Last year a number of players parted ways with the Queensland Reds.
Dom Shipperly announced a move to the Rebels, and is delivering good results for the Melbourne men.
Another back who moved to the southern capital is Mike Harris. So far he has scored 49 points, which exceeds the total points scored by the entire Reds team.
Others to depart include Ben Lucas (Montpellier), Rod Davies (Biarritz), Aidan Toua (Agen), Jonah Placid (Rebels) and Blake Enever (Brumbies).
In return, the Reds imported several big guns from Japan, New Zealand and New South Wales. Is it enough?
Weighing up the results, so far
The Reds hired 122 kilogram tighthead prop Sam Talakai. At 112 kilograms, Adam Thompson adds around 5 kgs over Eddie Quirk. Henry Tsui is around the same weight as Jake Schatz. He is currently injured, and his form will be revealed in due course.
The Brumbies forwards are around 30 kg heavier than the Reds. A big part of this comes from the back five. The weight difference is about the same as the score difference: 29 to be exact.
The Waratahs have the same pack-weight advantage, and they too scored a similar number of points over Queensland.
The Highlanders’ forwards are 22 kg heavier than the Reds, and the team from Otago also triumphed. Their back-five weight advantage is 9kg, which is close to the Reds’ seven-point loss.
The Reds pack is 10 kg heavier than the Western Force, which is roughly the amount the Reds beat the Perth team by.
The trend, so far: Queensland fubared the recruitment
The force has 120kg Adam Coleman. The Brumbies have 120kg Rory Arnold. The Rebels have 123kg Lopeti Timani. The Waratahs have 140kg Will Skelton, and 120kg Sam Lousi, who is playing dangerously. Wycliff Palu (120kg) joins them at the back, with 120kg Sekope Kepu propping up the front.
The heaviest Reds forward is Sam Talakai. The lightest Red is also one of the lightest in Australia, Liam Gill. The heaviest of the back five is 116kg James Horwill.
The Reds forwards are not so big. Neither are the results, so far.
The lock stocks
I prayed for a heavy lock or two during the recruitment drive. A big eight would also be good. But none arrived.
The Reds were southern hemisphere champions with the lock pairing of 120kg John Eales and 122kg Garrick Morgan.
Rucking like monsters. Terrorising lineouts. Slotting penalties. Why haven’t the Reds unearthed the next ones, especially with the funds available?
Will the healed players heal the Reds form?
I hope so, despite statistics and on-field form.
Samu Kerevi is back. At almost 110kg, he is as heavy as Sonny Bill Williams, with a fantastic, fast, powerful, short profile. But like Digby Ioane, his power will be wasted without space – and may end up used as a battering ram. Conversely, with a bit of space combined with Quade Cooper, Will Genia and James O’Connor, he can cause major damage.
In their game versus the Brumbies, the Reds pack delivered some good attacking opportunities for the backs, but they were squandered. The game versus the Lions will be a benchmark for the team’s reform programme. Fans should expect a much, much better performance. The consequence being obvious for the management and coaches.
When Rob Simmons and Henry Tui return, the team’s power and mobility may improve. However, as shown by other teams, a couple of 120kg strategic hires goes a long way. Meantime, fans can only hope for a miracle turnaround to win the 2015 Super Rugby.
Harry Jones
Expert
Liam G does punch above his weight
RobC
Roar Guru
Looks like you know whats going on at grassroots Brisbane Boys. Then again if you're a BGS lad, I may have to double check :)
RobC
Roar Guru
I think he's perfect for a 7. He will wreck havoc there. I think.
RobC
Roar Guru
Gonna be a pitstop for scouts it seems
RobC
Roar Guru
RT. No offence meant. Just wanted to hear your opinion on things. And yes, a big deference to DC and the Wellington men. Kudos Reds is a coin flip mate. And against Blues - you know my views. Anyway, Reds and Blues will win the rest of all their matches and meet in the finals. Meanwhile DC is continuing his laugh..
RobC
Roar Guru
gday gs. Couldn't help myself I think you can also wait for a midget throwing contest Or does, the Gill on Nick White ruck action qualify?! Which also finally reminded me, why Gill isn’t on the roster for tomorrow.
RobC
Roar Guru
gday gs. Could help myself I think you also wait for a midget throwing contest Or does, the Gill on Nick White ruck action qualify?! Which also finally reminded me, why Gill isn't on the roster for tomorrow.
RobC
Roar Guru
me2 Liam G, is high impact for his weight. Simmons Saia too I reckon. Unfortunately, the entire Reds team can't do that. That's why they get injured imo. Big willy I believe is starting to turn things around Agree re Luatua. if he reverses this it could be the difference betwwen winning and losing the RWC
RobC
Roar Guru
The Reds have several problems. Not hiring big locks / 8 is one of the critical ones. Re skills vs Size. Scrums, was excellent considering their size. as shown by the Reds last year, can be taught within a few months. The Tahs scrum overwhelmed the Reds this year, by properly using their power (weight). This delivered the killer blow. Its even more difficult in the loose where Check ball and Jake ball are used to slow and harras the Reds in contact. But using power and mobility and judgement in the loose / loose scrum is an entirely different thing altogether. Reds, I believe need the power first, before the mobility So far, no penetration. except vs the force. Which wasnt much
RobC
Roar Guru
2011 was perfect storm: - Tahs Brumbies at their ebb. - Same for many NZ SA teams - Coach who had the skills and experience - QC Sanchez Kev skills, surprised everyone After that year, teams worked out their Achilles: - Flood the rucks - Target the halves Reds slow to adapt.
rl
Guest
I agree, my only issue is the bugger is a bit of a 'tweener' - at international level he is too small for 6, and perhaps a touch too slow for 7? Having said that, the great Sir Ruchie isn't exactly greased lightning anymore, but his speed between the ears is the most telling factor.
pjm
Roar Rookie
It may look good on programs but maybe coaches are looking at the same stats and giving them a false sense of what their pack is.
Harry Jones
Expert
I always liked the expression (from boxing): "punches above his weight." I think there are a few guys who punch below their weight From OZ--skelton From SA-spies From NZ-luatua
Who?
Guest
It's not straight weight, though. You'd think with the weight of Ben Tameifuna, they'd have a strong scrum. But the Stormers smashed them. I agree that you need weight, but straight weight's not everything. Skelton last year was an example of that. Thank goodness he's improving his workrate and core skills (scrummaging and lineout). So, yes, weight's desirable, but a relative lack of weight isn't the ultimate death knell for a team. Further, if weight was the sole problem for the Reds, then surely they'd be doing better this year than last year..? Their pack carries more weight this year than last year. Gill's no smaller, Schatz is no smaller, Thomson's bigger, the props are no smaller, Fainga'a's no smaller.... And neither Horwill nor Simmons is huge.
pjm
Roar Rookie
If you go off you have to be 'rested' for minimum 1 week.
RobC
Roar Guru
chiefs have a 30kg surplus on the Reds.
RobC
Roar Guru
Capital idea. Locks get injured a bit. Eben Brodie Kev Adam. Producers have a better nose for nonsense though Or soccer players, maybe Agree re Gotchilla. Blues doesn't have this problem. All need is a bit more experience at 9/10. And poach Damian McK Reds is the opposite. We need more power up front
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Ha! ...You cannot hurt me, I am immune to feeling crappy due to disappointments, mainly because I have had nearly 13 years of 'experience' waiting! Dunno about tman, he is too clever to 'just bite'. The Blues will come back 'roaring', a bit late for this season (ain't they always). .. they just might do a bit of damage to some of those sides who have aspirations of making the playoffs. BTW how are the Reds travelling? ... pity Reds and Blues do not meet this year.. Actually, jokes aside, digger must be laughing his head off at the moment... he must have suffered and suffered following the Canes. At least Reds and the Blues have won Super Rugby titles...Canes haven't so good luck to him but there is a long way to go yet and I am still picking the Chiefs to win the whole thing ..... against another NZ side *S*
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Lock stocks and two smoking barrell-chested props. Nice article RobC. It makes me shudder that men with that kind of weight and size are colliding non-stop throughout the game. The more I think about it, the more I like the proposal of cutting the number of substitutions or limiting them to only injury replacements (have a Hollywood actor to assess whether the injury is genuine or being faked). Like summer approaching and the layers coming off - in every sense - we have to find a way to get this overall body mass down to make this sport feasible for more shapes and sizes than an audition for the role of Godzilla.
grapeseed
Guest
I think you will find also that Sam Scott Young was 165kgs and stood just under ten feet tall, depending on who he was playing. Puntastic article, Rob. I was weighting all day to talk about something other than social acceptability in sport. This will tide me over at least until Christian Lealiifano throws up on the Pope or Matt Hodgson punches a handicapped kid.