Reds v Cheetahs

[TOCC]

well ive come to the decision, thats its due to a few factors

Broadcast resons, there are 3 games in Australia(east coast) and 2 games in New Zealand this weekend, which means in a broadcast sense that there will be Super14 rugby from 5:30-9:30 on both Fri and Saturday night, hardly room to fit the Reds in.

Also the QLD Roar probably booked Suncorp for the Saturday GF, im assuming the Roar had booked Suncorp in the event they made the A-League GF, which ruled out any Saturday match.

Also having it on Sunday allows the Reds a longer turnaround from the jet lag..

 

[PaarlBok]

Its to upset the Cheetahs. That lot dont like to do sunday sport, thats when they spend in church. :nta: and the jetlag one.

 

[Ash]

I think it's entirely to do with broadcasting, as mentioned by TOCC.

(All times below in EDT - Eastern Daylight Savings Time in Aus.)

5:30pm - 7:30 pm on both days are covered by NZ teams, 7:30pm - 9:30pm on both days are covered by Australian teams.

Normally they'd try to have a Force home match, which starts at 9:30pm and thus they have back to back Aus games - but the draw is a bit screwed up. Only other option is therefore a 3:30pm - 5:30pm game for the Reds, which is really 2:30pm in Queensland as they have no daylight savings. That's too early to have a rugby game for several reasons, the crowd would be lower than normal, even for perhaps the worst team in the comp in Aus, and it would likely be way too hot and humid in Brisbane.

Of course, they perhaps could've tried to shunt the Kiwi game on Saturday earlier and play from 4:30pm (Brisbane time, 5:30pm EDT). No doubt the QRU were more than happy to accept the Sunday game, though.

The jetlag is no doubt a contributing factor in the decision, but no doubt it's also the smallest factor.

The Queensland Roar (soccer team) theory is plausible as well; if they had beaten Melbourne or Adelaide in the last 3 weeks of the comp then they would've finished top of the comp and been favourites for the home final.

But yes, the above is 100% wrong and it's an Australian conspiracy against what is probably the weakest side in the comp.

 

[Scotty]

He's been the most surprisingly impressive player in Australian Rugby for me over the last 12 months.

Surprisingly impressive in that he has so quickly developed into one of our most dangerous players (not just for the Reds, but also the Wallabies), while managing to improve his reliability.

In 6 months time I hope we are saying the same thing about Cooper.

 

[Lindommer]

I hope the Cheetahs don't piss on your lots hopes. The game on Sunday? That's unusual but will help the Reds no end. Wish they can move our first tour matches also to the Sunday to give the players one more day to refresh.

That sounds like a very sensible SOP to me. It would also allow us to enjoy an afternoon game in the sun and would be right up against mungoball on TV. Another thing, Sunday afternoon games would be a good broadcast time in NZ.

Let's start a petition for a couple of Sunday afternoon games each season.

 

[PaarlBok]

Sure make sense specially in winter with all the rain for the 3 Nations.

 

[Biffo]

Cooper MoTM - he'll have a field day against the big Cheetahs pack on a warm and sunny BrisVegas Sunday. If he keeps improving at this rate he'll push Gitts to 12 and leave Beale eating dust.

Your name is spelled incorrectly. In future, please use Phuc'n'Go

 

[PhucNgo]

Cooper MoTM - he'll have a field day against the big Cheetahs pack on a warm and sunny BrisVegas Sunday. If he keeps improving at this rate he'll push Gitts to 12 and leave Beale eating dust.

Your name is spelled incorrectly. In future, please use Phuc'n'Go

That's pretty funny coming from a marsupial. Shoots, leaves etc.. But seriously, if this guy stops having brain spasms, he'll be huge.

 

[Ash]

10 minutes in, Reds have ripped holes in the Cheetahs and have had all the territory, but the Cheetahs are up 3 - 0. Cheetahs have good scrambling defence so far. If they start to tire though, it's danger signs. Line breaks galore from the Reds - Cooper and Barnes and McLinden running freely.

Cooper in particular has been dangerous - then he drops the ball just 20m out.

Reds have had some decent support play and short passing game so far as well.

McLinden finds another hole and the Reds earn a penalty.

Lucas has shocker with his attempt. 3 - 0 Cheetahs after 13.

 

[Ash]

Cheetahs with some ball after a sneaky 22. Then a poor pass on the ground gives a man a hole, but the Cheetahs knock on.

Cheetahs looking a bit more alert in defence, but they fluff a lineout on their 22 under pressure from the Reds.

Reds scrum looking solid just 20m from the Cheetahs line. Lucas picks up, passes - straight into the Cheetahs half lurking well offside. Reds go for the lineout, crowd cheers.

Reds forwards getting forced back by the Cheetahs rush defence and the Cheetahs turn it over. Reds just couldn't get quick ball.

Cheetahs kick chase is better, but Reds still flinging it wide and looking dangerous, but Cheetahs defence dominant on the Reds forwards. Cooper kicking well to the corner.

3 - 0 Cheetahs, 18 gone. Territory still all Reds.

 

[Ash]

Confusion as the Cheetahs hooker goes down injured while waiting for him to throw 5m from the Cheetahs' line.

He's back up after a long break. Comments from the commentators that Cheetahs taking injury breaks is cynical play.

Hynes scythes through, wide pass to Va'aulu, and he drops it cold with Ioane unmarked outside of him. Blown try. I can hear Noddy calling for Connor to come on already!

You can feel that if the Cheetahs get more points against the run of play Reds will be in trouble.

Reds get another penalty for in through the side after a half break from McLinden. Cheetahs are watching him more closely now - and again the Reds take the lineout rather than the kick for goal.

Higgenbottham puts down an inside ball 10m out. Nothing really coming to conclusion for the Reds right now.

3 - 0 Cheetahs, 22 gone. Exciting game so far, but all Reds failing to score.

 

[Ash]

Reds scrum looking surprisingly solid. Had expected Cheetahs to dominate there.

Cheetahs try running for their 22m line, Julies grubbers but the TJ rules he was out. Cheetahs sweating on the Reds inside ball as the Reds knock on.

Cheetahs get a warning for ruck infringements. It's going to full arm next. Cheetahs looking tired, and have missed 17 tackles already! Worrying for the Reds, they've missed 4 or 5 but have had all the ball.

Reds ruck protection bit better, still not great. Good enough to hold onto the ball.

Reds spread it wide, nice offloads, small pops, Weekes to McLinden, who steps back inside to run past two Cheetahs, and he runs it back under the post. It was coming.

Lucas converts.

7 - 3 to the Reds, 27 gone.

Bosman is down in back play.

 

[Ash]

Cheetahs with some rare ball but they insist on kicking. They are in for a flogging if they continue this. Reds meanwhile try to run from everywhere, and the Cheetahs win a half arm 25m from the Reds line.

And the Cheetahs slow it right up. Both teams look to be struggling in the heat, but the Cheetahs look a little worse right now.

Lucas has been looking much more sharp.

Reds turn it over thanks to a big counter ruck from 3M 25m out from their line. Huge kick from Barnes stops 1m from the Cheetahs' tryline. Stuff start to go worse for the Cheetahs, better for the Reds.

7 - 3 Redsmafter 30m.

 

[Ash]

Reds playing ping-pong rugby and a ripping the Cheetahs apart. Weekes drops the ball just 5m from the Cheetahs line and bombs another try.

Cheetahs fluff a kick from outside their 22 and it goes all the way back.

Reds showing little respect for the Cheetahs now and flinging it wide constantly. Barnes chips through from 12m out but Cooper gets called back for being offside and the Cheetahs clear. Wasted ball from Barnes.

Cheetahs still handing the ball straight back to the Reds every time they get it. Reds starting to drop the ball a bit as well now.

7 - 3 Reds, 33m gone.

 

[Ash]

Another long break as another of the Cheetahs is down. They are struggling.

Reds get a tighthead off a Cheetahs scrum 25m from the Cheetahs line. Cheetahs in disarray. Reds go wide, McLinden throws it wide but Va'aulu has over run it. Greg Martin is right - he over ran it and is at fault and blew yet another Reds try. Jeez, Cheetahs can count themselves lucky. Reds should be well up.

Houston drops a sitter midfield. It's all getting rather sloppy now from both teams.

7 - 3 Reds, 35 gone.

 

[Ash]

Hynes with a screamer of a tackle and the Cheetahs drop the ball. Again.

Then Cooper with some magic, and Houston drops the ball. Again. For the 3rd time.

Julies with a nice run on the counter, and Bosman in a huge amount of space but blows it massively and throws it 2m forward.

Messy from Houston to Lucas and Cheetahs get a turnover from the Reds scrum.

7 - 3 Reds, 37 gone. And it's turned into a mistake-a-thon in the last 7 minutes.

 

[Ash]

Cheetahs knock it on after some slightly promising play.

Jeez, the Cheetahs 15 has a huge boot, and kicks it from his 22 to the Reds, and gets it into touch on the full.

Reds knock on there own lineout under pressure from the Cheetahs, and the Cheetahs get a scrum.

Cheetahs look very dangerous, 5m out, siren gone. They looked like they were over the line, but the Cheetahs threw it away and blow a try.

Halftime, Reds up 7 - 3. They should be up by a LOT more. But, the Cheetahs somehow scrambled well enough and the Reds blew enough to stay in touch. Then the Cheetahs nearly stole one of the most undeserved leads you ever would've seen on half time.

The Reds are there own worst enemies right now and need to come out with better execution.

The Cheetahs are a rabble and need to come out like it's a completely new game.

 

[cyclopath]

Weekes, Houston and Va'aulu must have 8-9 handling errors between the 3 of them. If Weekes is going to play seagull like Sharpie, at least learn how to catch the ball. 2 tries bombed there due to lack of simple skills.
If the Reds don't win this by plenty, there is something seriously wrong.
Man this is frustrating to watch.

 

[PaarlBok]

Geez the Reds play kak tag rugby in the first half. The Cheetahs very unlucky not score towards the end. The ref also do everything in his power to be kak but there you go. Can the Cheetahs get back in this one.

 

[Ash]

No changes at half time.

Ioane pinches the ball mid tackle and, surprise surprise, the Reds go wide. The Cheetahs continue to miss first up tackles everywhere.

Adriaan Strauss a mile offside, tackles the half back from the ruck. Barnes misses the droppy from the advantage. Reds take the points in front of the sticks. Lucas kicks it.

10 - 3 Reds, 43 gone.