The Mighty Reds are looking even mightier
Roar Rookie
By bruski, 6 Mar 2010 bruski is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Anthony Faingaa, QLD Reds, Reds, rugby, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Will Genia
Queensland Reds player Digby Ione breaks through. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
This year I have been delighted in how the Reds have been playing their rugby. I have held off on cracking the Champagne corks, as it is only early. But three rounds in, I have seen enough.
The first thing that stands out when watching the Reds is their defense. They hunt in a pack – not a pack of forwards, just a pack of Wolverines.
Everyone is involved and eager to wrap someone up and jump back to their feet.
Watching young backs like Anthony Faingaa going about his business in defense is not only inspiring, but is proving the catalyst for the rest of the team to counterattack or suffocate the next phase of play by the hapless attack.
The same goes for any other Red in any other position on the field: tthey are committed that little bit more to the art of defense than most other teams I have seen this season.
Sure, they have let through a few tries through misreads, particularly with Chambers being in the line. But that is something that will continue to improve.
This defense is giving Queensland so many counter-attacking opportunities that teams would not have normally let us have. This has many knock-on effects, both mentally and physically, to the attacking then defending team!
Then you look at the forward pack. Any Wallabies in that pack? I think there may be at the end of this season.
Like his brother, Saia Faingaa, is playing superbly around the park. His throwing could become more consistent, and he tends to switch off whilst defending the line-out, but his general play has been a revolution for Queensland so far this season.
Our second-row is tough and uncompromising.
Higginbotham on the side is still a little wet behind the ears and runs a little high now and then but he is going great. Even Houston is looking like a footballer again, but still has a bit more to do with his fitness yet.
And Braid is playing like the classic number 7 should: in everything and working himself to a standstill.
Even when the likes of Greg Martin says that the Reds have nothing but young ordinary players, you can see that attitude and commitment can overcome any other team that they come up against.
You don’t need to have a big name, just a big heart and a good shoulder.
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- Explore:
- Anthony Faingaa, QLD Reds, Reds, rugby, Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Will Genia
Balthazaar said | March 6th 2010 @ 4:34am | Report comment
The 4th round didn’t go to badly either!!
I’d love to know what Berrick Barnes really thinks about his move to Sydney now.
bruski said | March 6th 2010 @ 5:53am | Report comment
I only have three fingers, thanks for pointing out that 4th round
I think we are playing better without Berrick to tell the truth, a lot has to be said about having one five-eighth in the team and a bloody good halfback.
JK said | March 6th 2010 @ 7:43am | Report comment
I think inadvertently Berrick coming to the Tahs has done a great service to the Reds and possibly the Wallabies, I’ll admit I have been very dubious of QC, now nothing but a fan, If he keeps it up a headache for Robbie I reckon, Git’s needs to pull the finger out.
Justin said | March 6th 2010 @ 7:07am | Report comment
“a big heart and a good shoulder.”
I love that line and sums up pretty well the Reds at present. Mind you they have some real attacking weapons. Cooper has grown enormously since being in the Wallabies And has been the best 5/8 here so far by a country fricken mile.
Wavell Wakefield said | March 6th 2010 @ 7:10am | Report comment
Cooper = what a transformation. As a neutral (i.e. not Australian) I’d love to see him playing 10 for Australia with Barnes at 12. He’s electric.
JamesI said | March 6th 2010 @ 7:34am | Report comment
Bruski, I’ve been incredibly impressed and surprised with our improvement this year and whilst loath to criticise after such a great effort last night, but I think Faingaa’s throwing needs to be improve far more than just becoming ‘more consistent’. How many times did he get pulled up for not throwing straight last night? I lost count, and a couple of those lineouts were in pretty good attacking positions. It is a real balance, he does add so much around the park but consistently wasting our own throws kills any momentum.
Also agree we look a lot better with Genia and Cooper directing the attack than last year. IMHO Genia has future Wallaby Captain written all over him. There you go, just given him the kiss of death for the rest of the year.
Justin said | March 6th 2010 @ 7:39am | Report comment
It’s a bit like Burgess. You continue to pick someone when their core skill is not acceptable. It can’t be long before he is benched if his throws don’t improve. You can’t surrender primary possesion so often.
JamesI said | March 6th 2010 @ 7:44am | Report comment
Actually just checked the game stats which state the Reds only had 1 line out throw not straight – I certainly thought we got pulled up several times – so apologies Saia, my judgement was perhaps clouded by a cocktail of Heineken and blind QLD passion.
Harry said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:24am | Report comment
No you are on the right track James his throws were often midirected – there is certainly a lot of room for improvement. But he’s going great around the park and the scrum seems to be getting better as well.
tarpo said | March 6th 2010 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Well I counted four throws that were lost possession for dud throwing + another lost lineout that was marginal. His throwing wasn’t much better against the Crusaders either but the bounce of the ball (bobbling around the lineout at times) went the Reds way that night & saved his Stats.
Saia has noticeably picked up his game around the park this year, but hey at this level he needed to.
If you can’t throw accuratley, you can’t play hooker
Rockin Rod said | March 12th 2010 @ 5:53am | Report comment
Sorry James
Genia wallaby captain,i dont think. James Horwill will captain reds next year and is still young.
Genia is same age as Pocock and if he stays at the Force has been given the c next to his name and Deans sees him as the future captain. I agree Genia has done an amazing job and leading from example but future wallaby captain not so sure
Rockin Rod said | March 6th 2010 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Its about building combinations and Genia/Cooper combination is the best in Australian rugby. Why not have it at the national level. Go the REDS. March 15 is only a week away and i havent heard about any resignings from the REDS. Pull your finger out Reds managemnet and lock these boys in before Melbourne take them. 24 off contract including Cooper and Hynes. Not a good time to come out and say you a broke . noooooooo
sambobly said | March 6th 2010 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Saia Faingaa is a headache for mine. He plays incredibly well around the park and with the scrum going so well (see domination of the chiefs for confirmation) I wouldn’t change him. At the same time the lineout is probably the (consistently) weakest part of the reds game and a lot of the problem can be put down to his throwing. If he was throwing in better he would be probably in the top 1 or 2 hookers going around in australia.
bruski said | March 6th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
I think that he will get there regarding his throwing. Lets look at Stephen Moore in comparison, his throws are ok but again inconsistant – But around the park he constantly gives away bone-head penalties which I dont mind if he is playing for the Brumbies but when playing for the Wallabies it drives me nuts.
I would prefer Faingaa’s inconsistant throws to penalties given away in front of the posts consistantly.
I thought his throws were drifting a little bit last night not really misdirected. He is very young yet and has a lot to improve on. In the hooking stakes for Australia I think my top three are:
1. Tatafu Polota-Nau
2. Saia Faingaa
3. Stephen Moore
I know a lot of people may think this so far off base that I live on Mars or even QLD (
) but I cannot forgive players giving away penalties as Moore does.
Polota-Nau is a fearsome attacker of bodies when in defense and can definatley run and support the ball carrier out wide and works well in tight too. I think his experience over Faingaa makes him the 1st choice hooker.
Although bot my number 1 and 2 choices for national hooker are a little wayward in the throwing department.
Balthazaar said | March 6th 2010 @ 10:56am | Report comment
As we’re discussing one of the Reds’ front rowers, I’ve got to say how impressed I have been by Laurie Weekes and Ben Daley.
Where have they come from?
Around the park Weekes is exceptional for someone that looks completely unathletic, and between the two of them the Reds have benefitted from good tackling, amazingly some great handling skills, and strong ‘hard yards’ running around the rucks.
Most importantly, since that crucial tighthead against the Waratahs in the second half, I don’t remember too much going wrong with the scrum.
AND! good on Sean Hardman for staying tight with the Reds after so many seasons.
AND! there is still Wallaby Greg Holmes on the bench, and Danya Edwards, who scrummed so strongly last year, within the squad.
I think that’s about it!!
Cattledog said | March 6th 2010 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
A bit of hype about QC and how good he is at the moment. However, I would like to see the stats on missed tackles for him. The crucial one against NSW and 3 stand out from last Friday. At least BB was extremely consistent in that department. I think QC may be of the Campo ilk when it comes to tackling! Can’t really fault his attack, however.
CraigB said | March 7th 2010 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Let me nail my colours to the wall and state upfront that I am a Brumbies man. Having said that I rate the Reds currently as the best OZ team thus far. They play hard nosed entertaining rugby. They have made some defensive lapses (1st 15 minutes against the CHiefs) but you can never question their endeavour. They seem to want to play for each other and that is not only a sign of a good team, but a good coach. Link has come and made this side better than it was previously and done so very quickly.
W Genia is the new C Latham. He is their go to man, their guiding light. The one who can be counted on to do something special when required to inspire the team. It comes as no surprise that QC game has improved as the Genia star has risen. By contrast look at the Tahs 5/8 hotseat playing alongside a far more erratic 1/2.
The biggest challenge for the Reds is getting the consistency, do that and look out S14. You won’t see many players leaving the Reds for a while if they get that right.