Reds 2011

[TOCC]

So to ignite discussion a bit more..

Reds 2011 strengths and weaknesses
-just a focus on the forwards for now

Frontrow
The Reds front row is definitely a weak-spot in the Reds lineup, yes Daley and Slipper made progress in 2010, but Daley especially is still lacking in the scrummaging department. Slipper is a star on the rise, but is still far from been considered a dominant scrummager by opposition prop's, Shepherdson and Holmes bring experience in this department and will need to step up to the mark in 2011 as the younger guys wont be able to play every game. The Reds were able to run opposition forward packs off there feet in 2010 to mitigate there scrummaging deficiency, but expect opposition teams to have a counter-plan to this in 211.

Saia Fainga'a is another weak spot in terms of scrummaging, his a welter weight by comparisons and will need to maintain focus to ensure he isnt bullied at scrum time, whilst he was far more consistent in 2010 he still needs to improve his lineout throwing.

Strength
Locks, after running out of fit locks in 2010 the locking depth at the reds in 2011 is arguably the best in the country, Horwill and Simmons will have the chance to form a new locking partnership in 2011 which could potentially carry through to the Wallabies. Van Humphries, Adam Wallace-Harrison and Radiki Samo provide experience and quality on the bench, the trend of locks getting injured in Australia will undoubtedly see this combination vary throughout the season.

 

[Ruggo]

Saia Fainga'a held up well with the rest of the Reds front row last year. He struggled at the higher level in his first year of international rugby. It is harsh to label him a weak spot. A year older and much more experienced he is not going to be a weak spot at all.

I think Slipper is shit hot but every opponant is onto his talant now and the element of suprise has past. This will be a tough year for him.

With gained experience and a solid off season, Daley could be the a smokey this year.

The Reds tight five this year is going to be a tough unit.

 

[spectator]

The major vulnerability for the Reds this year is at 10. if Cooper gets injured. Other than that I see strength and depth across the park.

The recruitment of Robinson and Coridas in the off season will prove to be a masterstroke.

 

[TheTruth]

Saia Fainga'a held up well with the rest of the Reds front row last year. He struggled at the higher level in his first year of international rugby. It is harsh to label him a weak spot. A year older and much more experienced he is not going to be a weak spot at all.

I think Slipper is shit hot but every opponant is onto his talant now and the element of suprise has past. This will be a tough year for him.

With gained experience and a solid off season, Daley could be the a smokey this year.

The Reds tight five this year is going to be a tough unit.

A year on and all of these blokes daley, saia and Slipper, will be be that much better for the 12 month experience (or 3/4 months) The Reds pack looks great. Will be interesting to see if Albert gets his chance at hooker. daley went so well last year for the Reds but looks like a lot more pressure on him this year.

May be the year for young Morahan (Luke) - looks like he gets a shot in Cairns

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Saia Fainga'a is another weak spot in terms of scrummaging, his a welter weight by comparisons and will need to maintain focus to ensure he isnt bullied at scrum time, whilst he was far more consistent in 2010 he still needs to improve his lineout throwing.

1. Tatafu Polota-Nau - 113kg
2. Stephen Moore - 112kg
3. Saia Fainga'a - 106kg
4. Damien Fitzpatrick - 106kg
5. Heath Tessmann - 105kg
6. Nathan Charles - 104kg
7. James Hanson - 104kg

 

[TheTruth]

1. Tatafu Polota-Nau - 113kg
2. Stephen Moore - 112kg
3. Saia Fainga'a - 106kg
4. Damien Fitzpatrick - 106kg
5. Heath Tessmann - 105kg
6. Nathan Charles - 104kg
7. James Hanson - 104kg

Does saia have a couple of bricks on his back - he doesn't "look" that big

 

[Ruggo]

Six kilos of that would be hair.

He looks more taller than he does built.

 

[TheTruth]

Six kilos of that would be hair.

He looks more taller than he does built.

Ruggo - funny - shit that mop would piss me off if I was opposition - could help but give it a nice tug or two or three

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Ruggo - funny - shit that mop would piss me off if I was opposition - could help but give it a nice tug or two or three

I think Jerry suffered a similar problem a while ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L01oro2LeU&feature=player_embedded

 

[TheTruth]

I think Jerry suffered a similar problem a while ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L01oro2LeU&feature=player_embedded

Good tug that

 

[Ruggo]

Ruggo - funny - shit that mop would piss me off if I was opposition - could help but give it a nice tug or two or three

Austin's tribute clip to George Smith had a bit of that in it.

 

[TOCC]

Saia Fainga'a held up well with the rest of the Reds front row last year. He struggled at the higher level in his first year of international rugby. It is harsh to label him a weak spot. A year older and much more experienced he is not going to be a weak spot at all.

I think Slipper is shit hot but every opponant is onto his talant now and the element of suprise has past. This will be a tough year for him.

With gained experience and a solid off season, Daley could be the a smokey this year.

The Reds tight five this year is going to be a tough unit.

Its not been harsh, its been realistic, comparatively speaking the Reds front row is a weak spot

 

[spectator]

Agree that Fainga'a needs to improve his throwing and don't know enough about scrummaging to comment on his ability there, but given he only gives away weight to TPN and Moore, is it about technique? Also reckon he pulls his weight in open play. Nice mix of potential and experience in the propping area and also agree that the experienced heads are going to have to man up. Be interesting to see how they go but I think they will hold their own against most.

Locks are a strong area for the reasons you mention. What a luxury to have such depth.

 

[TOCC]

I think S.Faingaas weight stats have increased in the off-season as well, his wallabies profile says he is 100kg and it thought he was closer to 100kg then 106kg, he definetly looks it.. Maybe Deans had him in the gym bulking up in the NH tour, im sure Link would prefer him to put on some extra bulk as well.

I dont want to digress to far, but i think its obvious that TPN and Moore are carrying significantly more muscle mass then S.Fainga'a.

Anyway, my point wasnt to rag on the guy(i actually really like the Fainga'a's) but rather point out if we were to highlight some weak spots in the Reds lineup and the front row(including hooker) is one of those positions, our marker for a 'good frontrow' is apparently the ability to hold there own against the opposition, i would prefer the marker to be that of dominating the opposition.

 

[TOCC]

So, to further keep the ball rolling

Strength
Halves combination:
arguably the best halves combination in Super Rugby, these two are well on there way to becoming the new generation of the Gregan-Larkham combination, Genia and Cooper both found it harder to operate at the higher intensity of test level in there second seasons as opposition teams successfully shut the duo down, but most super rugby teams will be unable to apply similar pressure... Its scary to think these two are only 22 and 23yrs old respectively as well as approaching on 50 super caps..

Weakness
Halves combination depth
The strength of having such dominant players in both positions has limited the opportunity to blood other players in these positions, Ben Lucas is the back up scrum half who would barely managed to put together 80min at scrum half in 2010, he was rarely substituted as a scrum half and suffered a injury whilst playing fullback in the Reds last game which ruled him out for the season.
At 5/8 the Reds stand a little bit better, once again Ben Lucas is one of the top contenders, lacking the jink or flick pass of QC (Quade Cooper) he is a reasonable distributor of the ball and finds holes in the lines similar to a form Giteau in 2008. Michael Harris the new kiwi from across the ditch will likely be warming the bench, a no-nonsense type player with a high goal kicking ratio, he could prove useful in closing out games but could be worrying if he is ever the starting 5/8.

 

[fatprop]

FDP (best player in the world) & Steyne and Carter (second best player in the world) & Ellis are both a better sets of halves IMHO

 

[TOCC]

^^ hence i said arguably

anyway, big guns to roll out in Cairns

WALLABIES James Horwill, Quade Cooper and Will Genia will head a full-strength Reds squad for the Super 15 trial match in Cairns on Saturday night.

Horwill is returning from a knee injury to lead the Reds against the Crusaders.

The QRU has signed St George Bank as major naming rights sponsor to replace Queensland Rail.

Squad to come

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...play-trial-match/story-e6frep5o-1225994219349

 

[RugbyFuture]

who was right? go on..... who was right?

 

[TOCC]

who was right? go on..... who was right?

who was wrong??

 

[RugbyReg]

Coach Ewen McKenzie has selected a 28-man squad for the Cairns trial:
Forwards: Albert Anae, Ben Coridas, Ben Daley, Saia Fainga'a, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Scott Higginbotham, Greg Holmes, James Horwill (captain), Leroy Houston, Van Humphries, David McDuling, Beau Robinson, Radike Samo, Guy Shepherdson, James Slipper, Lei Tomiki

Backs: Will Chambers, Quade Cooper, Rod Davies, Will Genia, Mike Harris, Digby Ioane, Ben Lucas, Luke Morahan, Kimami Sitauti, Ben Tapuai, Aidan Toua

11 backs 17 forwards. Shows where the competition for spots is.

Hookers: Albert Anae, Saia Fainga'a, James Hanson
Props: Ben Daley, Greg Holmes, Guy Shepherdson, James Slipper
Locks: James Horwill, Van Humphries, David McDuling, Radike Samo
Flankers: Ben Coridas, Liam Gill, Beau Robinson, Lei Tomiki
No 8: Leroy Houston, Scott Higginbotham

Have chucked Higgers at 8 from my own reckoning. Also shows that McDuling, Coridas and Robinson are more then just "Academy" squad members.