Reds 2013

[TOCC]

Oh well, can't keep everyone

 

[Scott Allen]

On that display I honestly cannot say why you and Scott would have 'no such concerns', not even a scintilla of such concern over consistently very poor (especially mid field) Reds' defence. And I'm equally not sure then why Scott A was tweeting re both an individual Reds' players awful defence as well as commenting in passing on the Reds' numerous defensive errors. Oh well, another blow for Twitter.

Gents - I said in my live tweets the Reds were making defensive errors. I also said that in my match report http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/match-report-reds-v-blues-trial/

Make your own arguments if you don't agree with mine but I'd appreciate you not trying to interpret whether I might have meant something else to support your own differing views in this discussion.

 

[Sully]

On that display I honestly cannot say why you and Scott would have 'no such concerns', not even a scintilla of such concern over consistently very poor (especially mid field) Reds' defence. And I'm equally not sure then why Scott A was tweeting re both an individual Reds' players awful defence as well as commenting in passing on the Reds' numerous defensive errors. Oh well, another blow for Twitter.

well I'll just forget the conversation I had with him during and after the match. You must be right.


Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD

 

[tranquility]

Sounds like both Ah Wong and Browning were heavily involved in the the first trial, which is fantastic.

You would have to assume that (after Shatz) Quirk is still the main contender for the 6 jersey and will get a good run at it in the coming weeks.

Great to hear that AWH was dominant in the line-out, will compliment JH very well.

Also interesting that Rex looked very threatening, how noone has signed this guy is bizarre. However the silver lining of that is that we will get some game time out of him at some point i'm sure, as we are deperatley thin at 13 without getting very creative (Morahan, CFS, etc). I hear his little brother is allergic to the 13 jersey, feel free to spread the rumour.

 

[Jets]

Just to be clear on a factual point: in no way did I say or infer Taylor was 'forced out'...read please what I did say...sheesh, no wonder people withdraw from these fora.

I simply said that (a) Taylor left the Reds (b) it was announced thereafter that RG would take on defence coaching duties at the Reds and (c) it's clear that Taylor accordingly has not been replaced at the Reds as a specialist, dedicated defence coach, RG is today billed as 'Head Coach'.

To the best of my knowledge RG has never been, up to now, even close to specializing in coaching defensive capabilities, and you will certainly find that most of the best S15 teams today do employ a seasoned, specialist defence coach with long experience in specifically coaching that dimension of play.

See what happens when you post on forums after little to no sleep. I stand corrected.
I agree with you that Graham has no history as a defensive coach. From listening to them speak though they seem to share a lot of the responsibility for these things among the 3 coaches. Link has moved all of the coaching staff into the one office at Ballymore so that ideas can flow more freely.

 

[Scoey]

Hey onto the Reds v Chiefs trial this Friday night, I just found an email in my inbox letting me know about a 2 for 1 ticket offer. It's the 'Clubs and Schools Offer' on Ticketek and requires a codeword but it expires at midnight tonight.

I don't want to do the wrong thing and post up the codeword but I assume all they are trying to do is bump up the pre-sold tickets and reward local club members/local schools etc at the same time.

Is anyone interested in the 2 for 1 deal, and is there anything wrong with me posting it up?

My guess anyone who is a member here that could benefit from it, is likely already a SCRU member and has already received the email though.

 

[No4918]

I would drive up from Brisbane if the 2 for 1 was available to the public. If only there was someway to get the codeword.............

 

[Scoey]

Haha! Yeah if only........

Just re-read the email, I don't think they actually care who uses it, so the password/codeword thing is 'Clubs'. Without the comma's obviously. I don't think its case sensitive either.

Hope they get a few to the game! Would love to have seen QC (Quade Cooper) have a run but otherwise it should be good!

Any word on the squad the Chiefs are sending over yet?

 

[RedsHappy]

See what happens when you post on forums after little to no sleep. I stand corrected.
I agree with you that Graham has no history as a defensive coach. From listening to them speak though they seem to share a lot of the responsibility for these things among the 3 coaches. Link has moved all of the coaching staff into the one office at Ballymore so that ideas can flow more freely.

Thanks Jets for your reply. It's a really interesting and IMO relevant discussion as there can be no doubt that the total coaching capability Link assembled in 2010-11 - eg Taylor, McKay, Fowler et al - was a significant factor behind the championship win in 2011. (Btw, although irascible, many parties I know assess that Fowler played a big and generally productive role in rebuilding the Reds in this period and that he may prove a big asset to Foley at the Force.)

For many reasons, that team's largely broken up now and, with RG's arrival, no specialist defence coach, sort of a 'two bosses' set up for the support coaches to work under, in 2013 we have a very different coaching staff configuration to that that worked so very well in prior years.

It will be fascinating to assess the performance of this new configuration in 2013 as the quality of the Super15 competition increases and the merits of Link's new personnel can be compared and contrasted to that of his earlier choices, now departed or otherwise.

 

[RoffsChoice]

I think the Reds have the best chance against the other conferences, it's just the Australians they need to worry about.

Western Force want to prove something, Rebels want to push the top 8, Waratahs want a season that lives up to the hype and Brumbies want to continue their form. And they have to play each twice.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Australia has always had the issue of knocking each other out of contention

 

[Scoey]

Australia has always had the issue of knocking each other out of contention

This is not a problem unique to the AUS conference though. The Kiwi's a renowned for having derbies that could easily go either way.

Last season for example the 'Saders, Chiefs, Canes and Highlanders all beat the Blues twice but ALL won one and lost one against all other teams in their conference. Feel free to check this but that's what I found.

The key to Super Rugby has always been bonus points and winning your matches against other conferences. NZ showed this when they went one each within their own conference and nearly snuck three teams into the finals.

 

[Braveheart81]

Scoey - I thought he might have been referring to knocking each other out of contention through injuring each other more than causing upsets on the field.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Eg. Berrick Barnes and every Australian 10 (except Beale) last year

 

[Scoey]

Ah yep, that makes sense. We are very good at doing that to each other.

Never understood why Aus derbies are ugly bash fests and Kiwi derbies are thoroughly fast and entertaining games generally.

 

[Braveheart81]

Ah yep, that makes sense. We are very good at doing that to each other.

Never understood why Aus derbies are ugly bash fests and Kiwi derbies are thoroughly fast and entertaining games generally.

It's interesting. I wonder if there is something cultural about it. Maybe Aussies transfer their added competitiveness for the interstate rivalry into spite and aggression more than the Kiwis and South Africans do.

 

[Ash]

I actually think that the Reds have played their best rugby against the Kiwis in recent years, and if anything they've been muscled out against the Tahs, Force and Brumbies (in certain games).

Against the Tahs in particular the Reds forwards tended to get mulched.

 

[TOCC]

Radike will miss Rd1 with a knee injury...

Anthony Fainga'a was cleared of a broken hand and will be fit for Rd1

 

[TOCC]

After looking at the 2nd trial team vs the Chiefs, im going to guess a likely match day squad for Rd1 is:

1. Greg Holmes​

2. Saia Fainga'a​

3. James Slipper​

4. James Horwill (c)​

5. Adam Wallace-Harrison​

6. Eddie Quirk​

7. Liam Gill​

8. Jake Schatz​

9. Ben Lucas​

10. Quade Cooper​

11. DigbyIoane​

12 .Ben Tapuai​

13. Anthony Fainga'a​

14. Luke Morahan​

15. Mike Harris​

16. Albert Anae​

17. James Hanson​

18. Rob Simmons​

19. Curtis Browning/Nigel Ah Wong​

20. Nick Frisby​

21. Jono Lance​

22. Dom Shipperly​

​

 

[RoffsChoice]

I'm glad to see Wallace-Harrison making his mark again. He is the best lock at the Reds, always a 7.5 out of 10 at minimum.
I really wish we saw more of Ben Lucas. Hopefully now is the time for that to happen.