Reds v Blues

[formeropenside]

QR Reds prepare to tackle Blues

Sportography Image.Tuesday, 21 April 2009
QR Reds coach Phil Mooney believes his side can recover from a winless month of rugby, beginning with their bid to beat the Blues in Auckland on Saturday night for the first time since Super rugby commenced in 1996.

Mooney told reporters at Ballymore the players and coaches had reassessed their whole approach and mapped out a strategy for getting back on track.

?Last Saturday (the 31-20 loss to the Lions) was probably a case of we needed to look at how we were doing things and we?ve certainly done that," Mooney said.

?The good thing is there has been good, collective resolve.

?There?s a determination to be better than what we are and that?s one of the characteristics this group has shown since day one.?

The lack of experience within the young Reds side has been exacerbated by the loss of former All Black flanker Daniel Braid, who underwent surgery for a ruptured achilles on Sunday. Replacing him is Kiwi-born 111kg Ipswich product Poutasi Luafutu.

Luafutu is one of eight New Zealand-born players in the Reds squad, prompting Mooney to suggest that matches across the Tasman are fast becoming virtual home games for the Reds.

?A lot of our players enjoy going to Auckland as they get to catch up with family,? Mooney quipped, showing his sense of humour was back after a fraught weekend.

However, the reality of the task ahead quickly returned.

?Having said that, we?ve got a massive challenge as (the Blues) are a great side,? he said.

Mooney will announce his side on Wednesday

I'm actually comparatively serene about this. The Reds cannot find a way to be more inept than they were against the Lions.

 

[Scotty]

I'm serene too. But mainly because I think my Red heart died last weekend. I just can't feel anything at the moment.

 

[RugbyReg]

I'm with you Scotty. And think there are a few of us out there.

 

[TOCC]

what can i say, not only were the Reds a embarrasment to themselves and what the jersey represents, they made a mockery of every fan who had ever defended them.

I have stood by the Reds for years, through the dark years of Eddie Jones and those before him, but this is unexcuseable, Phil Mooney is a good coach, there is enough talent in the squad, players just arent doing there job properly and its disgusting.

What more, there inept attitude and displays of rugby, are going to haunt the Reds in future years, how much have these losses put QLD Rugby back, how many fans have they lost, how many future and current wallabies have they lost to other provinces as a result of there recent form.

Drew Mitchell, Richard Brown, Rocky Elsom? you gotta be kidding me, why the hell would they sign with the Reds when i doubt even the current squad will want to re-sign.

 

[RugbyReg]

Right there with you mate. Go to the QRU web site and there is still the story on the front page saying something like "This one is for the fans". It was pre the Lions game and how the Reds owed it to the fans to win well.

In the future it would be good for the PR department to actually speak to the rugby dept when putting together these 'news' items.

 

[RugbyReg]

oh ok. Great. No fucking changes, disregarding injuries.

Queensland coach Phil Mooney has resisted the urge to make drastic changes to his off-colour Reds for Saturday's Super 14 clash with the Blues at North Harbour Stadium.

Mooney has made three changes to his starting team which fell to a fourth straight defeat with a humiliating 31-20 loss to the lowly Lions at Suncorp Stadium.

All three are injury-related with key duo Daniel Braid (Achilles) and Peter Hynes (knee) ruled out and veteran lock Van Humphries (shoulder) returning to fitness.

Teenager Luke Morahan will make his run-on debut against the fifth-placed Blues in place of winger Hynes while Tasi Luafutu replaces former All Blacks flanker Braid, who had been looking forward to playing his old team.

Adam Byrnes drops back to the bench to make way for Humphries, forcing Leroy Houston to be axed from the 22.

Mooney has stuck with erratic playmaker Quade Cooper at five-eighth despite considering a shift of inside centre Berrick Barnes to first-receiver to better control play.

The second-year coach, who initially forecast changes "across the board", was pleased by his 13th-placed team's reaction to their woeful display last weekend, showing a collective sense of ownership of their performances.

Mark McLinden, Luke Morahan, Digby Ioane, Berrick Barnes, Brando Va'aulu, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ezra Taylor, Tasi Luafutu, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill (capt), Van Humphries, Laurie Weeks, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, Jack Kennedy, Adam Byrnes, Scott Higginbotham, Ben Lucas, Anthony Fainga'a, Charlie Fetoai.

It is our strongest team, on paper, disregarding injuries, but people needed to pay. The attitude stank. I would be happy to lose the game with Fetoai and Fainga'a in the centres, busting a gut, rather than reward the likes of Cooper and co for playing lame.

 

[disco]

he attitude stank. I would be happy to lose the game with Fetoai and Fainga'a in the centres, busting a gut, rather than reward the likes of Cooper and co for playing lame.

I haven'y watched the game & I know I won't, though I usually will watch replays of the Reds losing if they play well but was Cooper really that bad?

I was at the cricket break up so I waited for my Brother to ring me with the result & I was broken when he told me they lost.

My brother lives in vic & is a mad Bombers fan but will watch the Reds & Wallabies & even he asked me about Quade Cooper & how on earth he made a wallaby squad. Was his display up there with the Chiefs game from a few years gone by?

Anyway 2 of our best are out in Hynes & Braid so I'm tipping the blues by 24.

 

[RugbyReg]

nah he wasn't that bad. Two dropped ball (simple dropped balls) from him resulted in tries to the Lions. His kicking was pretty good, but he went missing in the 2nd half when we needed points (confidence low I expect). I seriously was thinking to myself "oh, Cooper must have been replaced" and then he got the ball. He was hiding.

 

[chriscullen]

The reds have a few classy players but too few willing to die for the team, to really give to the cause like the players of past eras did. Nothings really changed in that dept since the big loss to the bulls a couple of seasons ago, plenty of committment promise but no delivery. much like my school reports actually.
Good luck reds fans.

 

[Harfish]

I have to ask, why are any of you surprised? Looking back over the last 5 seasons (including this one) the Reds have won just 14 games, drawn 1 and lost 44!

Over that sort of timeline you have to think the problem isn't personnel but either systemic or cultural.

 

[Ash]

I have to ask, why are any of you surprised? Looking back over the last 5 seasons (including this one) the Reds have won just 14 games, drawn 1 and lost 44!

Over that sort of timeline you have to think the problem isn't personnel but either systemic or cultural.

To be honest, some of the teams the Reds have turned out have been damned average, but others have been worthy of a mid table finish. If you look at the full strength Reds starting side, I would've thought it should finish mid table, but maybe I'm biased.

I tend to agree that there's been problems, either cultural, coaching, management or board (club?) related, but I'm not an insider either. But damned if I know if anything has turned a corner, or looks like it will. I'm not holding out hope right now.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

Blues rest Mealamu...

Captain Keven Mealamu has been rested on the bench among three changes to the Blues' starting team for the Super 14 clash with the Queensland Reds in Auckland on Saturday.

Tom McCartney gets his first Super 14 starting role for the fifth-placed Blues when he takes over as hooker from All Blacks rake Mealamu against the out-of-contention Reds.

Veteran flanker Justin Collins comes back from a hamstring injury to the blindside spot and will also assume the captaincy duties in Mealamu's absence.

Collins' inclusion see a reshuffle in the loose forward trio, with No.8 Jerome Kaino, who has a couple of niggling injuries, going into a bracket on the bench.

The other change is five-eighth Tasesa Lavea's return from a hamstring problem to replace Jimmy Gopperth, who is listed in the reserves.

The make-up of the bench features another comeback from injury, with All Blacks lock Ali Williams having recovered sufficiently from an Achilles complaint.

Blues: Paul Williams, Joe Rokocoko, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Rudi Wulf, Tasesa Lavea, Taniela Moa, Chris Lowrey, Josh Blackie, Justin Collins (capt), Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tony Woodcock. Reserves - Keven Mealamu, Tevita Mailau, Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino/Peter Saili, Grayson Hart, Jimmy Gopperth, Michael Hobbs.

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=805142

No Mealamu, Lavea starting... I smell a Reds ambush!

(Please don't wake me up from my daydreaming)

 

[formeropenside]

Its a shame young Michael Hobbs is not playing for Queensland, but oh well.

 

[cyclopath]

Mealamu, Ali Williams, Kaino, Gopperth (*).
Some fair reserves there.



* Though some might question Gopperth's value

 

[Harfish]

Though some might question Gopperth's value

Some, but I'd take him over Lavea any day of the week. Lavea's been given chance after chance and he's never really lived up to his potential. While you're not likely to see Gopperth in an All Black jersey, he's a solid Super 14 level player.

 

[cyclopath]

Though some might question Gopperth's value

Some, but I'd take him over Lavea any day of the week. Lavea's been given chance after chance and he's never really lived up to his potential. While you're not likely to see Gopperth in an All Black jersey, he's a solid Super 14 level player.

I agree.
Less respect on the NZ boards though.

 

[Scotty]

To be honest, some of the teams the Reds have turned out have been damned average, but others have been worthy of a mid table finish. If you look at the full strength Reds starting side, I would've thought it should finish mid table, but maybe I'm biased.

Part of the reason they are the most frustrating side to support is that they can pull out a big performance, such as almost beating the Saders last year and easily beating the Sharks this year. Not to mention pushing the Bulls and Stormers away from home. Then they go out and put on a poor performance, such as the Lions or Tahs games and get smashed, or lose to an average side.

I can only think it has a lot to do with the youth of the side and maybe some top flight inexperience from the coaching team. I just hope they can keep the squad together for a few years, pick up a couple of good older players and start having consistently improving performances. Unfortunately they are just making it hard for themselves at the moment.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

As a NSWelshman now living here for 16 years - can you see my wry smile. Just being up here listening to them fixes all forms of insomnia, appendicitis, gastric problems, impotence.
I honestly don't think Qld (read Reds/QRU) just don't get it. They have lost the knowledge, the experience and the will.
It is going to take a long long time to fix and it wwill not be fixed with coaching changes. This problem is very very deep rooted.

 

[PhucNgo]

Though some might question Gopperth's value

Some, but I'd take him over Lavea any day of the week. Lavea's been given chance after chance and he's never really lived up to his potential. While you're not likely to see Gopperth in an All Black jersey, he's a solid Super 14 level player.

I'd take John Afoa at 10 over Lavea, anyday. :lmao:

 

[Gagger]

So Houston dropped from the bench?

That was a short career revival