Reds 2014

[RedsHappy]

There are no essential differences from prior S15 years. Still 18 rounds, 16 matches per team, 8 home, 8 away. 2 byes for all. The only difference is that no team gets an automatic 8 points added to their end-of-16 matches total.

Just as adjunct: in the 2011-2013 S15 period no team has entered the final 6 with more than 6 losses in total.

 

[I like to watch]

Haha, what a goose! 20 rounds last year due to the Lions tour.
I will just see myself out...

 

[Pfitzy]

The most glaring problem seems to be the backrow to me. Schatz and Quirk are reasonable in isolation but together they don't make a good combination because neither of them is a strong enough ball carrier. Early in the season it was Schatz who was ineffectual, now it is Quirk. Whatever the case, I think they need to make a change in one of those positions sometime pretty soon.

Gill balances that equation. The Reds in the last few years have been about mongrel quickness at the breakdown from the whole pack, with one or two forward runners, and letting Cooper and the backs do the magic.

Like all strategies in rugby, it is transient.

Genia's slide back into mortal form is shitting hard on their whole structure too.

 

[Braveheart81]

Gill balances that equation. The Reds in the last few years have been about mongrel quickness at the breakdown from the whole pack, with one or two forward runners, and letting Cooper and the backs do the magic.

Like all strategies in rugby, it is transient.

Genia's slide back into mortal form is shitting hard on their whole structure too.

I don't think Gill does balance that equation because he doesn't provide them with powerful ball running either.

I think one of Quirk and Schatz has to go from the starting side if the Reds are going to compete with the stronger, physical sides.

If Horwill and Simmons were asserting themselves more around the field, that need may decrease but at the moment the Reds need their 6 and 8 to be bending the line and it really isn't happening.

 

[Ash]

2012 and 2013 were majorly disrupted to the Reds due to the injuries to Cooper and Genia. In 2012 it was particularly bad as the Reds had zero fit flyhalves at one stage. In 2012 the SA tour was particularly dire as they lost games in winning positions due to losing their flyhalves.

In 2011 the Reds their fair share of injuries, but got lucky with who got them - outside backs who they found to be interchangeable with their gameplan. Don't forget that in 2011 the Reds had to summon up Caleb Ralph for one game. Luckily enough in 2011 the Reds halves and midfield and most of their key forwards made it through most of the season without serious injury.

Outside of Quade, and now Taps, the Reds have no punch in the backs. Add in no punch in the forwards, and you can see where their problems lie.

On top of that the Reds have lost a lot of their mojo at the breakdown. The Force held the ball a few times for long phases until the Reds gave up the inevitable penalty, sometimes 14+ phases.

 

[Redsfan]

It's crazy, I know, but could Ben Daley wearing 8 be a temporary fix?

 

[RugbyReg]

I don't think he offers anything more from a linebreaking ability. I'd prefer to look at someone like Nigel Ah Wong

 

[Sully]

I don't think he offers anything more from a linebreaking ability. I'd prefer to look at someone like Nigel Ah Wong

Isn't Nigel fairly light Reg?

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[Gnostic]

2012 and 2013 were majorly disrupted to the Reds due to the injuries to Cooper and Genia. In 2012 it was particularly bad as the Reds had zero fit flyhalves at one stage. In 2012 the SA tour was particularly dire as they lost games in winning positions due to losing their flyhalves.

In 2011 the Reds their fair share of injuries, but got lucky with who got them - outside backs who they found to be interchangeable with their gameplan. Don't forget that in 2011 the Reds had to summon up Caleb Ralph for one game. Luckily enough in 2011 the Reds halves and midfield and most of their key forwards made it through most of the season without serious injury.

Outside of Quade, and now Taps, the Reds have no punch in the backs. Add in no punch in the forwards, and you can see where their problems lie.

On top of that the Reds have lost a lot of their mojo at the breakdown. The Force held the ball a few times for long phases until the Reds gave up the inevitable penalty, sometimes 14+ phases.

Hence the arguments that the Reds management, even pre- Graham have failed to recruit properly and why Redshappy has been banging this drum since 2012.

Any reasonable assessment of ball running forwards gives you at best Slipper and Horwill. Since Horwill hasn't really dominated in ball carrying since his injury the Reds have zero punch in the forwards. Even if they get a big unit that only lasts 30 minutes a game it would be a start.

 

[Ruggo]

Taps had a good game last week but more importantly he provided something at 13 the team needed. Leave him there. Harris to stay at 12 and give him the goal kicking duties. Take some load off of Quade. CFS to back onto the wing where he can be given licence to rove and provide that hard running option that often pops up for the inside ball in the fashion Digby did. People might fancy Taps as a 12 and I rate him there also but another 12 option is not what the Reds need. Lucas to stay at FB.

McDurling to be tried at 6. Browning to be given much more game time at 8. Shatz doesn't deserve a mortgage on the spot and we need some fierce internal competition. Owen has been doing a good job when he has come on and would love to see him keep getting good game time.

 

[TheKing]

http://gfycat.com/FrighteningPessimisticGreatdane

A great little gif of Quade

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[No4918]

Before the injury CFS was a revelation at 13. He is the future in that spot. It is great that Taps is back to form, even if he still looks like a 12 playing 13. If Turner is fit then CFS to 13, no Turner and CFS to wing. Going to need all the experience possible this week.

Even the Courier Mail is now onto the Reds issues in the backrow. It is hard to see much being different for the rest of the year. Schatz is improving and has heaps of experience so I'd be leaving him there and giving Browning and McDuling plenty of game time at 6.

 

[Pfitzy]

I don't think Gill does balance that equation because he doesn't provide them with powerful ball running either.

But this starting back row of Quirk/Schatz/Gill was never about having a big bopper to crash it up.

The young, fleet of foot trio would tire the opposition out disrupting their ball and give security to the Reds, then you'd have Horwill and one or two of the front rowers crashing it up before going second channel and letting them run wide or unders back through a tired inside defense who couldn't realign.

In that mix you also have Gill who has a deft pair of hands and plays the #8 role on attack as far as link work goes. In contact he's a bit like Michael Hooper for mine - somehow manages to break tackles despite not being 120kg. He plays heavy because he has great balance.

Beau is a fine player when it comes to being an utter prick at the breakdown, but doesn't have the hands or skills in contact that Gill does. Once you break up that original trio, its no surprise that the other two start to look a bit lost. Throw in the fact that Genia's service is a bit off and the gears are missing every now and then, putting more pressure on everyone - snowball.

EDIT: and if the defence was a bit too good first up, then the Reds would go to plan B: kick for territory, let Simmons pressure the opposition lineout (apparently) and let the fast backrow force the opposition into an exit strategy they didn't want.

I remember that game at Suncorp against the Chiefs where, early in the second half, the Reds' pick and drive game was executed at such speed that the visitors could not align. They expected the Reds to go wide, and committed few in the zero channel, so the Reds PnD'd about 40 metres, sucked in all the forwards, and two passes later were in on the tram tracks.

 

[RugbyReg]

Isn't Nigel fairly light Reg?

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he'd be 100kg plus and well over 6 foot.

and has skills.

 

[TOCC]

I was actually surprised that Curtis didn't start last weekend, I wouldn't be surprised to see that occur vs the Brumbies.. McDuling might see some bench time.

Also barring injuries Taps to 12, CFS to 13

 

[suckerforred]

he'd be 100kg plus and well over 6 foot.

and has skills.

Thanks for that Reg. I had forgotton what a good set of hands he has. More importantly he also seems to have a quick mind which is what I think we are really missing in the forwards. Nothing against the guys currently there but they don't seem to read the game, even at a club level, as well as Nigel does.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think the Reds problems stem from the promotion of a certain medical supplement with questionable benefit.

It's not as bad as being sponsored by the Australian Homeopathy and Other Related Quackeries Association but it's not far off.

 

[Dumbledore]

Only just thought of this because I was talking about him over on the Rebels thread, but the Reds look like they could use a guy like Sean McMahon. Not entirely different to Ah-Wong I guess. You boys really just look like you're missing a big outside runner at the moment. Simmons and Horwill are carrying solidly, but they're not exactly explosive runners who are messing up defensive lines and patterns. Likewise Quirk and Schatz. Not sure how long McMahon is contracted for down here, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he gets a call from the Reds at the end of the year.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Horwill just needs to get moving as fast as he can (which is pretty quick) and hit the fucking line at speed without worrying about the consequences of being tackled. the law of physics says that doing that he should be over the ad line nearly every time.

 

[RugbyReg]

Horwill played damn well on the weekend and I don't think we should be relying on him to be our line breaker. He can play a role, but let him use his bulk to keep the scrum strong, make big tackles and clear the rucks. Plus keep stealing lineouts like v the Force.

we need a runner in the backrow.