had better pull his socks up. His participations can get intermitment and the penalty for lazy running in front of the kicker and getting pinged against the Brumbies was not a good look. Foley gave him a rocket after the Crusaders game which, to his credit, he responded well to in the press, but we have to see more response on the park.

Simmons work has not sold me this year either though folks may swamp me with some stats. I just want to see from both young men a bit of the work rate and skill of Scot Richie Gray, the best young lock on the planet.

 

[Ash]

Lee - I watched Douglas vs the Cheetahs and he could be a bit guilty of ruck watching at times, but he didn't keep it up as long as many other forwards who shirk the hard work. Could just be still developing a feeling of when to hit rucks and when not to - it's something that a lot of forwards never get right over their entire career.

 

[tranquility]

Simmonds > Douglas

 

[TOCC]

nice take!
http://a3.sphotos.AK (Andrew Kellaway).fbcdn.net/hphotos-AK (Andrew Kellaway)-snc6/189640_10150175497355236_282471695235_8755408_1352644_n.jpg


Quade making a tackle!
http://a4.sphotos.AK (Andrew Kellaway).fbcdn.net/hphotos-AK (Andrew Kellaway)-snc6/189412_10150175498175236_282471695235_8755424_3303094_n.jpg


What is this?? the backs got jealous of the front rows 'tripod'??
http://a3.sphotos.AK (Andrew Kellaway).fbcdn.net/hphotos-AK (Andrew Kellaway)-snc6/200170_10150175498475236_282471695235_8755434_6857778_n.jpg

 

[Ruggo]

Nice pics. I think Will and Quade are making butterflies in the shadow of the grandstand.

 

[TheTruth]

Realise the Rocket is playing pretty good footy BUT he dropped a friggin' SITTER and bombed a certain try last weekend. Lucky it was against the Cheaters and not a competitive team. It would have lost the match !!!!! Give the bloke some "grippo"