Reds v Sharks

[RugbyReg]

This game scares me.

No Van Humphreys. Probably no Greg Holmes. McMeniman off most of the week.

I guess Byrnes comes in for Van. Paper is suggesting Daley in for Holmes, but I'd prefer they look at Weekes there to be honest. Apparently our scrum was dominant in the curtain raiser v NSW A. That was Ben Daley, James Hanson and Jack Kennedy with Daley at LHP. So who knows?

Ezra Taylor is apparently likely on the bench. Probably instead of Simmons. We haven't use Tasi Luafatu much of late, and I reckon he could have made a difference v the Tahs.

We'd have to be reconsidering Sai Fainga'a at the moment too. And apparently Ione will be back at 13 with Connor on the wing.

But the scrum won't be fun to watch.

 

[formeropenside]

It might be interesting to see Taylor starting in the second row. He's a bit short though, and with Houston not being a noted jumper that could lead to trouble come lineout time. Houston had a good game, so he is not in danger of losing the 8 spot.

Who was the Reds two jumper v the Tahs - he missed a lot of ball, whoever it was. Something went wrong there, and hopefully it is a small thing to fix.

Scrum is an issue. Maybe Weeks to LHP, maybe Daley. I hope Holmes pre-game shoulder injury is not the 2007 injury flaring up again. But really, the scrum needs serious work.

Backs look good, but the forwards need to harden up. It pains me to have to write that about a Queensland side.

 

[RugbyReg]

Mooney has put a fair bit of blame on the lifters.

May have to watch the replay, as much as it pains me.

 

[PaarlBok]

Well from a Saffer position, you'll get a Sharks team on full force wanting to create history. Strong pack of forwards , best defensive side and able to run riot if you dont have your defense in place. They have gain a lot of confidense after winning the CC and it will take some team to roll them over.

 

[Blue]

At some stage the Sharks have to rotate a few players becuase they have some tough games after the tour. The way the Reds have gone they'd be keen to push along wit their best team though, so I'd expect the same lot as the Bluess gae, to take the field. Would like to see Smit start at 3 though but that cut looked bad against the Blues.

If the Reds fail to protect the ball at the breakdown like they did against the Tahs they are going to get a whole new one ripped for them.

 

[PaarlBok]

Pretty sure they'll start with the same fatties Blue. Beast only now back after a bit of a lay off. Smit and the Doep Broers have rotate all the time and no need for change. If you look futher , Muller & Sucks wont want to change now, so is the backline. Kockette, Pienaar & Steyn now starting to settle in the 9/10/12 positions after being fucked around for years. JP also not one you want to rotate like we saw in 2009. The scary part of the Sharks is that their VodaCup team also in form.

 

[PhucNgo]

Well from a Saffer position, you'll get a Sharks team on full force wanting to create history. Strong pack of forwards , best defensive side and able to run riot if you dont have your defense in place. They have gain a lot of confidense after winning the CC and it will take some team to roll them over.

You're right Paarl. The Sharks were my pick to take the tourney and they don't seem to have faultered. But don't write off the Reds just yet, they're a team who will only need a sniff to go on with it. With Ioane back in at 13 this week they're going to be a handful for the Sharks' backline. The problem from the Reds point of view, as others have pointed out, will be whether their they can put the wheels back on their forwards to achieve parity from the set piece. If they can do this, and its a big if, if MMM is unavilable to train, then they'll go a long way to pulling off an upset.

IMO the Reds best chances are going to come from the set piece, particularly scrums, where if they move it wide quickly they can possibly exploit the defensive frailties of Steyn (who is not a good one-on-one defender) and Jacobs. I think Cooper and Barnes can probably conjure up enough to put Ioane thru more than a few gaps.

Their other tactic should be to play short balls thru the forwards, up the centre one off the breakdown, as they were doing in earlier rounds. The Sharks do not commit to the breakdown and are good at slowing their opponent's ball. By working in depth thru the centre and avoiding the breakdown, the Reds will suck in defenders to create gaps out wide, which is where their strength lies.

But if they can't, well... they're toast.

 

[PaarlBok]

Myself always thought Steyn is pretty handy defensively, maybe the odd lapse but a strong frame. Dunno they are defensive pretty strong and show this in the past two matches.

 

[PhucNgo]

Myself always thought Steyn is pretty handy defensively, maybe the odd lapse but a strong frame. Dunno they are defensive pretty strong and show this in the past two matches.

Steyn fell off quite a few tackles against the Blues at the weekend, and usually does. He's ok once he's tagged someone but he's too upright in defence and not a good lateral mover. An ellusive runner like Ioane will run rings around him, as he did to Devilliers a couple of weeks back.

 

[Ash]

A bit of a danger game to the Sharks with their third week on tour, but I can't see a Reds win with all the disruptions to their pack. I am worried that Daley will be hammered at LHP, the same way Palmer was for the Tahs.

Interesting that Ezra Taylor leap frogs Simmons onto the bench.

Anyone know how did Hanson went in the last Reds A v Tahs A?

To me, the Sharks are still a sleeping side. Last year they had little cohesion, and I think made it to the semis based on their ability alone. This year, they have attempted a bit more in attack, but are still well short of where they should be considering their backline. Over the last two weeks the Sharks have relied mainly upon their defence to win the games, and most of their tries have been very opportunistic. I'd like to see the Sharks play more to their ability and be able to put teams to the sword, but their style of play - like the Tahs - doesn't seem to allow it. What would be worrying for the Sharks (and hopeful for the Reds) is that the last two weeks running the Sharks have outclassed their oponents - who have both been messy and error ridden - and still nearly thrown away both games.

 

[RugbyReg]

looks like Danya is being dropped completely with Ben Daley to start (I am guessing) and Jack Kennedy on the bench.

Tough challenge awaits Queensland 2nd XV
QAS Reds Academy flanker Andrew Shaw try bound in the Reds 2nd XV match against the Western Force Academy
Tuesday, 10 March 2009

The QAS Reds Academy 2nd XV will face arguably their toughest test this year against a Hawkes Bay Rugby Union Development squad at Ballymore on Wednesday night, March 11 (kickoff 5:00pm).

Hawkes Bay is regarded as a top club in the Air New Zealand Cup competition after earning their maiden semi-final appearance in 2007 in only their second year of first grade competition.

Their squad that consists of a mix of promising youth and established stars demolished last year's Premier Grade champions Easts in an eight try romp last Saturday.

They enter the game as a relatively unknown quantity to QAS Academy and Reds 2nd XV coach Paul Carozza, but he says the reputation preceding his opponents ensures his squad is completely focused.

?I think they?ve got a couple of guys who have played 100 games for Hawkes Bay, so they?ve definitely got some good experience and hard players, particularly in the forwards,? Carozza said.

?They will definitely treat this game as though it?s their grand-final. I?m sure this game will be the thing that makes or breaks their tour, so they?ll definitely be pumped.?

Queensland 2nd XV go into the match following an impressive 28-15 defeat of NSW B only one week after faltering to the same opponent 29-15 at Suncorp Stadium.

Earlier in the year, QLD 2nd XV were convincing 31-10 victors over the Western Force Academy.

A lot of their success in 2009 has been on the back of Reds? front-rowers Ben Daley, James Hanson and Jack Kennedy, but both Daley and Kennedy are unavailable for the clash.

In their place are Academy players James Slipper and Albert Anae, with QR Reds prop Dayna Edwards to play at loosehead.

?While we?ve lost two good players I still think we?re covered there,? Carozza said.

?We have two very good front-rowers in the Academy (Slipper and Anae) and we?re confident they?ll play very well.?

Australian World Cup Sevens member Luke Morahan also makes a welcome appearance after competing in the Sevens World Championships in Dubai on the weekend.

Carozza says the clash against Hawkes Bay is another opportunity for the squad, consisting of QR Reds, QAS Academy and talented Premier Grade players, to test their footballing abilities against quality opponents.

Entry to the match is free.

a very good game for the QLD team too. More of this ANZAC games at this level should be encouraged.

 

[formeropenside]

Noddy - did you see Dayna was at LHP for the Academy? That's interesting, as is Slipper at THP. It'll be nice to have a home-grown THP again.

 

[Ash]

Anyone going to that game tomorrow to report on it?

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah saw that fp. I wonder too if Holmes might be tried at 3? It's where he started for QLD, when Stiles was 1, and its where the most opportunity for Wallaby advancement is.

Ash, not me unfortunately.

 

[formeropenside]

Digby Ioane given another chance to impress at outside centre for Queensland Reds
By Bret Harris
March 11, 2009

Digby Ioane has been given another chance to impress at outside centre when he lines up for Queensland against the Sharks in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Ioane began the season in his customary wing position, but was moved to outside centre in the Reds' second match against the Stormers in Cape Town after Charlie Fetoai was a late withdrawal with a shoulder injury.

He played outside centre against the Cheetahs in Brisbane, but was moved back to the wing when Fetoai was fit to play against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney last Friday night.

But Reds coach Phil Mooney is looking to restore Ioane's attacking potency to the midfield against the Sharks.

"We'll give that some consideration," Mooney said.

"We suspected how the Waratahs would play and we thought it would be a good combination with Charlie and Digby.

"This week is a different challenge. We'll look at Digby at 13. He's certainly a threat."

With Ioane back at outside centre, rookie Blair Connor is set to make his run-on debut on the wing.

It is possible Fetoai could drop out of the 22-man squad altogether because he is a specialist centre with former Brisbane Broncos outside back Rod Davies under consideration for a spot on the reserves bench.

The Reds have already lost injured prop Greg Holmes and second-rower Van Humphries for the Sharks game with Ben Daley and Adam Byrnes starting, while new recruit Ezra Taylor will make his first appearance for the Reds on the bench.

"Ben Daley will come in at loosehead," Mooney said. "That's not a bad thing for Greg. He has played every minute of every game. He can get his body right.

"We'll start Adam Byrnes and put Ezra Taylor on the bench. It will be good to see Ezra get some game time."

Wallabies second-rower Hugh McMeniman has confirmed he will play, despite the fact he will attend his father Geoff's funeral on Thursday. McMeniman courageously played against the Waratahs only hours after his father passed away.

The Reds lineout disintegrated against the Waratahs after Humphries went off with a shoulder injury, but McMeniman will be given the crucial lineout calling role in his lock partner's absence.
"Hugh will call the lineouts this week," Mooney said. "Based on the circumstances last week we didn't want to overburden him. We'll throw that responsibility on Hugh on Saturday."

The unbeaten Sharks, coming off a good win over the Blues in Auckland, will be strongly favoured to beat the Reds.

"This will be a difficult game," Mooney said. "The Sharks are a very good side. They are a flexible side in how they play the game. They can play a direct or up-tempo game.

"They were impressive against the Blues. The Blues travelled back from South Africa and the Sharks were already there (in New Zealand).

"You could see the Blues suffered a bit with that."

If the Reds could upset the Sharks, it would give them a tremendous boost, particularly as injured captain and second-rower James Horwill is due back for their next game against the Chiefs.

Although the Reds have won only one of their first four games, Mooney defended their expansive style of play.

'It's going pretty well," Mooney said. "We are trying to play a certain style of game, which requires certain elements to be ticked off before you move the ball around.

"We aren't losing games because of our strategy, but because of our execution."

Still waiting to see a team announced though.

 

[RugbyReg]

would like to see that A team for this evening too.

I guess the Reds are shaping up as follows?

15 MacLinden
14 Hynes
13 Ione
12 Barnes
11 Connor
10 Cooper
9 Lucas/Genia (should be Genia in my eyes)
8 Houston
7 Braid
6 Higginbottham
5 McMeniman
4 Byrnes
3 Weekes
2 Hardman
1 Daley

16 Fainga'a
17 Kennedy
18 Taylor
19 Luafutu
20 Genia/Lucas
21 Fainga'a
22 Davies

Don't mind that bench from 18 upwards. Don't know Jack about Kennedy though.

 

[Scotty]

I think it was Mooney's biggest mistake in selecting Ioane on the wing rather than at 13 for the Tahs match. Good to see it rectified.

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah fair call, and fatprop said as much before the game. I defended the selection as a means of protecting Connor from Lote. In hindsight though, Lote doesn't often threaten other wingers, he does all his main work in field, not trying to beat his man one on one. Tis a shame.

Oh well. At least Diggers is there this week. But that pack... ???

 

[RugbyReg]

Injuries and a backline reshuffle has seen Queensland make seven changes for Saturday night's Super 14 clash with the unbeaten Sharks at Suncorp Stadium.

The Reds lost prop Greg Holmes and lock Van Humphries to shoulder injuries in the 15-11 defeat to NSW, forcing coach Phil Mooney to call up young loose-head Ben Daley and play Highlanders recruit Ezra Taylor off the bench.

Mooney has also returned Wallabies winger Digby Ioane to outside centre, in place of the axed Charlie Fetoai, opening a spot for Blair Connor on the wing.

"Once we made the call to move Digby from wing back to outside centre the change in the balance of the squad meant we had to leave Charlie out of the 22," said Mooney.

"It was a very difficult decision and particularly tough on Charlie."

Lineout general Humphries' injury has seen lock Adam Byrnes promoted from the bench into the second-row for the 10th-placed Reds.

Taylor will make his Queensland debut along with fellow reserves prop Jack Kennedy and former Broncos back Rod Davies while Daley and Connor will start for the first time.

"I'm confident that the young guys we've brought into the side have the ability to step up, as others before them have done when given the opportunity," Mooney said.

"The Sharks are a great side that deserve to be unbeaten so far in this competition thanks to their combination of power and speed.

"They will be a tough challenge but with a home crowd behind us we'll be looking to bring their winning run to an end."

Queensland: Mark McLinden, Blair Connor, Digby Ioane, Berrick Barnes (capt), Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas; Leroy Houston, Daniel Braid, Scott Higginbotham, Hugh McMeniman, Adam Byrnes, Laurie Weeks, Sean Hardman, Ben Daley. Res: Saia Fainga'a, Jack Kennedy, Ezra Taylor, Poutasi Luafutu, Will Genia, Anthony Fainga'a, Rod Davies.

 

[fatprop]

Good to see Rod Davies getting a run