Reds 2017

[RedsHappy]

It not like those players weren't available though. Itoje is really the only change in personnel. The performance of the others is drastically different under Jones. I'm not saying Lancaster won't be a good coach but it just got me thinking.
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Correct Jets.

The EJ (Eddie Jones) story so far: a wonderful example of the power and absolute criticality of coaching in elite rugby. And the immediate impact that genuinely good HCs and specialist coaches can and do have quite quickly.

Link had a massive impact on the 2009 Reds squad he inherited with only around 6 or so Super games into the 2010 season.

[Imagine how much better the Wallabies could be if we possessed a really good attack coach (Larkham's a myth so far as coach goes IMO), a dedicated forwards coach and a kicking and catching skills coach. All we have at present are a good HC, scrum and defence coaches, it's not anywhere near enough when competing vs well-coached Test teams, as the losses to England so clearly show.]

With the squad that the Reds are starting to build, if we get a really good HC, and he brings the right assistants in, and we find a solution at 10, the Reds can be Finals-bound in 2018.

 

[liquor box]

In reference to Moore and his shoulder incident for the Wallabies.

I really like Moore but do we need him for two years? I think a year is plenty of time for Ready to be the number one hooker and Moore becomes an expensive bench man.

He has the anger that Horwill had prior to being a captain but has not toned it down with the responsibility. (I think Horwill reigned it in too much)

Will Moore be captain of the Reds? Will he be happy to be a player only and have someone else captain him?

He is a great signing but I am a little concerned

 

[Tip]

With the squad that the Reds are starting to build, if we get a really good HC, and he brings the right assistants in, and we find a solution at 10, the Reds can be Finals-bound in 2018.

If QC (Quade Cooper)'s back in '17, we're Finals bound. No doubt.

Our attack will fix itself. We've got the Pickle. We've got K-Train. We've got Hunt. We just need the puppet master, QC (Quade Cooper) to pull the strings. Since RG got sacked, we've lacked direction at the crunch (we've lost 5 games? this season by a try or less, with a whole bunch of last-15 blowouts). Hopefully with the experience of QC (Quade Cooper), Smith & Moore plus a lot of harsh lessons for this years playing group mean we're an 80 minute team, rather than 60.

 

[The torpedo]

[Imagine how much better the Wallabies could be if we possessed a really good attack coach (Larkham's a myth so far as coach goes IMO), a dedicated forwards coach and a kicking and catching skills coach. All we have at present are a good HC, scrum and defence coaches, it's not anywhere near enough when competing vs well-coached Test teams, as the losses to England so clearly show.]

There are 3 blokes that should fill these spots

Jim McKay (attack), Laurie Fisher (forwards) and Jonny Wilkinson (kicking and skills).

Anyhoo.....

 

[USARugger]

Looks like young young Liam Jurd has bumped Magnay out of the 13 jersey for the 5th/6th place playoff match at the U-20's. Interesting.

 

[Forcefield]

If QC (Quade Cooper)'s back in '17, we're Finals bound. No doubt.

Our attack will fix itself. We've got the Pickle. We've got K-Train. We've got Hunt. We just need the puppet master, QC (Quade Cooper) to pull the strings. Since RG got sacked, we've lacked direction at the crunch (we've lost 5 games? this season by a try or less, with a whole bunch of last-15 blowouts). Hopefully with the experience of QC (Quade Cooper), Smith & Moore plus a lot of harsh lessons for this years playing group mean we're an 80 minute team, rather than 60.

It almost seems like you are saying you had direction with Richard Graham. You tread a fine line, sir.

 

[Tip]

I was more meaning that the since RG was sacked the Reds have been in the game for the first 60 minutes, only to blow it in the final 20.

We had direction under Graham, and the trajectory was straight down.

 

[Jets]

Yeah I'm not so sure we'd be finals bound if Quade comes home, it would help though. The head coach will be the key. We need a quality head coach who can get the players all working together. From there you need all the solid players in the squad to play to their potential and then you have to add a bit of luck.

If we can win in NZ then we are a real shot. That's the challenge for the Aust teams as its the hardest place to play and we go there 2-3 times a year.


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[Train Without a Station]

I think Quade is really the last piece of the playing puzzle we desperately need.

RH I strongly disagree with your 2018 comments. A good coach who comes in firing and the Reds are easily capable of being a 2017 contender.

Under the current, or previous finals system, Link would have taken the Reds to a finals series in his first season. I don't think the addition of the Rebels in their early seasons would have been this more difficult had it been 2010.

This isn't AFL where you require a long term rebuild and list management strategy to compete. With the right squad adjustments and good coaching, teams have turned around in one season.

The most important acquisition now is the coach.

 

[No4918]

Should be very close to an announcement on the coach.

 

[Tip]

Just a looked a little further into the Reds season since RG got the flick:
R3: Loss vs Rebels 23-25
R4: Draw vs Blues 25-25
R5: Loss vs Tahs 13 - 15
R6: Bye
R7: Win vs Highlanders 28-27
R8: Loss vs Bulls 22 - 41 Score was 22 - 27 at 60 minutes
R9: Loss vs Stormers 22 - 40 Score was 22 -26 at 60 minutes
R10: Win vs Cheetahs 30 - 17
R11: Loss vs Crusaders 5 -38
R12: Loss vs Hurricanes 14- 29 Score was 14 - 17 at 65 minutes

So since RG has left we've had 2 wins, a draw, twice pipped at the death by the Tahs & Rebels and lost by 2. The Bulls, Stormers, Hurricanes are all matches that we've dropped off in the last 20.

The Reds have only really had the one pathetic performance against the Crusaders.

 

[The torpedo]

After reading George Smith's biography, I reckon that Matt O'Connor could be the head coach. Mainly because George gives a fair bit of praise to him on pages 161-163 and was surprised that he wasn't given the brumbies coaching job post-Fisher (it went to Andy Friend). Well that's my opinion anyway

 

[The torpedo]

Just a looked a little further into the Reds season since RG got the flick:
R3: Loss vs Rebels 23-25
R4: Draw vs Blues 25-25
R5: Loss vs Tahs 13 - 15
R6: Bye
R7: Win vs Highlanders 28-27
R8: Loss vs Bulls 22 - 41 Score was 22 - 27 at 60 minutes
R9: Loss vs Stormers 22 - 40 Score was 22 -26 at 60 minutes
R10: Win vs Cheetahs 30 - 17
R11: Loss vs Crusaders 5 -38
R12: Loss vs Hurricanes 14- 29 Score was 14 - 17 at 65 minutes

So since RG has left we've had 2 wins, a draw, twice pipped at the death by the Tahs & Rebels and lost by 2. The Bulls, Stormers, Hurricanes are all matches that we've dropped off in the last 20.

The Reds have only really had the one pathetic performance against the Crusaders.

3 wins. We beat the Sunwolves 35-25

 

[liquor box]

I think Quade is really the last piece of the playing puzzle we desperately need.

RH I strongly disagree with your 2018 comments. A good coach who comes in firing and the Reds are easily capable of being a 2017 contender.

Under the current, or previous finals system, Link would have taken the Reds to a finals series in his first season. I don't think the addition of the Rebels in their early seasons would have been this more difficult had it been 2010.

This isn't AFL where you require a long term rebuild and list management strategy to compete. With the right squad adjustments and good coaching, teams have turned around in one season.

The most important acquisition now is the coach.

If QC (Quade Cooper) returns, how soon can it happen? A few games this season then available for Tests at end of season?

 

[Viking]

If QC (Quade Cooper)'s back in '17, we're Finals bound. No doubt.

Our attack will fix itself. We've got the Pickle. We've got K-Train. We've got Hunt. We just need the puppet master, QC (Quade Cooper) to pull the strings. Since RG got sacked, we've lacked direction at the crunch (we've lost 5 games? this season by a try or less, with a whole bunch of last-15 blowouts). Hopefully with the experience of QC (Quade Cooper), Smith & Moore plus a lot of harsh lessons for this years playing group mean we're an 80 minute team, rather than 60.

You got a lot riding on Quade there. I think he might take some time to find his mojo.

I can't remember the last time QC (Quade Cooper) has played 2 games in a row without niggling injuries inbetween and I hear he has been on the bench all year in Toulon.

I'm predicting the first half of the year QC (Quade Cooper) will be fairly average until he finishes the season strong!

 

[No4918]

Define average?? Assuming you mean average and still one of the top 2 flyhalf in Australia.

 

[Parse]

You got a lot riding on Quade there. I think he might take some time to find his mojo.

I can't remember the last time QC (Quade Cooper) has played 2 games in a row without niggling injuries inbetween and I hear he has been on the bench all year in Toulon.

I'm predicting the first half of the year QC (Quade Cooper) will be fairly average until he finishes the season strong!

You obviously haven't been watching the Top 14 games and highlights on Eurosport every week.

 

[The torpedo]

You obviously haven't been watching the Top 14 games and highlights on Eurosport every week.

Is it good or bad?

 

[Viking]

You obviously haven't been watching the Top 14 games and highlights on Eurosport every week.

No I haven't. Please share what you have seen of Quade.

 

[Viking]

Define average?? Assuming you mean average and still one of the top 2 flyhalf in Australia.

Average like his last season at the Reds last year.