Reds 2017

[Happy to Chat]

Frisby's game was pretty solid except for the passes off the ruck, they were well above head height and often missed. Tuttle's passing was in the bread basket most of the time. Getting the ball in the right place is important as this allows the backs time and visibility of what's in front of them to make their plays. This was often not the case in the first half and resulted in scrappy play.


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[TSR]

I've speculated before as to whether Tuttles more basic game would be a better fit for us at present, but I thought that Frisby demonstrated last night his running (and kicking) game adds another dimension to our attack without stifling those outside him.

But I agree he needs to improve his core skill of passing and his decision making.

 

[dru]

My reception was a bit scatty (nothing to do with the Reds! just a shitty area and streaming from mobile) so missed big chunks. What I did see:

Thought our kicking was fine. Some reasonable position kicks that were OK, one very good. One Frizer box that should have been held in possession. One or two promising kick passes Quade AND I think from Jake at one point.

Scrum very very promising, like it. Line out looking good, some muffs but i like the quick throw system a lot.

Our defence was very much a rush, which comes with the risk of missed tackles. Missed tackle count was high compared to the number of tackles - dont mind that if the rush is effective enough to disrupt the opposition. I think it is.

Thought Hunt is really turning into the player we want him to be. Fabulous second playmaker locking on the Quade nicely. Which creates a conumdrum because I love Duncan, but can see a desire to put in Kuridrani with Kerevi as a big bopper centre pairing - but only when Hunt is fullfilling that second playmaker thing so well. Duncan had a great game, and will continue to argue for his start. I just wonder if we can justify 3 playmakers though. Of course it could simply offer a real difference to the Reds over everyone else.

Like others, I liked Korzcyk and Fagase. It will be great for those guys to give Styles selection headaches.

Didn't mind Moore and Houston in red either.

All in all, I have not been this pumped up in preseason since Link left the organisation.

 

[dru]

On the Stream.

Reg - please pass on my (ALL fans) thanks. I'd happily swap to a streaming system from the clubs over Foxtel if the opportunity came up. Reds have always done a fabulous job in the way they present to the fans. Great to see it continue.

Sets the standard in Super Rugby in my opinion.

 

[TSR]

Thought Hunt is really turning into the player we want him to be. Fabulous second playmaker locking on the Quade nicely. Which creates a conumdrum because I love Duncan, but can see a desire to put in Kuridrani with Kerevi as a big bopper centre pairing - but only when Hunt is fullfilling that second playmaker thing so well. Duncan had a great game, and will continue to argue for his start. I just wonder if we can justify 3 playmakers though. Of course it could simply offer a real difference to the Reds over everyone else.

Before the trial I was of similiar thought Dru - what is the best balance. In particular, I thought Paia'aua might get squeezed out for Magnay. But I think one of the problems of Australian rugby was that in too many positions we have either/or options. Eg - we are choosing between ball runners and passes in the centres - whereas NZ have guys who are very effective at both.

Hunt is very good at both, but hasn't performed since he came to rugby. If he can continue with his form last night he might show why some of us initially thought he would be a great buy.

It is early days for Paia'aua, and he is certainly not a big bopper, but he is a very good runner of the ball and quite effective in contact.

It was one trial, so things might turn out differently, but on last nights showing Cooper, Paia'aua & Hunt seems to be a good mix.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Forwards went OK - scrum looked great.

Pretty disappointed with Frisby, Cooper and Kerevi. Ball security/passing terrible. Hopefully a lot of improvement.

Kerevi is awesome once he has the ball and tucks it under his wing. But his skill with the ball is poor.

Anyway a lot of improvement coming.

Bring on the Sharkies.

 

[Scoey]

Now that we've seen some sort of Rugby from the 2017 Reds, what is everyone's expectation from this season? Not hopes, but expectation. Yeah I know, depends on injuries etc etc. How well does your gut think we are going to go?

We have a tough draw. Sharks at home is a good start first up, Force in Perth we will need to win but they seem to have our measure more often than not. Crusaders at home in R3 needs to be a win (hoping for the traditional slow start from them) because we then have the Lions away and Jaguares away after that. We then come back home to face the defending champs at Suncorp after travelling around the globe. We take on the Brumbies in Canberra and round out with the Kings at home before our first bye in R9.

 

[dru]

It was one trial, so things might turn out differently, but on last nights showing Cooper, Paia'aua & Hunt seems to be a good mix.

It's a conundrum for sure. If Styles and his team are good enough, something very unique could build from it. And if they're not? Something very good could still build from it. Haha!

How the hell do attacking teams focus on three play-makers. AND on Kerevi? And double team Toupo when he comes on? And if we've got Higgers in that wide channel? With Houston and his friends in the middle, including Moore/Ready acting as extra open-sides, we may be able to afford to be a little generous with a wide 6.

Something very good can come from this. [Careful Dru, all to easy to get excited in February.]

BTW is it just me, or did Simmons look slimmer, faster, leaner, more athletic? Our locks are looking serviceable.

 

[Scoey]

I'll go first. I expect us to be top 2 in the Aus conference. I expect us to be close to the playoffs if we don't make them. Sure I hope we top the conference and comp but I'm not an idiot. Aus (and all non-NZ) teams were so far off the mark set by Kiwi teams last year that whilst yes, we should do well against non kiwi teams, there may still be a big gap between us and them at the pointy end of the season.

 

[Scoey]

It's a conundrum for sure. If Styles and his team are good enough, something very unique could build from it. And if they're not? Something very good could still build from it. Haha!

How the hell do attacking teams focus on three play-makers. AND on Kerevi? And double team Toupo when he comes on? And if we've got Higgers in that wide channel? With Houston and his friends in the middle, including Moore/Ready acting as extra open-sides, we may be able to afford to be a little generous with a wide 6.

Something very good can come from this. [Careful Dru, all to easy to get excited in February.]

BTW is it just me, or did Simmons look slimmer, faster, leaner, more athletic? Our locks are looking serviceable.

I vary between liking a traditional second-five at 12 and liking a pair of big boppers in the midfield. But last night having Cooper/Paia-aua/Hunt forming the triple playmaker combo we still seemed to have plenty of big boppers out there with Kerevi, Nabuli and at times Higgers. I think it can work!

 

[Happy to Chat]

BTW is it just me, or did Simmons look slimmer, faster, leaner, more athletic? Our locks are looking serviceable.

All of them looked leaner, faster and meaner. Must be the efforts of Brad Thorn as the pre-season fitness guru. I've heard it was one of the hardest pre-seasons the Reds have had yet.


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[dru]

Now that we've seen some sort of Rugby from the 2017 Reds, what is everyone's expectation from this season? Not hopes, but expectation.

None of the Aussies, including the Reds, will dent the Kiwis much in 2017. But simply because Brumbies, Rebels, and Force are not looking like serious contenders, Reds could do OK.

I doubt there will be a wild card finalist from the Aussies (expect 4 Kiwi teams. Again.) So it's us or the Waratahs to make the finals. In February, good chance it's us.

If it was a decent draw instead of this convoluted 4-conference-2-group system, I wouldn't rate us much of a chance. As it is, just maybe.

 

[Scoey]

None of the Aussies, including the Reds, will dent the Kiwis much in 2017. But simply because Brumbies, Rebels, and Force are not looking like serious contenders, Reds could do OK.

I doubt there will be a wild card finalist from the Aussies (expect 4 Kiwi teams. Again.) So it's us or the Waratahs to make the finals. In February, good chance it's us.

If it was a decent draw instead of this convoluted 4-conference-2-group system, I wouldn't rate us much of a chance. As it is, just maybe.

Good point RE the weird conference and playoffs system. We play Force and Brumbies at home and away, we play the Rebels away and the Tahs at home. That may make the Tahs match fairly important to us being able to wrangle that all important top spot. We will be coming off a bye and playing at home so two big ticks for us.

 

[Scrubber2050]

I believe the Reds will top the Australian conference and therefore make the playoffs

That would be a meteorite rise after the debacle of RG and the co-coach year.

Reds bought well in off season and forwards look the most dominant in this country.

QC (Quade Cooper) needs to regain form from years ago. He is the key in the backs, along with Kerevi (who will be heavily marked this year so expect some shit offloads under pressure, from him).

All in all the season looks good and a few early wins will just build a level of confidence and self belief that has been missing since the McKenzie era.

We shall see.

 

[gel]

I think there's a lot of inertia to overcome before we start to turn our results around. I think the front half of thus season will end up with equal wins and losses due to that.

The coaching team is also very green at this level, so it's understandable that they will screw up from time to time with game prep, game plan, player selection, fame management etc.

I would expect that based on these alone, I can see us losing as many as we win (or thereabouts), which I guess would put us mid table or a bit below.

If the reds can just end up winning most of their home games, I'll be happy. I don't expect us to make finals, but I just enjoy a good game of rugby played live.

 

[Tangawizi]

I think 10 wins, 5 losses and see where that puts us for the finals.

Depends how we go with injuries but we have the squad & draw to do it.

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[RugbyReg]

Look I don't want to go all Lindo on yo asses but the surname of the Reds' coach is "Stiles".

As you were.


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[upthereds#!]

Having guys like Moore and Smith really IMO, gives opposition teams pause. Legends of the games, wallaby captains etc, always carry a bit of an aura around them at provincial level. After Simmons scored I think it was, Cummins looked like he was kinda tripping over him I think, Moore literally ran in and grabbed him, telling him to get f%$ked. Not quite the aura I'm thinking of, but definitely indicative of the higher status and experience to stamp the Reds authority on the game, particularly with a strong set piece giving the 'moral highground' so to speak.

Back that up with Douglas and Higs giving a rough edge to the squad. Some real authority that can hopefully lay the platform for Quade, Kerevi and Hunt.

In the recent past, our backs havn't really fired a shot because our forwards have been bullied, allowing oppositions to either dominate the breakdown, or commit minimal players allowing them to dominate our wide runners.

 

[dru]

Looking over the various post game interviews with Stiles, he likes the "balance" of the team. If I'm reading it right, Stiles sees that at least part of this is DP outside Quade.

Thumbs up from me.

 

[TOCC]

To be fair, the best the Reds backline looked in 2016 was when Duncan played at 12 in the trials, it was baffling why RG never tried it again


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