Crusaders v Reds Prelim 1
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I, and my crazy Reds mate sitting next to me at the game, were both struck by how unfit and inactive Tapuai looked.
Real shame, as I always rated him a big prospect.
Needs a nice off-season then back lean and mean in 2014.
Scoey
Tony Shaw (54)
The Saders will be deserved favourites and should win this comfortably. BUT that will be precisely why the Reds will be dangerous. They love to play the underdog, they love a bit of us vs them and they love to prove people wrong. The Saders specialise in playing finals footy though. They will get better each week from here on in. If the Reds manage an upset I will be interested to see whether that was their GF or if it drives them to go further.
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
IMO, the only 2013 Reds back that we can say have shown more or less consistent intensity, reasonable to good form and game-impacting skill are: Genia, Cooper, Frisby (when playing), Davies. (Shipps, CFS, Morahan, Lucas, Taps, Lance, Harris, A Fainga'a, DI, all borderline or very inconsistent, or simply poor by the aforementioned criteria.)
Over a long S15 season, these first four are far too few in number upon which to build the type of dynamic, 'entertaining' and tries-winning attack capability of Reds 2011. (And the problem is somewhat worse than this in terms relative to the capability and skills of the Reds 2013 forwards whom I'd argue are in aggregate performing somewhat better than our forwards in aggregate in 2011, so the potential 'excuse' of poor(er) ball from the forwards is not credible for the 2013 Reds.)
Bruwheresmycar
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Jaco Peyper is the ref
Gurz
Allen Oxlade (6)
That's fairly kiwi of the kiwis manipulating the system...
Gurz
Allen Oxlade (6)
Put Samo in the backs!
How many games has BamBam played this year for the Ponies?
If the witchdoctors somehow manage to get him back on the field for the Ponies in the finals, would he similarly be rorting the system?
The only thing wrong with that would be WTF did they aforesaid witchdoctors not get him ready for the Lions!!!
Pocock played 2 and a bit games.
He won't be back this year anyway.
He won't be back this year anyway.
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
Just BTW, I am sure Link et al will be studying the Tahs v Cru game this year. There were many clues in that game as to how to productively compete with the Cru and of course the Tahs nearly won the game. For example, in 1H the Tahs' high-tempo ensemble play with long passages of ball possession was exceptional and really unsettled the Cru as we saw.
The Cru are definitely beatable, the issue will not I suspect be with the Reds' forwards who I think will do well. The issue will rest as to whether the Reds' backs (combining with the forwards) can forge a really ferocious, well-integrated attack that goes beyond a dangerous over-reliance on our 9 and 10 to do everything themselves. If our attack has the sadly typical 2013 splutters a la the two RSA games we played, versus our one really top-class attacking game vs the Chiefs, we will surely lose by 7+.
Brisbok
Cyril Towers (30)
Big call. For the Reds to win they will most likely have to win 3 away games in a row. Against any S15 opposition that is a tough ask, nevermind all top 6 opposition.
FYI - The Reds won 3/7 away games this year with 1 draw.
Brisbok
Cyril Towers (30)
Haha I suspect that if "being robbed of a win" actually counted as a win, that 4 in a row record might look somewhat different....
The Crusaders are arguably the form team in the competition at the moment. I don't think any of other 5 teams would choose to play them (if they had a choice) on their home patch at this stage of the season.
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