My view from the ground was that those three really stood out as the Reds best. Looked like Tate's best game this year by some margin and he clearly showed the running threat he offers that make him pretty hard to ignore as the bench halfback for the wallabies.
JOC (James O'Connor) is at least in the country and playing. If we want or need an experienced head to help the youngsters coming through, he presently is the one.
Blinkered or rose coloured glasses Reg? I'm thinking he's somewhere in between the two perspectives. At 8 for the Wallabies, he's up agaonst Rob V and despite his undoubted terrific workrate, he just doesn't have the impact of Valetini. But his wide running would be a huge benefit at test level along with his workrate otherwise. I have long held the view, and still do, that he could be the Wallabies No 6. Funny thing though, Reds play Wilson at 8 and Brumbies play Valetini at 6. Arse about I say, and I know many here will raise the old chestnut of numbers on the back being meaningless.
Tate's kicking game was not up to standard last night. Needs to do some work there.
From my perspective at the game, Kalani got to the ruck quickly but took an age to pass, which allowed the Crusaders defence time to reset.
That non-pass was schoolboy stuff - wanting to be the hero and unacceptable at this level. He was pretty ordinary all game and should pay the penalty next week.
Is this true???
He was in everything.
www.tremainfocused.com
Yes I agree on Thomas, very slow which is a disappointment given I thought he had made big strides in recent years. On the plus side though I thought Tate's pass from the ground was at its best last night. He also ran and passed long well which he hasn't done much of in his career.
How ridiculous. Coming back from a broken hand and making a couple of mistakes that others make all the time and you want him out of the team? JOC (James O'Connor) made more mistakes and there were other worse performances, should we just get rid of all of those who had games below their average?
Think that sums up his game perfectly, whether it’s because he feels the ball runners/players are not in position or his decision making is taking too long, I’m not sure, but the pause at the base of an attacking ruck is a constant in his game. You see it when he plays QPR as well. I’ve spent many games watching UQ wishing he would get rid of the ball quicker than he does.
I think this is what has changed since his first season, he was a wrecking ball that almost always got past the defence, even if only by a metre but would then either try to throw a hero pass or lose possession.
Agreed, but there has been no motivation for him to do so thus far, so pretty difficult to imagine that he will.