The Reds run in April

[something]

fair to say this will be the backline?
9. Genia
10. Cooper (defensive 15)
11. Ioane
12 & 13. Taps & Finger
14. Shipperly
15. Lucas (defensive 10)

in my opinion i think Link should go with 3 backs on the bench
Frisby, Harris & Davies
It's looking good if that is the case. 3 utility backs on the bench.

Morahan, Lane & Toua missing out tho

 

[tigerland12]

Read on Foxsports that Quade is expecting to play in one of the games in NZ

 

[RedsHappy]

I have been very disappointed with Davies return. He was better this week, but still well down on his form of last year. He has appeared very hesitant to go into contact strongly, even stopped and backing slowly into the tackle like a backrower setting for a maul without any pigs near him for such a move. Is it possible given the injury crisis that he has come back unfit for duty?

RH - I am not sure that Harris is the right fit for 13. As with Morty in his dotage I don't feel Harris has the pace or agility to defend in the 13 channel. As good as Lane was on the weekend Harris would have to go back to 10 and Lane to the bench or Lane could start and Harris come off the bench. Taps should stay at 12. I though Morahan had a pretty good game, far better than anything he has done so far this year. If A. Fainga'a is fit he would be my pick at 13 with Morahan on one wing, Ioane the other and move Shipperly to 15 to give him more space and time. After Ioane he has been the best Qld attacker. Davies to the bench.

When Lucas is available he would be first pick at 15 with Morahan and Davies fighting it out for the bench spot.

Gnostic - agree of course re A Fainga'a, just seems a lot of uncertainty still as to when he'll be back. Ioane back v Blues April 27. If Lane's confidence keeps building, I actually think he'd be a better 10 than Harris showed he was (albeit in only a few matches). Eg, IMO's Lane's passing was more accurate and (where needed) longer than we have seen from Harris at 10.

 

[Gnostic]

Gnostic - agree of course re A Fainga'a, just seems a lot of uncertainty still as to when he'll be back. Ioane back v Blues April 27. If Lane's confidence keeps building, I actually think he'd be a better 10 than Harris showed he was (albeit in only a few matches). Eg, IMO's Lane's passing was more accurate and (where needed) longer than we have seen from Harris at 10.

I am a bit like Bob Dwyer here, too many long passes. Fast well executed passing through the hands with the occassional long pass to outflank a defense is preferable. Nobody else in Oz and few in the world can pass a long ball like QC (Quade Cooper). Harris is a must for the side simply because of the accuracy of his kicking both from the tee and from the hand. After reviewing aspects of the Reds games in the Republic some of their issues came from inaccurate kicking after Harris and Lucas were injured. Nobody else has the accuracy, certainly not Genia on whose shoulders fell an inordinate amount of this burden.

 

[spectator]

Shipperly to 15 to give him more space and time. After Ioane he has been the best Qld attacker.

Agree with you about Shipperley being one of the Reds best attackers but he is not a 15 and should not be considered there. Most of us have overlooked his shocking pass at the back the other night because passing and kicking skills aren't what make him a good player. As with Ioane, his best value is on the wing, and smart play inside can fully utilise his attacking skills.

 

[Ruggo]

I want Lucas back at ten when he returns. Lane was god on the weekend but under the control of Lucas at 10 in the first half of that game, the Reds looked most composed. His control there effected Genia by allowing to focus on his job.

Waterboy Cooper had a large effect on Lane's game vs the Brumbies as he was constantly in his ear throughout the game.

Harris if starting needs to play 12.

 

[RedsHappy]

Just btw: when has Harris clearly and consistently established himself as an excellent 12 for the Reds?...in a handful or less a number of games in 2011 before he was injured and out for most of that season?...or when?

 

[Browndog]

Can anyone tell me why Will Chambers couldn't get a run in 2010/11? He seems to go alright.

 

[Sully]

Will came back from injury down on confidence and slipped out of the starting side and never made it back. From all accounts the Reds tried to keep him but he moved on.


Sent using Tapatalk on a very old phone

 

[vidiot]

It should be mentioned that both Reds wingers on the weekend didn't complete half of their attempted tackles...

Davies is just waving people through at the moment and should be the first player shuffled off to reserve grade when the injured return.

I'm not sure where you got your stats on Shipperley from, though - I thought he had another solid game and stat-wise missed one tackle, making 6 with 7 runs and far too many ruck/maul involvements.

 

[Penguin]

I didn't see the game, I was out of town with no tv or radio reception. However I have seen a highlights package & from what I could see from the two tries scored by the Reds that Davies was a significant contributor, does this not count for anything with those designing his demise?

 

[suckerforred]

I didn't see the game, I was out of town with no tv or radio reception. However I have seen a highlights package & from what I could see from the two tries scored by the Reds that Davies was a significant contributor, does this not count for anything with those designing his demise?

I actually didn't think he played that badly. Yep has some denfensive problems, but he is that little everybody just runs at him, and he does tend to stop and look at the players who are going to tackle him instead of running straight at them and side stepping, but this might have a bit to do with the number of hamstring injuries he has had over the last year or two. His ball handling is certainly good. Does that carry him? Perhaps not when we have better options coming back over the next couple of games. Once Digby is back the first choice wings are going to be Digby and Shipperly. IMO. If Morahan can pick up his game, Davies become the casualty out of the side I'm afraid.

 

[TheBigDog]

Just btw: when has Harris clearly and consistently established himself as an excellent 12 for the Reds?...in a handful or less a number of games in 2011 before he was injured and out for most of that season?...or when?

I think the success of Harris has been defined by a few key things he has done over the last two seasons rather than being consistant, which I think is obviously what you are alluding to.

His double off the bench in 2011 and then his ace goal kicking to start the season this year has shown some brilliance. Apart from that I guess he really hasn't done anything else to show us he is a great player but he hasn't been making many mistakes either. When Harris first came onto the scene last year the reason I believed him to be so effective was because he was the calm head playing next to Quade. Where Quade would attempt the double cutout flick pass, Harris might simply hold the ball and have a dart himself. He seemed to bring some control to the chaotic at times plays that Cooper would come up with.

At the start of 2012 the Reds tried to then build their game around Harris's playing style and it was successful to a degree but I really think he needs that X-factor player there as he does play fairly one dimensional. I'm not quite sure if ive answered your question there RH but thats just my take on Harris. He seems a capable 10 or 12 who can run a backline but plays his best when he can sit back and only play his hand when needed. I do believe him to be fairly valuable if the Reds are going to have a decent crack at going back to back. Scottie Pippin to Coopers Michael Jordan.

 

[Ruggo]

Will came back from injury down on confidence and slipped out of the starting side and never made it back. From all accounts the Reds tried to keep him but he moved on.


Sent using Tapatalk on a very old phone

I felt a bit sorry for Will last year. He had a bad case of the second year syndrome. Well he leaves the Reds with a proper premeirship medal unlike that token gesture he got with the Storm.

 

[Gnostic]

Just btw: when has Harris clearly and consistently established himself as an excellent 12 for the Reds?...in a handful or less a number of games in 2011 before he was injured and out for most of that season?...or when?

From memory he had two? games there last year before injury. I do not think that Harris has the pace to play 15, and if QC (Quade Cooper) is fit he should ease back into 10. What to do with Harris in that case as his kicking can be a match winning advantage, and I am sure you agree with me that he is by far the best place kicker in Oz.

It is an issue for Link to wrestle with, but at least it is a good one for a change as he has three very good players all worthy of a place in two spots (admittedly Taps can only really be considered at 12.)

 

[Gnostic]

I felt a bit sorry for Will last year. He had a bad case of the second year syndrome. Well he leaves the Reds with a proper premeirship medal unlike that token gesture he got with the Storm.

I thought it a massive pity he left, a poor second year yes but what he showed in year 1 was just outstanding.

 

[RedsHappy]

From memory he had two? games there last year before injury. I do not think that Harris has the pace to play 15, and if QC (Quade Cooper) is fit he should ease back into 10. What to do with Harris in that case as his kicking can be a match winning advantage, and I am sure you agree with me that he is by far the best place kicker in Oz.

It is an issue for Link to wrestle with, but at least it is a good one for a change as he has three very good players all worthy of a place in two spots (admittedly Taps can only really be considered at 12.)

Indeed Gnostic indeed. My only point above was not to question or argue Harris' value to the Reds _somewhere_, but rather to simply note his actual value as a really productive _12_ per se has not IMO been proven as yet and via only 2 or so 2011 games as 12 and when he had good support surrounding him then.

He's proved that he's potentially another M Steyn with the boot, but that by no means proves he's a fine back line player in open play. I for one didn't think he looked convincing as a 10 of the type the Reds need and thrive upon, but then again I doubt anyone would argue that M Steyn is a world-beating 10, far from it. It's just that a magnificent kicking success ratio (field goals included) is a positive trade off as it wins games so regularly by itself, it's the most important stand alone skill in elite rugby (though not everybody notices or understands this, they focus on all the running about stuff).

 

[Scotty]

I disagree with Harris not having the speed for fullback, as long as you have decent positional play you don't need to be an out and out speedster.

 

[TheBigDog]

I disagree with Harris not having the speed for fullback, as long as you have decent positional play you don't need to be an out and out speedster.

Agreed, also a decent boot is handy and the ability to consistantly make tackles as the last line of defence. Both of which Harris is better at than Davies and Morahan.

 

[vidiot]

And catch the high ball. Which is where he seemed most fragile last year in the republic, in terms of being a fullback. Still, trial by fire and he was reasonably solid.