Reds V Force Round 2 2012R02

[Bowside]

How good were tapaui's hands? In the wet and receiving passes all over the shop, don't think I saw him drop one all night.

So glad to be proven wrong about taps. I didn't think he was much chop last season but he has improved out of sight.

Harris is a freak, I just wish he had better hands and a nicer pass.

 

[Godfrey]

Did anyone notice how difficult it was for Pocock to speak in the post-match interview (due to being so out of breath). Hard worker, he was everywhere last night.

 

[Tiger]

There was some chatter in shoutbox about whether Digby obstructed Pocock in getting to Taps. I thought it was fine at the time because he was trailer the ball carrier in a position to take the pass so thought it was pretty hard to say he intended to obstruct. Any had any further thoughts on it?

 

[Schadenfreude]

There was some chatter in shoutbox about whether Digby obstructed Pocock in getting to Taps. I thought it was fine at the time because he was trailer the ball carrier in a position to take the pass so thought it was pretty hard to say he intended to obstruct. Any had any further thoughts on it?

That's rugby.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I was also quite pleased when the trainer ran on and Genia gave him the "Get Morahan off the field now" message..

 

[wamberal]

Did anyone notice how difficult it was for Pocock to speak in the post-match interview (due to being so out of breath). Hard worker, he was everywhere last night.

Too many muscles.

 

[Bowside]

Any I also think pocock was easily the best player on the field last night in a losing team.

 

[RedsHappy]

Any I also think pocock was easily the best player on the field last night in a losing team.

Have to argue. A player that kicks, what, 25 points at 100% success rate in rainy, always wet ball conditions from all places in the field, has to be right up there for 'easily the best player'. When people kind of sideline this huge achievement, it just strengthens my conviction as to how underrated high calibre, consistent kicking skills (from place and from hand) are in Australian rugby (and Deans has certainly perpetuated that notion with his approach to Wallaby kicking since 2009). M Steyn and D Carter have time and time again won major games for their provincial and national sides through outstanding kicking rates, indeed the Bulls successful game was largely built around Steyn's capability (and this may be what the Reds will be forced to do this year, btw).

 

[Ruggo]

Great to see Anae get his first start. Tough night at the office but tough conditions also. Good on Link for keeping him on longer to get his confidence up.

BTW he is a big bastard.

 

[redstragic]

I don't want to get too worried about the reds yet. They started slow last year. The backs looked very ordinary till they went to south africa and awesome set in.

Link and the assistant coaches are tough bastards.

Me thinks a rough week in store for the Reds. Rebs will need to bring their a game next weekend.

 

[liquor box]

i think that Sharp has been geting more into cheap shots and fould play for the last 2 years, maybe a sign on old age?

 

[Slim 293]

Just watching some of the replay...

I wonder how Kooga feel about that giant CCC showing through Harris' jersey?

 

[Slim 293]

And for the second week in a row the Force seem more interested in off the ball garbage than playing rugby...

 

[AngrySeahorse]

There was some chatter in shoutbox about whether Digby obstructed Pocock in getting to Taps. I thought it was fine at the time because he was trailer the ball carrier in a position to take the pass so thought it was pretty hard to say he intended to obstruct. Any had any further thoughts on it?

My thoughts at the very beginning was that he was indeed obstructed from making a tackle. The fact that Pocock ran into Digby who was just about right next to Taps tells me Pocock was within range to make a tackle & was denied the opportunity. But for whatever reason the officials decided to let it slide. I find it strange but thats just me & I'm not out there with the whistle myself.

 

[vidiot]

Speaking of exposure, Ma'afu really does give the McDonalds golden arches logo significant screen real estate on his shorts.

The Reds need a good thrashing for motivation. Their half-arsedness early in the second half was abysmal. As Redshappy et al have pointed out, Harris is the wallpaper over their cracks.

Wow, that wasn't the image I was going for.

 

[Bowside]

Have to argue. A player that kicks, what, 25 points at 100% success rate in rainy, always wet ball conditions from all places in the field, has to be right up there for 'easily the best player'. When people kind of sideline this huge achievement, it just strengthens my conviction as to how underrated high calibre, consistent kicking skills (from place and from hand) are in Australian rugby (and Deans has certainly perpetuated that notion with his approach to Wallaby kicking since 2009). M Steyn and D Carter have time and time again won major games for their provincial and national sides through outstanding kicking rates, indeed the Bulls successful game was largely built around Steyn's capability (and this may be what the Reds will be forced to do this year, btw).

Harris no doubt won us the game, but pocock was in everything last night, played a fetching game as well as a linking game and was a damaging ball runner. I dare say with a different ref in charge his impact at the breakdown would have been far more pronounced. (Not bagging out the ref as I think he was making the right calls).

 

[vidiot]

My thoughts at the very beginning was that he was indeed obstructed from making a tackle. The fact that Pocock ran into Digby who was just about right next to Taps tells me Pocock was within range to make a tackle & was denied the opportunity. But for whatever reason the officials decided to let it slide. I find it strange but thats just me & I'm not out there with the whistle myself.

As I understand it, if the player is behind the ball carrier, the test is whether it was intentional, rather than simply was Pocock impeded. Pocock ran into him, but as I saw it Ioane was just running behind/alongside in support.

If he had been running in front of Taps or obviously intentionally deviated into Pococks path it should have been a different story.

 

[Godfrey]

Exactly, digby was perfectly entitled to run that line.

 

[gel]

I didn't think we started last year particularly well, a narrow win against the force followed by a pretty big loss to the tahs.

This years start has been pretty ordinary form wise, but good teams seem to be able to win even when playing poorly. I would like to see us play better of course, but winning is ultimately preferable.

The rain definitely seemed to kill the mood at the game last night, given it started pelting down just as the teams were running on. Ball handling by both sides was terrible, but I enjoyed the game regardless as both sides kept up with some attacking options when the ball was spilt.

I am unconvinced on the standard of referreeing I have seen so far though. Whoever came on last night after Ian Smith went off seemed to be a bit of his depth - possibly the shortest advantage in the history of rugby being offered in the dying moments.

I would really like to see the force with a strong back line. After the reds, they are probably my second favorite team in oz and I would dearly love to see them as a strong team in the future.

 

[cyclopath]

Exactly, digby was perfectly entitled to run that line.

Yeah, if he's running support, he has no obligation to get out of the way, as long as he doesn't deliberately cross to block the defender or make contact. Saw neither of those last night.
Tapuai had no right to score that try though. Freak.