Oracle83
Bill McLean (32)
Stewart or Creighton?
Creighton - I highly rate Stewart
Stewart or Creighton?
True - but ii think that is why we have to temper expectations for a first year coaching team. New structures and better execution around breakdown do take some tine to bed down.
Creighton - I highly rate Stewart
It shouldn’t be - but I read recently that the 5 Australian teams were all in the bottom 6 for winning their own ruck ball, so it seems like it is.This is where Australian coaching has fallen down.
Fair enough new coach, new gameplan, player alignment etc. but it shouldn’t be his job to re-train players how to be effective at a breakdown, a core skill of our game.
This squad has been together as a core group for a long time. I mentioned in the Reds general thread that I feel we are lacking some additional key support in the backs. Kiss should be given some breathing room but a few of these players need to aim up or be moved aside.
Never miss an opportunity.That has always been the case Wilson, but this year most sides are going in with close to their top side at the start. I would start to feel uneasy if the top side was being beaten even in trials. Not so much a comment on the Reds who only went down by a point, but not a good sign say for the RA Tahs who seem to have had the cleaners put through them by the Rebels.
And they wonder why their team is so unpopular.Never miss an opportunity.
What’s the fans got to do with the team? I’m bloody niceAnd they wonder why their team is so unpopular.
Aren't they all?They love mentioning any force player who is from NSW or Qld lol
Just read through the entire thread and I think most saw the game pretty similarly. Watched it last night and for what’s its worth….
Counter thoughts:
Stewart found holes around Paisami? What about Creighton and the loose forwards? Seems odd to single Paisami. Stewart though was very good.
+1 on Werchon.
I think you are being a tad tough on both Anstee and Harris. If I were primarily a Force fan I'd be getting very excited about Anstee in particular.
Agree with all of this. A couple of my observations:Few more thoughts from the ground yesterday:
- Aside from a good late play Creighton was disappointing. He'll likely get more time next week and hopefully turns it around, but I'd be leaning to Lynagh for his control for round 1.
- Aubrey doesn't really look to have progressed from last year, I know I've said it before but I think he really needs a stint in 7s or failing that a pro(ish) comp at a level between super and club - NPC in the off season or maybe MLR/Japan.
- Along with Tate, Werchon looked very good in his brief stint. Didn't see as much from Kalani but he was great against Saitama last year. Very happy with our options at 9.
- Scrum was an absolute monster, particularly once Hodgman came on, need to see it against more sides to really know, but given it was a problem area for much of last year it's comforting to see that improvement.
- Lineout went well, particularly considering we were running a two hookers on the bench that are no higher than 4th string and likely won't get many minutes there this season. I don't remember the Force getting too much in the way of clean ball from theirs either, but given there were no screens at Ballymore I didn't have the best view of all of them.
- Petaia was a bit rusty but still had plenty to show - that 50/22 was fantastic. That said I still think Campbell was the better option at 15 and having him there as a playmaking option might have helped Creighton find his feet early on. Off the back of this game I'd be looking at a back 3 with Flook and Petaia on the wings and Campbell at fullback. Vunivalu could definitely push his way in given his attributes, but he was way too inaccurate yesterday.
- I thought Paisami was running with aggression, force and fair bit of sting. Defence needs work, but new coaches and new systems will require that and he looks absolutely up for it this year. I'd be leaning towards him at 13 with O'Connor coming in at 12 assuming he's good for game one (and to help out our young 10s). If not it does become a bit of a toss up between Henry at 12 or sliding Pasisami and Flook in one.
- New stand is a winner and the vibes from the crowd were great, even in uncomfortably hot conditions. Can't wait for them to get the eastern stand redone. Most of our group are already talking about getting back in March for the Super W.
Finally, it was fantastic to see Vest take the field again after his injury last year. Love that Kiss gave him the captaincy for the end of the game too.
Donaldson was not bad at all and the change will probably suit him well this year. As much as he had an ordinary season for the tahs last year, part of that was his form dipping at the same time as Gordon's and that connection really falling apart. Getting to reset and having a stronger set of halfbacks feeding him should give him the best opportunity to step up. He's still got to fight to hang onto that starting 10 jersey, but he's looking more confident in himself at the Force.Agree with all of this. A couple of my observations:
- For the Force I thought Ben Donaldson looked really good (new coach?), Stewart too
- How good were the 2-3 times Paisami ran straight at Anstee and bumped him off
- Hodgman really looks like a good team man, I saw plenty of him getting around the boys pre/during/post game
Couldn’t agree more re Donaldson. To be fair, I don’t think the Waratahs very structured game plan and insistence on playing off a dominant 9 (Gordon) to their forwards helped Donaldson or Edmed get early touches and much front foot ball. Probably affected their confidence early on and it carried on throughout the season. Plus chopping and changing from 15 to 10 probably wouldn’t have helped. The Force’s backline combinations during the first 30min stanza looked very cohesive and fluent. Good signs early on. And considering the Reds had the majority of possession, it was a gutsy win.Donaldson was not bad at all and the change will probably suit him well this year. As much as he had an ordinary season for the tahs last year, part of that was his form dipping at the same time as Gordon's and that connection really falling apart. Getting to reset and having a stronger set of halfbacks feeding him should give him the best opportunity to step up. He's still got to fight to hang onto that starting 10 jersey, but he's looking more confident in himself at the Force.
From all the media I've seen Hodgman (and Toomaga-Allen) look to have bought plenty to the team off the field in addition to what they offer on it. Really good to get that experience coming in in key positions where we were so depleted last year.
I agree with most of your thoughts but the lineouts close to the tryline were not great - I think 3 of 4 throws went over the back and let the force off the hook. The 4th throw was to 2 in the lineout.Few more thoughts from the ground yesterday:
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- Lineout went well, particularly considering we were running a two hookers on the bench that are no higher than 4th string and likely won't get many minutes there this season. I don't remember the Force getting too much in the way of clean ball from theirs either, but given there were no screens at Ballymore I didn't have the best view of all of them.