Reds v Sunwolves, Round 13, 21 May 2016

[Ash]

2/3 of the spine of the Reds backline (10, 15) has been very poor in recent weeks. McIntyre too deep again all game, and the odd occasion he does something to set up a play he then forces a mistake, for example a poor pass well behind the man. Gorumaru didn't even look like a 1st grade player in his starts. Pisi was so much better than McIntyre. At least Hunt is back at fullback, looks like McIntyre will get the entire season. Ant at 12 doesn't fit with those guys either. CFS and Nabuli weren't great, but they can't do much with a 10 and 15 that the Reds had today.

edit: to add, can't say how disappointed I have been in Gorumaru. Very talked up, but in game he is just poor - average defence, no desire to run the ball, slow, can't beat a man, very very poor kicking game (including kicking away good attacking ball with poor kicks), no chiming into the backline on attack, doesn't even bother to chase his own kicks.

I'll take the win, but had hoped for a better performance.

Ref was poor, but whatever.

 

[TOCC]

Nabuli hugely over rated.

By who?

He has been good for the Reds this year IMO.
He is up there with Tomane and Kerevi for line breaks and tackle busts, he regularly gets across the advantage line and and defensively he nearly always wins the collision.

 

[Strewthcobber]

2/3 of the spine of the Reds backline (10, 15) has been very poor in recent weeks. McIntyre too deep again all game, and the odd occasion he does something to set up a play he then forces a mistake, for example a poor pass well behind the man. Gorumaru didn't even look like a 1st grade player in his starts. Pisi was so much better than McIntyre. At least Hunt is back at fullback, looks like McIntyre will get the entire season. Ant at 12 doesn't fit with those guys either. CFS and Nabuli weren't great, but they can't do much with a 10 and 15 that the Reds had today.

Another 4 missed tackles for McIntyre this week which is probably why Pisi looked so good.

Unfortunately Jake is comfortably on top of the super Rugby missed tackle count, with 33, 8 ahead of the next worst.

 

[MungoMan]

Even against the Sunwolves defence that let in 92 points against the Cheetahs, the Reds backs couldn't get across the paint.

The Reds backs are execrable and the problems start at (but are not entirely caused by) No.10.

McIntyre has proven himself to be a liability to the team. He stands in a different postcode to Frisby, his notion of directing play is to kick it poorly or pass it in one direction only, and his defence makes Quade Cooper look like Trevor Gillmeister.

Find another 10, any other 10, and a proper assessment of the remainder of the backs will be much easier.

That said, prima facie evidence is that most should be rissoled anyway. Rubbish defence, no attacking capability to speak of.

 

[ChargerWA]

By who?

He has been good for the Reds this year IMO.
He is up there with Tomane and Kerevi for line breaks and tackle busts, he regularly gets across the advantage line and and defensively he nearly always wins the collision.

2015 Tries - 28
2016 Tries - 1

I realise one season is league and one is on the end of a Reds backline, but there was plenty of hype preseason on here and in the media.

 

[TOCC]

2015 Tries - 28
2016 Tries - 1

I realise one season is league and one is on the end of a Reds backline, but there was plenty of hype preseason on here and in the media.

Right so selectively choosing figures from different sports and different tiers of competition is why Nabuli is overrated?

He has played very well up to this point with very little fanfare, I don't see what the issue is... You want to talk over overrated, then there are some of those at the Reds, but Nabuli isn't one of them.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Gorumaru didn't even look like a 1st grade player in his starts.
edit: to add, can't say how disappointed I have been in Gorumaru. Very talked up, but in game he is just poor - average defence, no desire to run the ball, slow, can't beat a man, very very poor kicking game (including kicking away good attacking ball with poor kicks), no chiming into the backline on attack, doesn't even bother to chase his own kicks.

Just gutless. Mailed it in. Living off the fumes of one highlight reel covering tackle in RWC2015.

If he played for the Blues, there'd be livid irate photo essays all up and down this motherfucker, effigies, poisoned sushi supplies, mailed-in war apologies, the works

3rd win at home in a row.

Too scared to lose and have to walk past stone-faced Brad Thorn standing over by the sideline.

 

[TSR]

2015 Tries - 28
2016 Tries - 1

I realise one season is league and one is on the end of a Reds backline, but there was plenty of hype preseason on here and in the media.

I would have thought those stats provide pretty clear evidence that he isn't the problem.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

As does the fact SGI won half their games in 2015 & Reds are currently at 25%.

 

[Tangawizi]

2015 Tries - 28
2016 Tries - 1

I realise one season is league and one is on the end of a Reds backline, but there was plenty of hype preseason on here and in the media.

Eto didn't score 28 tries at the Dragons last year. He scored 28 points so 7 tries.

If it was 28 tries he'd have been in every rep team and no chance of switching to the XV man game. No one has scored 28 tries in an NRL season since the 1950s.

I think he's actually been making solid improvement through most of the season though probably plateaued a bit in the last 2 or 3 weeks.

But you could see he had a rugby background yesterday when he grounded a ball in goal instead of swatting it over the dead ball line and conceding a penalty which most league players seem to do on instinct when they first come across.

 

[HJ Nelson]

Some photos from the game here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100900132@N02/albums/72157668383054201

 

[Sully]

Great pics HJ. Chloe didn't think they would let you in after all the Japanese Snappers turned up.

 

[an observer]

Enjoyed being at the game last night despite it not being an outstanding game of rugby. Atmosphere was great. Kids loved the ninja cheer squad. As an old rugby tragic, am quite liking the growth and development of our young and upcoming Reds. Many of them are no older than 23 and are still developing. Some of these guys playing with my lad some years ago. Am really impressed with Kerevi, Browning and Ready, McIntyre has improved in a backline that needs a lot of work and it was good to see Pai'aua on the field and think he has a lot to offer in the future. I would like to see him play IC off McIntyre, Magnay and Gunn played well when they came on. Would have been good to see Tuttle get a run. Reds are't having a great year - but they are getting better.

Another 4 missed tackles for McIntyre this week which is probably why Pisi looked so good.

Unfortunately Jake is comfortably on top of the super Rugby missed tackle count, with 33, 8 ahead of the next worst.

As an old wannabe rep first five - I believe statements like the above need to be put into perspective. McIntyre may have missed that many tackles (33) - but he has the highest amount of tackles in the side at 83 in 12 games. Since when is your first five the most consistent and relied on defender in a side? How many men are beaten before a first five takes the tackle?

Yes, the attack options haven't been great - but if the defence and ball handling was better up front - we would have a very different game played. Ball handling and ball security is the entire teams issue.

And the sideways play starts with the 9.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights:

 

[ForceFan]

Who did the ruck work against the Sunwolves?

Remember:
1. Early means 1st or 2nd of player’s team AFTER the ball carrier has been tackled and brought to ground.
2. Impact means active engagement: strong physical contact, changed shape of ruck, clean-out, protecting ball etc. (more than hand on someone’s bum or arriving after the hard work has been done). Yes it’s subjective - but as I collect all data at least it’s consistent.
3. Impact DOES NOT equate to Effectiveness. I’ve concluded that coming up with an effectiveness measure is just too hard in the time that I have available – but open to suggestions.

Involvements over time

Best efforts by Backs:
A Fainga'a - 13 Total (11 Attack/2 Defence)

Most Ruck Involvements from Round 13.

As usual the table is dominated by Back Rowers - plus 3 Front Rowers and 3 Locks.

Only 4 players from this list were in the 2015 RWC squad.
If you recall the Wallabies were totally worked over at the breakdown by the ABs in the RWC Final.

 

[Scrubber2050]

I always felt the Reds would win the game but the SW's just kept coming.

McIntyre's defence was poor. Only good thing about Goro is the numbers of Japanese supporters in the crowd. He has been disappointing this year.

Ref made an absolute shit call on Slipper's forward pass.Why not let the play continue and then review it after the try was scored. The replays clearly show that the ball was OK. Just a sub standard performance.

Set pieces were fine and great to watch.

Good to see Quirky back at Suncorp.

Browning going pretty well at 8 and certainly will put Shatzie on notice (on his return)

 

[Simon.]

Interesting how much lower the ruck involvement is for the Reds this week compared with the last two weeks when they were all over the ruck count list.

The Sunwolves really do not do rucks!

 

[Strewthcobber]

Interesting how much lower the ruck involvement is for the Reds this week compared with the last two weeks when they were all over the ruck count list.

The Sunwolves really do not do rucks!

Was really evident wasn't it.

Thought it was funny when at one point the comms said the ball was coming out just to quickly for the SW while in possession.

 

[ForceFan]

Interesting how much lower the ruck involvement is for the Reds this week compared with the last two weeks when they were all over the ruck count list.

The Sunwolves really do not do rucks!

It was the same with the Force the week before.

The Reds have been averaging 278 Total Ruck Involvements (222A/56D) this year.