Reds vs Hurricanes RD3

[redstragic]

Very very messy game, Reds didn't show much at all and Hurricanes kept bombing chance after chance. Quade had a shocker right down to the pass near the end, it is moves like that which will keep the voice his critics very strong.

Messy heavy track on a really humid (about 96-7%) night.

It came down to who dealt with it the best. The Hurricanes really exerted themselves in the warm up and looked tired for it in the game. Humidity is a killer and its affect on the game shouldn't be underestimated.

From my spot I thought Reds are improving.

 

[liquor box]

Of course you would. Remind me of your feelings toward QC (Quade Cooper) there qwerty. Actually, don't. We all know what they are. Now can we actually talk some rugby?

The Reds did their best to lose that one. The backrow was immense again, and the scrum was quite solid. But geez it was heart in mouth stuff. A win is a win though, so I'll take it.

I thought all of the forwards were great.

 

[redstragic]

I thought all of the forwards were great.

Gill is a an absolute thief, Schatz a workhorse and quirk and total pest. Those guys again shone.

 

[No4918]

Add Horwill to the pack and it looks pretty exciting. Beau will struggle to get a game when he is fit.

If Quades boot is going at anything around 70% they need to consider bringing Morahan back into 15. JOC (James O'Connor) & Beale will make life a lot harder for Toua than the Canes did. Finger will also really settle things in the backs. Can't complain too much though after 2 wins and 5 tries in the last 2 games minus arguably the best 9 in the comp and another most people consider a key player at 13.

 

[biggsy]

Gill and shatz are wanting wallabies spot, Gill is a better then Hooper who just been hyped up to be the new Pocock.

 

[liquor box]

Add Horwill to the pack and it looks pretty exciting. Beau will struggle to get a game when he is fit.

If Quades boot is going at anything around 70% they need to consider bringing Morahan back into 15. JOC (James O'Connor) & Beale will make life a lot harder for Toua than the Canes did. Finger will also really settle things in the backs. Can't complain too much though after 2 wins and 5 tries in the last 2 games minus arguably the best 9 in the comp and another most people consider a key player at 13.

I would have liked Beau to be availiable last night, I would have liked him to come on when Fainga'a came off (not to replce him!!) but to add to the disruption at the breakdown. Fainga'a seems to be a pest at breakdowns when Gill has been delayed at the previous ruck. I think at the end our defence was great, but if we had an extra fetcher on the field we may have been able to be attacking after stealing the ball than only being on the backfoot.

 

[No4918]

I agree but Link has not played a 5/2 bench so far so it will come down to Beau or Samo. Tough call and may well depend on the opposition. When Ant returns a 5/2 split may be more likely but with the backrow doing so well it's not really needed.

 

[wamberal]

We all know thatr the Reds struggle without Genia. Credit where credit is due, the tight five were immense last night.

 

[Scotty]

I would have liked Beau to be availiable last night, I would have liked him to come on when Fainga'a came off (not to replce him!!) but to add to the disruption at the breakdown. Fainga'a seems to be a pest at breakdowns when Gill has been delayed at the previous ruck. I think at the end our defence was great, but if we had an extra fetcher on the field we may have been able to be attacking after stealing the ball than only being on the backfoot.

Schatz is also doing well in that role. Won at least one turnover last night.

 

[I like to watch]

Gill and shatz are wanting wallabies spot, Gill is a better then Hooper who just been hyped up to be the new Pocock.

Overhyped?
Didn't Hooper almost get Wallaby of the year, despite starting with the Wobs half way through the season?
Gill is lucky to be on the bench in a mid week tour game ATM.
If Hooper was a Qlder he would be hailed as the new messiah.

 

[liquor box]

Overhyped?
Didn't Hooper almost get Wallaby of the year, despite starting with the Wobs half way through the season?
Gill is lucky to be on the bench in a mid week tour game ATM.
If Hooper was a Qlder he would be hailed as the new messiah.

or Gill has improved since then.

Think of it this way, if last year Gill was 6/10, Pocock 7/10 and Hooper 8/10 then the order is set for selection.
What if the order is now Pocock 7/10 and Hooper 8/10 and Gill 9/10? I dont think anyone is saying that Pocock and Hooper are worse players than last season, but maybe Gill has improved and theirfore the selectors need to account for who is best now.
Lets hope they are all 9/10 (no one is perfect)by the time the Lions tour, then you can choose on previous service.

 

[No4918]

Overhyped?
Didn't Hooper almost get Wallaby of the year, despite starting with the Wobs half way through the season?
Gill is lucky to be on the bench in a mid week tour game ATM.
If Hooper was a Qlder he would be hailed as the new messiah.

Gill is the form 7 in the comp. Taking that to mean Hooper is overrated is a stretch. Your claim he is lucky to be on the bench in a mid-week game is a stir if ever there was one. I'm sure if Gill was wearing sky blue your attitude would be very different.

The wallabies are very lucky to have 3 7's that i'd be happy to see run out for them.

 

[BDA]

He was poor at the end (both teams were) but he was quite solid for the first three quarters of the game. Conditions played their part.

And frisby. things went to crap when he came on. Slow service and no direction. Cooper looked much better with Lucas feeding him the pill

 

[Braveheart81]

Liam Gill was fairly lucky that his abominable kick at the end of the game didn't result in the Hurricanes scoring a try and getting out of gaol.

His form has been terrific but he could have very easily made the howling error which cost the Reds the game. At this stage of the season after only 2 or 3 games, his form might be a little better than Pocock and Hooper but I don't think he is about to be picked as the first choice 7 for the Wallabies (if the side was picked tomorrow). He is third on experience and in big moments of games, that is important.

 

[Ignoto]

Gill is a better then Hooper who just been hyped up to be the new Pocock.

Gill is currently in better form than Hooper. BUT Hooper was in excellent all year last year and deserved to be held in high regard.

Hooper is definitely suffering a case of the second-year yips, but he's only been involved in two Australian derby matches so I wouldn't write him off. Gilly's played two magnificent games, but Pocock was all over him in the first round.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Not outstanding contenders, but there is a lot to say for a team that can win Ugly like the Reds have the last two weeks. If they can win their bad games then hopfully it is a matter of time until they start to click and then they will be looking good.

But they were at home so was the actual result surprising given the recent past (ie last two seasons) and overall performances of the teams.

 

[fatprop]

This game demonstrated why Link has to be the next Wobs coach, great smart tactics, well executed, just strangled the Hurricanes and got the Reds in a position where they could hold on.

When their bench is improved (Genia, Horwill et al returning will push current starters to the bench) and the experiments are finished (Toua & CFS - they ain't starters yet) they will be a strong side.

 

[Braveheart81]

Hooper is definitely suffering a case of the second-year yips, but he's only been involved in two Australian derby matches so I wouldn't write him off. Gilly's played two magnificent games, but Pocock was all over him in the first round.

Hooper was excellent last night.

The first round bye is a pretty big disadvantage in my opinion. Most of the Tahs key players looked much better last night than they did against the Reds (who all looked better in that game than in their first game against the Brumbies).

 

[qwerty51]

Can we not start a Hooper vs Gill debate because it will go on for the next 10 years. They're both extremely good and unfortunately one is always going to have to miss out on a test starting spot. I have no doubt they'd both walk into most international starting sides.

 

[No4918]

Liam Gill was fairly lucky that his abominable kick at the end of the game didn't result in the Hurricanes scoring a try and getting out of gaol.

His form has been terrific but he could have very easily made the howling error which cost the Reds the game. At this stage of the season after only 2 or 3 games, his form might be a little better than Pocock and Hooper but I don't think he is about to be picked as the first choice 7 for the Wallabies (if the side was picked tomorrow). He is third on experience and in big moments of games, that is important.

No one has suggested he will be picked ahead of Pocock for the Wallabies and one person has called Hooper overrated. All that has been said is his form is better. That is correct. Gill was awesome and at least equalled Pocock vs the Brumbies. Pity Hooper couldn't get up for his first game of the season.

The comments about the kick are just laughable and have no bearing on the aspects of his game this discussion was about. You only seem to have added them to cast doubt over his general play. He was the one who got back after it and put the tackle on that forced the turnover in the last play for the Canes. If every forward that tried a clearing kick and had it fail was judged so harshly there wouldn't be many running around.