Reds 2014

[waiopehu oldboy]

Listening to the commentators during the Reds match - it is the first time I have NEVER heard them claim one of their own; I am referring to JJ Taulagi.

Pretty sure Jeff Wilson mentioned him being NZ-born when going through the team sheet prior to kickoff.

 

[Redsfan]

We should throw as much as we can at Karmichael Hunt.

 

[tranquility]

I am not, and never have been a fan of Graham as coach. The decline of the Reds in the past two seasons was forecast by many when he was appointed as Link's successor. However, he is not the whole problem. The playing roster is really below Super standard. Aside from Slipper this year, the pack has had very little to offer in the way of strong, attacking play. The backrow are all toilers but without Gill are not much chop. Why the Reds persist with Rob Simmons is anybody's guess, but my own is that there are no better options available to the coaching staff. EO'D is hardly a Super standard player.

The backline offers very little also now that Will is palying well below his standards. Quade is like a shag on a rock with so little support from his outside backs. I am looking forward to seeing him link with the Brumbies' backline come test time.

Not sure where the solutions to the Reds' problems are. Up and comers like CFS, JJT and Browning still have their shortcomings and again are very similar to the players they will replace.

Apart from replacing Graham and perhaps some of the assistants, the Reds need to go on a recruiting hunt for about 5 or 6 players of Super/International standard to add some size to the forwards and line breaking ability in the backs.

At least, that's the way I see it.

Cheers mate, sound like me might as well shut down the franchise and start again. The QLD Hurricanes maybe?

 

[Tomikin]

Cheers mate, sound like me might as well shut down the franchise and start again. The QLD Hurricanes maybe?

Best Part is you still get Great Crowds..

 

[tranquility]

We should throw as much as we can at Karmichael Hunt.

I agree.

He would be an absolute star 12 or 15. Best schoolboy that I ever saw.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

This in today's Courier Mail:

THE Reds’ playoff ambitions for 2014 are all but extinct and talisman Will Genia is on crutches as a cruel spin-off to Saturday night’s tumble in Wellington.

Halfback Genia’s right ankle was rolled inwards when Hurricanes skipper Conrad Smith fell across it midway through the second half of the costly 35-21 loss.

Losing their way after leading 14-10 at half-time may be a season-killer.

The hot Hurricanes have surged into the top four as the new top dogs of the Kiwi conference with four-straight wins. The 13th-placed Reds just don’t have the momentum or the confident flow in attack to surge like that even though the finals are still mathematically possible with seven rounds to play.

They now sit two wins out of sixth spot.

That Genia may not be on deck for the desperate quest to break a three-game losing streak against the Blues in Auckland on Friday night is a real possibility.

“The ankle started to feel a little better when I cooled down but it’s still too early to know if I can play on it,” Genia said of his chances.

Ouch. I've thought for some time he needs a break from the game, but not like this.

 

[TOCC]

. Why the Reds persist with Rob Simmons is anybody's guess, but my own is that there are no better options available to the coaching staff. EO'D is hardly a Super standard player.

It's not anybody's guess at all, he is a quality player who has a high workfare and is one of the best, if not the best lock at line-outs in the country.

 

[gel]

Specifically regarding the skills and execution of the Reds (and the tahs as well actually), I am often left to wonder whether our players pull off a couple of the riskier moves at training once or twice and just presume that that's enough.

Certainly some of the stuff that they attempt doesn't look all that comfortable, or even that they are actually rehearsed at all.

The things I am talking about are the little chip/grubber kicks, short passes at speed, cross field kicks, running onto bombs etc.

Whoever the reds player it was that was running at that bomb last night had all the hallmarks of a Kurtley Beale "If I am confident enough it will happen" kind of attempt. I.E. one in which you watch it happen and know with absolute certainty that it will be dropped.

tldr: I wonder whether the reds actually practice some of the stuff they try in these matches.

 

[Ruggo]

Coach don't seem to have the balls to drop an out of form Genia so maybe the injury is a blessing for the Reds. It will be good for Frisby to start.

 

[Set piece magic]

Reds looked much, much better in attack with Frisby on.

 

[gel]

http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2014/rugby/story/223075.html

We have to believe the defensive system is a strength, because the solution is ultimately in the group. And individuals are not going to get you the result.

His thought processes are very concerning.

It's fair to say we have a lot of work to do

A week's a long time for RG and the reds: a week ago we were "three losses by 3 points so we are there or thereabouts" and a week later it is a lot of work required.

He will want the guys to have one tremendously awesome rest of the season now. He has been gifted something most coaches would wet themselves over and seemingly opted to take a massive liquishit all over it in just two months.​

 

[TheBigDog]

Frisby getting a start this weekend and possibly in the coming weeks if the injury is bad can be beneficial to the Reds for a couple of reasons

1 - Genia hasn't played at his peak now for over 12 months in my opinion and it is hard for a club team to drop 'the best halfback in the world'. Maybe some time out will refresh him
2 - Frisby is a good halfback who plays a style which compliments QC (Quade Cooper). The fact is he's good enough to be starting at a few other clubs, namely the Force who's current first choice halfback is an aging ex-all black. They will be looking to sign to top flight halfback soon and you'd think Frisby would be on that list. Hopefully if he manages to get some starts for the Reds it might convince him to stick around.

In regards to the wider team. After last weekend I think its even more clear that Lucas has no real place in the squad anymore and hes no chance of making the wobs so i'd say he'll be looking o/s next year anyway. In the same vein Shatz has managed to play 3-4 consistent, yet IMHO average seasons with the Reds and also needs to be moved on, he's definitely a Super Rugby level player but the way the Reds are using him/his skill set is only hurting the team and making him look dull.

 

[Mortal Wombat]

the Force who's current first choice halfback is an aging ex-all black.

Do you mean the 28 year old who has played his ring off for them this season? A number of people have said that Mathewson is the form half back of the Aussie conference ATM.

 

[Bairdy]

The fact is he's good enough to be starting at a few other clubs, namely the Force who's current first choice halfback is an aging ex-all black. They will be looking to sign to top flight halfback soon and you'd think Frisby would be on that list. Hopefully if he manages to get some starts for the Reds it might convince him to stick around.

Clearly you're in a time warp, because a) Alby has been out for three weeks due to injury, and Prior has started for the Force, and b) that "aging ex-all black" has been the standout scrumhalf in the Australian conference, better than Genia and Frisby.

 

[TheBigDog]

Did I ever say Mathewson was playing badly? I think he's been playing great but that doesn't change the fact I don't believe he is a long term option for the Force. And yes compared to Frisby he is 'aging' as Frisby turns 21 this year.

 

[en_force_er]

Do you mean the 28 year old who has played his ring off for them this season? A number of people have said that Mathewson is the form half back of the Aussie conference ATM.

There's plenty of good halfbacks in NZ but if they named a squad with 3 half backs tomorrow and he was eligible he'd be a great chance.

He'd certainly still be starting if he was still at the Blues.

 

[tranquility]

Cottrell and Tomane are at the top of this blokes wishlist. He acknowledges that Tomane is signed for next season.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/...trell-joe-tomane/story-fndpu22x-1226897563371

 

[RedsHappy]

Cottrell and Tomane are at the top of this blokes wishlist. He acknowledges that Tomane is signed for next season.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/...trell-joe-tomane/story-fndpu22x-1226897563371

Thanks for relaying this article Tranq.

Hmmm....so the friendly journo, loyal Jim Tucker, is letting us know that squad deficiencies are the key issue....and then in the very same place Jim Carmichael endorses RG as the rugby teacher and 'the long term coach of the Reds, the right man for the job'. Jim T lets us know that 'no one is panicking'.

The pressure must be telling. It's all a squad problem really, the coach is here to stay.

We've been here before, another time, another place.

 

[Tomikin]

I agree.

He would be an absolute star 12 or 15. Best schoolboy that I ever saw.

So would he be an Izzy.. I think not.. Izzy was a massive

This in today's Courier Mail:

THE Reds’ playoff ambitions for 2014 are all but extinct and talisman Will Genia is on crutches as a cruel spin-off to Saturday night’s tumble in Wellington.

Halfback Genia’s right ankle was rolled inwards when Hurricanes skipper Conrad Smith fell across it midway through the second half of the costly 35-21 loss.

Losing their way after leading 14-10 at half-time may be a season-killer.

The hot Hurricanes have surged into the top four as the new top dogs of the Kiwi conference with four-straight wins. The 13th-placed Reds just don’t have the momentum or the confident flow in attack to surge like that even though the finals are still mathematically possible with seven rounds to play.

They now sit two wins out of sixth spot.

That Genia may not be on deck for the desperate quest to break a three-game losing streak against the Blues in Auckland on Friday night is a real possibility.

“The ankle started to feel a little better when I cooled down but it’s still too early to know if I can play on it,” Genia said of his chances.

Ouch. I've thought for some time he needs a break from the game, but not like this.

Frisby is a good player.. Maybe it's the spark needed.. I would never call for dropping him.. But Link did it and it made him better

 

[tranquility]

So would he be an Izzy.. I think not.. Izzy was a massive

Would Karmichael be an Izzy?

"Izzy was a massive."

I assume you mean, he was a massive success or outlier case. I am not suggesting that Karmichael would have as much success, as he is not as good of an athlete, but what relevance does that have to anything?

He would be a bloody good player, and someone worth sounding out.