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.

There's more important things to spend money on!

And what do you get for it? Ads on every second page. Generic player interviews telling me about Digby’s tattoos and that Ben Daley’s nickname is “Dales”.  Well forget that. All I need is the team list, and a couple of ladders – who’s doing what well.

So here it is. You’ve read the preview, now all you need is to download your very own version of the program.  If you’ve got the technological nous, print it off double sided, fold it in half and Robbie Deans is your dad’s brother.  If you don’t know your mouse from your elbow, then just print the damn thing off and staple it in the corner. Take it along to the pub with you and you’re all set.

Better yet, save it to your “G&GR” file, and e-mail it to all your mates you are meeting down the pub.  It’s the ultimate fasion accessory for 2010.  It’s what all the read rugby fans will be carrying with them. And if by chance your going to the game? Well, shees, we’ve just saved you a tenner (feel free to donate it back to G&GR via our home page).

In the meantime, keep watching for the release of the Tahs v Sharks and Brumbies v Lions editions pretty damn soon.

Enjoy!

Please Note:  Match Programs now released for the Brumbies and Tahs.

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.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ump2RmqBs[/youtube]

For the rest of the games click

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBLotNk0K8Y[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pfyf3Mgz1s[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j6wiiDEzLM[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwXBcp368P4[/youtube]

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.

This Ballymore Jim. A fantastic brand & a shithouse asset!

Carmichael’s role at the AFL was Head of New Business and Enterprise.  I can’t tell you what that means except to say I don’t believe the AFL, given the importance they place in the area, would promote people to senior strategic positions if they didn’t ‘get it’.  Interestingly prior to this role, Carmichael was responsible for the AFL’s 150 Years Anniversary Celebrations leading up to, and during, 2008.  Now part of me thinks that makes him a glorrified event manager.  The other part of me suggests that he was responsible for bringing together a national campaign of the highest importance to that organisation. Very successfully.

In the end Carmichael is a highly experienced sports administrator.  He’s not the glorrified publican that Ken Freer was. He’s not the accountant that Theo Psaras was.  He’s not even a former player/coach that Jeff Miller was. In fact he is quite the opposite. He has a very limited rugby knowledge. But I get the sense that that is EXACTLY what the Reds need right now. A completely different, yet experienced, perspective on the organisation and in deed the sport in this state.

Good luck Jim.  You’ll need it.  But I get a feeling things are starting to fall into place.

What….you’ve heard me say that before?? Well, I’m a Reds fan. If I don’t have unjustified, baseless, blind hope everynow and again, what do I have?

Mooney....or Mormon?

Mooney ups the ante

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 trial loss to the ‘Tahs last week and the prospect of seeing how the extended 24-man squad performed against a Blues outfit that has yet to record a win from its two pre-season outings

Speaking exclusively to Green and Gold Rugby, Mooney said he was happy with how the squad was progressing and that he himself had learnt a few lessons from last year.

“Last year was about setting a platform and changing the way we played, 12 months down the track we can be more specific about the way we play and channel our energy.”

“There were times last year when we played some pretty good rugby and we threatened sides, but we weren’t good enough to finish them off.  We needed to be more clinical with our attack, we needed to be fitter and we needed to be better with our defence,” Mooney said.

Hardly a ground breaking statement, as I’m sure all coaches would have written to Santa hoping for improvements in these areas as their Christmas wish.

Mooney backed his statement by adding, “Six times last year we scored three tries in a game so being able to come away from games with the four try bonus point is something that teams who make the finals do consistently, so that is something we are certainly focused on. The flipside to that is teams were able to score 5 or 6 four try bonus points against us so our defence has to be better”

Mooney who said he believes a points tally in the high-30’s will be needed to make this year’s finals, predicted that the returning Wallabies would add the necessary toughness and experience needed to win the close games and turn wins into bonus point opportunities.

“Robbie Deans has put a lot more polish on these guys, they came back to us more confident and more composed and have had the affect of lifting the standard amongst the other guys, with the additional composure I would expect that games we just lost last year, we should win”

New sponsors, new players, new attitude – there is something special brewing at Ballymore.

Reds’ team to play Auckland Blues at Waitakere Stadium, Auckland 30/01/09

1. Holmes (capt) 9. Genia        17. Weeks
2. S. Faingaa        10. Cooper        18. Daley
3. Edwards        11. Hynes        19. Higginbotham
4. Simmons        12. A. Faingaa        20. Luafutu
5. Humphries        13. Turinui        21. Lucas
6. McMeniman    14. Ioane        22. Va’aula
7. Braid        15. McLinden        23. Connor
8. Houston        16. Hardman        24. Davies

Berrick Buns - excited to be captain

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.

Only nine players remain from when Phil Mooney took the helm, it is certain they are the player’s the second year coach has faith in, and around them he has built an impressive battery of youth.  Add to this the uncompromising Daniel Braid and an old-pro league refugee like Mark McLinden, and you get the idea the Reds might not win the title, but those that beat them will earn the victory.

Other than Barnes’ anointment as Reds caretaker captain, Mooney suggested the team to take on the ‘Tahs in Toowoomba would be the dirty-dirties. Barnes will play in number 12 this season and the favourite for the full-back spot is Mungo McLinden.

As usual, the last trial game against the Force will give an indication as to how the Reds will line-up for the season opener in the Republic; I don’t expect surprises in the starting XV however the likes of Rodney Davies and Lawrie Weeks will feature on the bench one suspects.

Forgive my Red coloured glasses, but I am looking forward to this season, unlike those of the recent past.

by Juan Cote

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. 

Mungo Mark Mclinden

Recruitment for 2009 seems to have been a fairly eclectic affair, perhaps underlying the fact that the Reds aren’t exactly a ‘first choice employer’ for players in this part of the world.  The ‘big’ signing for the Reds was that of All Black Daniel Braid, a good move that will cover for the loss of Croft and give the Reds some much needed experience in the forwards.

The two-for-one signing of the Faingaa twins, Saia and Anthony, from the Brumbies was a surprise but not half as much as the signing of Mark McLinden from UK league – not too sure what the rationale behind that one is? A promising No.8 from Otago named Ezra Taylor is an interesting gain, injured quite badly last season he will be looking to displace Leroy Houston who was one of the Reds’ best toward the end of last season.

The other new boys are a mixture of ‘pups’ from various academy sides as well tight-head prop Laurie Weeks from the much lauded Sydney University scrum and fullback Rodney Davies from the Brisbane Broncos.  Davies was an Ipswich Grammar School rugby prodigy (as was Berrick Barnes) who spent a year with the Broncos junior team and may well find himself as first choice fullback to start the season.

Forwards

The Reds look like being one front-row injury away from oblivion – only two Props and one Hooker who are up to Super 14 standard.  Pressure will be on Saia Faingaa to provide reasonable back-up to Sean Hardman while Dayna Edwards and Greg Holmes are the only experienced props. With James Horwill unavailable until mid-Super 14, the Reds second-row stocks are also thin.  It will be up to either youngster Rob Simmons or Waratahs academy signing Adam Brynes to provide back-up to Hugh McMeniman and Van Humphries until Horwill returns to the fray.

The back-row will be a positive for the Reds with the likes of Braid, Taylor and Houston as well as the West’s Bulldogs triumvirate of McMeniman, Scott Higginbotham and Tasi Luafutu providing plenty of options for Phil Mooney as well as cover for injuries. The Reds forwards weren’t disgraced last season however it remains to be seen what impact the loss of Moore, Blake, Roe and Croft has on the consistency of the pack this year.

Backs

Quade influencing people

When you look at the up and coming back-line talent in Australian Rugby at the moment, most of that talent is concentrated in Queensland.  Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane were the biggest Wallaby improvers in 2008 and when you add Ben Lucas’ name to that list – who would have toured with the Wallabies but for injury – it makes fairly impressive reading.

Half-back is a concern with only Lucas and Will Genia being specialists, an injury to either could see Barnes having to spend time filling in which would diminish the Reds attacking effectiveness.
Full-back is a position where there is no clear choice, the contenders are Davies, McLinden or academy graduate Aidan Toua, none of which inspire tremendous confidence.  It may come down to Hynes to fill the role however this seems unlikely due to Mooney’s reluctance to play him anywhere but wing. The Reds only scored one ‘4 try’ bonus point last season however this year the backs look as though they could be a real attacking force, provided they get decent ball that is.

Prediction

It is hard to see the Reds finishing any better than mid table given the upheaval that has taken place over the off-season and the amount of talent that has left the side. A fully fit Reds outfit reads very well on paper however the chances of a team going through a season without injuries is non-existent.  Depth in the front-row, half-back and full-back positions are a major risk and when added to the general lack of experienced players, the Reds will lack the fire power to win the ‘big ones’.

Last year the Reds only managed three wins however they also drew one match and lost another three by less than seven points.  This year the Reds realistically can win all their home games (6) and maybe sneak another couple on the road (the Waratahs game for sure!!) which would give them about 32 points, give or take.

Best Match-day Squad

1. Holmes

2. Hardman

3. Edwards

4. Horwill (c)

5. Humphries

6. McMeniman

7. Braid

8. Houston

9. Lucas

10. Barnes

11. Ioane

12. Cooper

13. Turinui

14. Hynes

15. Davies

16. Faingaa

17. Weeks

18. Taylor

19. Luafutu

20. Genia

21. Fetoai

22. Connor

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).

Chiefs 32 – Reds 20.

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

Yellow Card: Schifcofske (Reds) – deliberate foul, 35.

The teams:

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).

Reds 29 – Force 12.

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

For the Force:
Pens: Shepherd 4

Yellow Cards: Schifcofske (19th minute – Reds: Professional foul ), Pocock (72nd minute – Force: off-side)

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)