Waratahs v Reds Match Thread
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matty_k
Peter Johnson (47)
The 'fro has done wonders
waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
TPN V S.Finger
TPN = man
S.Finger = puberty
if the game is decided there, the tahs dont have a problem.
TPN = man
S.Finger = puberty
if the game is decided there, the tahs dont have a problem.
Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
If Tom Carter is the weakest link in the Waratahs' defensive line, the Reds' best hope is to kick lots of penalty goals.
Who is the weakest defensive link in the Tahs? A few years ago you could have made an argument for Kurtley... now they're all solid defenders who read the play well.
Maybe Horne is a candidate, he comes out of the line a bit. Though, when he does he almost always snaps his opposite number in half.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
The more I think about this question the harder it is to answer. Burgess is a renowned defender, Barnes is excellent, Carter is the top defending 12, Horne is lethal, Turner is renowned, Kurtley is now just about impregnable. Only leaves Mitchell I guess and he is no slouch. I think the Rebels might not be the only team this year who don't score a try through that backline. Lets see just how good the Reds backline really is.
Richo
John Thornett (49)
Penguin
John Solomon (38)
Oh, so that was magic against the Force, was it?
Well, his little grubber through for Chambers to spill certainly was, I also really liked his restarts, put a lot of pressure on the Force. Meh, he was just warming up. ;-)
G
GC
Guest
Reasons why I thinks the Reds will win this:
1. Huxley made plenty of meters against against the Tahs last weekend and Huxley ain't noted for his attacking prowess. Diggers, Rocket and Hynes are immeasurably better and I expect them to carve up on the outside. Though improved, Mitchell's and Kurtley's defense isn't great (albeit still above Quade standard).
2. The Reds defense (apart from a couple of Chambers shockers) was very good. With the extremely limited passing game of Burgess, Barnes and Carter, I think the Tahs back 3 will see little ball.
3. Chambers is unlikely to have such a poor game two weeks in a row.
4. The Tahs backrowers are not even in the same ball-park as the Force backrowers who caused QLD so much grief. Pocock is many people's pick as the best player in the world last year, Hodgo has been the form S14/S15 backrower for the last year and honorary backrower McCalman is deservedly the Oz 8 in Palu's absence. It was no surprise they disrupted the Reds so much. The Tahs won't do the same. Waugh isn't close to Pocock, Dennis isn't close to Hodgo etc.. Mowen still runs too upright and doesn't use his extra weight. I expect Quirk's style of play to be far more effective against the much slower Tahs too. We'll see some quicker ball and razzle dazzle from the Reds backline this week.
The forward battle will be evenly matched except for some TPN awesomeness, however Genia and Cooper's superior quality compared to their counterparts will be the difference. Narrow win to the Reds.
1. Huxley made plenty of meters against against the Tahs last weekend and Huxley ain't noted for his attacking prowess. Diggers, Rocket and Hynes are immeasurably better and I expect them to carve up on the outside. Though improved, Mitchell's and Kurtley's defense isn't great (albeit still above Quade standard).
2. The Reds defense (apart from a couple of Chambers shockers) was very good. With the extremely limited passing game of Burgess, Barnes and Carter, I think the Tahs back 3 will see little ball.
3. Chambers is unlikely to have such a poor game two weeks in a row.
4. The Tahs backrowers are not even in the same ball-park as the Force backrowers who caused QLD so much grief. Pocock is many people's pick as the best player in the world last year, Hodgo has been the form S14/S15 backrower for the last year and honorary backrower McCalman is deservedly the Oz 8 in Palu's absence. It was no surprise they disrupted the Reds so much. The Tahs won't do the same. Waugh isn't close to Pocock, Dennis isn't close to Hodgo etc.. Mowen still runs too upright and doesn't use his extra weight. I expect Quirk's style of play to be far more effective against the much slower Tahs too. We'll see some quicker ball and razzle dazzle from the Reds backline this week.
The forward battle will be evenly matched except for some TPN awesomeness, however Genia and Cooper's superior quality compared to their counterparts will be the difference. Narrow win to the Reds.
Cutter
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Guy Shepherdson has fallen a long way. Five years ago I was very hopeful he would develop into a top front rower. He has the physical attributes. Perhaps he doesn't have the mental strength. Either way, those charged with converting him from a promising youngster into an international front rower haven't done us any favours. Perhaps having Moore there will change things, but it is a poor reflection on the Brumbies system the front rowers they've churned out and/or failed to develop since Bill Young retired. I suppose the same thing could be said of most Australian provinces, but, for some reason, the Brumbies seem to have a particular weakness in that respect.
Probably the wrong thread.
T
tranquility
Guest
I hope Shatz is in the 22.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Scotty
David Codey (61)
The Reds backs won't go anywhere, no matter how 'magic' they are if our forwards don't turn up and a) get consistently over the gain line and b) provide quick ball for the backs.
They did neither of these things last week against an arguably worse defensive team (albeit one that is good at slowing opposition ball down).
They did neither of these things last week against an arguably worse defensive team (albeit one that is good at slowing opposition ball down).
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
I said last year Lee that I would expect the physique of 7's to go back to the late 80's early 90's with players like Poidevin and M. Jones. Solid around the rucks, with pace enough to compete with the three quarters. The turn over of the ball at the ruck by hand will be an admirable quality but secondary to the strength to counter ruck and compete at maul. The real key will be the balance of the backrow. I look back on the pre-91 RWC wallabies backrow as ideal with Willie O for power in attack and defence, Poidevin for linking play, speed to ruck and being the immovable rock there and finally gavin to do a bit of both and provide the third lineout option. I know the game is faster and has moved on but extrapolate the qualities that those players represented then and the current interpretations and IMO you have a champion backrow. In fact it appears very similar to the current first choice backrow of the ABs.
agree, watching that Rebs v Tahs match again, gees weren't those Rebel players guilty of watching the Waratahs in denfence? They really held back and let them run? I think we can match the Tah pack, perhaps not in the scrum, but elsewhere. For mine, the difference will come down to whether we can nullify Drew, KB (Kurtley Beale) and Lachie (to a lessor extent). We've got to starve them of ball but doing what the force did to us last week. Inside backs, and back row must be in their faces. And then kicking must be pinpoint and probably minimal. I wouldn't be surprised if we play as we did v the Bulls and Chiefs last year. Maintain possession. As others have said, I think the QC (Quade Cooper) and Ant inside ball to roving runners will be key too.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
Willie O - Palu
Gavin - Elsom or Horwill
Poido - Pocock
We aren't a million miles away when we have the first choice on the park.
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