S15 Rd 1 - Brumbies v Reds, Friday 13th February

[Hugh Jarse]

What's the go with Stephen Moore punching Reds players and not getting cited?

Becoming an annual event. From the archives:

 

[boyo]

JOC (James O'Connor) is coming.

So is winter.

 

[mudskipper]

What's the go with Stephen Moore punching Reds players and not getting cited?

Pffft... Really ... Reds forwards 17 penalties...2 yellow cards...

 

[Slim 293]

What's the go with Stephen Moore punching Reds players and not getting cited?

Geez...........

If I squint real hard I can see the second shooter behind the Gregan-Larkham stand.............

 

[mudskipper]

Moore was pull down by the reds '16... Moore was just showing some daylight...

 

[Braveheart81]

Moore was pull down by the reds '16. Moore was just showing some daylight.

A couple of hookers fighting over a corner?

Talk about playing to stereotypes.

 

[Gnostic]

Of the starting packs I would only take Slipper and Simmons to improve the Tahs pack.

In terms of depth I don't really agree either. Beau Robinson is probably a bit better than Pat McCutcheon but it's hardly a big gap.

Who exactly are you talking about?

The Reds set piece was excellent last year but they lost the battle around the park pretty much every week.

The Tahs were generally just adequate at set piece and their physicality was dominant almost every week.

On paper as a whole the Reds pack has the talent and potential to be better and covers the skills sets for each position better. This year and last. The issu is as I said at the start of last year after the trials I doubt that RG has the ability to achieve that potential from his players. In practice they do not achieve the results that their available talent suggests they should, as I said much like the Tahs until Chieka.

 

[Micheal]

Of the starting packs I would only take Slipper and Simmons to improve the Tahs pack.

In terms of depth I don't really agree either. Beau Robinson is probably a bit better than Pat McCutcheon but it's hardly a big gap.

Who exactly are you talking about?

The Reds set piece was excellent last year but they lost the battle around the park pretty much every week.

The Tahs were generally just adequate at set piece and their physicality was dominant almost every week.

I would only take Slipper. In terms of Super XV I rate Dennis / Skelton / Potgeiter / Holloway above Simmons. Test match, maybe not.

 

[Braveheart81]

On paper as a whole the Reds pack has the talent and potential to be better and covers the skills sets for each position better. This year and last. The issu is as I said at the start of last year after the trials I doubt that RG has the ability to achieve that potential from his players. In practice they do not achieve the results that their available talent suggests they should, as I said much like the Tahs until Chieka.

I really disagree.

LHP: Slipper is better than Robinson and as I said one of the only Reds players that would start for the Tahs. I'd prefer Tilse to Daly.

Hooker: TPN is better than Fainga'a. Hanson is better than Latu but not by a lot. Who knows between Roach and Paraka but I'm happy with Roach.

THP: Kepu is miles ahead of Holmes and I'd rate Ryan and Ala'alatoa higher than Talakai and Faagase.

Lock: The one area where the Reds are stronger. Simmons is a clear first choice but at the moment I'd much prefer Skelton to Horwill. Dennis, Chapman and Lousi will probably serve us better at Super Rugby level than Ed O'D and Kotze.

Openside: Hooper is well ahead of Gill now and as I said, Beau Robinson might be marginally ahead of Pat McCutcheon and Dempsey and Gunn are probably a toss up.

Blindside: I'd have Potgieter, Hoiles and Gray ahead of Thomson, Browning and Quirk.

No8: Palu is well ahead of Schatz. Holloway is also ahead of Lolo Fakaosilea.

I just don't get where you're coming from here saying that the Reds have a better pack on paper. Maybe the skill sets of each position (at least at Super Rugby level) are outdated. The Reds have been excellent at scrum and lineout and belted around the park in just about every game.

I agree that they have more talent than the results are reflecting but their problems are fairly profound.

Who are all these amazing Reds forwards who are just not being coached well particularly when we're discussing depth?

 

[mst]

Geez.....

If I squint real hard I can see the second shooter behind the Gregan-Larkham stand.....

We were on the grassy knoll and saw a dark headed bloke; photographer, looking like he was about to lose his shit. acting really desperate. He was ranting and raving crazy like. Then we heard a shot and he left. The wife snapped this picture on her mobile phone just before he left in a vehicle with a Reds sticker on it:

 

[mudskipper]

I really disagree.

LHP: Slipper is better than Robinson and as I said one of the only Reds players that would start for the Tahs. I'd prefer Tilse to Daly.

Hooker: TPN is better than Fainga'a. Hanson is better than Latu but not by a lot. Who knows between Roach and Paraka but I'm happy with Roach.

THP: Kepu is miles ahead of Holmes and I'd rate Ryan and Ala'alatoa higher than Talakai and Faagase.

Lock: The one area where the Reds are stronger. Simmons is a clear first choice but at the moment I'd much prefer Skelton to Horwill. Dennis, Chapman and Lousi will probably serve us better at Super Rugby level than Ed O'D and Kotze.

Openside: Hooper is well ahead of Gill now and as I said, Beau Robinson might be marginally ahead of Pat McCutcheon and Dempsey and Gunn are probably a toss up.

Blindside: I'd have Potgieter, Hoiles and Gray ahead of Thomson, Browning and Quirk.

No8: Palu is well ahead of Schatz. Holloway is also ahead of Lolo Fakaosilea.

I just don't get where you're coming from here saying that the Reds have a better pack on paper. Maybe the skill sets of each position (at least at Super Rugby level) are outdated. The Reds have been excellent at scrum and lineout and belted around the park in just about every game.

I agree that they have more talent than the results are reflecting but their problems are fairly profound.

Who are all these amazing Reds forwards who are just not being coached well particularly when we're discussing depth?

I'd rather the Brumbies pack... Potgieter was the only standout in the Tahs pack last year

 

[Micheal]

I'd rather the Brumbies pack. Potgieter was the only standout in the Tahs pack last year

Palu?

Hooper?!?

Kane Douglas?

Kepu?

Skelton?

Hooper?!?!

Hooper?!?!?!?!

Did you watch a Tahs game?

Anyway, I digress... This is not a Reds vs. Brumbies vs. Tahs thread.

 

[Braveheart81]

I'd rather the Brumbies pack. Potgieter was the only standout in the Tahs pack last year

LOL.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Last time I checked, the Waratahs didn't play last night....

 

[mst]

Bit of relief for the Reds scrum as the Shmit brothers come on.

Shmit brothers look like they have steep up from last year - thank god!

 

[Merrow]

Palu?

Hooper?!?

Kane Douglas?

Kepu?

Skelton?

Hooper?!?!

Hooper?!?!?!?!

Did you watch a Tahs game?

Anyway, I digress. This is not a Reds vs. Brumbies vs. Tahs thread.

Skelton? Seriously? 20 minute man over 80 minute Carter.......ffs no.
Poey over Hooper any day, and Butler over Palu. i think he'll be a bolter come RWC time.

 

[Braveheart81]

Skelton? Seriously? 20 minute man over 80 minute Carter...ffs no.
Poey over Hooper any day, and Butler over Palu. i think he'll be a bolter come RWC time.

This was in response to a comment about last year's forward packs. I agree that Butler is very good but still think he's unlikely to be in the frame for the RWC but Pocock and Butler were certainly not better last year than Hooper and Palu.

You might prefer those players as a Brumbies fan but trying to claim that two of the best forwards in the winning side in 2014 weren't well ahead of them is pretty far off the mark.

 

[Tomikin]

If you went back three years the Reds were the spine of the Aussie team, been a huge influx since then from the Brumbies. They've still got a very experienced tight five but bloody hell if you lose a game by that margin defence and breakdown must've been shoddy from them.

To answer your question Poey was good, I think took the points from Gill, run and passed well, should have got a try but shot his load early and stretched for it. Can't blame him though, he hasn't played for 2 years and was after some meat.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

To be fair, Bam Bam did well but the Reds piggies were so poor, Dame Edna could have been playing #8 and she would have bagged a couple of meat pies from the base of the Ponies well structured rolling mauls.

 

[mudskipper]

Palu?

Hooper?!?

Kane Douglas?

Kepu?

Skelton?

Hooper?!?!

Hooper?!?!?!?!

Did you watch a Tahs game?

Anyway, I digress. This is not a Reds vs. Brumbies vs. Tahs thread.

Well competent but not amazing, certainly not better...