Our continuing series on the chances of Australia’s Super Rugby squads for 2013 today features the 2011 Champions Queensland Reds.
Best team
1. Ben Daley
2. James Hanson
3. James Slipper
4. Rob Simmons
5. James Horwill
6. Benn Robinson
7. Liam Gill
8. Jake Schatz
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. Mike Harris
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Dom Shipperly
15. Luke Morahan
16. Sia Fiangaa
17. Greg Holmes
18. Adam Wallace Harrison
19. Radike Samo
20. Ben Lucas
21. Anthony Fiangaa
22. Chris Feauai-Sautia
Other squad
23. Albert Anae
24. Jono Owen
25. David McDuling
26. Eddie Quirk
27. Nick Frisby
28. Jono Lance
29. Rod Davies
30. Aidan Toua
EPS
31. Kevin Davis – prop
32. Blake Evever – lock
33. Jarrad Butler – no 8
34. UJ Seuteni – five-eighth
35. Joel Faulkner – outside back
In
D McDuling, A Anae, J Owen
Out
Guy Shepherdson, Van Humphries, Scott Higginbotham, Peter Hynes
Season chances
The lack of personnel changes in the Reds squad shows that something is working up in the north and there are many more reasons to back this theory. With record members, a strong core of Wallabies and a team that now has several seasons to understand each other’s game, the Reds should take out the Australian conference.
Their squad of 30 is a strong squad and should be able to manage injuries. The only place I see them having a weakness in the overall squad is in their props stocks. Holmes is not a starting prop and Owen is not a Super Rugby prop, so any injuries to their big boys would significantly reduce their chances of lifting the trophy again.
Predicted finish – conference first – overall second
Key player
Will Genia is an absolute game changer. His ability to lift a team by his actions is second to none in Australia. How he returns from a major knee injury will determine the fate of the Reds’ season. In saying that, Ben Lucas and Nick Frisby are two class and able replacements.
Up and comer
Nick Frisby is a dynamic halfback that performs just as well in the fullback position. He is quick off the mark and has a sharp pass off the ground. The under-20s World Cup showed that Nick and Chris Feauai-Sautia are upcoming superstars of our game.
Best buy
The Reds have maintained a steady squad and have not needed to do much off season recruiting. Their best buy of the season would be the elevation of Albert Anae to the main squad, from the EPS. He is a good set piece hooker, with strong skills around the park. If Faingaa or Hanson are down with injury during the year, Anae won’t disappoint.
Biggest loss
Scott Higginbotham will be a big loss for the Reds, given his talent in all aspects of the game. The Reds have ample backrow talent, but Higginbotham provides aggression in attack and defence that is a great motivator for the men around him.
ibika
Guest
what happened to peter hynes??
Dadiggle
Guest
Erm what is the difference from last year considering the Lions was a bye oh wait they pipped the Sharks in one game and beat the other bye the Cheetahs in another who in turn beat the Hurricanes in NZ and got robbed against the Brumbies who in turn lost to the Sharks at home.
Dadiggle
Guest
Who are the five back up flyhalves for the Reds?
cm
Guest
I'm with you, Hightackle. Well said!
rl
Guest
I agree with you - CFS does look like he could potentially fill out more. And a correction to my comments: the Reds website has CFS as 92kgs, which is hopefully a promising sign for his continued growth and developing strength and power. As a comparison, Manu Tuilagi (also of Samoan extraction) at 21 years old is listed as 183cms and 110 kgs. He was 104kgs on debut in 2011, aged 19. If CFS, like Manu, could put on 6-8kgs of muscle over the next 2-3 years, he'd certainly be a handful at 98-100kgs. I'm not sure he's got 10-15kgs growth in him, although he's whacked on 4kgs of (hopefully) muscle in the last 12 months, so who knows?
Just Wondering
Guest
If there is all this so called talent and there is enough players to make up 8 or 9 teams why can't we have our domestic competition and be in ependent on other countries? The Super 15 competition is big enough now. Personally I would prefer to see a team representing one of the Pacific Island nations such as Samoa, Tonga or Fiji before there are more Super rugby teams. At least they play with heart and flair When our teams start being competitive constantly then you may convince me we have all this so called talent Until then 5 Australian teams is enough.
pogo
Guest
Is that really Benn Robinson on the blindside in your best team?
sittingbison
Guest
rl I heard somewhere that Gill was still growing! he was in the U20s 2012 so is now 19 or a young 20 now. He *might* get another inch, and definitely quite a few kgs this year. However I think he will struggle to get to international size 6. Not to worry, he will get a chance no matter what. CFS looks a different build to Judas, heavier in the butt and thighs. Judas has maxed out, CFS at 18 has at least 10kg more like 15kg to put on over the next two or three years. However at that height Morahan should put on 5kg (maybe 10) and aim for 13 rather than 15 and wing. At Force the centers are quite large: Cummins 189cm 99kg Dellit 192cm 100kg Rasolea 182cm 102kg Tuatara-Morrison 189cm 100kg Tupou 195cm 104kg Stanley 184cm 95kg Hayward 185cm 95kg
sittingbison
Guest
International Tests are under the IRU so they have 23. The RC is under SANZAR so they have 22. But this is my guess not gospel %)
sittingbison
Guest
of course one of the attractions of Melbourne (other than its delightful nature and facilites) is the 10 marquee spots available for a nice pay rise for the likes of JOC and Beale plus the bevy of internationals and the ex mungos
Kipper
Guest
Must say that this is a very strong looking squad. What HASN'T been mentioned is that the reds now have Richard Graham as the coach - NOT Link. Depending how much say Graham gets in the running of this squad, will determine how well (or badly) the reds perform this year. If I was a reds fan, I would be extremely nervous !!!!
Blue Blood
Guest
Good point Wilson. The cash in the pockets of playing groups would have to be drastically different between the teams. I assume all numbers would have to be media based estimates but it would be interesting to breakdown hiw many players for each conference where getting extra cash. Makes a joke of the salary cap in many ways.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Geez I hope Link doesn't think that's the best Team. Bizzare selections in the front row and backline. The Australian team I worry about the most against the Reds is the Brumbies. I think they'll have learnt a lot from last year.
Selector
Guest
The South African teams will do well for your above mentioned reasons and the fact that the Southern Kings will be like having a bye. I think the NZ teams are the most evenly spread conference and therefore it will be much tougher for 2 or more teams to make the finals. You watch the Aussie teams step it up another notch in the 'Year of the Lion', although post June/July could be a different story after our countries best battle it out with the Brits.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Hard to base a strategy around Cooper when he's injured, while it was based around him for the past years when fit.
Justin2
Guest
Thanks fellas, quite odd. What about Tests?
Justin2
Guest
He has a site? Oh dear...
Red Kev
Guest
Cooper is a kicker - his percentage is pretty much exactly the same as O'Connor's, namely 70-75%. What you don't need to do is base your entire strategy and team around an average player like Barnes or Harris and put them on the field and play for penalties which is what Deans has been doing.
Dadiggle
Guest
Cooper has been exposed. He falls apart under heavy pressure.
Parra
Guest
What has happened to Hynes? Finally had to give it away with hte knee? Cruel to have such a crippled career. One of my favourite players.