Reds V Rebels- S15 Rd 3

[Linebacker_41]

Ah Cheerleaders in South Africa. Such a strange country the ladies over there are so proud of their daughters when they become cheerleaders. I have been there a few times and am always amazed at how much of a Man's world that south africa still is today.

Now as for the game I am at a loss to know whether the Reds are just hanging in until the dam breaks and a streak of losses starts or whether they are going to turn the corner and actually open up and play entertaining rugby.

I know I am as frustrated at the lack of yellow cards being issued to opposition teams. Not to say that the Reds are saints but certainly in all 3 games the opposition have been consistently negative in their attempts to slow the ball down. The 3 or 4 penalties by the Rebels prior to the Shipperley try was a good example.

My worry is in Africa the Sharks and Bulls have big enough forwards to slow the ball down legally. Unless the Reds can get some subtlety to their attack I cant see them creating enough anxiety in the Saffa defence to get fast ball.

 

[RedsHappy]

Ok. Thoughts after I have watched the replay...
.....
Shipperly - showed great defence. Rebs learnt the lesson from Tahs though and had him well covered. He did show some great strength along with Beau.
....
QC (Quade Cooper) - Having a lot to say about the tatics. I for one have underestimated his input in the decision making of the team. Potential coach?

....

Re Shipperley. Those who know me can affirm I've been a big fan of Shipps for a couple of years since watching him at my son's club, Brothers in Brisbane. Gnostic and I were blown away at a Brothers' premier grade game last year re just how fast, strong, agile and skilful was this player down the winger's channel. Capacity to bust multiple tackles, getting into just the right spot for high risk long passes to the edge and hold and run them on perfectly (al la last year v Force away), jink like QC (Quade Cooper), and then, highly important, know how to slide in low and/or at the right angle for a try under good defensive pressure just as he did so well on Saturday night (in notable contrast to Morahan who made his last 5 metres' try run keeping up too high and stayed out vs staying in and low just enough to counter Beale's good incursion ....btw, did anyone think KB (Kurtley Beale)'s tackle on Morahan was borderline high?). He will only get better and stronger and is a good-enough defensive player to play 13 if needed. He'll become a top international winger's master class within 2 years.

QC (Quade Cooper). The trade off of no QC (Quade Cooper) and a 90+% kicker and just-OK-enough 10 in Harris was fine as a holding proposition. When Harris has a awful night like last Saturday's and virtually 70% of what he does is either poor (e.g., that shocking opening grubber when it wasn't on or smart) or slow-in-execution and then his kicking was as bad as QC (Quade Cooper)'s worst kicking games ever were, then you have a recipe for utter disaster, which nearly unfolded v Rebels. He looked stressed from the start I thought. Will the ongoing pressure of being a 10 in more big games fold him? Surely Link must play Lucas at 10 in SA.

Re QC (Quade Cooper)'s input to the team. Although the QC (Quade Cooper)-haters won't care, anyone who'd listen to Link would hear him regularly state how what a good 'tactical rugby brain' he found in QC (Quade Cooper) and how invaluable was QC (Quade Cooper)'s general thinking about better and winning tactics v different teams. We clearly miss - as I always thought we would - QC (Quade Cooper)'s incredible all-of-field vision coupled with super-fast decision-making as to where and when to put the bullet long pass perfectly into holes with runners coming onto the ball, the brilliant jinks and evasive lines, and the confident innovativeness he bred into the Reds' backs. We'd have certainly lost around 4 2011 S15 games without QC (Quade Cooper)'s talents in the last 10-15 mins or so, there'd be no trophy without his wonderful skills for the Reds in say 80% of games. Anyone who believes Link's PR lines about doing just fine with no QC (Quade Cooper) is somewhat gullible.

 

[What2040]

we could have touring teams of cheerleaders visit from South Africa along with their Super Rugby team

look a lot better than the rugby boys

maybe"A" has a belly button

 

[wamberal]

Australian rugby in general, and the Reds in particular, need to retain Cooper. The chap is an excitement machine, we do not have very many of those at the moment.

 

[suckerforred]

look a lot better than the rugby boys

maybe"A" has a belly button

In whose eyes?

And yes I think you might be right. On second look. You would have to admit though they look as though they have stepped right out of a porn film.

Back to the Reds

 

[What2040]

So !!!!!!!!!!!! but it certainly looks like a classy one or six.

don't know about the nurses uniforms - bit skanky I suppose but i do like the hats

 

[MrTimms]

No, Peter (?) Timms. Hopefully not our MrTimms, but I don't think so.

No, not me. His name is spelt Timbs. Mine has the correct spelling.

 

[Karl]

Cooper coming back will be a huge boost. The Reds miss him for sure.

 

[liquor box]

Re Shipperley. Those who know me can affirm I've been a big fan of Shipps for a couple of years since watching him at my son's club, Brothers in Brisbane. Gnostic and I were blown away at a Brothers' premier grade game last year re just how fast, strong, agile and skilful was this player down the winger's channel. Capacity to bust multiple tackles, getting into just the right spot for high risk long passes to the edge and hold and run them on perfectly (al la last year v Force away), jink like QC (Quade Cooper), and then, highly important, know how to slide in low and/or at the right angle for a try under good defensive pressure just as he did so well on Saturday night (in notable contrast to Morahan who made his last 5 metres' try run keeping up too high and stayed out vs staying in and low just enough to counter Beale's good incursion ....btw, did anyone think KB (Kurtley Beale)'s tackle on Morahan was borderline high?). He will only get better and stronger and is a good-enough defensive player to play 13 if needed. He'll become a top international winger's master class within 2 years.

QC (Quade Cooper). The trade off of no QC (Quade Cooper) and a 90+% kicker and just-OK-enough 10 in Harris was fine as a holding proposition. When Harris has a awful night like last Saturday's and virtually 70% of what he does is either poor (e.g., that shocking opening grubber when it wasn't on or smart) or slow-in-execution and then his kicking was as bad as QC (Quade Cooper)'s worst kicking games ever were, then you have a recipe for utter disaster, which nearly unfolded v Rebels. He looked stressed from the start I thought. Will the ongoing pressure of being a 10 in more big games fold him? Surely Link must play Lucas at 10 in SA.

Re QC (Quade Cooper)'s input to the team. Although the QC (Quade Cooper)-haters won't care, anyone who'd listen to Link would hear him regularly state how what a good 'tactical rugby brain' he found in QC (Quade Cooper) and how invaluable was QC (Quade Cooper)'s general thinking about better and winning tactics v different teams. We clearly miss - as I always thought we would - QC (Quade Cooper)'s incredible all-of-field vision coupled with super-fast decision-making as to where and when to put the bullet long pass perfectly into holes with runners coming onto the ball, the brilliant jinks and evasive lines, and the confident innovativeness he bred into the Reds' backs. We'd have certainly lost around 4 2011 S15 games without QC (Quade Cooper)'s talents in the last 10-15 mins or so, there'd be no trophy without his wonderful skills for the Reds in say 80% of games. Anyone who believes Link's PR lines about doing just fine with no QC (Quade Cooper) is somewhat gullible.

can Shipperly kick?

 

[Nusadan]

we could have touring teams of cheerleaders visit from South Africa along with their Super Rugby team

Does SA have a 'No Bellybutton' rule?

That's one hospital pass I wouldn't mind receiving...

 

[redstragic]

They should use Mike - his old man is the ground announcer at one of the NRL teams home grounds, and has been for 30 years or something. Its in the blood.

Was Mike the guy from the last few years? He announced the players with some passion and affection and way he screamed like a lunatic "this is our time" when the players ran on really got the crowd going.

 

[Karl]

I don't think Mike has done ground announcements. His Dad Grant does it at Brookvale.