Good evening and welcome to this Australian local clash as the Melbourne Rebels take on the Queensland Reds from AAMI Park in Melbourne. Join The Roar at 7.40pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.
Both teams will be desperate for a win tonight after suffering losses in previous rounds.
Tonight’s match is particularly important for the Rebels if they hold any hopes of keeping up with their conference rivals and realising their desire to make the playoffs for this season. Converting their home matches to wins is a must.
The Rebels’ forwards have been in fine form this season, able to compete well in the set piece and also able to maintain possession for long periods of play.
However, the Rebels have failed to convert that possession all too often into points on the scoreboard and that predictability on attack is making them too easy for oppositions to take advantage of.
One feels that if their attack can gain some momentum they will have too much in the tank for an underwhelming Reds side so far in this 2015 season.
A number of poor performances from the Reds has heaped the pressure on Coach Richard Graham and that has only intensified after the Reds now appear well out of the running for a playoffs berth.
The Reds have had their share of bad luck with injuries this season, but their complete lack of cohesion at times and general poor decision making has made this season hard to watch for the Reds faithful.
While a team containing the likes of Will Genia and Quade Cooper should never be discounted, it is hard to see the Reds turning things around tonight against a quality pack that the Rebels possess.
There were signs of life however with the injection last week of Greg Holmes at tighthead prop in the second half who added some rigidity to the and direction to the Reds’ forward in their unsuccessful comeback attempt against the Lions and more of that will be required tonight if the Reds are going to get over the line.
Join me as I cover all of the match live here on The Roar to see whether the Rebels can keep their season alive or if the Reds can finally provide their fans with something to smile about.
Tip: Rebels
Rob G
Guest
Ewen Mckenzie was his biggest fan and convinced the board to hire him
pjm
Roar Rookie
How dumb was QC's tackle. Either he was trying to be a hard man by putting his elbow behind his shoulder turning it more into a point or they have a tackling coach who has no idea about biomechanics. Judging by the injuries and physical condition the side is in I doubt their S+C department has much idea as well.
pjm
Roar Rookie
I'm not being hard on him, I'm just saying what he's like. He's average, that's about it. Certainly not a marquee signing.
Lano
Guest
Yes agree, I was a bit off subject.
grapeseed
Guest
Horwill, Genia and Cooper have a life time pass with me because of 2011, so I'm not about to tear them up because of last night's performance. Yep, Cooper's missed two sitters (last week and this week) that could have done a lot to put the Reds two from two. Yes, Genia is still handing over possession with 20m third phase box kicks with no chasers. But Big Kev... Those yellow cards against the Brumbies, and that red card last night for an act of selfish, undisciplined petulance that destroyed his team's momentum - I find it hard to be forgiving the morning after. Those focussing solely on Graham are showing understandable bias towards the dominant narrative that the coach is to blame for all QLD's woes. I think this is a red herring. I actually felt sorry for Graham and most of those players in the 21st minute when their former captain abandoned them to 60mins of energy and morale sapping handicap. It's funny how sometimes you just can't get a break (unless it's a collarbone), but my objective mind puts this one squarely at the feet of James Horwill. Reckless, dangerous and, worst of all, pointless.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Yes, it is Hoy. I see incompetence and parlous execution on the field, in the play, with the ball. I hear the fault lies with someone who is not there with them forcing them to do that. If a centre focuses on "being in the right place at the right time" in defence, and a second five focuses on "being in the right place at the right time" in defence, and a first five and a winger do the same, then there is a fair to middling chance they, as a unit, will "stop an opposing TEAM". If the players talk to each other, on the bus on the way to the ground, about what they each do in the team - exchange Christian names and jumper numbers, that sort of thing - they will swiftly develop "an understanding of everyone’s job etc". They are not pre-schoolers needing guidance in botty care, and they have enormous amounts of time on their hands to become better at their job.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Not only that but there are times when you can watch a team play and work out what they are up to. The game plan might be to kick deep for territory and try to pressure the opposition into mistakes, or play a running game with lots of lateral movement to catch the defence napping, or use rolling mauls or pick and drive tactics to dominate in the forwards. After watching the Reds in the last few games I have no idea what the game plan was, if there was one.
paleocortex
Guest
I felt sorry for the ref. He was having a Barry, and he knew it. Have reffed the game myself at a high level (Kenmore U10's). Very, very difficult job they have. Nonetheless Matt's performance last night was embarrassing.
ethan
Guest
Thanks BFC. Can't catch a break.
Combesy
Guest
Why? Because people make ridiculous statements and I rebuttal it.
Daz
Guest
I have it on pretty good authority that Graham won't be there next year. They don't want to sack him mid-term but like Quade, Genia, Horwill and many others they've had their chances.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
So Horwill has a brain snap and gets red carded. So now everyone is on double tackle duty [126 to 52 according to The Australian]. So now Cooper gets injured rushing up to tackle a prop. So now Graham turns to ;- "Plan 9 from Outer Space" and puts Frisby at 10. So either sack Graham or get Ed Wood to direct the worst Red side ever.
Rob G
Guest
Pretty flawed logic...but whatever helps you sleep at night ZG.
Rob G
Guest
however in saying that....frisby at 10. Come on!!!!!!
Rob G
Guest
I personally don't think he is a great coach. but there is far too much coach blaming going on when players like horwill do stupid things to get red carded 1/4 of the way through a game. The coach can't be blamed for that loss.
Rob G
Guest
I also has just watched the replay brett and couldn't do anything but laugh at the suggestion he meant to pull out a yellow.....or the other justifications. Cynical and extremely stupid play. I have no idea how he thought he would get away with that. Well to be honest i don't think much thinking was happening.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Because Foley has been the only first line kicker in the Wallabies.
Digby
Roar Guru
I know, it's getting silly now!
AJ
Guest
Before the once great Reds disintegrate to total rubbish they need to get rid of Richard Graham now, today. How can the board explain why they employed him in the first place. Maybe board needs to be replaced as well. How many of them fork out for a ticket every game. Last nights game was just trash. Just very sad.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I disagree Mick. I think coaching at this level is important for the reasons we are seeing at the Reds... We all learn how to tackle, pass, clean out etc. But if we don't keep training with the correct form, then we "unlearn", cut corners, pick up lazy cheats etc. Yes, they might be able to tackle, but the TEAM's defensive SYSTEMS are poor. They can't seem to stop an opposing TEAM. It isn't about making tackles, though practice there would be good as well, but being in the right place at the right time, having an understanding of everyone's job etc... I would suggest a better fitness regime might be handy, but that is speculation. Face it, blame the players all you want... The fact remains that the head coach of a team has less than a 30% win rate. Across two teams. Still the players?