Pre Season '16: Reds v Crusaders

[FilthRugby]

I missed the game. How did Nella Tupou go?

 

[TOCC]

I missed the game. How did Nella Tupou go?

Baptism by fire, got worked over by AB's prop Joe Moody.. He held his shape, but was shunted back, started to hold the scrum a bit better as the game wore on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[USARugger]

This is interesting:

This live stream broadcast is geo-blocked to Australian and New Zealand viewers only following permission being granted to QRU by the rights holding broadcasters in those two territories. QRU does not have permission to live stream broadcast this game beyond those two territories.

So presumably Uncle Rupe owns the rights to all matches played by supe teams—even trials.

It wasn't. I had to run out the door to catch a flight but I watched minutes 8 through 18 with no internet sorcery involved.

 

[Dan54]

Can you sack a coach before the season starts?

I going to a dinner that Graham is speaking at on tuesday night Qwerty, will be interesting to hear what he has to say!!

 

[Teh Other Dave]

There are two major problems underpinning last night's eagerness to kick the ball away.

Firstly, the mentality of 'wet weather footy' - clearly the Reds didn't take even a sidewards glance at the world cup, because I think this concept should be notionally dead for top flight rugby. Canterbury dropped a lot of ball last night, but that happens in trials. They also scored 31 points.
Secondly, developing 9-10. Sanchez and Cooper are gone. 10 may not be getting great service, and 9 might have been getting back foot ball in the 2nd half. But kicking the ball away isn't going to help them improve in any way. These are trial matches, the whole point is to try out combos and hopefully build on what works. Think Slattery-Lynagh and Farr-Jones - Lynagh, Phipps-Foley, and Marshall-Mehrtens-Matson-Mayerhofler.

 

[Jets]

Yeah I was hopeful the box kick was on the same flight as Will to Paris. Sadly Frisby seems to use it with the same effect as Genia has in recent years.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Good call Reg,

A team was OK, B team (of kids) just not up to it. The experience will do them all a world of good.
Liked McIntyre and felt sorry for T Thor. Poor bugger had huge expectations thrown upon him by the press and some posters alike. The lad is huge and has been playing against kids and Prems last year. As often said - welcome to first grade.

The lad will be much better next time and hopefully continues to improve on the technical aspects of the game.

 

[dru]

There are two major problems underpinning last night's eagerness to kick the ball away.

Firstly, the mentality of 'wet weather footy' - clearly the Reds didn't take even a sidewards glance at the world cup, because I think this concept should be notionally dead for top flight rugby. Canterbury dropped a lot of ball last night, but that happens in trials. They also scored 31 points.
Secondly, developing 9-10. Sanchez and Cooper are gone. 10 may not be getting great service, and 9 might have been getting back foot ball in the 2nd half. But kicking the ball away isn't going to help them improve in any way. These are trial matches, the whole point is to try out combos and hopefully build on what works. Think Slattery-Lynagh and Farr-Jones - Lynagh, Phipps-Foley, and Marshall-Mehrtens-Matson-Mayerhofler.

I've been cogitating on the trial. One major benefit of the trial strategy was game time to the broader squad. But I think the opportunity was largely missed. I'm still befuddled by Hunt-Greene at 15 when, as you say Dave, we need to be testing 9-10 combinations, and actually playmaker communication generally. I get that Taulagi is injured so we need a FB (bit early for Goro) but I see wasted opportunity for any potential playmaker that isnt McIntyre.

Frisby being pushed back is at least a bit to do with how much he fed the piggies. But mulling it over, did we actually much of forward pods? I would have though Simmo would at one point go "OK lads, this time we're taking it up the middle. Period." And I'd hope for more than 4 phases.

A lot of this stuff is coaching? We love Stiles. How are we feeling about MOC? Possible future HC.

 

[Jets]

Any coach who lets his 9 box kick needs to have a look at themselves. It's a trial game and we want to see the backline. Pass the ball out and see whjat these guys can do.

I'll wait and see how we go on Friday. As I said on the Reds thread I'm hopeful that Greene starts at 10 just to see what he offers.

 

[RugbyReg]

This will be our first string team I suspect. No more 'trialling'. To me that means I think McIntyre will start at 10, but Greene will be in the squad as he's very close.

 

[Intruder]

I'm expecting the Reds to role out there starting side this week, which would be;

1. Daley
2. S. Fainga'a
3. Holmes
4. Simmons
5. Neville
6. Fakaosilea
7. Gill
8. Schatz
9. Frisby
10. McIntyre
11. Nabuli
12. Taefu
13. Kerevi
14. CFS
15. Hunt

Very impressed with what I'm seeing with Talakai who was great for the first team and will be a great replacement for Holmes. Tui will be fit and ready to go from all reports he has returned in great condition. Likewise, with Goromaru the language barrier is a bit of a worry but his game IQ is very high.

Reserves or Secknd XV;

16. Fainga'a
17. Ready
18. Talakai
19. Matwijou
20. H. Tui
21. Tuttle
22. Greene
23. Goromaru

R. L. Tui
R. Gunn
R. Browning
R. Paaiaua
R. A. Fainga'a
R. C. Kuridrani
R. A. Gibbon

 

[dru]

Suspect you are very close Intruder.

You've got Fainga Doubled up. Surprised you'd put him ahead of Ready, but its great news if he's in that kind of form. Talakai did look good, genuine starting quality. And I think all Red fans are wanting to see Tui. Btw I also liked what we saw of Matwijou, promising future.

We are still seeing a backline with little flair and what there is stuck at 15. I'd accept a backline like that if we didnt have the talent, but we do. Seems more about coaching strategy. Or perhaps a lack of cohesion as the different coaching roles are focussed on specifics, not the overall.

What are you seeing with the coaches and backs, Intruder?

 

[HJ Nelson]

Sully's review is up.
Here are a few additional photos and a link to the full Flickr album

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100900132@N02/albums/72157663799605330