If I was the wagering type, I would have deposited a small investment on the Reds being quite happy to board a flight to South Africa with looming assignments against the Sharks and Bulls.
It’s a little break from the unforgiving expectation levels at Suncorp, where some in the stands complained that Saturday’s win against the Rebels was “like 2008”.
It’s a chance move on from an opening series of domestic encounters which are all too often high on familiarity and low on fluency. But most importantly, it’s a way to draw a line under the corrosive handling errors that were excusable in round one but an emerging pattern by the third round.
Three games are enough to make our first tentative assessments of the year and the Reds have a points tally going upwards and a form line that is edging downwards.
The most assertive thing that came out of Brisbane on Saturday was coach Ewen McKenzie’s surprisingly brusque comments during the game about the lack of yellow cards.
The remarks were on the wrong side of churlishness as far as fairness to the Rebels was concerned.
The Melbourne side defended with vigour and enthusiasm rather than cynicism. This was a team that was advancing in its defensive line, not on its last legs and resorting to the desperate illegalities of a weary unit.
Hugh Pyle’s driving tackle into Digby Ioane metres from the try line summed up their energy levels with just 20 minutes left on the clock.
Besides, referee Angus Gardner, the object of McKenzie’s ire, had nothing to do with Ben Tapuai losing the ball in contact in the 46th minute or Scott Higginbotham throwing a loose pass for another turnover of possession three minutes later. These are but two examples that might provide an alternative source of McKenzie’s displeasure.
The Reds simply did not stress the Rebels’ defence enough to bring the sin bin into play.
Mike Harris, in particular, failed to enhance his reputation. Sharp-eyed rugby followers would have noticed that on the morning of the game that my Fairfax colleague Greg Growden put Harris’ name forward as one of those interesting the Wallabies.
The selection sands shift during the season but it is worth noting that one month before the start of the Test season last year Greg wrote that Pat McCabe was being looked at closely for a centre berth.
The spotlight did not show Harris in his best light.
Apart from one decent half break inside Danny Cipriani, he produced his most hesitant performance of the season, finishing the game at inside-centre, where he looked more comfortable. Those conducting the contract extension talks on behalf of Quade Cooper have had an excellent start to the season.
In the interests of balance it must be noted that Harris has plenty of company. Between them the five Australian franchises mustered just five tries last weekend, two of them to forwards. Some early-season back-line selections have looked unbalanced and played that way.
One of the downsides to Cooper’s absence has been the lack of width in the Reds’ attack.
Any fullback who hits the line at pace – whether it’s Kurtley Beale for Australia or Luke Morahan for Queensland – is a major beneficiary of Cooper’s outstanding, long flat passing.
Denied them, Morahan has been a virtual spectator and might end up as a selection casualty.
It would be a brave decision to stick Rod Davies at No.15 under Pat Lambie’s accurate bombs but you can comprehend the desire for extra zip. Despite the patchy work so far, having a game breaker such as Davies ready to come in reminds us that the Reds’ have the ability to move up through the gears against superior opposition.
You would also expect the big dogs of the back row – Radike Samo and Beau Robinson – to return after youth was given its head in the opening skirmishes.
There is also an element of the phoney war in the Australian derbies.
Willing they may be but nothing in weeks one or two prepared the Waratahs for the tempo and intensity they encountered against the Highlanders on Friday.
The Force’s Matt Hodgson was nearly knocked unconscious in a perfectly legal hit by the Hurricanes’ replacement hooker Motu Matu’u in Perth.
The Brumbies’ season will begin in earnest with a tough trip to face the Chiefs on Friday. Willem Alberts and the du Plessis brothers await the Reds in Durban.
Physicality goes up another notch against those with different accents.
Last year, the Reds made alerted the entire competition to their quality with a brilliantly executed victory in Cape Town. Champion sides are judged by higher standards and Australian rugby could do with them putting down another marker.
Funk
Guest
"I don’t rate the Reds never have".......yeah brilliant comment! Typical bad sport comment from someone who is hoping it might pay off this year seeing as it was complete sh!t last year! We reds fans have heard this same drivel for the entire year, last year mostly from nz commentors (calm down not all nzer's), and have laughed all the way to the final. Time to think up something new Rb!
Red Kev
Guest
I actually though Simmons played really well last year, for both the Reds and the Wallabies. But he has been pretty poor so far this season.
Rugbug
Guest
Difference being last year Bill they played all the top teams at home bar the Stormers and they did not face the Sharks at all. This year the Reds will have to play all of last years finalists playing four of the 5 on the road lets see how well they do then. I don't rate the Reds never have and I have made no bones about that here at the Roar, I picking they will struggle this year on the road against the traditional powerhouses of NZ and SA rugby (Sharks arguable). The Waratahs if they can get it together are my pick for topping the Australian Conference
dc
Guest
True but the Tahs always peter out....ie, loss to the Cheetahs last year....remember?
drop kick
Guest
"They will score more tries than the Tahs" They didn't last year and so far this year the Tahs have scored twice as many as the reds.
Sprigs
Guest
Paradise will be when Quade returns and when the crowd rises up and silences those Indigo ads broadcast at every blow of the ref's whistle.
Sprigs
Guest
Canes more than the Chiefs?
Sprigs
Guest
Dead right. The NZ teams are "playing a faster up tempo style". The Highlander forwards are a good example. They are quite amazing to watch, but must be hell to play against. What's got into them? I think their national team will be better than the one that took the Cup.
rl
Guest
Another good contribution Paul. I think rather than putting Davies in at 15, Link would be better to go back to Lance, or why not put Harris back at 15? (one of his preferred spots) Give Lucas some run at 10, maybe even bring Diggers in to 13, to get his hands on the ball a bit more.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Same comments as this time last year to be honest, and it was the Tour to South Africa which defined what they were all about. Juan Smith even publicly ridiculed them. The "No one thinks you can do it" message works with this team.
Denby
Guest
Red Kev, Great post. It is amazing to finaly hear a Red supporter describe Faingaa for what he is, a great club rugby player who does not have the talent, size, speed or power to play Super Rugby. The guy gives his all but Cooper made him look better than he was all last year. Taps is quality and Harris is a better center than flyhalf. I always thought Simmons was also over rated.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
So you DO think the Australian teams are the weakest teams?
Justin
Guest
Cmon SP - everyone knows that the Aussie teams are the worst ever fielded. Havent you read the posts on this site?
Suzy Poison
Guest
Look I agree the Reds aren't the Reds of last year, but and this is a big but, they are still wining. Winning ugly , but winning. Winning has become a habit, and regardless of what you say, they are topping the table. Don’t be too harsh on them, although McKenzie is starting to sound a bit like he used to sound when he coached the Tahs. He was very defensive, wasn’t he? Besides as a Saffa, I am not that confident in the South African sides. The Bulls should have beaten the Blues, but rely on Morne's boot more than anything. When he has a bad day in the office, like last weekend, they are completely bereft of attacking ideas, apart from the usual kick and chase that sides worked out in 2009. The Bulls have some youngsters coming up in the ranks, they have picked the cream of the new crop, but they may be a year of two off, gelling as a side yet. I personally don’t rate Morne Steyn. I would rather see any of the other new young bucks play 10 for the Boks than him. The Cheetahs 10, Johan Goosen is good, so is Elton Jantjies at the Lions. Both these sides give the ball air, and it’s good to see. The Sharks are packed with Boks, but never seemed to deliver? Bismark should be tearing teams apart, but he is not. Could it be that perhaps, he never was any better than an impact player? Lambie is having second season blues and Beast’s injury was a big blow. I think it’s a 50/50 call against the Reds. Could go either way. The Stormers are not firing either. Their backline play is shocking. I just don’t see any Saffa sides challenging for the title this year. Seriously, it’s the Kiwi teams and then daylight. Highlanders, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Blues and Crusaders, any of these teams can make the top six. I reckon three kiwi teams might make it this year. It’s unlucky for them, that they are all in the same conference.
tommy
Guest
Very harsh on Genia IMO. There is not a chance in hell in that Genia will be benched if fit. I always watch him closely during a game & he is constantly yelling at forwards & organizing the backline. His passing is as good as ever also. The only critism is that he is not making unbelievable breaks through the middle of the fiield & scoring memorable tries like that ripper in the Super Rugby final last year. This is slightly harsh..
dc
Guest
The Reds are definately missing the Quadey spark and long pass. He must be very happy about that. I rate the Reds defence, shape and organisation. They will score more tries than the Tahs so will finish on top of the Aussie conference. Genia might need to add more bows to his armoury or work some new game plans with Link because his little darts around the scrum have been worked out. I go for the Canes. Still waiting for an article on them - maybe by round five aye Spiro? Go on, you know you want to!
The Bush
Roar Guru
It could be a case of "slowly, slowly" and that the momentum will come. The one thing I really like about the Reds has been our committment to youth, with a smattering of loyalty. Whilst the Waratahs have done well to buy Pretorius, I really think the Waratahs and Reds should be committed to giving locals a go - I refuse to admit that Queensland can't be completely self-sufficient in players. One player who may have been shown too much loyalty is Davies. When he blistered around half a team a while back there was excitment that we'd found a true flying winger. Unfortunately, that seems like the last exciting, worthwhile thing he's done on a rugby field.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I too was surprised that Genia didn't come in for more criticism. Could it be a case that he simply doesn't like playing with Harris as much as he does with Cooper? Perhaps he's still physically tired? If it is a case of complacency then one would think Link has the coaching nous to drop him as a lesson.
rl
Guest
Genia could do with a rest on the sidelines too.
rl
Guest
agree Kev - after a long wait I think Holmes' time has come again.