So the Reds play the Chiefs this Friday over in the ‘tron. It’s a 4.30pm kick off Briso time, 5.30pm on the rest of the east coast. PERFECT for Friday afternoon drinks with your mates, watching it on the big screen. But who’s that dude playing 5 for the Chiefs again? And who’s on the Reds’ bench this week? Where the hell can I get my hands on a match program here at the pub?
Well your questions can now all be answered in the one place. Green and Gold Rugby will be releasing Official G&GR Programs for each of the games featuring Australian teams from hereon in. Sure you can buy the official program once you get to the game. But what do they cost these days? Seven? Eight bucks? That’s good drinking money my friend. Read more »
Here they all are. Video highlights of each of the Aussie games from round 2. I believe the first Reds try might be missing, but keep an eye out for that in Try of the round anyhow.
Coming quickly on the back of the Victorian born Ewen McKenzie appointment as the new coach of the Queensland Reds, the QRU appointed another Victorian to a key position.
Jim Carmichael, 49, will start as the new CEO early next month and comes to the organisation from the AFL in Melbourne. Not much can be garnered about Carmichael from the internet, but plenty can about the AFL. They are the most proactive and forward thinking sporting organisation in the nation by a country mile. All the stakeholders seem to read from the same song sheet and the sport is moving forward in leaps and bounds across Australia, particularly in the non-traditional areas of Queensland and New South Wales.
Reds’ coach Phil Mooney gave his clearest indication yet as to how the Reds’ will line-up this season by naming a near full strength squad to play Auckland this weekend.
With the exceptions of the injured Berrick Barnes, James Horwill and Ezra Taylor, it looks as close to the real thing as we’ll get. In the absence of both Barnes and Horwill, Greg Holmes will lead the side which is a fine reward for the young prop after a few winters of discontent.
At the naming of new Reds’ sponsor Comscentre, Mooney was upbeat about the Reds Read more »
It was with great gusto the Reds launched their season campaign this morning, a slick multi-media type show, which left several jaded press hacks pondering the impact Generation Y has had on the staid and clichéd world of rugby reporting. Translation……there was not a party pie in sight.
The thing that strikes you about the Reds this year is freshness and youth.
“We don’t have baggage” Berrick Barnes, the interim Reds skipper, was heard to proclaim when asked about visiting Pretoria for the first round. A bold statement considering the last game the Reds were there for, they were pantsed by a record margin – to confirm this, the vast majority of the thirty-odd Reds’ squad were not even playing professional rugby when that particular outrage occurred. Read more »
If you were standing near the Ballymore exits at the end of last season you would have been in serious danger of being injured in a stampede; such was the exodus of players heading into either full-time retirement or semi-retirement on the European club scene.
Although there was plenty of deadwood cut from the ranks, there still remains some massive holes that will not be filled this year – Latho, Squeeky Moore, Rodzilla and Cordingley the obvious names. Add to that the retirements of John Roe and Crofty and you get some idea of the void left in the talent and experience stakes. Read more »
Come Monday next week, no-one’s going to give a rats arse about the Super 14 2008, so while there’s still some legs in it, how has it all worked out for the Aussie states and what does it look like for 2009?
Overall In short, better than last year, but far from great. Three of the four teams were in the bottom half and the Brumbies and Force actually slipped spots in the ladder. While the Tahs making the final is a great headline, with the talent drain to Europe from NZ and RSA, the aim should have been for two Aussie teams in the semi’s.
The Reds [2007 - 14th, 2008 - 12th] Well, they didn’t come last which is definitely an improvement, but you’ve still gotta say that Phil Mooney has the most unenviable job in Australian rugby. There’s no other way to say it, but talent wise, the 09 Reds are fucked. More fucked than this year even. Among the well publicised names jumping ship are Latham, Cordingly, Croft, Moore, Rodzilla and their surprise find late in the season of Morgs Pieman Turinui.
Losing such a dollop names would be pretty crappy for any team, but the disaster for the Reds is where they have won this year has been through one or two of these guys pulling the rest of the team behind them – Latham sometimes single-handedly until he got injured (the first time). You don’t get the feeling there’s any real system or structure for the wide-eyed youngsters replacing this lot to slot into (which is what saved the Brumbies this year). On top of this, all players know it and are staying way clear of the struggling Queenslanders. You’ve gotta wonder how long the likes of Barnes and Horwill will hang around – Cooper is a red herring.
It’s a long, long road back for the Reds – 3 to 5 years I reckon – but for the sake of Aussie rugby I hope Mooney, and the QR coffers can get it done.
The Brumbies [2007 - 5th, 2008 - 9th] I had the men from ACT wrong earlier in the season when I feared they were heading toward the bottom of the table. What I’d underestimated was the amount of talent and leadership George Smith and Mark Gerrard could infuse into this young team. These two pulled the likes of Tyrone Smith, Afeaki, and Lealiafano through the hump of the season and there are glimmers from players like Kimlin, Alexander and Salvi to make the next couple of seasons interesting.
However, my feeling is that they need a big signing or two to be real contenders again. Giteau would do this, but more realistic is probably the likes of Berrick Barnes, who could finally show us what he can do with some quality around him. There have also got to be question marks over how long Mortlock will be there, with parts of his body falling off and Euro-bucks calling. Andy Friend the new coach (pictured) inherits a work in progress.
The Force [2007 - 7th, 2008 - 8th] At points in the season, like when they posted back to back victories in New Zealand, you thought the Force were going to be Australia’s big challenge for the competition. At these times they produced more breathtaking rugby than any other Australian side has this year. Looking back at it, the only thing that stopped them making this challenge, was between the ears.
Whether it was within a game, like versus the Crusaders when they had the game won and then turned it over, or for whole home games too numerous to mention, the Force have a habit of ‘turning off’. It could be the vestiges of being only 2 years old at the beginning of this season that there isn’t the winning mentality baked in. But I smell something else. The numerous stories, from Quokka fiddling to belting the crap out of each other in pubs, smack of a culture that isn’t right from the top down. Is Mitchell too close to the players, or too far away?
Whatever it is, the off field brain farts and the on field ones are connected. When professional teams are performing, you don’t see either. If the Force can fix this, there’s not much stopping them with the mix of old and new talent they’ve now got. Get the shrinks in.
The Waratahs [2007 - 13th, 2008 - 2nd] Win or lose, the NSWRFU have painted themselves in one hell of corner. Sure, at the time half way through the season it looked like Link had done his dash and 5 years was time for a change. New broom and all that.
Fast forward to now. Let’s just say the Tahs lose (OK, it is odds on), even so, as of the end of ‘08 they’ve got the second best team in the comp. With Carter and Aussie Robbie (at least) pissing off from the Crusaders next year, and finds like Burgess, Horne and Beale maturing, this rapidly becomes the best team in the comp and probably deservedly odds on. Happy days, theorectically.
The problem is that, as it stands, the whole coaching staff, including the guy whom the game plan is based on, (defense guru Les Kiss) is pissing off. What the Tahs have done this year hasn’t come from individual flashes of genius, but from a team that’s been forged together. This includes the likes of Dunning and Tuqiri, renowned loose canons. Lose the magic that McKenzie & Co. have weaved and the Tahs are back in the pack. Add to that one of the top two locks in the world (Vicks) and the incumbent Wallaby 6, Elsom heading to Europe, and all of a sudden the NSW alicadoos have one sticky situation in front of them.
Keeping Link on doesn’t seem so crazy now, but that would entail a climb down. Don’t hold your breath.
Queensland Reds 11 – NSW Waratahs 18 It wasn’t pretty, they got the better of the reffing and thankfully the Hurricanes slipped up in Auckland, but today’s professional win by the Waratahs has ensured some respectability for Australia’s 2008 Super 14 showing with a home semi booked in Sydney.
Yet again the back row proved the Tahs most effective attacking weapon, Waugh setting up Mums try with a great around the corner dart and offload, Elsom making runs all over the show and Palu sealing the victory with a well taken break off the back of a maul (below). In greasy conditions the backrow battle was always going to be key and despite the retiree Croft having a great game on the ground, the inexperience of Houston and Luafutu was telling.
At no stage did the Reds roll over. They showed real nouse through the midfield; Barnes still has composure belying his years (witness the classy dropgoal in the 45th minute) and Turinui has come into his own in the second half of the season. His nose for a gap and ability to pop pass from the floor has been consistently sensational.If they could transplant his brain into Rob Horne you would instantly have the perfect footballer. Morgs’ perfectly weighted chip kick for Hynes at the death (below) made the score line closer than the reality.
At the breakdown contest the Queenslanders also did well. I’ve mentioned Croft but Horwill had a good game here as well as stealing line-outs, and Rodzilla played a good cameo in the loose. Despite looking like an oversized schoolboy whose mum still feeds him, Houston can make yards. Unfortunately he also stuck his head in a maul the precise moment he should have been defending the fringes from Palu (see above).
The most press-hyped battle of the night – Portly Beale vs Quooade Kawooper – fizzled out as could have been predicted. Apart from his incredibly fugly mullet, and a propensity to bound into the air before attempting a step, there was nothing remarkable about Cooper. Beale’s won this ‘contest’, simply through his marshalling of the Tah backline and distance punting – duties not entrusted to pogo boy. Obvious room for improvement lies in Portly’s place kicking – he’d missed 3 vital shots from in front when the lead was still only 6 points.
Neither of the two are convincing defensively. Cooper puts a hit on with the shoulder but doesn’t actually want to hit the deck so avoids holding on for what can be called a tackle. Beale seems to see himself as a defensive coat check boy – he holds the the attacking runner for a beat and taps them on the back as if to say “someone needs to tackle this guy” before getting out of the way.
For the Tahs most of the usual names did great work. Tuqiri, Burgess, Vickerman et al. Although I need to mention the scrum, it’s not my imagination, it is doing well and I even have to admit that ‘Big’ Al Baxtah monstered his opposite Coutts in the first half. Not a story for the Reds #1 to tell his grandkids.
Yet again though, by far the biggest hero in this Tah outfit is Les Kiss and the team’s defense. Tonight, as per many others, the Tahs simply shut down the game when they’d got far enough ahead. While Kissy might never be head coach material, they should consider paying him about the same as Link’s replacement. It’s why they’ve got the home semi this year. No doubt.
For Reds: Tries: Hynes Pen: Schifcofske 2
For Waratahs: Tries: Mumm, Palu Con: Beale Pen: Beale
Reds: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Caleb Brown, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 David Croft, 6 Poutasi Luafutu, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Van Humphries, 3 Dayna Edwards, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Coutts. Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Rodney Blake, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Andrew Walker, 22 Charlie Fetoai.
Waratahs: 15 Sam Norton-Knight, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson. Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 David Lyons, 19 Will Caldwell, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Rob Horne, 22 Timana Tahu.
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia) Touch judges: James Leckie (Australia), Damian Mitchelmore (Australia) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia).
The Reds seemed to come into this game thinking they could out-run the Chiefs and at half time the approach seemed to have blown up on them, as they went into the sheds 3 tries to nil down. But the game got a real shot in the arse when the reds came out and ran in 3 tries of their own to give the hosts a scare at 25-20. Luaki’s intercept try finally putting the game to bed.
While the Chiefs tries predominantly came from exceptional gas out wide – their 2 try scoring winger Masaga being exceptional – the Reds took the different route, making the ball do the work on the inside channels. Morgs Pieman Turinui deservedly picked up 2 tries himself, proving like last weekend that he has a nose a gap and the line for his ample girth to truck through.
Stephen Moore also had a great game in the loose, and Ioane’s return gave the back-line badly needed spark. However the inside back combo of Cooper and Barnes isn’t working. While Cooper has been anointed with the title of precocious talent, it’s hard to see what he’s bringing to the party apart from a heinous haircut.
Plenty for Mooney to work with, the back-line needs some re-structuring if their going to go anywhere next year.
The scorers:
For Chiefs: Tries: Donald, Masaga 2, Lauaki Cons: Donald 3 Pens: Donald 2
For Reds: Tries: Turinui 2, Ioane Con: Schifcofske Drop Goal: Barnes
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Dwayne Sweeney, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O’Neill, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Ben Castle, 2 Tom Willis, 1 Ben May. Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Simon Lemalu, 18 Jay Williams, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 David Bason, 21 Callum Bruce, 22 Sosene Anesi.
Reds: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Brando Va’aulu, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 David Croft, 6 John Roe, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Van Humphries, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Stephen Moore, 2 Ben Coutts. Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Dayna Edwards, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Poutasi Luafutu, 20 Will Genia, 21 Charlie Fetoai, 22 Digby Ioane.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Touch judges: Deon vs Blommestein (South Africa), Paul Honiss (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand).
Despite sleeping on it to try and come up with some inspiration, I can’t find any glowing words about this Reds performance – unlike their showing away at the Bulls. Defense held firm, but otherwise this match was more about what the Force couldn’t do, than what the Reds could. I’m sure Reds supporters could put me straight there?
The Force had about 75% possession in the first half, but simply couldn’t do anything with it. No Giteau, no ideas.
Out of this whole sorry game – it’s effectively stuffed the chances of there being a second Aussie team in the semi’s – the only noteworthy performance I could spot was Cameron Shepherd’s. For me the Force’s full-back has been solidly in the “overrated” box. Everyone’s hope was that he’d be the next Matt Burke, but his fickle “if the ball doesn’t bounce my way then fµck it” temperament has been matched by his form when he’s not injured. However, on a losing team vs the Reds his running was electric and his place kicking impressive – the only source of Force points.
With the Reds pulling this off with no Cordingly or Latham, it will be interesting to see how many other teams runs they can put to the sword.
The scorers:
For the Reds: Tries: Houston, Turinui, Walker Cons: Schifcofske Pens: Schifcofske 3, Barnes
Reds: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Brando Va’aulu, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 David Croft, 6 John Roe, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Van Humphries, 3 Dayna Edwards, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Coutts. Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Rodney Blake, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Poutasi Luafutu, 20 Will Genia, 21 Andrew Walker, 22 Charlie Fetoai.
Western Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Haig Sare, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Scott Staniforth, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Lachlan Mackay, 9 Chris O’Young, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fava, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Troy Takiari, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Pek Cowan. Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 AJ Whalley, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Tamaiti Horua, 20 James Stannard, 21 James O’Connor, 22 Nick Cummins.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia) Touch judges: Julian Pritchard (Australia), Simon Moore (Australia) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
Some very big ups (Waratahs and Force) and some very low downs (Brumbies and Reds) in round 8 of the 2008 Super 14.
Both the Force and the Tahs got exactly what they needed. The Western Australians needed to show that they could dig deep to win against tough opposition at home, and this is exactly what they did. Trailing 3-14 at half time, the big guns Giteau, Sharpe and Cross (gotta be in the Wallaby squad now) stepped up to the plate to deliver two tries, the second of which was in the final minutes and defeat the current champion Bulls 15-14.
Giteau was absolutely everywhere in attack and defense and made things happen through sheer will and talent. Youngster second/back rower Sam Wykes was also influential in the dying minutes. Such a win was exactly what was needed to break the home hoodoo for the Force.
The wish come true for the Tahs was managing to string some attacking rugby together to whup the Blues 37-16 - finally earning a 4 try bonus point. Even with Elsom out and (maybe because of?) coach McKenzie getting the arse, they put together a great alround performance that saw them hold on to seventy odd percent of possession. Phil Waugh almost single handedly drove this stat with perhaps a career best performance. One place Australia is not short on talent is at number 7.
What was really encouraging was seeing some the younger, exciting attacking talent like Horne and Mafi (pictured) getting a run to counter the Blues pace out wide. With Jacobs out for a few weeks from a knee knock, could this encourage the Tahs management to make this more of a regular feature?
Both of these wins have set up a fascinating clash next week which cunningly Sky won’t be televising. Which win would be better for Aussie S14 finals hopes and who’s likely to pull it off?
Brumbies semis hopes went from ’slight’ to ‘fµck all’ with a 28-42 try fest spank from the Chiefs. Even with Captain Insano Mortlock back, the ACT side didn’t have to class across the park to stop the Chiefs scoring 6 tries, 3 of which came from simple ball strips straight of the arms of Brumbies players. With Sivivatu and Masaga the Chiefs have the most rediculously pacy back 3 in the comp and they made the Canberrans pay.
Encouragingly the Smith bothers George and Tyrone still oozed class and combined well for a couple of tries. I seriously think the younger brother is pushing for a Wallaby squad look as he has a great nose for the try-line.
As for the Reds, not only did they lose away to the previously winless Cheetahs, but they also lost at least half of their drive and talent for the next 4-6 weeks when Chris Latham got a knee-knock. I didn’t see the game, or even highlights thanks to Sky, but it looked pretty bleak just after the break when the Queenslanders were down 24-0.
Youngster Brando Va’aulu scored two tries in the second half to make it more respectable, but the Reds season hasn’t lived up to the dizzying heights of the win against the Bulls a couple of weeks ago and it’s all going a bit pear-shaped. Final score 29-14.
We’re now past half way of the 2008 Super 14 (already?) and it’s been long enough now to get a handle on how the Aussie sides are doing. I’ve thrown a few thoughts, see if they tally up with yours. As a reminder, here’s where the teams are in the table after round 7:
The Western Force In their controlled mix of driving and wide play, these hard-drinking, Quokka fiddlers have shown the way not just for Australian teams, but many others in terms of how to get the most out of the ELVs. Where the Tahs recruitment policy over the seasons has painted NSW into a corner, the Force’s selections are bearing fruit, with the blossoming of players like Cross, Brown and Mitchell, alongside stalwarts like Giteau, Sharpe and Staniforth.
Result-wise, what’s been most impressive has been their away form, having won 4 of their 5 away games, including against The Blues. The problem, is their habit of losing home games including a thriller against the Crusaders, and a wooping from the Stormers last weekend. It’s this inconsistency that keeps the Force out of the top flight.
Prediction: Just short of semis
The Waratahs This didn’t start as a rebuilding year for the Tahs but has rapidly turned into one, confirming the Sydney teams ability to implode just when they need it least. Win/loss wise it doesn’t look hopeless; 4 from 6. The problem has been how they’ve been playing, especially in their thrashing by the ’saders and then narrow victory at home over 13th placed Cheetahs. In S14, this isn’t just about entertainment but the bonus points that separates mid table from contenders and the Tahs have the least (1) of all of the Aussie sides.
What decisively rules out the Tahs from a finals spot are their back-line personnel; a big deficit of top-grade union experience and no kicker – from ground or hand – to speak of. With this in mind the ‘big signing’ of the off season was Tahu; a broken down mungo who’s currently re-learning how to run with a hamstring like a rubber ball. For this sort of planning alone McKenzie deserved the arse, and it’s hard to see how his impending departure will improve the Tahs chances.
Prediction: The game this weekend could well define the rest of this season for the Tahs, as the run in to the business end of the season isn’t easy. It includes; The Force (A), Sharks (H), Bulls (A), Stormers (A). Not beating the Blues (literally) home this week could start a slide to oblivion. Mid table at best.
The Brumbies From the outset this has been a rebuilding year for the team from Canberra; rebuilding the holes left by Larkham, Gregan and Paul, as well as rebuilding the knees and shoulders of Mortlock, Ashley-Cooper and Rathbone (believe it or not he’s still in the squad). And to that extent they’ve done pretty well, giving valuable experience to some young talent like Tyrone Smith and Sanualio Afeaki.
While the club and the Wallabies will be better off for it in the long term, this looks to have cruelled their season, having lost half their matches so far. While it’s not mathematically impossible for them to make the finals, it’s unlikely that the mix of returning old and new can gel in time to threaten the leaders. Add to that the news they’ve lost the chip-kicking hooker Huia Edmonds.
Prediction: It looks mid table at best for the baby Brumbies.
The Reds Already the Reds have 1 more point to their name than last year, and as many wins. So positives already. However, most of these points seem to have come from the determination and talent of one man – Chris Latham – than any real team-wide improvement.
This does make you wonder what the fµck: a) they’re going to do next year when Latham bails and b) is going on at Ballymore. Successive coaches eventually blow gaskets with the team ‘attitude’ and start benching everyone down to the ball-boys until they’re back at the beginning again. New signings tend to consist of b-grade players replacing other worn-out b-graders. Take any one with talent (Barnes or Latham) and put them in another team, like the Wallabies, and they look great. Something is definitely amiss in the land of the cane toads.
Prediction: Still to play the top 3 and The Force. Bottom four’s about right.
Overall As you can see it doesn’t look pretty for the Aussie sides. Our hopes resting on The Force winning some home games, Mortlock rescuing the Brumbies and the Tahs reversing their form. The only good bit of watching the Crusader machine has been the knowledge that Aussie Robbie is at the helm. Can he do the same with the Wallabies?
Sharks 22 – Reds 10 Thanks to Sky not giving a toss, I’ve been able to see sweet f-a of this game. But as it happens, a good pommy mate of mine – Cap’n Dan – is a BA pilot down route in Cape Town.
Bored, and hankering to bet on something, he texted me about what good value bets were to be had in the S14. Only the Reds game was left, and I thought our text conversation, being the only eye-witness account I’ve got, makes a pretty good review.
hello mystic matt – in capetown looking for a couple of betfair tips on the super 14s today to take some money off the yarpies…. whose gonna win????
Morning mate. You’ve missed most of the games – I think there’s only one left this afternoon which is the Qld reds vs the Sharks in Durban I think (so you shouldbe able to watch it over a coupla beers)
so who’s the clever money on for the durban game or is it a walkover?
The reds came last in 07, and their captain the half back is injured. Doesn’t look good for them.
reds are 7-1
those odds are probably about right. rare to win away from home in S14 actually, they’re probably generous
sneaked a few quid on the reds and feeling OK about it at the mo
what’s score, when?
10-10 half time. Reds with 70% of ball. Enjoying the gay southern hemisphere rules. Latham playing well.
Must have been a while since you’ve seen a game with tries in it. Wager?
Fiver at 7’s. have sold it at 3’s so no loss if reds lose and about £15 if they win. Not retirement yet. Seems both packs ill, replaced by 8 centres?
Watch n learn. Let me know if score changes. Still 10 all?
Yep Sharks just missed pen but ‘pack’ starting to get better of latham, sorry, reds
5 pointer sharks. Got to say the dancing girls are a class above anything you might see at leicester.
Money done?
Yes, but good call on the odds – reds only really beaten by breakaway try and home advantage. 22-10 in end. Get a feeling castle lager equals hang over…
The Scorers:
For Sharks: Tries: Ndungane, Terblanche, B. du Plessis Cons: Pienaar, Kockott Drop goal: Terblanche
For Reds: Try: Croft Con: Schifcofske Pen: Schifcofske
The Teams:
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Francois Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jacques Botes, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller (c), 4 AJ Venter, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Epi Taione, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Frédéric Michalak.
Reds: 15 Chris Latham (c), 14 Clinton Schifcofske, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 David Croft, 6 John Roe, 5 James Horwill, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Dayna Edwards, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Greg Holmes. Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Rodney Blake, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Poutasi Luafutu, 20 Will Genia, 21 Charlie Fetoai, 22 Digby Ioane.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) Assessor: Dennis Immelman (South Africa)
Another impressive win from the Force who, with a second victory in a row over on the Shaky Isles, are now definitely Australia’s brightest looking chance in the 2008 Super 14 comp. Yet again they came from behind being 28-20 down with 18 minutes to play, and the cracker of a try (below) disallowed. Even the kiwi commentators got it right.
At this stage it looks like Giteau has nailed the Wallaby 10 shirt, Cross has put his hand up for 12 and the club clutz of the first rounds, number 8 Richard Brown, is ready and waiting to fill Rocky’s shoes if he wants to come up sight seeing.
Lions 24 – Reds 24
Can’t tell you much about this one because Sky has completely ignored it, but from the reports it sounds like it wasn’t a pretty effort from the reds. Latho and Schifskofske managing to pull their arses out of the fire in the last minutes to get the draw. While it’s 2 points away from home, the Lions should be one of the easier away wins.
LIONS 24 (Joe van Niekerk Rayno Benjamin tries Jano Vermaak 3 pens con Jaco van Schalkwyk drop goal) drew QUEENSLAND REDS 24 (Peter Hynes Rodney Blake Chris Latham tries Clinton Schifcofske pen 3 cons) at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Referee: Paul Honiss (NZL).
“When the milk turns sour, I ain’t the kinda pussy to drink it”
This was a great example of a bunch of blokes simply saying ‘I ain’t taking this shit anymore’ and doing something about it. Off the back of a 16-34 drubbing at home last week, and having lost 92-3 to the Bulls last year, the odds weren’t in the Reds favour. But that didn’t matter to the likes of Latham, Roe, Cordingly, Horwill and Turinui who decided to stop the rot and record the Reds first 4 try bonus point since 2006.
The signs of intent were there early; Horwill nearly ripping some jaapie’s head off in the first maul and then Latho getting binned for use of the boot in a ruck. Perhaps the turning point of the game happened in the 29th minute when Turinui just managed to get enough on J P Nell to stop a Bulls try at 3 all. Three minutes later, the same Morgs pie-man Turinui put Latham into a nice hole and over the Bulls line for the world’s best fullback’s first try of 2008.
The rest of the first half was an arm wrestle that the home side was slowly got the better of, knocking the Bulls of the ball and out of their stride. The Reds went into the sheds at half-time up 13-3.
Five minutes after the break there was another Reds try; the forwards rumbling impressively with pop passing, and then Latham touching the ball twice in a backline movement to put Hynes over. 20-3.
The new skipper, Vanilla Gregan, said before the match that the Reds would play with more attacking intent and that they did to good effect, until in the 47th minute when a wide pass missed the classic outside backs combo of Van Humphries and Rodzilla to instead gift Du Preez an intercept dot down. 20-8.
But just when you thought the Bulls might have been about to snap back into it, they imploded. First with their 10 Hougaard getting yellowed for the most fuckwitted offside I’ve seen for a while – he simply walked around the wrong side of a ruck and then grinned like an idiot as he trotted off. Then Habana, who had a shocker of a game, managed to bungle a kick clearance back into in goal for Schifscofske to pounce on and then convert. 27-8
As a sign of the new attitude, the Reds elected for a line-out to go for the bonus point, which they got in style. Cooper chipped the Bulls backline for the ball to bounce up into Turinui’s mitts over the line. 35-8 with 5 to go. And just when you though it was all over, the Turinui-Latham combo clicked again, Latho almost clean through, with the deposed captain John Roe fittingly burrowing over for his 5th try of the season so far.
A great win for the Reds which you hope could get their season back on track, just as they head off to the Republic for a tour.
Reds: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Clinton Schifcofske, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Charlie Fetoai, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Sam Cordingley (c), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Poutasi Luafutu, 6 John Roe, 5 James Horwill, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Dayna Edwards, 2 Sean Hardman, 1 Greg Holmes. Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Rodney Blake, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 David Croft, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Brando Va’aulu, 22 Scott Higginbotham.
Bulls: 15 Morne Steyn, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Fourie du Preez (c), 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Danie Rossouw, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gürthro Steenkamp. Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Dean Greyling, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Stephan Dippenaar, 22 Dewald Potgieter.
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Stephen Hill (Australia) Television match official: Geoff Acton (Australia) Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia).
coast. PERFECT for Friday afternoon drinks with your mates, watching it on the big screen. But who’s that dude playing 5 for the Chiefs again? And who’s on the Reds’ bench this week? Where the hell can I get my hands on a match program here at the pub?
by Juan Cote
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