Reds 2014

[USARugger]

Scott Bryant noted on Twitter than Quade was out signing autographs for nearly an hour after the end of the game. Does make you wonder if he's too concerned with what RG has to say.

Playing Devil's Advocate with myself: Maybe RG is the type of coach who won't discuss the match until the next day when the boys have had time to cool down and assess their own performances mentally. It's not exactly an unprecedented methodology.

 

[Tangawizi]

I thought the music is the worst thing ever...

I agree that the music is crap. It is far too slow to chant along with. Just get the microphone back in the hands of the announcer. Finally letting him rip with 30 seconds left was next to useless.

 

[Ash]

You would think that Graham and Meehan in particular would be on shaky ground.

Defence, Graham's area, has been iffy a few times. The short side is consistently caught out, in the midfield our last defender often comes in incorrectly on a guy already covered creating or extending overlaps, and we are getting caught out by inside passes or simply by the inside defender not working hard enough to get across to cover the inside.

Attack is diabolical at times, back to the dark days of mid-2000s. It's now a few weeks in a row where we've had the entire team clustered midfield not sure what to do next at times. We are kicking too much. We are so very rarely counter attacking, if ever. Our only backline moves ever come off set pieces, nothing much seems to happen off phase play.

My one criticism of the forwards is the lack of turnovers. In the last few weeks we have seem to have conceded most defensive rucks, allowing the opposition massive time with the ball. Which we duly make worse by simply kicking it back once they eventually drop it.

With Link, we didn't seem to suffer so much from the above issues.

I'd say the Reds, particularly the coaches, will be on notice for the next few games.

If the performances don't improve then it will be interesting to see if Carmichael and co have the guts to do something.

 

[Tangawizi]

Can someone teach Jake Schatz how to catch a bomb? He made a couple of horrible attempts tonight.

 

[USARugger]

One thing you never had to worry about with Link is selections. He is the best selector in the country, he gets in right every week. The only times I can remember him getting it really wrong is when he played Genia at 10 midway through a game, and when he played Tirinui on the wings for the Tahs against Habana.

RG is a bad selector, and uses his squad as a whole poorly.

IMO his best quality as a selector (Link) was that he was willing to experiment but knew when an experiment had failed and which changes to ring the next week to remedy it.

His accuracy in doing that actually impressed the shit out of me and still does. Would Deans have given To'omua a shot at 12? Doubt it. /fanboyoff

 

[Parse]

So how long is/was (preferably "was" from my point of view) RG's contract for anyway? While I was prepared to give the benefit of the doubt when he was first announced - I was one of the fools who also believed he might take some lessons from Link - all I can see now is a 'jobs for the boys' culture and a coach who doesn't know how to in the top grade.

 

[Penguin]

Loved the we are red chant. A few times a year or two ago I got close to my whole section doing it.
Heard it towards the end tonight as well! Thumbs up from me!


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But the big difference tonight (there have been others) is that the crowd got it going organically not via some pumped up DJ twat hyping over the loud speakers. Much more satisfying.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

One thing you never had to worry about with Link is selections. He is the best selector in the country, he gets in right every week. The only times I can remember him getting it really wrong is when he played Genia at 10 midway through a game, and when he played Tirinui on the wings for the Tahs against Habana.

RG is a bad selector, and uses his squad as a whole poorly.

One of the things that used to really frustrate me with RG was his poor use of the bench. Would never use it to try and change the game if something wasn't working and would wait until the 70th min and by then the game was over.

Must have spent to much time with the dingo at the wallabies.


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[RugbyReg]

Scott Bryant noted on Twitter than Quade was out signing autographs for nearly an hour after the end of the game. Does make you wonder if he's too concerned with what RG has to say.

that's a long bow. All the players stayed out on the field for ages, particularly QC (Quade Cooper), Genia, Samo, Faingaas, after every game Link coached too.

 

[Train Without a Station]

In my view the backline is stifled for 2 reasons:

Speed and quality of ball. From 2010 we were built around a hard working back securing quick ball. The backline looked much faster against a retiring defence. Our clean out is not anywhere near as effective. Probably coming down to both attitude and accuracy. We no longer have 8 blokes looking to put anybody loitering around a ruck on their ass and have the ball sitting on a platter for genia as soon as he arrives.

This appears to be compounded by the lack of runners creating options, making any option easily defended and looking less impressive. At a time attacking deep in their half Quade didn't even want it because nobody was looking to run off him.

So I guess looking at this, would the majority of a premiership team forget how to clean out and forget how to run lines? I doubt it. So I'm guessing it comes down to training focus and attitude. Woody needs to fire the fluffybunnys up.

 

[Tomikin]

IMO his best quality as a selector (Link) was that he was willing to experiment but knew when an experiment had failed and which changes to ring the next week to remedy it.

His accuracy in doing that actually impressed the shit out of me and still does. Would Deans have given To'omua a shot at 12? Doubt it. /fanboyoff

Im sure Deans would have.. on that Tour it was last man standing to give To'omua a run at 12 not some brilliant Link master stroke...

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[Train Without a Station]

Wasn't he tried as a 12 sub from the game in Argentina forward anyway?

 

[I like to watch]

In my view the backline is stifled for 2 reasons:

Speed and quality of ball. From 2010 we were built around a hard working back securing quick ball. The backline looked much faster against a retiring defence. Our clean out is not anywhere near as effective. Probably coming down to both attitude and accuracy. We no longer have 8 blokes looking to put anybody loitering around a ruck on their ass and have the ball sitting on a platter for genia as soon as he arrives.

This appears to be compounded by the lack of runners creating options, making any option easily defended and looking less impressive. At a time attacking deep in their half Quade didn't even want it because nobody was looking to run off him.

So I guess looking at this, would the majority of a premiership team forget how to clean out and forget how to run lines? I doubt it. So I'm guessing it comes down to training focus and attitude. Woody needs to fire the fluffybunnys up.

A couple if things.
Quade should have scored,what happens with the game dynamics if he did?
You guys are missing Digby in a big way,again had Digby been there and gone through once or twice,that changes the game dynamics substantially.
Many of your stars in 2011, whilst might be playing well enough this year,they are not having the impact they did in 2011.
And it's not the coaching,because these guys form is no better or worse than it was last year.

 

[Tomikin]

Wasn't he tried as a 12 sub from the game in Argentina forward anyway?

No he got the job after Lealiifano went down injured, Goodwin had surgery and they had no other 12. His first start there was because of injury..

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[Hoolly Doolly]

One of the things that used to really frustrate me with RG was his poor use of the bench. Would never use it to try and change the game if something wasn't working and would wait until the 70th min and by then the game was over.

Must have spent to much time with the dingo at the wallabies.


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Something needs to be said about recruitment quality as well. he recruited a lot of duds!

 

[something]

This is going to come across as a very negative post but this is what i think if i were given the role as a selector.

Alright i think the front 5 is pretty decent. We have supe level props/hookers in anae, Fainga'a, chibba, slipper, owen, holmes & daley. also second row is decent in horwill & simmons.

if i was a recruiter. I'd be looking to get a hard hitting 8 and a fardy-esque starting 6 who can cover lock. Gilly and Robbo are fine but i think Quirky and Schatz are sub-par super players. the stats make a compelling case against them. One of the two would be a fine bench option but starting players.... not for mine. I reckon Browning will take them over in the next two years as well.

Genia is fine. dont like frisby at all, waste of bench space. think they should just stick with lucas as back up 9 as he covers so many positions & willy generally plays the full 80.

QC (Quade Cooper) 10 with lucas reserve

in the centres i believe Taps is the 12. they should put him there and leave him there. Regretably Ant is past his time & i dont think Harris really offers that much although he is consistent.

CFS long term 13. leave him there let him build a partnership with taps & QC (Quade Cooper).

ant or harris should be reserve centre.

in the back 3 we are very very light. Turner is the only player that is really super level at the moment. Rocket isnt that great, ships had one good season, no confidence in either of them.... develop JJT & placid and maybe one more eps guy (that speedy norths winger? he could find a try line but i'm just making an uneducated speculation) also.... bring in a hard hitting solid winger who will offer QC (Quade Cooper) options. someone like tomane or the badger.... both brissy boys. just someone who is a little bit scary for defenders.

one can only wish.

 

[tigerland12]

When is Kerevi and Kuridrani fit again

 

[liquor box]

Is it just me, or is our scrum a lot better when Jono Owen is on the field?

The brumbies scrum was on roller skates a couple of times in the second half.

I think Saia makes a difference too

 

[tranquility]

@Something, I agree with most of that. Don't think it is entirely negative at all really. Good stuff.

Although in saying that Quirky was bloody good last night.

McDuling is the Fardy type in the squad, but can't even get a run. Stupidity to not even see what he offers.

 

[Train Without a Station]

You're implying that they aren't even looking at his A games or Uni appearances.