Legendary Reds and Wallabies prop, the late Stan Pilecki, was once attributed with the following quote, pre-match in the Wallabies’ dressing room.
“You blokes pat each other on the back when you make a mistake,” he told a modern Australian team. “In our day we’d walk up to that idiot and say, ‘Don’t f—ing do it again’.”
Frankly, after the Reds’ performance against the Sharks on Saturday night, they could do well to take heed of Pilecki’s advice.
While there may be some team issues to be improved at training, such as mauling and adapting to the rush defence, the Reds were significantly let down by individual errors and soft play. This was maddeningly exemplified when in the 74th minute the Sharks pinched another Reds ball and their number eight Sikhumbuzo Notshe ran 50 metres through four weak tackle attempts, including by relatively fresh bench players, to put winger Madosh Tambwe away for a try.
Yet despite this, there were head pats and cuddles all round when a Reds player needed consoling for a mistake or and even more when he did something good. This comically included when the Reds finally scored a try off a rolling maul in the 87th minute against a Sharks team reduced to 14 players, despite the fact that they had irretrievably lost the game and couldn’t get a bonus point.
Overall, the Sharks game continued the pattern of losses against good sides – the Brumbies, Lions and Jaguares before this – where the Reds play well for the first half but then capitulate in the second. They were all tough matches that included away games after a lot of travel and tough conditions, but on the law of averages a decent team should have found a way to win at least one of them.
The try fest against the Sunwolves last week gloriously demonstrated the fruits of Reds attack coach Jim McKay’s hard work in creating a flowing attack, when the Reds do all the things leading up to the backs running riot. However, it is no secret that the Sunwolves are not very good and in games against the better teams, mistakes in other elements of the game are preventing the Reds from translating that attacking potential into wins.
While coaches can do a lot to motivate a team, in the case of the Reds it has become clear that the players need to take more responsibility for their individual performance and to hold each other to account for them.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
It doesn’t necessarily mean swearing at a teammate for making a mistake like would have happened in Pilecki’s day, but if a mate stuffs something up then don’t make him feel better about it by hugging him. Don’t say anything and let him live with a bit of discomfort, knowing that he has let his team down. It is amazing how that can sharpen the mind.
Perhaps the Reds could also tone down the try celebrations and leave the self-congratulatory behaviour until they have actually won. Because at the moment they seem to have been going into the sheds at half time a bit smug, after which the oppositions have come out at them like a bat out of hell and won the game in the second half.
Finally on Brad Thorn, Bryce Hegarty recently spoke on how the Reds players have backed Brad Thorn for the way he has built their team.
Given the number of young players that Thorn has given a chance to and ultimately developed into regular Reds players and even Wallabies, this loyalty would seem to be well and truly deserved.
Many supporters also like what Thorn has done, but the reality is that there are many other fans who for various reasons have gripes with Thorn and if the Reds do not dramatically improve over the rest of the season, the chorus to have him removed as Reds coach will become hard for the QRU to ignore.
Tim Horan recently gave the Reds a reasonable pass mark of eight wins this season and they have 11 games left in which to achieve that. If the Reds players are as loyal to Thorn as is suggested, then they need to put the maximum physical and mental effort into their individual games and start playing like they mean it.
Harry
Guest
So tonight against the Crusaders another thoroughly predictable "brave effort" with a "narrow loss and lots to build on." Don;t believe a word of it. The Saders rested a lot of their best players rightfully judging they'd be able to handle the reds easily enough, and so it proved despite the deceptively flattering scoreline (for the Reds). So its 1 from 6 and does anyone seriously think we are likely to win 7 from 10 to break even from here? Once again dumb management in playing poor old Tupou the full 80, Thorn will burn him out soon enough. Oh we are close I hear you all say. Nonsense,. Haven;t won a game in NZ for 7 years. shameful stuff for a once proud rugby state and if Thorn has any honour he'll resign at years end if his record is less than 8 wins. And for gods sake get a goalkicker. Like I said earlier this week, for a professional team to be at 14 B standard is just ridiculous.
Harry
Guest
Spot on. I only know this as a rusted on Reds supporter and close follower. The team has been poor for the last 7 years after the glory years of 10-13. There has been much whispering and allegations of "poor culture". Meanwhile the results have plummetted and the list management I would contend has been utterly woeful. Let us remember last year's absolutely ridiculous and destructive situation where Queensland rugby literally paid in total $750,000 to Quade Cooper, James Slipper and Karmichael Hunt to play for other Australian teams and beat the Reds. If you want a better "Culture" then for goodness sake have the honesty and integrity to explain the rationale for the decisions and accept accountability. For the avoidance of doubt, by you I mean the administration, the coaches, and the players.
RobC
Roar Guru
could be right James
Gary
Guest
" the culture at the Reds was toxic and needed to be changed if the Reds were going to be an effective force in rugby in Australia again. Reds players (and former players), officials, support staff and Board members I am familiar with can recount tale after tale of unacceptable toxic behaviour that had to be addressed " Care to elaborate on " tale after tale unacceptable toxic behaviour " who when and what ? Otherwise it is all heresay and just plain nonsense.
Jamie
Guest
They will lose the next 3 games. Bulls are still a decent team.
Gav
Guest
If the Reds don't beat The woeful Bulls at home next week ,QRU must act swiftly and boot him back to NZ immediately.
oldoneeye
Roar Rookie
Clearly the players are accountable for their high error rate and inability to close our most of the games this year. The quality of the coaching is evident in the way in which the Reds perform for most of the game. The ability to close out a game comes from mental toughness and that is missing in some of the players at the moment. Mental toughness can be encouraged, and it can be coached but, in the end, it only comes from within. The constant harping on from many about how Thorn has treated Cooper, Hunt, Slipper etc is so ill informed and mis directed and not worth reading. While I have great respect for these players and personally enjoyed watching the play for the Red, the culture at the Reds was toxic and needed to be changed if the Reds were going to be an effective force in rugby in Australia again. Reds players (and former players), officials, support staff and Board members I am familiar with can recount tale after tale of unacceptable toxic behaviour that had to be addressed. Regardless of who was to blame for the culture, culture only changes when there is wholesale change in personnel. So it is, and so it will always be. Time to move on reaching back to how the Reds management dealt with players. The relevant issue is whether this current crop of fine young Reds players will develop the mental toughness that their current coach exhibited when they were players. They have great role models in their coaching staff. Its time for the players take the lead in demonstrating that not only have the skills but they are now able to match that with the mental toughness required to close out games. This is not a coaching problem. It was evident in the game against the Sharks that the Red forwards were not on their game. Players that would usually be able to match it and dominate were not able to do so in that game. The body language and the look on their faces told the story. The forward game was a much tougher contest than they had expected and it caught them out. The rest flowed from that.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Thanks for the response Danny. I have a huge issue with former great players being promoted into high powered coaching positions seemingly just because of their player status. I think that regardless of what Brad's exploits as a player were, as a coach he should be judged purely on his performance as a coach, and I think it is thus far sorely. lacking. Don't think it is the binary decision you make out. There is still quality Aussie coaching talent available and there is certainly quality coaching talent from abroad available. Penney coaching the Tahs, for example, is a huge step up. And who knew anything about McKellar until a few years ago? When Thorn moves on, the Reds just need to run an open hiring rounds and hire the best candidate. Thorn's certainly recruited a very talented young team. There is a lot to work with with the Reds.
Danny
Roar Pro
Thx Dilkington appreciate your views and as I suspected, on Cooper many disagree. I think he was a serial offender definitely not a one-off-field 10-years ago guy. The larceny, the fox sports implosion, the on field shenanigans, the three amigos - the list is decent. He was exited on the no di(khead policy many successful teams have deployed over the years. Yes, who is or is not a dh is subjective and coach's prerogative. Coaches live and die by all their decisions. Given results, the latter is likely Thorn's Reds destiny. Were he Brad from nowheresville would I have been as forgiving? Probably not in all honesty. But he is Brad Thorn QLD loving Broncos champ, Crusaders champ, ABs champ, RWC winner, European cup winner, QLD country winning coach who's legendary self discipline had him still playing solid 1st grade in his 40s. So I thought it worth a punt because I've loved QLD rugby over the years and hoped he could be the catalyst to end the then 15-year mostly slump. Not-to-be sadly. Well worth the shot though I think. I mean, what's next? Another Aussie no-name and more years of rubbish?
RobC
Roar Guru
Stewart should never have been chosen in the first place.
RobC
Roar Guru
I thought Stiles was a brilliant NRC coach, but promoted too early. Same for BT When they do replace BT. I hope they retain and develop him. And I hope they bring back Stiles: - as a set piece coach and develop him too. - Stiles set piece coaching during his time, was second to none in SANZAR.
RobC
Roar Guru
Not soon enough
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Rhys. Very good point about the reward punishment thing. BT? His next games are Crusaders A, Bulls H, Brums H, Wolves A, Rebels H: - I dont expect much. But I am interested to see their form in the next four games - The Bulls at home will be a major tell - Defence especially 2H is a major problem. - This D problem has been a coaching problem since BTs early days - Something he should have addressed by Y1
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
It wasn't intended as a criticism of Thor rather a comment on the poor coaching - Thor is a destructive runner and ball carrier wwho doesn't get the ball when he is raring to go and Daugunu hit the field on a mission to break the game open.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I think the Lions might be the lightest. I recall they were lighter than the Tahs by some margin.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
ForceFan, Sharks have the smallest pack out of SA Superugby teams. Weighed in some 20kg lighter than the Reds pack. Only gets balanced out when lock forward Roets comes off the bench... 135kg brute.. But most of the game Sharks were lighter.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Did he pack the same number of scrums, make the same number of line out lifts, push in as many mauls and make as many clean outs as well?
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
I think Daugunu handled the ball the same number of times as Tupou did in 80 minutes
Locky
Guest
Exactly. A thug on the field and a disgrace of it. You never treat a QLD legend like that without an explanation and get away with it. He did his dash with most supporters after that QC debacle.
Harry
Guest
Thorn should have been carded in 2011 final when he tripped Quade off the ball. Cheap shot. About the 25th minute from memory. Thorn has never convincingly explained its nothing other than a personal grudge against Quade Cooper.