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.
Rockin Rod
Guest
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
Damo
Guest
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.
tarpo
Guest
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.
formeropenside
Guest
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.
Who Needs Melon
Guest
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.
tarpo
Guest
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.
Sammy22
Guest
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.
CraigB
Roar Guru
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.
Cattledog
Guest
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.
tarpo
Guest
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
Balthazaar
Roar Rookie
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!!
bruski
Roar Pro
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.
sambobly
Guest
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.
Rockin Rod
Guest
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
Harry
Guest
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.
JamesI
Roar Rookie
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.
JK
Guest
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
Guest
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
Roar Rookie
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.
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
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.