Reds 2011
- Thread starter Lee Grant
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Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
It's a level lower than Super Rugby but I and a lot of other people thought he was in superb form in the finals series of the Shute Shield. I would expect him to have an outstanding season in 2011; so much so that he might even impress a few Queenslanders who tend to be an unforgiving bunch.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
I think that Barnes best form has been when playing 12 - the Sydney Bledisloe in 2008 and the recent game against France come to mind. He played well at 10 against Wales in the last RWC but by and large his best in internationals have been at 12. But he hasn't had a lot of chances there since Cooper/Giteau.
In Super rugby however the Tahs backline wasn't great last year until he moved from 12 to 10. No I can't figure it out either.
He has been in form, but not for long periods, though neither has any other Oz 10 or 12 been in the same period. Cooper is having the best run of form but only as an attacking player and only then if his forwards have fronted.
Barnes' defensive form has arguably been the best of any Oz 10 or 12 in the last few years but we tend to worship attack.
In Super rugby however the Tahs backline wasn't great last year until he moved from 12 to 10. No I can't figure it out either.
He has been in form, but not for long periods, though neither has any other Oz 10 or 12 been in the same period. Cooper is having the best run of form but only as an attacking player and only then if his forwards have fronted.
Barnes' defensive form has arguably been the best of any Oz 10 or 12 in the last few years but we tend to worship attack.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
If they can be impressed by a Test level player in an artificially strong club side buying yet another premiership.
DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
I think moving to a new team and having to get to grips with new personnel, the off field pressures of getting settled in a new town and having a new coach that had to get used to him all made for a hairy start to the season. But the bumpy ride settled down by the end of the season and he started to recapture some great form.
Hopefully a more settled start to the season and a full EOYT will mean that Barnes is back to his best right from the word go in 2011.
Edit: Apologies, guys, I just realised this is the Reds thread. Well, I guess he is a Queenslander by birth...
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TOCC
Guest
In my opinion the only facet where a in-form Barnes beats a in form Quade Cooper is in defence, lets be honest, a out of form Barnes still beats Quade Cooper in defence..
But in tactical kicking, ball playing and running the ball, Quade Cooper beats Barnes well and truly.
But in tactical kicking, ball playing and running the ball, Quade Cooper beats Barnes well and truly.
#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
Reliable Defence.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
Reliability in general. Granted Quade was good for most of 2010 but he was patchy at times.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
I believe patchy would sum up the 2010 Barnes very well. Barnes has become a poor man's Johnny Wilkinson. The conservative nature that he plays with is stifling his abilities. He is an incredibly intelligent footballer but he is looks to have dumbed right down. Looking at the 2007 RWC, replaced Bernie well and played with a lot of his qualities. I know Giteau had a dam fine year in 2008 super 14 but not continuing with Barnes at 10 was a big shame and when it went sour from there. Barnes is a fantastic footballer and given the talent outside him at the Tahs, I would love to see him open up a bit more and show more of those Bernie like qualities we seen from him at 2007 RWC.
It is pointless judging Cooper as he is a work in progress. It is naive to look at the 2010 Cooper and leave it at that. Compare the 2009 Cooper to the 2010 Cooper to get some perspective on where he is heading and to get a little insight into what the 2011 Cooper may look like. Cooper combined his raw talent with a much enhanced level of on field intelligence and we all seen the result. At the rate of development Cooper has shown over the last couple of years, I would not be surprised to see Cooper fix his defence and come close to being the perfect player.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
I think BB has been unfairly criticised for the game plans of the coaches in many cases. I think he has been instructed to play conservative (in particular at the Tahs). When the team has a balanced game plan (or even an outright attack focussed plan) he has shown time and again that he can provide the touch that sets up players inside and out. People seem to forget these aspects because he doesn't make the clean breaks or score tries himself as Giteau used to, and Cooper does. The perfect ball to JOC (James O'Connor) for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s first try against France sums up what BB brings to a a team in attack as the improved defensive organisation and line speed against Italy and France does in defence.
BB is to Cooper what Lynagh was to Larkham. One is a running flashy 10 and the other an honest, reliable player. Do not expect massive flashy plays and his form looks good. Do not forget that for half the season he had Carter at 12 and 13, having to coach him how to run a scissors line.
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Tank
Guest
whilst i do not disagree with the sentiment, for the sake of Qld, NSW and Australian rugby, let us all hope that in 10, 15 years, BB and QC (Quade Cooper) are remembered in the same breath as Lynagh and Larkham...
#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
if you have 15 gentlemen (or 7) on a field with an oval ball, it is rugby. And its not hard to take the basics of what the All Blacks did to the Wallabies in most games this year. Have a strong set-piece, Flyhalf that kick pinpoint and directs the attack well (barnes) an explosive back 3 (Beale, Turner, Mitchell), massive centre pairing (Carter, Horne / Carter, Cross / Horne, Cross) dynamic leader that sets the example (Waugh), have good depth (Fitzpatrick, BKH, O'Connor, Vickerman, Mowen, McCutcheon etc...) and dont panic when playing catchup rugby (like round 1 2010).
The Reds front row (holmes, Fainga'a, slipper?) are still no-names, Wallaby caps or not. Slipper will have to play all of every match as there is no tighthead backup. Remember that Fainga'a came on in a test match with 5 minutes left, 1 point ahead and dumped a spingbok on his head, then held his arms up in the air like an idiot denying it? Van's body will not hold up for 18 weeks. Your backline cannot defend without Berrick to get them on the front foot, in 2009 when Barnes missed 2 games, 12 tries were scored against the reds. Who will get the Reds defending on the front foot? QC (Quade Cooper) still cant tackle, Fainga'a got caught out the line twice in Christchurch and cost us the game. The more you analyse it, the more the 2011 reds have "failure" written all over them.
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
remember that im 15, that went straight over my head.
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TOCC
Guest
lol you sir are a douche.. you made a stupid comparison and now you are trying to justify it by deflecting the attention to other areas(ones from 2009) haha
#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
it was a statistic that I felt was relevant, it was brought up during a game between the Reds and Waratahs recently... cant really remember who won that one.... despite being there....
And how is having an opinion being a douche?
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Have you been hitting the red cordial hard?
#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
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