Reds 2011

[Thomas]

in 2009 when Barnes missed 2 games, 12 tries were scored against the reds.

Are you that stupid that you haven't realised that the 2009 Reds are totally different to the 2010 Reds.

Fainga'a got caught out the line twice in Christchurch and cost us the game.

His test debut against the AB of course he'll make some mistakes anyone in his position marking Ma'a Nonu would shit themselves

 

[#1 Tah]

Are you that stupid that you haven't realised that the 2009 Reds are totally different to the 2010 Reds.

No, but they were both pretty dissapointing in the end. From your perspective anyway

His test debut against the AB of course he'll make some mistakes anyone in his position marking Ma'a Nonu would shit themselves

But you would expect someone selected for the Wallabies to be able to tackle

Oh wait you guys signed Quade. Why? He is pissing off after next year anyway.

 

[Thomas]

No, but they were both pretty dissapointing in the end. From your perspective anyway

From my perspective 5th from 14 is a good result especially when it's up 8 places from the previous year.

But you would expect someone selected for the Wallabies to be able to tackle

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/2010-TN5-AUS-v-NZ-Player-Statistics.pdf
If you look at Austin's statistics you will see that Faainga missed 2 out of 14 tackles (86%) so I believe judging by those stats he can tackle, but then if you were to scroll down you would come across a certain player by the name of Kurtley Beale who made 1 out of 3 tackles and didn't you say "But you would expect someone selected for the Wallabies to be able to tackle".

 

[en_force_er]

But you would expect someone selected for the Wallabies to be able to tackle

Oh wait you guys signed Quade. Why? He is pissing off after next year anyway.

His, Fainga'a's, issue was his defense not his tackling, whereas Quade's issue is his tackling and his defense.

 

[#1 Tah]

From my perspective 5th from 14 is a good result especially when it's up 8 places from the previous year.

Every team starts on 0 points, no one had an advantage over the reds.

Kurtley Beale who made 1 out of 3 tackles and didn't you say "But you would expect someone selected for the Wallabies to be able to tackle".

Look back earlier in the year, I was the biggest doubter of Beale's abilities at Fullback, I had a paradigm shift when he made that try-saver on Mealamu in Hong Kong.

 

[I like to watch]

If you look at Austin's statistics you will see that Faainga missed 2 out of 14 tackles (86%) so I believe judging by those stats he can tackle, but then if you were to scroll down you would come across a certain player by the name of Kurtley Beale who made 1 out of 3 tackles and didn't you say "But you would expect someone selected for the Wallabies to be able to tackle".

c'mon Tommy, theres lies damn lies & statistics.
Funny you pick a test match where the powder puff wasn't playing, any particular reason?
Why didn't you quote stats on the England game or the HK test?
No don't answer, we both know why.
Missing 2 tackles is a lot fucking different to missing 9 of 11 attempts.
I do agree with you that it should be requirement to tackle when representing the Wobs.
With that in mind who should be the new 10?

 

[Thomas]

c'mon Tommy, theres lies damn lies & statistics.
Funny you pick a test match where the powder puff wasn't playing, any particular reason?
Why didn't you quote stats on the England game or the HK test?
No don't answer, we both know why.
Missing 2 tackles is a lot fucking different to missing 9 of 11 attempts.
I do agree with you that it should be requirement to tackle when representing the Wobs.
With that in mind who should be the new 10?

Well you obviously don't know why I chose to quote the bledisloe game because the real reason why I chose the Bledisloe game was #1 Tah was commenting directly on Faainga's defence in this specific game.

 

[Thomas]

Every team starts on 0 points, no one had an advantage over the reds.

What are you talking about of course every starts equal, you said "No, but they were both pretty dissapointing in the end. From your perspective anyway" I replied by saying that coming 5th overall from 14 teams which I think is a decent effort since they came 13th last season (8 places higher than 2009)

 

[#1 Tah]

What are you talking about of course every starts equal, you said "No, but they were both pretty dissapointing in the end. From your perspective anyway" I replied by saying that coming 5th overall from 14 teams which I think is a decent effort since they came 13th last season (8 places higher than 2009)

In 2007 the Waratahs came second last (reds were last) and in 08 we came 2nd. Thats a pretty decent effort too.

 

[DPK]

#1 Tah: the WJ is strong in this one...

 

[TOCC]

lol dont bother with the troll

 

[#1 Tah]

And who is Quade Cooper's backup? Ben Lucas?

 

[Lee Grant]

Kiwi Mike Harris should be the backup for QC (Quade Cooper).

 

[TOCC]

Mike Harris is a very good acquisition, if the force had there way he probably would have been first choice 5/8 over there..

 

[en_force_er]

Mike Harris is a very good acquisition, if the force had there way he probably would have been first choice 5/8 over there..

You reckon TOCC?

I'm sure your sources are good but Ripia is a damn good player and in my opinion played a better NPC then Harris this year + has good recent Super rugby experience.

 

[RugbyReg]

The Force wanted Harris from all reports.

All I saw of him in the NPC was excellent.

Haven't seen much of Ripia

 

[en_force_er]

The Force wanted Harris from all reports.

All I saw of him in the NPC was excellent.

Haven't seen much of Ripia

He was behind an excellent forward pack for Taranaki but played very well.

He is a bread and butter 5/8 really, think Halangahu.

 

[TOCC]

You reckon TOCC?

I'm sure your sources are good but Ripia is a damn good player and in my opinion played a better NPC then Harris this year + has good recent Super rugby experience.

He rejected a Force contract earlier this year, before approaching Ripia...make what you want of that

 

[Lee Grant]

I'd rate Harris ahead of Ripia, for what it is worth, and that is probably not a lot. His ability to play 10 and 12, apparently with equal facility, and being one of the best goal kickers in the 2010 ITM, are ticks for him. I'd also rate his play under pressure higher.

It's not quite an apples for apples comparison though because Ripia has had a few seasons experience in the Super14 and Harris hasn't. I wouldn't factor in Willie's eventual demotion in favour of Cruden at the Canes in 2010 because just about every Kiwi 1st 5 would have been superseded by that rising star.

I have noticed a few occasions of Ripia's being erratic, but let's have a look to see if that kite flies this year, or not. He will have the advantage of starting for the Force from Day 1 whereas Harris will have to wait behind Cooper and/or A. Finger and work his way into the backline.

We Aussies enjoy watching our players more than watching foreigners, but the comparison between Kiwis Ripa and Harris for their respective Super teams will be full of interest.

 

[Ash]

By all means, if you want to talk about Cooper at the Reds, and his defence (or lack thereof) do it here. Or how Harris might go, etc.

But if you want to post delusional beliefs about how strong you dream that the Tahs team is, then by all means go ahead, but please do it here where you might find one or two other delusional like-minded beings.

In the meantime, I encourage all Tah supporters who read this thread to start thinking of their excuses now when they lose to the Reds at Suncorp. Best excuse that is posted before the game wins a lolly!

Regarding Harris, I only saw him a few times in the NPC, but I thought he's more of a bread and butter 5/8 then Ripia is (who I guess we have seen a bit more of for the Canes in the S14 over the last 3 years, even if it was just off the bench). Harris is more of an old style passer and kicker - he looked like bit of a weak and slow runner unfortunately. Not sure I rate Harris or Ripia as highly as some here, but my samples of both aren't large to be honest.

What has me excited about the Reds this year is their depth. For the first time in a long time you can say that they aren't significantly weaker by unwanted departures. They have lost Weeks and Byrnes (Rebels), and Braid (Auckland??). To be honest, they had no hope of keeping Braid as apparently the Reds' tentative overtures to the ARU about keeping him for longer than two years had been knocked back, and Byrnes isn't too big of a loss thanks to Simmons. The biggest loss is Weeks I think, but the recruitment of Shepardson and the (lucky) emergence of Slipper mitigates the loss of Weeks. The signings of players like Adam Wallace-Harrison and Harris (and a few less notable others) that actually add some "decent" depth to the squad is showing that Link is an astute manager of a squad. Plus, the huge amount of talented youngster that Link has at his disposal no doubt makes his life easier as well.

I tend to actually be more worred about hooker, believe it or not, than openside, for the Reds.

BTW, the loss of PAE was pretty disappointing.