Agreed CFS had cemented the 13.
Toua is a real liability at the moment - some of his errors are just so costly. Poor kicking, bad decisions, dropped balls. You can see the potential, but unless he can temper the mistakes he won't make it at this level, and he must be nearing his last chance.
Who would be the next cab off the rank? The only other fullbacks are youngsters - Placid, JJ. If JOC (James O'Connor) does return (which is something to be scared of currently), you'd expect it'd be at fullback.
I fail to see how we'll challenge for the S15 title without a more consistent and less error-prone 15 than is the case today. Let's hopes Toua rapidly matures and settles in the role if RG is to keep him there, but that call looks riskier with each round.
I would like to see what follows, at least for one or two games. I suggest this in part as I categorically do not share the view of many Reds posters that generally, including the 15 point (and 15 expensive penalties conceded) loss to the Sharks, the Reds are 'going OK' and showing satisfactory 2014 progress. I think we very soon risk losing too many games against the top teams (and thus falling too far down the table) to have any credible chance of winning the comp this year (which is avowedly my goal for the Reds every year, and to win the comp you typically must lose no more than 4 games and ideally gain a home Final). So I think the time for considered change to our backs structure is soon warranted:
- Toua to 11. Is not Shipperley proving a serious disappointment after much early promise? He runs hard and so on, but now so rarely breaks through for penetrating long runs and darting combinations in attack with other backs that continue on to tries. For me, Toua today looks so much more a potentially potent winger than a 15, and way more potent than Shipperley on present form. Turner is generally showing good form, but I prefer the 'trade' of him at 15 and Toua at 11.
- Placid to the bench to be experimented with at 15 for say the last 20 mins when/if we are solidly ahead in a match and he represents a worthwhile risk/reward balance in that situation. Yes, he's young, but in the recent Reds A matches I've seen, he's been very good and looks like solid S15 material. Placid can also cover wing. We need replacement contingencies at 15 and this is a sensible way to potentially gain some.
- Taps to 12. I agree with all posters re the risky oddity of playing him at 13 when he's repetitively noted he plays his best at 12 and has shone there (and only there) in recent years.
- Harris or Turner to 15. IMO, these players' skills packages and risk-reward profiles are suited to 15 specifically given Toua's real struggles there, and yet where I argue Toua will represent a far superior risk-reward profile on the wing than does the 2014 Shipperley. Davies is working out well at 14 in 2014, and so my call at 15 would, on balance, be Turner with Harris on the bench...however I have to admit that leaves us short of a solid back up kicker to QC (Quade Cooper).
