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Reds 2021

liquor box

Peter Sullivan (51)
I dont recall any "beaten" opposing prop ever make a big deal out of illegal scrummaging after losing a scrum to the Reds, if he Thor is so obviously cheating then surely it would have been resolved a long time ago, opposition coaches usually have a way of mentioning this type of thing in the media and getting action too.
 

Brumby Runner

Jason Little (69)
Last word on the subject, but just how long did Joe Moody (?) get away with his shenanigans before a GAGR expose brought it to notice?
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I’ve read plenty of times that both on here and on the Roar that Tupou will get found out by better refs. But he’s played under the best refs there is and while he does give away a few penalties, by and large he earns more than what he gives. So I don’t know what refs you, and others, are waiting for.


My take on Tupou's scrummaging is that he does push the envelope a bit much.

He is immensely powerful at scrum time but a couple of years ago in Super Rugby he was at the top of the list for both penalties generated and penalties conceded. He is so aggressive that he forces the referee to penalise one way or another more than most props.

I think he'll end up much better if he reserves those efforts where he's really trying to steamroll the opposition to fewer times a match and tries to reduce the number of penalties he gives away as a result. By picking his moments better he's trying to generate 75% of the penalties for but halve or less the penalties he gives away.

A similar concept applies for pilferers. Guys who go hard at every breakdown will win more penalties but infringe more often. When they reduce the attempts and really pick their moments they'll still get most of those pilfers but they'll reduce the penalties conceded a lot because they aren't having a crack at the low percentage options.
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
My take on Tupou's scrummaging is that he does push the envelope a bit much.

He is immensely powerful at scrum time but a couple of years ago in Super Rugby he was at the top of the list for both penalties generated and penalties conceded. He is so aggressive that he forces the referee to penalise one way or another more than most props.

I think he'll end up much better if he reserves those efforts where he's really trying to steamroll the opposition to fewer times a match and tries to reduce the number of penalties he gives away as a result. By picking his moments better he's trying to generate 75% of the penalties for but halve or less the penalties he gives away..

During the 2020 regular season Tupou only conceded 2 penalties at scrum time, conversely Sio was penalised 14 times.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
During the 2020 regular season Tupou only conceded 2 penalties at scrum time, conversely Sio was penalised 14 times.


I think he's getting better and better and his ceiling is the best player in his position in World Rugby.

In 2019 he was the most penalised player in the comp.

I think Sio's days of being in the best Wallabies 23 are numbered if not already over.
 

upthereds#!

Peter Johnson (47)
I think he's getting better and better and his ceiling is the best player in his position in World Rugby.

In 2019 he was the most penalised player in the comp.

I think Sio's days of being in the best Wallabies 23 are numbered if not already over.


I disagree and this is why.

Sio is only 29, whilst Slipper is top seed atm, he will be 34 at the next WC, so a coin flip whether he will be an epic bench man or retired. See how he goes.

Bell is only 20, so we don't know yet whether he will develop enough to overtake Sio, because he definitely hasn't yet.

HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Orr and Robertson aren't in the conversation. There is no other 19 or 20 year old running about who could develop fast enough in time to replace him. Only other threat is Eloff who has only just started to show something at 22 and again, no idea where he will get to and currently not yet matching Sio.

Point being, at this stage he is a lock in for the Wallabies 23 and has a better chance then not of being in the 2023 WC 23.
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I think he's getting better and better and his ceiling is the best player in his position in World Rugby.

In 2019 he was the most penalised player in the comp.

I think Sio's days of being in the best Wallabies 23 are numbered if not already over.

Were those penalties for open play or scrummaging?
Because he was heavily penalised in 2020 as well(remember the late hits), however only 2 of those penalties came from scrum.
 

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
I disagree and this is why.

Sio is only 29, whilst Slipper is top seed atm, he will be 34 at the next WC, so a coin flip whether he will be an epic bench man or retired. See how he goes.

Bell is only 20, so we don't know yet whether he will develop enough to overtake Sio, because he definitely hasn't yet.

HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Orr and Robertson aren't in the conversation. There is no other 19 or 20 year old running about who could develop fast enough in time to replace him. Only other threat is Eloff who has only just started to show something at 22 and again, no idea where he will get to and currently not yet matching Sio.

Point being, at this stage he is a lock in for the Wallabies 23 and has a better chance then not of being in the 2023 WC 23.

I think it’ll take Eloff an age to get qualified. Doubt we’ll ever see him in gold. Could be Bell/Slipper by 23.
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
If Stewart is held accountable for little issues off the field then both Petaia and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) should be dropped next week.

Hamish to 12, Hunter to 13 and either Droasese to the wing or Jock there with Bryce to fullback.

Blyth back to partner Smith or Uru at lock.
 

dru

Tim Horan (67)
If Stewart is held accountable for little issues off the field then both Petaia and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) should be dropped next week.

Hamish to 12, Hunter to 13 and either Droasese to the wing or Jock there with Bryce to fullback.

Blyth back to partner Smith or Uru at lock.

Sorry. Petaia and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) had issues last week up there with turning up to training drunk?
 

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
If Stewart is held accountable for little issues off the field then both Petaia and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) should be dropped next week.

Are you implying that those two have also had little off field issues too? Or are you saying that Petaia & LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)'s on field discipline is a just as much justification for benching?
 

jl75

Chris McKivat (8)
Seriously Brad Thorn. Hell the hell does Thomas get a reds jersey. There are better 9’s currently playing prem grade at the moment. So bloody wrong. Some of these 9’s can’t even box kick or pass of the ground. Of course they can run. The 3 of them are identical. Just can’t do the simples right. Who you know I guess.
 

liquor box

Peter Sullivan (51)
Seriously Brad Thorn. Hell the hell does Thomas get a reds jersey. There are better 9’s currently playing prem grade at the moment. So bloody wrong. Some of these 9’s can’t even box kick or pass of the ground. Of course they can run. The 3 of them are identical. Just can’t do the simples right. Who you know I guess.

Did he make errors tonight?
 

PhilClinton

Geoff Shaw (53)
Seriously Brad Thorn. Hell the hell does Thomas get a reds jersey. There are better 9’s currently playing prem grade at the moment. So bloody wrong. Some of these 9’s can’t even box kick or pass of the ground. Of course they can run. The 3 of them are identical. Just can’t do the simples right. Who you know I guess.

Which prem grade halfback should be in the squad ahead of Thomas?
 

The Nomad

Bob Davidson (42)
Seriously Brad Thorn. Hell the hell does Thomas get a reds jersey. There are better 9’s currently playing prem grade at the moment. So bloody wrong. Some of these 9’s can’t even box kick or pass of the ground. Of course they can run. The 3 of them are identical. Just can’t do the simples right. Who you know I guess.
Think you might be forgetting a little thing called COVID and what it meant to all rugby squads last year.

Firstly they went into a strict bubble, no ins and outs based on club form , just the blokes who already had some sort of contract , even if it was just a development one.

Secondly , they have no money to contract more players.

Today the Reds pulled their squad players from QPR trials because of COVID , happened two weeks ago as well. Would guess that are preparing for another possible bubble .

So basically means no one from outside the existing squad is considered, you might not like it , but strange times .
 

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Did he make errors tonight?

I thought his passing was good and accurate, was a key reason for Mafis third try.
He tried one box kick which was pretty average and only went about 10m. He looked a bit hesitant and nervous, which is expected given he is on debut, but he was trying to direct the forwards
 
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