My biggest concern for the Reds is attack at the moment. The backrow is a superb defensive one with Gill's pilfering ability, Schatz work rate and Quirk's tackling ability but they don't really have an explosive ball runner to get over the gain line and generate the space for their (small) backs to utilize.
In 2011 they had Ioane, Higginbotham, Daley, Horwill, Samo all as big blokes that would move the team up the field.. Daley & Horwill must find form.
If you want an explosive ball runner - Browning. Think he suprised the Chiefs on the weekend, and some of the Reds. Ended up getting himself isolated & losing the ball but gee he made some ground.
Other comments on the game:
Mikey Harris performed well. Played first half (?) at 12 then popped up at 10 when Quade went off. As usual will be an important reserve player to keep fit.
Adian Toua is one of the most exciting prospects I have seen on a rugby field in a while. His hand in the first try was brillant & him and Turner attacking down the right wing in the first half was poetry in motion. Lets hope they can both stay uninjured & in form. Having said that Turner did have some ice on his knee at the end & looked to be limping a bit but hopefully it was just a knock.
Quade seems to have his mojo back. Beautiful to see & I can't see him being displaced from the 10 jersey (red or gold) if he keeps that form going.
Taps looks like he has done some significant work over the off season. He is really trimmed down and looked to be the fittest I have seen him in a couple of years. Lets hope that continues.
The competition for the backrow spots is working a treat. The boys looked like they were all trying to out do the others in all aspects. there were some beautiful cleanouts that I wish I could find footage of. Ed O'Donoghue & Dave McDuling both spent time in the locks & in the backrow. The final mix is going to be interesting but at least we have some back ups here that all appear to be as good as one another.
As mentioned else where it looks like Kerevi has got an ankle injury. He was limping with ice on it at the end of the game but I have seen reports that he is now on crutches & will be out for 6 or so weeks. Bit of a bugger but we will see what happens.
Was talking to Albert Anae after the game and asked him about playing at hooker. He said that he is only there while Chibba is injured and will be moving back to prop when he is back. Possibly this Friday against the Rebels. Good news for Chibba but it does worry me that there is only 2 specialist hookers in the squad. Having said that there are still some spots to be anounced so maybe one of them is a hooker.
Placid had a nervous start. As you would running on in your home town. I hope they handle him carefully and develop him slowly. There is a lot of talent there that has the potiental to be wasted.
Finally, spoke to a few of the boys after & they said that it felt a bit rusty. And yep, it wasn't all as good as the highlights real shows. There were a few passes to no-one & and few times where the support wasn't quite where it should have been. You could tell which boys, particularly in the back line, had been running drills since October and which ones had only got back in January. But, IMHO, it was a better performance than what I was expecting so am happy & excited about the season to come.
#WeAreRed
