Stormers vs Queensland Reds @ Newlands - 2011R08

[fatprop]

A fresh centre pairing made up of two "12s", up against one of the centre pairings in thee world, it will be either genius or madness.

I thought Samo's inclusion was about trying to add some size to the backrow in a hope competing with the monsters the Stormers put out

 

[Ruggo]

Ruggo

Anthony played 12 in that test match and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was the 13. But the two key read errors Ant made on defence had nothing to do with his jersey number and unfortunately they resulted in the two Kiwi converted tries. They won 20-10. It is unfair to be judged on his one starting test match but let's keep in mind that there is more to defence than tackling.

It will be a hard ask for him to change positions against a top midfield but you are right in saying that he is a straightener of the line and that will benefit the guys running off him: typically the winger or fullback. But that change, and Harris starting at 12 which he hasn't done for a while, does not make for a good combo on paper, but let's see.

If it works like a charm it wouldn't be the first time we have seen rugby serendipity.

Not doubting you Lee but I thought Barnes lined up at 12 and Ant at 13. I think it is very important to address the issue of holding the ball in two hands as we can straighten and create space hit it means little if we can't get the ball to the man we have just created space for. This is what I think Ant will offer most at 13. Horne is the only regular 13 that does this fundemental basic of the game well and the prime example of it being done perfectly to good effect is Conrad Smith. Digby gave me the pip last weekend when he didn't hold the ball in two hands as during the trial against the Brumbies he set up a fantastic try in the corner in front of where we were standing by doing exactly that.

Anyways as you say, let's wait and see.

 

[Jets]

I'm expecting to see lots of chip kicks and grubbers to turn around the Stormers defence and plenty of runners off the inside shoulders of Quade and Harris. This is where Morahan, Davies and Diggers could find some holes.

 

[Lee Grant]

Ruggo

Digby's instinct is always to run and it is not always the right option. To advertise the run, as you indicate, is even worse. And when he thinks to pass it is often in extremis and the pass is a poor one, or not timely enough for the receiver to do much with it.

That's why I think he should be considered only a winger and especially in test matches, even though he is not the fastest. I thought just before he left the Force that he was getting a more all round game but he seems to have relapsed.

I'd still have him in my team though: he has the X-factor that better footie players lack.

 

[Ruggo]

Great to see posters have a fair dinkum crack at thinking about and proposing some stratagy. Personally I think threads become a good read when this happens.

I noticed that all Kafe could come up with last night is how the Waratahs have relapsed on their early season form. Cracking the Stormers must of been in the too hard basket for him. Personally I think he is overated. I don't say this to piss in anybodies pocket but the the analysis you get on the blog page is much higher quallity.

 

[Jets]

Great to see posters have a fair dinkum crack at thinking about and proposing some stratagy. Personally I think threads become a good read when this happens.

I noticed that all Kafe could come up with last night is how the Waratahs have relapsed on their early season form. Cracking the Stormers must of been in the too hard basket for him. Personally I think he is overated. I don't say this to piss in anybodies pocket but the the analysis you get on the blog page is much higher quallity.

If I have to hear him crap on about how the Brumbies are the greatest thing ever and everyone should be more like them I will neck myself. The Reds tried what the Brumbies are doing now (loosing all their games) a few years ago so they aren't breaking new ground.

So yes a lot of the insight and ideas are great and a breath of fresh air in the rugby media

 

[whatty]

GC who used "cheating" in his hyper link text and everyone else who contributed to DIRTY play such as sneaky punch gouge etc as some Blue Bull players are and then indicating that this is what Keo is saying. Read again.

He is saying the reds will do a Richie and push the boundaries of the ref, simple nothing else and then he calls the Reds smart in been able to do it!

 

[The Mayor of Perth]

Oh dear, this may effect things, lets hope not.....Match Officials.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referee: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

This is not correct (probably from Sully's preview). The SANZAR ref appointments for weeks 5 to 8, of which there have been a few changes but none to Stormers v Reds match, has Chris Pollock as ref and Vinny Munro as AR1 along with Breytenbach (AR2) and Veldsman.

 

[GC]

GC who used "cheating" in his hyper link text and everyone else who contributed to DIRTY play such as sneaky punch gouge etc as some Blue Bull players are and then indicating that this is what Keo is saying. Read again.

He is saying the reds will do a Richie and push the boundaries of the ref, simple nothing else and then he calls the Reds smart in been able to do it!

Complete bull - the article says this:

The Aussies don’t try to meet the physical challenge of the South Africans, because they don’t have the personnel. But what they lack in brawn and bloodymindedness, they compensate for in brains. And this incorporates play that’s illegal as well legal, because at the end of the day the only man who differentiates between the two is the matchday referee.

Intentionally 'incorporating' illegal play via use of brains, as the article claims, is intentionally cheating. That couldn't be clearer.

Just because the article then says that the Reds hope they get away with illegal play by hoping the ref interprets it otherwise doesn't change anything.

If Saint Richie or any other player intentionally plays outside the laws of the game – that’s cheating too.

 

[hench]

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a massive amount of articles about this game?

 

[PaarlBok]

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a massive amount of articles about this game?

Ja look like a 40,000+ match coming at Newlands. A lot of attention in this part of the world for the match.

Sport24

Fired up Reds warn Stormers
2011-04-08 07:30Email | Print

Ewan McKenzie (File)


Stephen Nell

Cape Town - The Reds have signalled their intent to fight fire with fire through the selection of a powerful forward pack for Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Stormers at Newlands.

Coach Ewen McKenzie has also noted the adverse publicity his team has received, with former Reds and Wallaby mentor Eddie Jones writing off their chances in an interview with a local newspaper and the Stormers accusing them of cheating.

"We’ve had the double-whammy," McKenzie was quoted as saying by news agency AAP.

"It’s all over billboards here. But we’re not motivated by that (proving them wrong). We're really motivated by the opportunity."

The Stormers will decide on Friday whether Jean de Villiers will play after he suffered a groin injury on Wednesday.

Backline coach Robbie Fleck said that De Villiers had already felt a lot better on Thursday, but it remains a possibility that Juan de Jongh will start and Johann Sadie will be among the substitutes.

Meanwhile, the Reds have made a number of changes to the side that beat the Lions at the weekend.

It is interesting that 22-year-old James Hanson has been picked ahead of Wallaby hooker Saia Fainga'a and that veteran Radike Samo will start as blindside flank.

"Bringing in James and Radike is a representation of the style of game we are aiming to play against the Stormers, with both more than capable of stepping up against one of the best forward packs in the competition," McKenzie said.

"James has excelled in every challenge put before him this season and we believe his style is best suited to commence the game.

"Our bench has been a major strength for us all season and having the capability of injecting a Wallaby in Saia Fainga'a and key players later in the game should pay dividends."

In other changes up front, Rob Simmons replaces Adam Wallace-Harrison at lock and Ben Daley is in for Greg Holmes at loosehead prop.

The Reds have made a number of changes in their backline. Luke Morahan moves from left wing to fullback in place of Mike Harris, with the latter set to start at inside centre.

Digby Ioane shifts from inside centre to the left wing and Anthony Fainga'a will wear the No 13 jersey.

"One of our main backline strengths is the versatility of many players to play in multiple positions and we believe we have found the right balance for this week," said McKenzie.

Samo has experience of playing lock, is a strong ball-carrier and can also add value in the lineouts. The Reds are an excellent lineout team with a success ratio of 91% in that area.

"We keep working hard at the lineouts because it’s an area where teams do their homework. It’s going to be a good match-up and Andries (Bekker) is one of the best in that department," said Reds captain James Horwill.

Teams:

Reds: 15.Luke Morahan, 14.Rod Davies, 13.Anthony Fainga'a, 12.Mike Harris, 11.Digby Ioane, 10.Quade Cooper, 9.Will Genia, 8.Scott Higginbotham, 7.Beau Robinson, 6.Radike Samo, 5.James Horwill (capt), 4.Rob Simmons, 3.James Slipper, 2.James Hanson, 1.Ben Daley

Substitutes: 16.Saia Fainga'a, 17.Guy Shepherdson, 18.Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19.Leroy Houston, 20.Liam Gill, 21.Ian Prior, 22.Will Chambers

Stormers: 15.Gio Aplon, 14.Danie Poolman, 13.Jaque Fourie, 12.Jean de Villiers, 11.Bryan Habana, 10.Peter Grant, 9.Dewaldt Duvenage, 8.Duane Vermeulen, 7.Francois Louw, 6.Schalk Burger (captain), 5.Andries Bekker, 4.Rynhardt Elstadt, 3.Brok Harris, 2.Deon Fourie, 1.Wicus Blaauw

Substitutes: 16.Ethienne Reynecke, 17.CJ van der Linde, 18.De Kock Steenkamp, 19.Nick Koster, 20.Ricky Januarie, 21.Gary van Aswegen, 22.Juan de Jongh

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Fired-up-Reds-warn-Stormers-20110407

Sport24 is the best place to go if you want to read SA articles.

Cant understand why most go to Keo, I have this small part in my left brain cell , wanting the Stormers to lose just for the arrogant Keo lot to get back in their boxes, but then the first thing they do is attacking the Stormers setup and coaches. Typical Mountain Goat supporters that lot.

 

[PaarlBok]

No, that was the line that the Keo article was running; that the Reds would play dirty and niggle the Stormers so the Stormers would get carded. I'm continuing my slightly facetious digs at the Keo article's logic.

I think that there's certainly been some ill discipline amongst the Australian teams this year but how much of that has been intentional or 'dirty' I think is debatable. Slipper's tackle for one, I think was more just him forgetting to put the other player down properly; which is definitely dangerous but generally the malicious form of those tackles tends to involve some downward drive also.

At least in my mind, I differentiate between recklessly dangerous play and intentionally malicious play. Others may disagree, but for me the latter is 'dirty' and the former 'stupid'. However, you get cards for both of them. That is why I don't entirely buy into counting cards to make an argument about who's dirty.

I was trying to check out some stat websites earlier to see if I could get a breakdown of what people were getting their cards and penalties for, but I couldn't find one that I was happy with so /shrug. But, just from observation, I'd say most of the Aussie cards have been in the 'stupid' category. Unfortunately, I am not committed enough to stay up and watch most of the South African games, so I refrain from comment on theirs for this year.

I'll start athread and keep it going ith the cards detail. Had it in the stats one.

 

[whatty]

Complete bull - the article says this:



Intentionally 'incorporating' illegal play via use of brains, as the article claims, is intentionally cheating. That couldn't be clearer.

Just because the article then says that the Reds hope they get away with illegal play by hoping the ref interprets it otherwise doesn't change anything.

If Saint Richie or any other player intentionally plays outside the laws of the game – that’s cheating too.

Your opinion but a long way from mine.

eg the ref determines who is correct i.e boundaries but if you still see it differently still I might as well shout at a brick wall or the internet.

 

[ChargerWA]

So who is the Ref? Conflicting reports.

In a forward dominated game the ref has much more influence, which this is very likely to be.

Jaco Peyper for mine tends to favour one team. It won't necessarily be the Stormers, it is just as likely to be the Red's. Whoever infinges the first couple of times, Jaco will come down on like a ton of bricks.

 

[REDinCPT]

Ja look like a 40,000+ match coming at Newlands. A lot of attention in this part of the world for the match.

that's bloody impressive for a match against a foreign team and shows how much respect this reds team gets in south africa. it would be great to see these sort of numbers in australia for a foreign super rugby match.

normally there's a lot of chest thumping in cape town leading up to a game like this but this time round the locals seem to be quite subdued. this stormers team is there for the taking. i'm so flippin' excited!!!!

 

[TOCC]

that's bloody impressive for a match against a foreign team and shows how much respect this reds team gets in south africa. it would be great to see these sort of numbers in australia for a foreign super rugby match.

normally there's a lot of chest thumping in cape town leading up to a game like this but this time round the locals seem to be quite subdued. this stormers team is there for the taking. i'm so flippin' excited!!!!

Reds were pulling 30'000 against the stormers and bulls last year..
Interestingly I read the Bulls described as a big 'crowd-puller' in a Australian newspaper the other day, sort of reflects how the competition has matured.

 

[PaarlBok]

that's bloody impressive for a match against a foreign team and shows how much respect this reds team gets in south africa. it would be great to see these sort of numbers in australia for a foreign super rugby match.

normally there's a lot of chest thumping in cape town leading up to a game like this but this time round the locals seem to be quite subdued. this stormers team is there for the taking. i'm so flippin' excited!!!!

Well the Reds is 2nd on the table behind the Stormers. Will only be a Mountain Goater that thump his chest about this one. The Stormers did as good as they can this far. They look like they have learned a bit since making the finals in the CC and S14 in 2010 and beating their opponents at home in 2011. Tomorrow is a home and must win game for us, the Reds well they have double points on offer the way it stands on the log. Hope your excitement change to disappointment after the game. :-X

 

[drewprint]

I'd kill to watch this game, but I can't find anywhere in Paris that's showing it.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

I'd kill to watch this game, but I can't find anywhere in Paris that's showing it.

I'm sure Gagger can point you in the right direction - have a weekend in London!

 

[REDinCPT]

I'm sure Gagger can point you in the right direction - have a weekend in London!

that's a bloody good idea. grab a few 1664's and jump on the eurostar. could even make it a day trip.