The Mighty Reds are looking even mightier
Roar Pro By bruski, 6 Mar 2010 bruski is a Roar Pro
- 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
March 7th 2010 @ 11:22am
Sammy22 said | March 7th 2010 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Tis all great to see, and the fact that there is competition for many spots.
Daley and co up front, Genia and QC (thankyou to the Tahs for taking BB, never thought i’d say that) Tough call for Deans with these two firing so well why break it up
Now is it me or does Morgan T look slimmer fitter more enthusiastic and just plain enjoying himself, keeps breaking the line and giving great support to the guys around him. He has only just turned 28 carries on like that and will be knocking on the world cup squad. Never used to be a great fan of his but seems a different attitude great.
March 7th 2010 @ 1:20pm
tarpo said | March 7th 2010 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Sammy you are right. Link has the whole squad super fit, Morgan amost looks athletic, Lerouy has lost 12 kgs, this helping play that much harder the whole game. As Robbie Deans says “guys at this level undoubtably have talent”, it is the harnessing of that talent that Link has done such a good job of.
Turinui has always been a thinking mans footballer, an increasingly rare occurrance, it looks like he has realised “you are a long time retired” & by lifting his fitness level, tackling commitement, his attacking & tactical nouse can really shine.
March 7th 2010 @ 6:47pm
Who Needs Melon said | March 7th 2010 @ 6:47pm | Report comment
I’m a Brumbies fan but loving watching the Reds. What’s worrying to me though is that if you were to pick an aussie team of the week this week, it would have:
– One Waratah (TPN)
– Two Brumbies (George Smith + AAC)
– The rest would be Reds.
That can’t be good for Oz rugby.
March 8th 2010 @ 8:48am
formeropenside said | March 8th 2010 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Rubbish, thats just back to the days of the early 90′s when Australian rugby was at its peak. More Queenslanders equals more Wallaby success; thats how it has been for the last 30 years.
March 8th 2010 @ 3:04pm
tarpo said | March 8th 2010 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
Melon, it is early days in the comp. Hopefully some of the “big names” missing will run into some form over the coming weeks, without the Reds losing form.
Another way of looking at it is that maybe Australia does have some depth & it is starting to show.
March 9th 2010 @ 5:58pm
Damo said | March 9th 2010 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
One thing Qld is showing is that when a 10 has a consistent leader at 9 he can concentrate on the job of a 10.
If the first thing a 10 has to do is recover from the halfback’s shocker of a pass or some other amateur option how can he fire up the backs?
The other 3 teams need the kind of platform that Genia is providing (it may also come from dependable mongrel in Qld pack). It sets it up for the relatively ‘easier to upset’ backs. Solidity from 1 to 9 lets the backs concentrate.
The Tahs especially need to train, convert, find or invent a platform like Qld’s 1 to 9 provide. Then at least we will know who looks like a Wallaby 10. Halangahu’s defense is good. I think his attack skill won’t be known till he gets consistent, secure, accurate service. Same for Barnes. Till injury he was Genia’s halves partner for Wallabies.