Reds v. Crusaders, May 29th, Suncorp - 2011R15

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Neh, I go with a lot of people to every game ( There was 30 of us at the blues), most would only watch a total of 35 mins of the game.

The chicks think it's funny when I go crazy when we score though...

That all said, everyone watched a lot of that blues game come to think of it, was pretty damn exciting

I think the whole bandwagonning thing is so true, and that's why clubs strive for membership - so even if things go so shit faced that no one turns up you still get a lot of revenue. Everyone loves a winner...

This happened when I saw the Wallabies play Scotland in the quarter final of the WC. Many were there just as a social event and would not bloody well sit down. Idiots!

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Collingwood supporters can't support anyone else - their ankle bracelets restrict such movement.
(Qualifier - when I lived in Melbourne I was taught about Collingwood by a Carlton supporter so may be biased)

Your Carlton friend is unusually wise for a Blubagger.

 

[biggsy]

impressed with coopers kicking against the Blue, and Im sure Mckenzie has a few plans to get Sonny off loads under control.
Cant wait be there,but not happy with Sunday. no work monday for me

 

[disco]

SBW will always offload no matter how many defenders you send at him just work on hitting him low 1 on 1 & then defending his support. The Reds did a very good job on Ranger, Rockococo & McAlistair last week who are all very dangerous players as well.

The Reds just have to make the saders work in defence & play to our strengths instead of getting wrapped up in theirs.

 

[TOCC]

Yeah Sonny is going to offload no matter what, the Reds dont have physical enough players to go for a ball and all tackle, the key will be ensuring that the players are aware of the impending offload and to make any covering tackles necessary.

Im gonna go out there and say a quick rushing defence will probably be used, if you can shut down SBW or at least force him to offload before he reaches the advantage line, then at least you have a better chance of the covering defence sweeping across and supporting.

 

[RugbyReg]

I think Ant's take out the ankles approach will be pretty damn effective with Sonny. Get him off his feet ASAP.

I do like the quote of a Super coach somewhere (although I also saw it attributed to a leaguie) that you needed three players to defend against SBW. The first to go low, the 2nd to go in to lock up the ball and the third to chase after the player he's off loaded to anyway.

 

[I like to watch]

You cant take his ankles out front on, and stop him at the point of contact.So then the offload comes back in play doesn't it?

 

[Tangawizi]

Ticket Sales are tracking well at this stage.

http://www.redsrugby.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/3118/Default.aspx

Reds on track to break crowd record against Crusaders


By Media Unit

Sportography Image
The St.George Reds are on track to break the Australian Super Rugby attendance record with 30,000 seats already sold just under a fortnight out from their heavyweight encounter against the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium.

The Reds are tracking towards the record of 42,237 they set back in 2004 with 30,000 seats already issued through ticket sales and memberships.

By comparison, the number of tickets issued in two of the biggest drawcard matches at Suncorp Stadium against the Waratahs in round 10 and Blues in round 13 were 42,000 and 35,000 respectively, putting the average tickets sold for Reds games this season above 30,000.

The record attendance figure was set at Suncorp Stadium in 2004 against the Waratahs, a match won by the Reds 23-7.

“Our fans are on track to make our game against the Crusaders a historic affair and I’m thrilled to see so many people getting in early and buying tickets,” head coach Ewen McKenzie said.

“Both teams are stacked with Test representatives, and if the six home games we’ve played already this season are anything to go by, this is a game you won’t want to miss.

“While we’re still a fortnight away, I urge fans to purchase tickets now. Nothing lifts the team more than hearing our crowd and the atmosphere at our games this season has been simply phenomenal.”

The Reds currently own the record Australian attendance figure for 2011 in their hoodoo breaking 19-15 win over the Waratahs and are now hoping the allure of All Blacks Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, along with Sonny Bill Williams, attracts the biggest rugby crowd in Australia since the game turned professional in 1996.

The Reds are enjoying a historic 11-game winning streak at Suncorp Stadium with their last loss at the venue coming in round one last year.

Fittingly, the current unbeaten streak began with a thrilling 41-20 victory over the Crusaders, in a match Quade Cooper scored 31 points, a record for the highest number of points scored by a Reds player in Super Rugby history.

Make sure you don’t miss this blockbuster encounter by purchasing your tickets now through Ticketek.com.

 

[RedsHappy]

Ticket Sales are tracking well at this stage.

http://www.redsrugby.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/3118/Default.aspx

That is excellent news!

 

[TOCC]

pretty devastated i wont be at this game to see it..

 

[Tiger]

Interesting that those stats are about "tickets sold" and "tickets issued" rather than "attendance". ie, they are counting all members as attending and all boxes as full!

 

[Ruggo]

SBW will always offload no matter how many defenders you send at him just work on hitting him low 1 on 1 & then defending his support. The Reds did a very good job on Ranger, Rockococo & McAlistair last week who are all very dangerous players as well.

The Reds just have to make the saders work in defence & play to our strengths instead of getting wrapped up in theirs.

I think who he is offloading too is a big part of the equation. It was not as effective against the Cheetahs without Fruen outside him. I would also like to see big forwards run at his channel to attempt to tire him. The forwards battle comes before this though.

 

[Set piece magic]

It mentions the tickets sold v attendance relationship though. 35000 tickets sold for blues = 30000 fans rocking up, 42000 = 36000 for waratahs. Those are both on 85% conversion from sold into attendance meaning that to get 43000 fans they need to sell 50000 tickets. I think it should get there. However this model probably won't apply for this blockbuster which should see all members rocking up, prepaid buyers etc. There are not millions of people gone for easter and it's not a friday night. There will be a few missing because of Sunday arvo, but I highly doubt it would be more than 3000 or so...

I'm going to call the crowd now and say 48000.

 

[Ignoto]

Surely with there being an actual pre-game (albeit between two, not so amazing Rugby Schools), that there should be a high attendance. I would daresay that if the QRU haven't given cheap tickets or even free tickets to the game to the schools for their supporters that they should take a big look at themselves.

From memory, BBC have touted the Sunday as an Old Boys day, so while that in itself wont draw that many extras who wouldnt have attended, there are a lot of other events helping out the QRU to fill the stadium!

 

[Gnostic]

Last week I was very impressed by the tactics Link came up with to negate the dangerous runners of the Blues namely Ranger and Rocks. The fast defence and excellent kick execution denied them any front foot ball.

The Crusaders challenge will be very different especially so now Dagg is out along with Maitland and Whitelock. The Saders attack will be rejigged to what we have seen up to this point. IMO they may well focus more around their backrow linking and look for SBW and Fruen to be positioned to the wings on attack, both have the pace and power to trouble the Reds on the wings.

 

[Ali's Choice]

Last week I was very impressed by the tactics Link came up with to negate the dangerous runners of the Blues namely Ranger and Rocks. The fast defence and excellent kick execution denied them any front foot ball.

The Crusaders challenge will be very different e

The Crusaders should be tougher up front, but with Dagg and Maitland gone for the season, they lack the dynamism and pace they had in their backs earlier in the season.

 

[Gnostic]

Sorry AC, touch pad on this laptop makes typing a pain. fixed my post you quoted.

 

[Set piece magic]

Yes BBC are having an old boys day that weekend on the saturday night and then the game on sunday arvo, my brother is going. Not sure how many tickets they bought but I would say with a lot of people from school going plus all the old boys it would be ~500? maybe a little less. Point is all these little things add up and add interest.

My dad is coming, and he only goes to the real big games (wallabies) so that would be a good indicator that a big crowd will show up.

Also can I have some help from some GAGR's here

I want to go with about 15 people or so, sit togethor, normally we just all bring cash to the game and buy tickets at the door but I doubt that's going to happen, Ticketek seems to limit the number to 10, I can't find the reds anywhere on group bookings...

Is it possible to just head on into Brisvegus Ticketek office (physically) and buy them there a week before the game? Any Advide? Cheers guys

 

[Tangawizi]

Is it possible to just head on into Brisvegus Ticketek office (physically) and buy them there a week before the game? Any Advide? Cheers guys

Yeah, I would head into a Ticketek Office ASAP to try and book in a group that size. With so many tickets already sold, unless you want to end up on the top level, you'd better get moving.

Actually, another option to do it via the web would be to go in and order 8 tickets on your first go, click on the "select more tickets" option and pick another 7. If they're not together, then hit "select more tickets" again and pump 8 back in. You can get up to 10 offers so you just need 2 of them to be together.

I just tested this out for you and and currently looking at 15 consecutive seats in section 513 so it can be done. I needed to do the "Select more tickets" thing twice though with orders of 8 tix, then 7, then 8. Good luck!

 

[RedsHappy]

Yeah, I would head into a Ticketek Office ASAP to try and book in a group that size.....I just tested this out for you and and currently looking at 15 consecutive seats in section 513 so it can be done.....

My quick check on seat availability indicates the left-for-sale seats are reducing quite fast. I like that, this could be big, very big!!. And people buying now will come. I remember the last BC at Suncorp though, the Kiwi contingent level amazed me, and for sure ardent Cru fans will come from NZ for a warm weekend of Gold Coast and rugby.

(On a much sadder note, there's not a week goes by without someone here in Brisbane telling me of a Kiwi they know who's settling in SE QLD as the recent traumas in Christchurch have tipped them to leave for these parts.)