S15 - Rebels V Reds

[Scotty]

I don't know whether this has already been answered, but was Quade going off because of injury? Precautionary? Or just giving him a spell?

Precautionary, but a bit early from link in my view. Might not wanted to have risked him after the cool down at half time.

 

[redstragic]

Agree Harris was very good and showed what having a ball playing centre who can also make tackles can do for a team.

Anyone who forgot how much cooper can influence a game just got a reminder. Cooper stays on and reds win by 40, instead they scrape in for a 4th try and win by 15.

I really like how he is underplaying his hand and coming back slowly but still managing to have a huge impact on games. Two try saving tackles tonight as well plus another very strong tackle on a rebs lock.

The play he put AWH in with was a highlight. Although being a former hooker, taking a tight head then standing up in time to see the winger go over in the corner would have to be the most sublime feeling in rugby.

 

[Mr Doug]

Don't abc digital radio cover all the s15?

No digital reception on the GC!

 

[barbarian]

First game I have ever thought to myself 'Jeez Simmons is having a belter'. Wouldn't mind seeing the stats but on first viewing I thought he was everywhere. Shame Pyle went off early, but Simmons certainly taught Neville a lesson in second row play.

 

[Sully]

First game I have ever thought to myself 'Jeez Simmons is having a belter'. Wouldn't mind seeing the stats but on first viewing I thought he was everywhere. Shame Pyle went off early, but Simmons certainly taught Neville a lesson in second row play.

Actually wondered myself how many Metres he ran with the ball tonight.

 

[Scotty]

Some pretty poor tackle attempts on him though. Did work hard, but always seems to be running in slow motion!

 

[ACR]

JOC (James O'Connor) at 1/2 time probably not keen to be interviewed. I'm sure he's got the hair dryer waiting for him in the change room to fix his hair up. In all seriousness I thought JOC (James O'Connor) had a pretty good 1/2 given he's coming back from a bad injury.

Very disappointed with the Rebels. Hopefully they step it up 2nd 1/2 so we've got a game on our hands.

Just saw one of the newer Swisse ad's - my dear lord, lol.

 

[Braveheart81]

It is possibly the worst haircut I've seen on an Australian rugby player. It's worse than the Giteau/Henjak dye jobs they used to wear due to the fact that O'Connor clearly thinks it is trendy.

 

[Brumby Jack]

EXCLUSIVE:
Artists impression of James O'Connor during the warm up:

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

JOC (James O'Connor) really does himself no favours does he! A great footballer he might be, but just comes across as being a giant dickhead at times.

 

[Brumby Jack]

A great footballer he might be, but just comes across as being a giant dickhead at times.

Haha TBH. You missed your calling as a top diplomat. K Rudd has nothing on you.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Haha TBH. You missed your calling as a top diplomat. K Rudd has nothing on you.

One does one's best, BJ.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Looking at that artists impression it is no wonder he did a hammy.

Jokes aside I'm a fan of JOC (James O'Connor). We need players of all kinds of characters. We need some cocky upstarts as much as we need down-to-earth knock about players - as long as the team is cohesive. I like that we have a player with his kind of confidence with the skills to back it up. It makes me look forward to seeing him develop over the years.

You have to take the good with the bad - I'm sure he will continue to give us plenty of things to cringe about over the course of his playing career.

 

[tigerland12]

Good result, not great but 5 points in the bag. Cooper and Simmons our two best with Harris and Shipperely having strong games. Step closer to finals now.

Also congratulations to Easts Blake Enever for making his debut tonight, well done champ, did not look out of place.

 

[Groucho]

Oh so that makes the Reds top of the conference..

Only because the Brumbies haven't played.

 

[ChargerWA]

Don't worry, Force will sort that tomorrow night.

 

[Slim 293]

Don't worry, Force will sort that tomorrow night.

But the Brumbies only require one competition point to regain top of the conference, and they haven't gone a single round this year without gaining a competition point....... which is actually pretty impressive.......

 

[Athilnaur]

Simmons a stand out. I still don't think that was 100% from him, but he was damn good at 90, for Wallabies sake I hope he can grow from that, personally I doubt it. Even so a shoe in for the tests on the back of that damn fine performance.

Cooper was sweet. Smart, well timed, in control. As I feared he was the Rebels nemesis tonight, not that we made it hard, yet again our D was appalling.

Rebel wise I won't name names but unlucky start, some of which was down to excellent Reds D. Speaking generally our back row withered on the vine in my view and the only two players I will praise tho others deserve some, is Gerrardo and Huxley. Huxleey should take some great confidence into his os xp.

Nice all round game from Harris, I think he has grown from his june experience Rebels wise Vuna did the same, kudos.

Finally Stirlo - Thank You for every moment of pure joy you have given me.

 

[The Big Code]

Echoing the thoughts from earlier on in this thread, thank God for that!

I was worried before the match with both teams coming off the break and the Rebels having JOC (James O'Connor) and KB (Kurtley Beale) back, and the emotion around Stirling and The Huxtable Police's final games on Aussie soil. But after a solid start for the Rebels, the Reds got into their stride and dominated the first half.

What a difference QC (Quade Cooper) going off made though in the second half. I am not sure why he was taken off, they must have some concern about his knee because usually you would be wanting to get as much game time back as possible, as long as the knee is structurally sound (and if it isn't he shouldn't be playing). I'd be keen to know if he is playing with some discomfort. Anyway, the Reds totally lacked the direction and structure that QC (Quade Cooper) gave them in the first half until the last 10 or 15 mins when Genia realised he had to take control. Then they looked good again and deserved the BPT that I thought would never come.

I was worried again in the second half when the Rebels got on a roll and KB (Kurtley Beale) and JOC (James O'Connor) looked like they were going to really turn it on. But then unluckily for the Rebels JOC (James O'Connor) got hurt and it was game over. A real shame, it would have been great to see him and the Rebels finish the season strongly leading up into the Rugby Championship.

Some notes:

• I thought the Reds forwards were generally pretty good. Simmons had his best game for a long time, AWH stepped up into Horwill's shoes well and Holmes had an absolute cracker. If he keeps playing like that could be looking at a recall for the Wallabies. Schatz worked really hard as usual and Robinson made a big difference when he came on. The tandem act with Gill is working really well.
• Harris looked dangerous playing outside QC (Quade Cooper), and A.Fainga'a passed the ball in the lead up to that great try by Shipperly! Amazing.
• Morahan's defence has improved out of sight. He made some really nice front on tackles and is really improving as a footballer.
• Chris F'Sautia is going to be one hell of a player on these limited showings. Big and fast and good skills. He might be Digby 2.0 - same size and speed but with silky ball skills!
• Pickle Frisby is one hell of a player. He is a halfback but played all over the shop for the U20s in South Africa and has mainly played on the wing coming off the bench for the Reds this year. That try he scored was a real wingers try - pretty special from a halfback!
• Cooper Vuna is the great myth of Australian rugby. In fact his new nickname can be 'The Myth' - Shipperly ran all around him and showed why he would have been the better pick for Australia. That being said, when the Rebels started using Vuna in the midfield ala Diggers in the second half he made some strong runs. But he just seems a very limited player. Maybe why Deans likes him as he seems to put a lot of stock in limited players...
• The Rebels still suffer from a lack of consistency, which is to be expected from a young side. They will really miss big Stirling next year and the Delve signing is huge. They need to sign some more leaders and hardworkers to do the hard stuff to let JOC (James O'Connor) and KB (Kurtley Beale) shine.
• Also, Quade was very lucky the Rebels didn't score before half time after his cross field kick to Simmons inside his own 22m and after the hooter really could have been a turning point. Luckily the Reds defence held out. I know that kind of thing is why we love Quade, but Simmons wasn't exactly going to run the length of the field and score a try, and when you are up by plenty surely taking half time is the best option...

 

[liquor box]

I was really happy with quite a few things, AWH was great, especially considering the lack of minutes at this level this year, Simmons showed his skills tonight, I always think if he has a "star" player with him in the second row he try to take a junior position, now he has some responsibility he is going well.

The highlight for me was the Harris, Morahan and Spipperly combination. It seems to really gel tonight and looks like it could become something quite dangerous, especially when they learn to pass in front of the body and not at the body.

Relieved to see Cooper not injured, and very happy to see no strapping on the knee, this is always a good sign.

I really like Genias passion, and reaction to stupid mistakes, he should be captain all the time in my opinion, I know most will want Horwill, but I like Genia more and Horwill can be a forwards captain to fire them up as required. Luckily we have two great leaders in the squad.

I thought Higgers and Gill had their quietest games in a while, it is nice to get a bonus point win with players like this with room to improve.

I thought Saiaa was good tonight, his throwing seemed pretty good from memory.