Mr Tank
Herbert Moran (7)
So we can exclude games that we don’t like? Then by my reckoning the Reds won 8 from 9, only losing the final. Pretty good year if you ask me.
Reds 2020
- Thread starter RugbyReg
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So we can exclude games that we don’t like? Then by my reckoning the Reds won 8 from 9, only losing the final. Pretty good year if you ask me.
sunnyboys
Bob Loudon (25)
Wasnt excluding them - just pointing out where they came from.
Honestly - look through the wins we had this season - barely 3 against decent opposition.
The wins were against the bottom teams - the last round win over brumbies and the two rebels wins probably the highlights of the season.
Honestly - look through the wins we had this season - barely 3 against decent opposition.
The wins were against the bottom teams - the last round win over brumbies and the two rebels wins probably the highlights of the season.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Bloody hell. There is just no pleasing some. You can only play what's in front of you. Realistically speaking the Reds really only has one howler of a game this year and that was against the Tahs a couple of months ago. Otherwise they have been there or thereabouts every Super game (that I can remember, the Feb-March period is hazy).
We also lost four of the starting 23 between Super campaigns as well. Having Rodda and Speight purely from an injury cover perspective would have helped immensely.
We also lost four of the starting 23 between Super campaigns as well. Having Rodda and Speight purely from an injury cover perspective would have helped immensely.
Cancelled Account
Desmond Connor (43)
What’s your beef?
sunnyboys
Bob Loudon (25)
No beef. Just adding a some raw outcomes to the discussion.
It’s been exciting watching the team over the past couple of months. And there’s plenty of good young players.
But some of fan chat and professional reporting has been a bit over done at times.
Looking forward to next season under which ever coach is appointed.
It’s been exciting watching the team over the past couple of months. And there’s plenty of good young players.
But some of fan chat and professional reporting has been a bit over done at times.
Looking forward to next season under which ever coach is appointed.
Cancelled Account
Desmond Connor (43)
What? No Brad next year?
I wouldn't bother with him. He just about only posts to say something about sacking Thorn.
is worth looking at the losses too.
The 3 losses in Canberra were all dramatically close. The first two we had large claims to win. We lost the first and had the 2nd taken from us.
Then go have a look at the Crusaders game. That really was an exceptional performance.
Our away tour deserved one win, and we could have got it if it wasn't for some (regular) poor discipline (and questionable reffing?) v the Lions. We had the Jags game in our grasp except for the impacts of poor discipline again, and some poor kicking.
Our other loss was against the Sharks at home which was a lost opportunity.
So, yes losses, but gees these were much better losses (if that is such a thing) than we have had for many a year.
The biggest factors stymieing the Reds this year were:
- poor kicking in Super Rugby. JOC (James O'Connor)'s injury rehab during COVID helped us considerably. If we had him kicking like Super Rugby AU in Super Rugby we could have won a couple more games.
- Our lineout. This wasn't just Hockings and Rodda going as it was an issue all season. This one must fall on Thorn. It needs desperate attention and probably more from a coach/strategy perspective than a player personnel perspective.
- bench use / selection. The benching of McDermott (to start or mid-game) caused the most questions. Another thing Brad needs to work on.
- player availability. Rodda, Hockings and Lucas are three massive players to lose. But does the resultant team camaraderie off-set this? Probably. Prop depth was challenged big time. Dane Zander was a revolution this year and we saw him start only 3 times all year. Feao Fotuaika was a revolution last year and we saw him only once this year. Add injuries to JP Smith, Mafi et al and that's tough to get by with. Further wide Paisami, Petaia and CFS injuries were damaging considering their attacking focus.
I'm all for keeping Brad for another season. It's all guess work but with 5 more home games in the regular Super Rugby season and 6 derby games (including Sunwolves) I think we would have finished a regular Super Rugby season pretty damn strongly as well.
Give Mick Todd a full off-season of involvement, alongside Jimmy McKay and get some sort of lineout specialist in (Ben Mowen as others have mentioned?) and I reckon there remains plenty to look forward to for next year.
sunnyboys
Bob Loudon (25)
To be fair, I wasn’t impressed with the progress over the past 2 and half seasons.
But the past 3 months have shown some true green shoots.
More than happy for him to get the gig next year. I like Thorn.
But I was wondering when we might see some improvement coming into his third season in charge. Was nothing against him.
Additionally I have loved that Jim’s influence is really starting to show through in our attack.
The defence once the video analyst stepped up has been a revelation.
I feel the team now has the game - they just need to get the mental side right.
The loss last night looked like a very pre-covid performance. I thought we had left those behind when SRA started. Hopefully throughout next season we see less and less of those types of performances.
But the past 3 months have shown some true green shoots.
More than happy for him to get the gig next year. I like Thorn.
But I was wondering when we might see some improvement coming into his third season in charge. Was nothing against him.
Additionally I have loved that Jim’s influence is really starting to show through in our attack.
The defence once the video analyst stepped up has been a revelation.
I feel the team now has the game - they just need to get the mental side right.
The loss last night looked like a very pre-covid performance. I thought we had left those behind when SRA started. Hopefully throughout next season we see less and less of those types of performances.
sunnyboys
Bob Loudon (25)
I agree it looked like there was improvement. I saw that too. However I’m always cautious when teams look like they’ve improved yet the results don’t seem to follow.
Maybe it just a year early for this team - kind of like the 2010 team.
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
There is nothing that stops improvement faster than being satisfied with what you have achieved.
It has turned out to be a good season for the Reds, but there are a lot of issues that need to be sorted out, especially if we end up with a competitions that has NZ teams in it.
We cannot be complacent and have to learn from every game we played.
The future looks bright and I think this loss will actually help in the long run as next time there will not be the nerves for our young team.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I mean this could be true. It was true for Jake White, Simon Cron and maybe Daryl Gibson.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Eh, there's a time and place to deconstruct the season they had, the coaching team and players have a full off-season to work out how to improve from here. But we should also take a moment to enjoy what they have done well on.
I've had enough of the doom and gloom that not only have we had to endure supporting the Reds, but also what 2020 has brought. Celebrate the minor wins in life.
J
JeepsTragic
Guest
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
Yeh it was a really great season from the Reds. I don't feel too disheartened as the Brumbies were the most settled team coming into Super Rugby AU, they had a solid team of veterans balanced out with some good young talent and deserved to win the final and be considered the best team in OZ.
The Reds for mine, assuming they keep 90% of the team together, should go into 2021 as the favored Aussie team, I imagine they'll get a decent contingent in the 23 for the Wallabies this year which will aid development as well.
I do have worries about Petaia and his longevity. He seems to constantly get injuries all over his body which is more concerning that just a dodgy knee or shoulder, those things can become problems over time but with proper rehab and maintenance usually hold up for a few years at least. Its a lot harder to maintain injuries from head to toe.
The Reds for mine, assuming they keep 90% of the team together, should go into 2021 as the favored Aussie team, I imagine they'll get a decent contingent in the 23 for the Wallabies this year which will aid development as well.
I do have worries about Petaia and his longevity. He seems to constantly get injuries all over his body which is more concerning that just a dodgy knee or shoulder, those things can become problems over time but with proper rehab and maintenance usually hold up for a few years at least. Its a lot harder to maintain injuries from head to toe.
