Reds 2014

[Ruggo]

What are our options at 13? I really would like to see Ant play 12.

Is Anae any chance of being able to play TH? I would rather see Ben Daley on the bench than Jono Owen.

 

[gel]

Has Lachie Turner played fullback often? Is he actually recovered from whatever injuries he has had for the past century (it seems so long since I actually saw him play).

I dunno how the reds are planning to use QC (Quade Cooper) in defence next year, but Mike Harris would be preferable to Turner if they continue using QC (Quade Cooper) the way they have in the past.

This gives us Taps at 12, Ant at 13, a really decent kicker, dependable no 15, QC (Quade Cooper) on the kick returns in the mode that the reds seems to favour.

Toua, CFS, Turner, Davies, and even Ant seem to have been injured quite a lot the last couple of years and I wonder about the reds ability to cover against this for next year looking at the roster.

Rocket is a really good winger for the reds, Ant is invaluable in organisation of the backline. CFS obviously shows signs of brilliance, but his hamstrings seem to have stopped us seeing everything he could be. The one game Toua played for us was not something to remember, But I guess he must be something for the reds to stick with him for so long with no return on the investment as yet. Maybe we will see it next year.

We seem to have a lot of backs who are injured a lot of the time. And their back ups are also injury prone. That's probably my biggest concerns about next year.

 

[lewisr]

Has Lachie Turner played fullback often? Is he actually recovered from whatever injuries he has had for the past century (it seems so long since I actually saw him play).

I dunno how the reds are planning to use QC (Quade Cooper) in defence next year, but Mike Harris would be preferable to Turner if they continue using QC (Quade Cooper) the way they have in the past.

This gives us Taps at 12, Ant at 13, a really decent kicker, dependable no 15, QC (Quade Cooper) on the kick returns in the mode that the reds seems to favour.

Richard Graham has stated that Quade will defend in the front line most likely with Turner at 15. I think we will probably see Harris at 12 considering how well the To'omua/ Quade thing came off. Taps and Ant vying for the 13/ bench spot. But it really depends on who is in form. When Tapuai is playing well, hes devastating in attack and defence and was a major part of the reds 2011 attacking flair. ALways supporting and feeding off of QC (Quade Cooper)

 

[tranquility]

Ben Tapuai has the potential to be the ideal 12. He literally ticks every box required. What seems to hold him back is lack of detail in his preparation and putting on weight.

It was an issue before Link came on deck, but then he got his act together. Let's hope if he is training the house down, he will start the season with a bang. He is an integral Reds player, and a linchpin when fully fit.

 

[gel]

Richard Graham has stated that Quade will defend in the front line most likely with Turner at 15.

Really? I hadn't heard anything that definite. All I had heard was that he was thinking of Turner as a possible 15 back when Lachie was signed.

Well, there you go. I didn't know.

 

[tigerland12]

Richard Graham has stated that Quade will defend in the front line most likely with Turner at 15. I think we will probably see Harris at 12 considering how well the To'omua/ Quade thing came off. Taps and Ant vying for the 13/ bench spot. But it really depends on who is in form. When Tapuai is playing well, hes devastating in attack and defence and was a major part of the reds 2011 attacking flair. ALways supporting and feeding off of QC (Quade Cooper)

Tapuai can fill that distributing 12 type player, he's actually quite good in terms of ball skills and putting others in space, also has a hand left foot. Obviously nowhere near as good as To'omua there, but if he can get it together this season he'd be my 12, with Fainga'a at 13.

With Quade and Genia running the show, I don't think a playmaker is really needed at 12, however I do think Tapuai or Harris are the correct options....I think Fainga'a plays way better at 13.

 

[TOCC]

Ben Tapuai was in great form in 2012 and his wallaby performances at the end of the year had him pegged as a long term wallaby centre, he had a litany of injuries in 2013 which impacted on his overall fitness and subsequent form.

He is by no means expendable, he is a quality player who had a bad year with fitness and form.. He will be in the starting lineup next year undoubtedly.

 

[Ruggo]

I like the idea of Turner at FB. Safe player who will play the Peter Hynes style in 2010. Keep the ball in hand and in front of the pack.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Any team that has Genia and Cooper at 9 and 10 is going to be a threat. But beyond those two, I don't see any of the other Reds' backline players making the Wallabies as first choice in 2014. I really liked the way Ben Tapuai handled 12 a couple of seasons ago and was impressed with both his line breaking skills and passing to support players, but for my money, either of Matt To'omua or Christian Lealiifano are in front of him for Wallabies duty now.

I think the Reds will really be battling with the Tahs next year to make the finals. I am assuming that Bernie and the Lord are able to keep the Brumbies improving on this year's results, although I do expect the Aus conference to be tight.

 

[liquor box]

It was him or Lucas on the bench and I went with Lucas for the backup 10. You know what you're getting from Harris - a solid game each game. Tapuai can be better but is also not as consistent.

I think you can be a slightly better than average team with Harris and Anthony in the centres, but I don't see them allowing a team to be great.

 

[Bowside]

Any team that has Genia and Cooper at 9 and 10 is going to be a threat. But beyond those two, I don't see any of the other Reds' backline players making the Wallabies as first choice in 2014. I really liked the way Ben Tapuai handled 12 a couple of seasons ago and was impressed with both his line breaking skills and passing to support players, but for my money, either of Matt To'omua or Christian Lealiifano are in front of him for Wallabies duty now.

I think the Reds will really be battling with the Tahs next year to make the finals. I am assuming that Bernie and the Lord are able to keep the Brumbies improving on this year's results, although I do expect the Aus conference to be tight.

On paper the Tahs should walk it next season.

The Brumbies and Reds have to prove they can win games without their master coaches. A few early losses and the wheels will fall off for both teams.

 

[USARugger]

On paper the Tahs should walk it every season..

I think the hype around them is already getting overblown and we aren't even a month out from the end of the test season. They have an incredibly good team on paper and posted some jaw-dropping attacking stats last year (thanks, Kings) but still struggled near the end of their season in multiple instances even after their system had 'clicked'. They played really well, but they weren't exactly going out there and trouncing teams at the end of the season. A very fortunate last second try at Newlands, scraping by the Brumbies in Sydney, a loss in Melbourne, a game thrown away in Christchurch (sorry @Redshappy for any/all of the language I used during the second half of that match), a good win agains the Force, and a loss to the only team that matters, etc.

I'm genuinely excited to see them play this year but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Cheika is no longer the new kid back on the block and their system will have been exposed to loads of critical review by every team this preseason. Sure they will have a full preseason to make things gel and all of that, just as every team will have a full preseason to prepare for their game. Teams that were able to spoil the rucks even a little bit had a lot of success in slowing down the Tahs attack, even at the end of the season. The system is also incredibly vulnerable to turnovers at the ruck because of the wide set of the forward pods. The Brumbies and The Reds have both been trending more and more towards a defensive system that risks the penalty in exchange for letting you play as little rugby as possible. It will be interesting to see what the Tahs do about it this time 'round.

Will they be good? Yeah. But they hardly have the Australian conference sewn up.

 

[gel]

Something indescribable just gives me the feeling that next year is the Tah's year to top the conference and there is nothing the reds, brumbies, force or rebels can do about it.

Still happy to have my reds membership though and will still be cheering from the stands each home game.

 

[liquor box]

Something indescribable just gives me the feeling that next year is the Tah's year to top the conference and there is nothing the reds, brumbies, force or rebels can do about it.

Still happy to have my reds membership though and will still be cheering from the stands each home game.

I think next year will be an awesome year for Aussie rugby, between the Reds, tahs and Brumbies there will be plenty in Aussie blockbusters. I just hope all of these games are high scoring

 

[Ruggo]

The Australian conference will be the tightest yet next year me thinks.

I not for one minute think the Reds can't top the conference. It will be tough but we have talent that can match it with our competitors. I think we will see a stronger Reds set piece next year as a result of some of our younger pigs reaching maturity and I rate the work Nick Stiles did with the Force and see no reason he can't do the same with the Reds. The thing that can undo the Reds is clinging to the Link years. He is gone and we need to get behind Woody and move forward under his stewardship. Tactically we also have some very smart players in our group also.

 

[liquor box]

The Australian conference will be the tightest yet next year me thinks.

I not for one minute think the Reds can't top the conference. It will be tough but we have talent that can match it with our competitors. I think we will see a stronger Reds set piece next year as a result of some of our younger pigs reaching maturity and I rate the work Nick Stiles did with the Force and see no reason he can't do the same with the Reds. The thing that can undo the Reds is clinging to the Link years. He is gone and we need to get behind Woody and move forward under his stewardship. Tactically we also have some very smart players in our group also.

I support the Reds first but still want to see two teams from our conference in the finals.

For this to occur we really need to have only two dominant teams winning almost everything. three good teams will reduce the second placed teams total points and we wont get the wild card spot.

So unfortunately Tahs fans will have to take one for the team so the Reds and Brumbies can be one and two.

I think after the last two seasons the Reds/Brumbies battle is getting better than the Reds/Tahs battle.

 

[Hawko]

So unfortunately Tahs fans will have to take one for the team so the Reds and Brumbies can be one and two.

Tell 'em he's dreaming!

 

[TOCC]

Tahs will be too busy believing their own hype, drinking booze and riding the coattail of Izzy..

If anything has taught us from recent years(Qld, ACT) is that the off-field 'culture' of a club is equally as important as the on-field talent.

Thanks to exorbitant ground hire fees in NSW the Tahs have never had a shortage of on-field talent, its the other areas which have never clicked..

Now enough of Tahs talk and back to the Reds

 

[RoffsChoice]

I think after the last two seasons the Reds/Brumbies battle is getting better than the Reds/Tahs battle.

Can't beat history, Reds-Tahs will always be the one to watch.

It's your back three that I'm worried about, there doesn't seem to be a through-and-through fullback. I know Graham was talking about putting him there but his experience at fullback seems to be lacking. Wingers aren't really reliable but when they're on song they're amazing.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I really liked the way Ben Tapuai handled 12 a couple of seasons ago and was impressed with both his line breaking skills and passing to support players, but for my money, either of Matt To'omua or Christian Lealiifano are in front of him for Wallabies duty now.

Fuck BR, put those one eyed Brumbies glasses away. To'omua yes but Lilo absolutely no way in hell. As a test player he had something like 8 starts and did nothing really more than be there and not fuck up.

I will gladly admit that To'omua did enough in the gold 12 to say he has been a better wallaby performer there than Taps was in 2012 and whilst I thought Taps was the closest we had to Horan (in regards to playing style, not quality), To'omua's hard running, strong defence and distribution have been excellent at 12 and think even if he has an average 2014 he should still be first choice.

But to suggest the same of Lealiafano is just ACT hubris.