The Queensland Reds’ 2011 success seems so long ago. Once again the proud rugby state flounders at the bottom of the table, but the Waratahs should be on alert.
Suncorp is a fortress for the Reds. Much like their rugby league counterparts they are expected to grow an extra few inches in front of a home crowd that will still be thirsty for the blood of New South Welshman.
Queensland may have lost their mojo for this season but there is no doubt that the world class cattle still lurks dormant in the Reds jersey. Expect the Reds to dislodge the morale vampire that is Richard Graham from their neck and play with the same abandon that almost scalped a full strength British Lions side.
Saturday night is the last game of 2014 for Wallabies aspirants to impress their former mentor Ewen McKenzie and show him that the Queensland ferocity in their cauldron in Paddington has not diminished.
I am predicting a fearless assault by the men in red to take the prized scalp of the minor premiers. They will swing for the fences in the last game of the season. As fate would have it, just to sweeten the deal, it is New South Wales. It is also days after the Maroons clawed back some respect at the same venue in State of Origin 3.
There is a very real anti-NSW cult in Queensland, that was particularly ignited in 1962 when NSW refused to tour as they believed that the Reds were no competitive enough.
During the 1980s we saw a refusal to tour by many Queenslanders for the 1982 Bledisloe series when the Ella brothers were picked in preferred positions by the New South Wales raised coach Bob Dwyer.
Former player Stan Pilecki has gone on record to question the heart of the Queenslanders this season – and this will serve to further stoke the furnace.
When I think of the ambushes staged in the past on finals bound teams at Suncorp it is hard to pick a favourite.
The performances the Reds have pulled on Super Rugby finalists the Bulls and the Crusaders in 2010 and 2011 respectively at Suncorp were for the ages. The 2007 Reds had the wooden spoon in their sights but also upended the Wellington Hurricanes, finalists from the previous year.
In 2008 they pounced in vengeance on the Bulls after the 90-point thrashing in South Africa the year before, and pounded them into the Suncorp turf 40-8.
Can you name your favourite ambush by a home team playing possum?
Men in the blue corner be wary – a battered former champion awaits in the red corner with one round to go… and they have nothing to left to lose.
JB
Guest
I agree that reds were better on the night no doubt, the reds did the business, all I'm suggesting is give the reds zero home games and give the crusaders 7 or 8 home games and it's highly probable the reds wouldn't have won the title, they finished with superior for and against and only one win behind the reds. It's very hard to say as good as that reds team were they would have won in christchurch
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
Kerevi looked very good but we must remember it was against the Western Force whose defence imitates tissue paper when they play someone half decent...
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
I think you said it all when you mentioned you had to google which Australian teams had won before.
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
Tell him he's dreamin! Home advantage only gets you so far. It doesn't turn a 12th placed side with a points difference of -88 into a team that beats a bigger, faster, fitter team with the minor premiership under their belt with a round to spare and the best attack and defence in the comp (PD +188). Queensland will be valiant, no doubt. But they will simply be outclassed.
Gasparin
Guest
That's a joke JB and you know it. You can only beat the team that is in front of you and the Reds beat the Crusaders twice in 2011 - the first at Suncorp because it was their year to host, and the second at Suncorp because they topped the table and earned the Final. Any talk of the poor Crusaders being hard done by is farcical. They did bloody well to make the final, but were beaten by a white hot team who were better on the night.
Squirrel
Guest
Third graders
Snowflake
Guest
will people stop talking about Pococks abilities he has played 5 games in 2 years. He has to earn the no. 7. You all talk about other players that get injured too often Palu,TPN and yet I wouldn't want Pocock in No. 7 until he has played at least a super rugby season not injured.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Caught anything yet will? :)
Squirrel
Guest
You got the rub of the green against the cheetahs when qc thought he was a quarter back
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I have to disagree. When the Reds were doing it tough, they could lose every game but if they could beat the Tahs then it was a successful season. That is how seriously the Reds take this game. Exactly the same as in league with State of Origin.
jameswm
Roar Guru
You're missing the other crucial ingredient, and that's coaching.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I'm afraid it's little brother syndrome. it reminds me when I was coaching kids club rugby. We had a stronger team than the other one at our club in that age group. They'd be fired up for our annual game (and I'm taking 9-10yos), and fall in a heap against the other teams, who intimidated them. We'd do well against those other teams, and treat the other team in our club the same as any other team (and beat them each time anyway). It was disappointing from our point of view, but that's sport.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Nah I'm not sure Pocock will ever get back and how old is he now? Still young? Gill is a quality and well-rounded player, it's just that Hooper is better. I see the two of them being our two 7s for many years, and we need both of them.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I don't hate the Reds - not sure what gave you that idea. I just don't think the suggestion that they have sensational players who will come good on Sat is right. I do think you need to get rid of that coach. I've never been impressed with him. It didn't help when he brought the Force across to Sydney once and said their aim was to play so negatively, and force the Tahs to do likewise, that the Tahs fans start booing them. Class act. I agree with most that you need a good prop and backrower, and the rest frankly is coaching. Genia and Cooper with Lucas as halves hackup, Taps, kerevi and CFS as centres with AntFinger as backup, JOC at 15 if you get him - that's a quality Super backline. In the forwards Gill is a good 7 and you have Schatz and Browning - but you need a Potgieter type - I'd say a SAfrican or Argentinian prop and back rower, with attitude.
Simon Bedard
Roar Pro
Yeah they have nothing to lose, but they are a long way off having much to offer. Most of the team has been injured, and the rest are either rookies or journeymen....certainly not game makers/breakers. I think the Reds will play with passion, they will try to salvage some pride, and of course they can win. Anything is possible. But if the Waratahs get in front by 10 points or more, we will see the wheels fall off....big time.
Antennae
Guest
Ah! Even worse. Australia's tall poppy syndrome. Funny how NZ commentators have so much more respect for our players than we can bare to admit. AAC, Hooper, Palu, Kepu, TPN, Falou, Beale and now Foley are all 'world class'. Skelton, eventually. 'World class', whatever that means. Carter is a relic, I would pick Foley over Cruden at the moment. Any national team would use AAC in some way. Hooper now exceeds Pocock, McCaw and Dusetoir (spelling). As a Sydney man, Ive only ever found the NSW-QLD rivalry to be nothing more than entertainment. But, the way u Qlders carry on when u are not winning is just shameful. Keep QLD out of the Wallabies, they are bad for the culture and morale.
Rebel
Guest
He was in Qld because the storm recruited him, just like Inglis. No more.
JB
Guest
QLD aren't that far off, one or two big forwards and a fit genia and cooper next year I think they will be a handful, they definitely need some firepower in the backrow though. They were unlucky not to get a couple of wins particularly against the Lions. I think some of the criticism has been over the top.
JB
Guest
couple of QLD comments here too Combesy from QLD fans wishing tahs get nothing but injuries this week also to stuff them for the finals. There is always a minority that unfortunately misrepresent what the majority actually thinks. I cheered my bollocks off for QLD in the 2011 Final after the tahs were cleaned up earlier in the peace, I hazard to guess most Reds fans would do the same for the tahs if they were against overseas competition come finals time
JB
Guest
To be fair Kevin the 2011 title will always have an asterisk against it given the crusaders year. For me that crusaders effort was one of the best and gutsiest I have ever seen. Great final and reds were a great team but do you honestly believe it was an even playing field that year?