Picture this – the Reds versus the Chiefs. For the winner, the prize was a place in the semi-finals.
The Chiefs, the former premiers, would go onto win the Super Rugby Championship. The Reds lost 34-9, but didn’t go down without a fight.
Now, back in reality in 2014, the Reds are in the bottom five of the table with only four wins from 13 games. With a little over a 30 per cent win rate, the Reds are looking like missing the finals.
What has changed since last year? The Reds coach of three years, Ewen McKenzie, has since left and is coaching the Wallabies. While that may be a significant change, the success of a team can’t come from just the coach or one player.
Ewen McKenzie has been known to build sides and put them onto the path of success, but what has happened with the Reds?
The Reds should be a good team with big names like James Horwill, Will Genia, Quade Cooper and James Slipper. All of these men are playing for Australia.
Could it be the speculation surrounding James O’Connor?
After previously being released by the ARU for off-field incidents, it was announced by the Reds board that James O’Connor may be joining them next season as a winger. We know the history between him and Cooper, a lot of drinking and going to Hungry Jacks at 1am a day before a game.
So maybe this has unsettled the Reds and their culture.
“I was with him (O’Connor) in 2010 in the Wallabies and I thought he was the best winger in the world at that point in time,” Reds coach Richard Graham said at the time that the signing was being debated.
O’Connor is undoubtedly an amazing rugby player. He is very young and perhaps just going through the whole early 20s party phase.
But would he be a destabilising influence on the side?
“There is absolutely no doubt about his footballing quality, he is an outstanding footballer. Over time, potentially moving from wing or full-back into the inside backs compromised his development but certainly as a winger in 2010 I thought he was outstanding,” said Graham.
The Reds have a strong history, winning four championships (1992,1994-95 and 2011) and making it into the semi-finals eight times.
But with a poor showing in 2014, this history is at stake.
Someone in the Reds management needs to work out where the side are going wrong, and soon.
Peter Hughes
Roar Rookie
Reasons for Reds demise should be quite simple to any close observer - a combination of facotrs starting with 1) Coach Graham - his poor record with every Super team he's coached continues - appears to be particularly weak in defense. 2) Long list of star players out of form - Horwill, Genia, Faianga bros, Robinson etc etc - only in form players are Harris, Cooper, Slipper. Reds have gone from Title contenders to bottom dwellers with almost the exact same squad. Main change has been the Coach.
Mike Caxton
Guest
I think we've got to ask ourselves what role Tony Abbott has played in all of this.
Ethan
Guest
JOC is on the other side of the world, and he is the reason the Reds are losing?
Garth
Guest
I'm still waiting for an answer as to why Beale & Cooper get forgiven their transgressions (assault & burglary, respectively), yet JOC is condemned for all time because of series of relatively minor faux pas. Which Beale and/or Cooper are also guilty of. In fact, thinking back to last year's EOYT, quite a few of the Wallabies are guilty of as well. So, can SOMEONE please tell me,why is JOC so reviled?
RobC
Roar Guru
Brumbies beat Reds in June 2011 in Suncorp by 8 points. Earlier that year, Reds 'Jake-balled' the Brumbies and won via penalties (6 points). Brumbies scored four tries to Reds one. Since then: - Reds have kept most of their 'core' players and intensified running rugby, 9/10 oriented game. They have steadily dropped their standing - Brumbies JW came in, changed many players, and focused on discipline/consistency. Result: 5th, 2nd. This year: 4th so far Its not just the Brumbies. Chiefs, Tahs, Sharks, HLanders and Canes have made some difficult changes and overtaken the Reds.
handles
Guest
Coached by Richard Graham. We would probably still lose.
Daz
Guest
I'm pretty sure you've wasted more than five minutes of your life. Hell it probably takes you that long to do up your shoelaces.
Daz
Guest
I really hope he has. There are not many things sadder in this world than to see great potential unrealized. JOC may have decided to make the change but he needs some tough love from some pretty strong individuals to help him make that journey complete. Unfortunately under Graham I don't see that happening at the Reds. Maybe Cheika at the Tahs would be a better fit but where would you fit him in?
Zero Gain
Guest
What a load of rubbish. The Reds of 2011 would wallop the Brumbies of 2014 with their cynical Jake ball. You are dreaming, buddy.
stillmatic1
Guest
"Players like Quade and Genia are better at playing what is in front of them with a limited game structure of patterns". I hope you weren't one of the people death riding Robbie deans when he was wallaby coach, bones? he seemed to cop a lot of flak for letting quade et al "play what was in front of them" when the results didn't got their way.
Lindommer
Guest
What bit about selecting players in form don't you understand, fos? Especially those NOT wearing red.
craigo
Guest
FFS, So according to this article, the possible/or not recruitment of JOC next season has been the downfall of the reds this season. Real in depth stuff there.
jason8
Guest
Well then who hired the bloke ? There are plenty good coaches out there !
Brian USA
Guest
I dont think they NEED JOC, but he will certainly be an asset on the field. A back line of Genia and Cooper in the halves, with Tapuai and a healthy CFS in the centers, with a healthy Turner and Davies on the wings and JOC at full back would be dynamic....if they can get front foot ball. What the Reds NEED, is a hard running back rower who is a contrast from Shatz or Quirk (Browning shows some promise). They also need to develop some consistency in the front row (they have been shuffled around more than a deck of cards in Vegas). A reserve lock who can create impact off the bench after Simmons is pulled for giving away his third Pen would also be helpful (Not O'Donoughue or however you spell it).
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Rubbish Jiggles.
Yogi
Guest
Oh well it was good while it lasted.
Yogi
Guest
The under 20 fullback is the next big thing. I think he is signed to the reds. Jonah placid.
Dru
Guest
Guys, while we may defer here to Jiggles comment, doesn't it depend who this squad member is? Jiggles the statement is interesting and I thank you for it. But without disclosure (and obviously you can't) we are only going to struggle to put it in perspective.
bryan
Guest
I hate to say it, but most of those players left QRU not for money but opportunity. There is only so many starting positions in the reds, and if your 4/5th in line, then you better move your ass somewhere else. And sometimes, this thing called a mistake is made by the amazing QRU and they do not see the potential in a player and let them develop by giving them the oppotunities. The Brumbies, force and rebels are the most possible thing for australian rugby. Its like NSW in cricket. Not many oppotunities in NSW, but a hell of a lot of ex-NSW players are doing very well for other states and have Australian selection on the cards.
Zero Gain
Guest
What a silly and baseless comment, as usual....