It’s Australia Day and Super Rugby kicks off in precisely 31 big sleeps. Less than that if you work night shifts. (Correct at the time of writing.) So I thought I would try and see what there might be to get us excited about the Queensland Reds in 2016.
The Draw
If anyone admits to fully understanding the draw for the new competition structure…. don’t believe them. With the addition of the Kings (South Africa), Jaguares (Argentina) and Sunwolves (Japan) the competition has become a behemoth.
Within the Australian Conference we no longer play home & away against all the teams. We meet the Waratahs and Rebels twice, but the Force (home) and Brumbies (away) only once. At least this year we are not starting off in Canberra…… but I am not sure Sydney will be any better.
Outside the Australian conference, we play the all teams in the New Zealand and Africa 01 conferences once. Africa 01 is made up of the Bulls, Cheetahs, Stormers and the Sunwolves.
Of interest is our game against the Sunwolves on Saturday, 21st May. This is not only because it is the Japanese team but kick-off is at 15:05 (3:05pm for those who don’t think in 24 hour time). I will be interested to see how this Saturday afternoon time slot works, as all of our afternoon games in the recent past have been on a Sunday.
To make the finals we need to top the Australian Conference or be one of the next best three of teams in the Australasian Group after the Australian and New Zealand Conference winners have been removed. Got that? (Yes I know I am deluding myself into thinking that we can make it to the finals but you have to have a dream…….)
The Cattle
There has been a squad of 39 named in the run up to the start of the season – 21 forwards and 18 backs – 26 of whom have played Super Rugby for the Reds previously and a few more that have been around the squad but not yet capped for various reasons.
The starting Lock positions are going to be interesting. Before the RWC final you would have expected Rob Simmons & Kane Douglas to be the starting pair, but what now?
Ben Matwijow has been signed as cover following a 2015 plying his trade with Canterbury in the ITM Cup and a few years training with various Australian sides. Lukhan Tui is straight out of the Aussie U20s and Cadeyrn Neville transfers in from the Rebels.
Will the experienced pair of Simmons and Neville be a lock? (No pun intended. Well maybe a little one.) Or will be a little jockeying to find the best combination?
As to the backs, the big news during the 2015 NRC was the Reds using the competition as a trial of sorts to find the “The Ballymore Kid”. I am not sure many of us were surprised when Junior Laloifi was named the beneficiary of said contract. Busting onto the scene in 2014 he continued to play the house down in the 2015. It will be interesting to see how he, and others such as James Tuttle, Izaia Perese, and Taniela Tupou (Tongan Thor), perform against the big boys in Super Rugby.
Other interesting additions : –
- Ayumu Goromaru, Fullback – Joins his fellow Japanese international Hendrik Tui in the squad. This is his first foray into Super Rugby but with 56 test caps to his name he is certainly not lacking experience.
- Eto Nabuli, Wing – Has been playing in the NRL for the last three years and represented Fiji in Rugby League in 2014. From all reports he is big and fast so hopefully it won’t take long for him to slip back into a game he played as a junior.
- Henry Taefu, Centre – While playing for the Australian U20s in 2013 it was discovered that he had a tumour on his adrenal gland that was affecting his performance. It has taken a while, but after a couple of NRC seasons he now gets his chance in Super Rugby.
The Hospital Ward
We are starting the season with three major injuries, two being “season ending” without the season having even started. Kane Douglas and JJ Taulagi will be spending the year rehabbing knees and James Slipper is looking at an April return after shoulder surgery.
Slipper’s absence has lead to Rob Simmons being named as interim Captain. Some people were surprised at this. Since he was Vice-Captain last year I am not sure why they would be though. Here’s hoping the responsibility does not weigh heavy on him though as we will be needing his experience in the engine room.
One thing I noticed while going through the squad is the number of injury interruptions that were mentioned – players who have been at the Reds but have played little of no rugby due to injury. Lolo Fakaosilea & Hendrik Tui are two in particular that spring to mind. The good thing on this front is the return of Damien Marsh as Head of Athletic Performance. I am hoping that he will work his magic and there will be a full list of fit players to choose from each week so selections are made on form, not who is ‘least’ injured.
Why Should I be Bothered?
Apparently I am not allowed to include “butt scrum shots” as a reason to be bothered with the Reds this year. So. Let me see………. Why should you be bothered?
For crying out loud! IT. IS. THE. REDS! Does there need to be any other reason?
But seriously. After what could be (read ‘is’) widely regarded as their worst Super Rugby season since 2007, the only way is up. I am looking for small victories and improvements. Hopefully we will be here at the end of the season saying “Yeah. They did good.” Maybe not finals good, but good all the same.
I look forward to continued improvement of our set piece under Nick Stiles. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that the Brisbane City scrum was the strongest in the 2015 NRC competition. And I don’t think it has been a coincidence that the best aspect of the Reds play last year was their performance at scrum time.
I am also hoping that the lack of expectations on a young and inexperienced squad will mean they will play some exciting footy. Getting the combinations humming and the back line ticking is going to be the key. There is plenty of talent it will just be a matter of getting the best out of them. Failing that, chuck them the ball and see what they can do.
If you really can’t be bothered then you won’t be able to say you rode the rollercoaster that is the Reds for another season.
