Reds 2011

[Set piece magic]

I've seen liam gill play before and I have no doubt it won't take him more than a season to became a regular performer. Last year from what I saw his ball running skills (storming runs up the field), ball handling skills and tackling where all easily up to scratch. And he was a monster at the break down too.

 

[Brumbieman]

I think he will be a great player.

BUT I also think that people are reading his hype a little too much, bar Pocock 7s never really dominate that young. Pocock, as the obvious exception, only got good by about 20 but that's because the Force were willing to give him a bucket of gametime. Liam isn't even 19.

Also, yeah the kid has clearly gotten better as a player and is looking bigger. But, just because a website says he's put on 10kg and he looks ripped does not mean he has a man's body, in fact it means almost nothing. Website statistics on athletes (even official ones) are notoriously wrong and the fact he looks ripped could have as much to do with skinfolds as actual muscle mass. This isn't saying he doesn't have an impressive physique but Rome wasn't build in a day (or an ONE off-season).

Once again, I'd like to say that he WILL be good but don't place too much expectation on the young lad too soon.

Smith made his debut for the Brumbies aged 19. And was MOM for the Wallabies on the day of his 21st birthday, 3rd Lions test.

 

[RugbyReg]

there's an article in the paper today, not on line yet I don't think, about Diggers back training. It mentions that he's hurting that Davies and Shipperley set the sprint standards last week. But then it mentioned that Ben Tapuai had beaten Diggers too. This surprised me as Taps looks a "big lump," to me. So I queried Link on it on twitter:

@RugbyReg Taps has done a lot of work and is looking physically good - not a lump anymore

that's exciting!

 

[Lee Grant]

That's good mail Nod.

On Ioane: How did folks judge his straight line speed before - say, during the S14 this year and against other Aussies. I didn't rate him as highly as what others seem to be doing, but I could be wrong. I frequently am when judging a player's speed.

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah I agree, I didn't think he was the fastest, but he's one of those players who doesn't seem to slow down when he changes direction. And is just a such a powerful unit.

 

[Hawko]

yeah, thats from Kev.

There's seems a few exciting developments from the Reds of late...

Only in Queensland.....

 

[TOCC]

Digby definetly isnt one of the fastest runners, his running style is very well suited for speed, more power then anything. In saying that, he definetly isnt slow, but not in the same league as turner or davies. Maybe he has been working on his running more then lifting weight since he injured his shoulder.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Digby definetly isnt one of the fastest runners, his running style is very well suited for speed, more power then anything. In saying that, he definetly isnt slow, but not in the same league as turner or davies. Maybe he has been working on his running more then lifting weight since he injured his shoulder.

This year he seemed considerably slower than previously, while his legs seems to have transformed from tree trunks to a small forrests' worth. Maybe too much weights (squats) a la Tuqiri?

 

[RugbyReg]

Except, unlike Lote, Diggers made breaks and scored tries this year. His acceleration is still great. Note try v Force and breaks v Sharks (I think)

 

[Set piece magic]

Digby may not have a huge top speed ala Davies, Turner. What he does have is a big mean, break making and tackle busting frame, so when he gets the ball he's still going pretty fast and just crashes straight through into gaps ect. Now what he also has is explosive acceleration, he goes off like a rocket!

 

[Thomas]

But Davies and Ioane have different games styles so comparing their speed fair against Digby but what I like is how someone mentioned that he was annoyed about it and since he is a competitive athlete means he will try harder at it.

 

[tranquility]

This year he seemed considerably slower than previously, while his legs seems to have transformed from tree trunks to a small forrests' worth. Maybe too much weights (squats) a la Tuqiri?

that old gag hey?

[video=youtube;G9sveeFL2L4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9sveeFL2L4[/video]

 

[TOCC]

everyone has made good points... i seem to remember Digby having some knee trouble throughout the year, maybe this limited his training time in terms of sprint training... Either way, i dont think he has slowed down at all, i remember watching him for Sunnybank and even then he wasnt the fastest winger on the field.. He strength is in contact and breaking tackles

 

[Ash]

Never thought that Ioane was anywhere near slow for a winger, but did think that he was more of a power winger than an out and out speed merchant like Davies. Ioane seems to have a lower centre of gravity when he runs that allows him to play well above his weight. Ioane's running style is hardly the graceful gliding that Hynes used to do (mid-2000s) before he got a couple of knee and leg injuries; to me, when Ioane runs he looks more like he's fighting using brute force to push himself forward against some unseen resistance.

 

[Tangawizi]

Reds First XV campaign has passed the halfway mark now. Apparently 7,500 is more members than they've had in any of the last 5 seasons. http://www.qru.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/873/Default.aspx

And they're having a comp for 2 members to win a signed jersey and rugby ball every day until next Tuesday. Hopefully people will buy memberships for Christmas that normally would just go to the odd game or 2.

http://www.qru.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/867/Default.aspx

I wonder how things are going on the Sponsorship front. Seems a bit odd that no new jersey sponsor has been announced yet. Surely it can't be very far off.

 

[RugbyReg]

I took the half way as being duration, not numbers. 8 weeks in and another 8 to go, or something.

As others have suggested, seemingly the sponsors are waiting for the CMC hearing to finish.

 

[Tangawizi]

Maybe it is halfway of the campaign then but it is good news that they are setting new membership records off the field, like the did on it during the season.

 

[Set piece magic]

WHat was it involving the crime and misconduct comission that happened again? Sorry I've forgotten

 

[Tangawizi]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...et-on-sports-rorts-report-20100914-15ae9.html

It's alleged pressuring of public servants to make a grant to the QRU and then some of those funds then ending up at the UQ Rugby academy.

 

[Doc]

Reds First XV campaign has passed the halfway mark now. Apparently 7,500 is more members than they've had in any of the last 5 seasons.
.

Back in around 05/06 they were around 8-9k. There was massive backlash against the appointment of Eddie Jones and a poor schedule which resulted in lower numbers in 07.