Home not where the heart is for Brad Thorn's Reds
Please, can anyone tell me why you would play home games at a soulless and winless venue such as Suncorp Stadium when within a five minute drive the fortress of Ballymore beckons?
Ballymore was a fortress, where all international teams were crushed and showered with a waterfall of Gold Castlemaine Four X cans. What thin-lipped spineless scumbag moved the heart of Reds rugby to the winless and soul destroying environment of Suncorp Stadium still today absolutely astounds me.
Well, despite this, a win to the Tahs was last night was certainly deserved.
The 52-41 win over the Reds was well coached. I thought Daryl Gibson would be a typical Kiwi showman with not much substance; my mistake was not very well placed. The majority of the Tahs tries were scored from set plays and the tackle area, it looked really good and rehearsed.
As for the opposition, I have just one question. Why are you there Brad Thorn? Coaching the Reds, previously the toughest team in the world? We used to smash the likes of the Welsh, All Blacks, Poms and the Tahs that showed up at Ballymore.
Brad Thorn, a man of high standards, needs to lift it in Queensland. Look to the past to find your way forward. All teams including the All Blacks and Auckland were humbled at fortress Ballymore.
There’s no doubt the Tahs were the better side overall last night. They were better organised and were the side with the most options. Again kudos to Gibson, who I thought was a Kiwi imposter that did not exist in this country 10 years ago.
But please, why do all Australian Super sides decline to attack anywhere near five metres of the ruck? We do not regard slow ball as an opportunity and an opportunity to just rely on own your own individual skills and smash it up, a basic in the past.
As for who impressed me last night, Israel Folau was great and I will be looking out for him when the Wallabies take on Ireland.
Taniela Tupou at No. 3 for the Reds just looks outstanding. I like his scrum work and ability to adapt. He switched to the inside angle very easily when put under pressure. I like his work around the field as well.
I like the look of Izack Rodda and his work rate, he’s just a goer with mongrel. Captain Scott Higginbotham went forward all day in contact; pick him just to belt the young blokes in training or in the 23.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to comments