Reds 2014

[USARugger]

Wow, I never realized how young Davies is.

I was going to write a post about how maybe he's giving JJ more chances to develop knowing Rod won't be around forever/is of questionable quality but now I've realized Rod is only 24.

Oh boy.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

RG gets to nominate his 23 man squad AFTER the Team Rehab selectors get first pick from the Playing group.

I'm not too sure what genuine options are realistically available to him in terms of the cattle he has to choose from.

Tactics, strategy and game plan. Now that is a different story and there is a demonstrated need for RG to changes all of these because the current set is broken.

The fat boys need to man up and tear into the enemy with all the vigour that a teenager (legal age of course) rips into a slab of XXXX down the coast during schoolies week. Gilbert has to be retained in Reds hands and not gifted to the enemy in a series of poorly executed kicks. The breakdown work has to be accurate, and the attack needs to be patient and build pressure through multiple phases and quick ruck ball rather than expecting QC (Quade Cooper) to deliver a miracle play for a meat pie on the second phase. Job done.

The Rebels will be fancying their chances to knock off the Reds at home, and the Reds will need to come out of the sheds with all guns blazing otherwise it won't be a pretty sight on the scoreboard for the local fans when the fat lady starts her song after 80 minutes in the Cauldron.

 

[RedsHappy]

Board member Chris White.

Yes, and he should never have been involved in the HC negotiations or HC selection process once RG was in the frame in any way as, with him as QRU board member and RG's agent, there's a massive, obvious conflict of interest. Every sane set of good principles for board conduct and governance prescribes how such conflict situations should be managed.

Around the time of the early 2012 announcement re RG coming to the Reds, the Aus rugby media made clear that C White was involved in the RG finding and securing process and the QRU certainly did not deny it.

 

[Train Without a Station]

HJ. I just noted 3 changes that could have and likely should have been made. 2 address key weaknesses from last week.

We're not getting rolled by 3 points anymore. How could any changes realistically and possible go worse?

 

[RedsHappy]

It says it's written by Paul Rees at the bottom, Reg, or at least that's the guy who writes it every Thursday

I think you'll find on a further check the author was:

Rajiv Maharaj

 

[Hugh Jarse]

HJ. I just noted 3 changes that could have and likely should have been made. 2 address key weaknesses from last week.

We're not getting rolled by 3 points anymore. How could any changes realistically and possible go worse?

2 of those changes you note fall in the realm of tactics, stretegy and game plan that I agree with you RG needs to change.

You really get the sense of Dingo Deja Vu being played out this year in Camp Reds with some interesting bench use/non-use, player positional selections, tactics, injury lists and so on. We all know the results of Dingo Deja Vu and it ain't pretty for the fans.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Clearly Graham is from the Deans conservative school of coaching. My concern is his fear to take risks will only result in us spiral further down as he doesn't appear to have the constitution to make tough and risky calls in search of a solution.

 

[Lindommer]

Please don't misconstrue this post as putting the boot into the Reds during their current woes, like every sensible Australian rugby supporter I want our five teams firing on all cylinders.

A macro comment from afar, something I raised with suckerforred over a coupla beers in Sydney a few weeks ago.

1. The Reds squad seem to have a lot of backs who were outstanding at junior/schoolboy level, probably due to their physical advantages as youths. Have they been rushed into professional rugby too soon?
2. I'm not familiar with most of them, but it's mystifying to me why the debate never ends what position they should play. Player A should be picked at 12 one week, 13 the next, player B goes well on the wing AND OC, player C can play well in the centres, on the wing and at fullback. As an example I refer to the constant discussions about Tapuai and AF in the centres and CFS's spot in the centres or on the wing. To muddy the waters here I'm well aware Turner can play FB and 13 as well as his best pozzy, the wing. Maybe he was a perfect candidate for a Reds back. But, most importantly, I don't understand why this discussion over these backs' best spots is never-ending.
3. Why have so many Reds backs suffered injuries over the last few years? Is it because they were thrown in too young? Why haven't Toua's problems been sorted out? Turner seems to be a good fit here as well.
4. The biggy: the most frustrating thing for me to watch from elsewhere is these obviously talented young backs don't seem to've progressed in their rugby education, they're ALWAYS talented youngsters. Why haven't their skills been polished in a professional environment? Why aren't they reaching their potential? Is it the coaching?

Added.
5. For the life of me I can't comprehend how this constant debate about Slipper's best side's gone on for so long. WTF is he, a LHP or THP? Please sort it out so's we outlanders can get on with the game.

Comments please.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

As I have previously posted in this thread, while there could be improvements in the piggies wearing jumpers < 6, the playing roster at the Reds is good enough to be at the top of the Aust Conference.

There is (or at least was) a very strong culture in the playing group and this was previously backed up with what appeared to be top notch coaching, strength and conditioning, fan engagement, and back room administration in the club.

Chinks are becoming evident in some of these latter characteristics.

 

[I like to watch]

To be fair,not all talented youngsters handle the step up.
Many of them were junior stars,because they had a physical advantage.
When their advantage disappears in the pro ranks, they struggle.

 

[RedsHappy]

@TWAS

If RG knew what to do to improve key aspects of the 2014 Reds it would have happened by now. He doesn't, and that he doesn't could never be more obvious than in the Cru match after the team had already largely fallen apart during the NZ matches.

This is one of many reasons why the QRU is cranking up the 'excuses factory' very similarly to the way the ARU did for/with Deans from 2010 onwards.

The QRU CEO is now openly referring to:

- 'impact of injuries'
- 'list issues'
- 'deficiencies we have to identify and fix wrt the squad'
- leaks re JO'C and other potential recruits to assure fans something is being done
- strong inferences that the current Reds' problems are player and player attitude related, and not coaching derived
- 'unequivocal' support for RG

I have written the QRU media release re the Reds' 2015 plans already.

 

[Floggn']

Rod Davies has been good this year. How can JJ Tuilagi be picked over him? The guy essentially didn't chase a kick in the 2nd half. There's no discipline in the team to do things properly at all, and picking guys who fail to do these basic disciplines sends the message that he doesn't care about it.

He continues to play Taps and Fainga'a opposite to their favoured positions.

Surely it would be worth trying Browning at 8, McDuling at 6 and benching Schatz who remains largely ineffective. Perhaps then we'll have a back row with people at least doing their own role, not that of others at the expense of their own like we have had most of the year.

Agree with all of that but JJ shouldn't be in the side. I would like to know how many tries have been scored down his and CFS wing this season. It would be the vast majority I reckon. He is a terrible player and not super rugby quality.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I think that's a bit harsh of JJ. But he had shockers against the Canes and the Crusaders.

Davies has been quite good when he's on the park this year. How can he prefer JJ to him?

 

[RedsHappy]

I think that's a bit harsh of JJ. But he had shockers against the Canes and the Crusaders.

Davies has been quite good when he's on the park this year. How can he prefer JJ to him?

Though TWAS - IIRC hasn't Davies had recent repetitive issues with ball security and retention in good attacking positions?

You may recall that RG recently noted - rightly or wrongly - in commenting upon Davies being benched that he 'has some issues we want him to work on'.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

To be fair,not all talented youngsters handle the step up.
Many of them were junior stars,because they had a physical advantage.
When their advantage disappears in the pro ranks, they struggle.

We come back to the old "cream rising to the top" argument don't we.

Many of the schoolboy rockstars struggle to adapt to adult rugby, where they are no longer the big fish in the small pond of their School or association environment, with everything laid on for them with rugby masters and helicopter parents managing every aspect of their life.

For many of these, the new found freedoms of post school life and it's need for self discipline and management, combined with distractions like money, ladies, alcohol, freedom of choice and association, and burn out, result in them not realising the "potential" that the talent scouts saw in them in the under 15's when they were fast tracked into elite development programmes.

For a variety of reasons, the 'establishment" seems to stick with some of these rockstars on reputation alone, a la the sychophants in "The Emporors New Clothes".

ie. Paul Curroza has had <insert rockstar name> in the Koala Club for 3 years therefore he must be awesome and the problem must be with me because I can't see that same awesomeness. I'm not going to go out on a limb and call <insert rockstar name> as being unawesome while everyone else is toeing the party line on <insert rockstar name>'s awesomeness.

Floating on the top with the Cream, which always rises, are turds full of hot air which have been there from the start. These have a habit of curdling the risen Cream in the immediate vicinity of said turd.

 

[tigerland12]

Really can't comprehend that there are no changes, I thought these would have been certainties.

Owen in for Holmes
Davies in for Taulagi
Kerevi onto the bench

Blooding Blake Enever or Michael Gunn (no, not my Easts bias) off the bench would have been a decent idea as well. Nothing to lose, and I'd rather bring in this young lot (Enever, McDuling, Gunn, Kerevi, Placid) in games against teams like the Rebels, who, with all respect, aren't as physically imposing or intimidating as the likes of the Sharks, Crusaders of the comp.

But no changes, at all? After having 50pts put on us? That's just bewildering, even with our injury ward.

 

[tranquility]

RG gets to nominate his 23 man squad AFTER the Team Rehab selectors get first pick from the Playing group.

I'm not too sure what genuine options are realistically available to him in terms of the cattle he has to choose from.

Tactics, strategy and game plan. Now that is a different story and there is a demonstrated need for RG to changes all of these because the current set is broken.

The fat boys need to man up and tear into the enemy with all the vigour that a teenager (legal age of course) rips into a slab of XXXX down the coast during schoolies week. Gilbert has to be retained in Reds hands and not gifted to the enemy in a series of poorly executed kicks. The breakdown work has to be accurate, and the attack needs to be patient and build pressure through multiple phases and quick ruck ball rather than expecting QC (Quade Cooper) to deliver a miracle play for a meat pie on the second phase. Job done.

The Rebels will be fancying their chances to knock off the Reds at home, and the Reds will need to come out of the sheds with all guns blazing otherwise it won't be a pretty sight on the scoreboard for the local fans when the fat lady starts her song after 80 minutes in the Cauldron.

Are you trying to speak in a language we understand?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^ Simplified version.
Nos 1-5 need to be very physical and show up their opposite numbers.

Retain the ball, have patience and build pressure. Do not make poor kicks.

Be accurate at the break down and get quick clean ball.

Relieve the pressure on QC (Quade Cooper) to make a miracle play.

Rebels will be confident. Reds need to dent that confidence early.

RG needs to change game plan, tactics and strategy because the current ones are not working.

Work with the fit players to win games and stop looking for excuses in the blame culture. Every team has injuries to manage.

 

[Ado Tornado]

Might be just me but I think there's a couple of reasons the Reds aren't firing this year. The first is, as had been talked about here, RG has a very conservative Deans game plan. You don't take the Harlem Globetrotters and turn them into desk clerks do you? The second thing I think is missing the big ball running forward who can make good gains in the close channels. Radike and Higgers are massive losses over the past 2 years that have had a bigger impact on this side than even the reds would like to admit.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Higgers never made good gains in close channels.