1
The Crusaders strategy for success that the Reds will hope pays dividends in 2020
“There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hope soon to be swept away”, said Winston Churchill.
ADVERTISEMENT
It would be fair to say that since Super Rugby’s inception in 1996, the Queensland Reds have been somewhat of a disappointment.
Winning their maiden Super Rugby title in 2011, Queensland Rugby, before the appointment of current head Coach Brad Thorn was too often guilty of providing talent to other Australian Super Rugby Franchises and failing to harness what talent remained in the Sunshine State. Think of David Giffen, David Pocock and current squad member James O’Connor, to name a few.
Too often Queensland fans bought the memberships, rode the rattler to Suncorp hoping, yet lived in what proved to be a false hope that this would be the season that restored their beloved Reds into the provincial powerhouse Queensland Rugby was from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990’s only to be disappointed time-and-time again.
Yet there is something different about this 2020 Queensland Reds squad that promises nothing but appears to be growing into something special that ignites a genuine belief in the Queensland Rugby community that success is, once again, within their grasp. And this belief is different from false hope. But why?
Continue reading below…
A significant achievement of head coach Brad Thorn is that he has largely kept Queensland talent playing in Queensland and committing to the province through the current World Cup cycle until 2023. Why is this so important?
Consider where Brad Thorn learned his rugby; Christchurch. Home of the Canterbury Crusaders, the most successful provincial rugby side in the professional era. Looking back at the Crusader throughout the years, one of their key strength’s has been identifying, nurturing, developing and retaining their talent.
ADVERTISEMENT
Seldom have homegrown players left the Crusaders and developed into better players elsewhere in New Zealand. They’ve wanted to represent their home as rugby is more than just a professional occupation and the Crusaders region is more than just a place to ply their trade.
Mercenaries looking for a game haven’t often found employment in Christchurch, nor will they at Ballymore any time soon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B501jWxAT9s/
It would appear that the Crusader model is what Brad Thorn is replicating at Ballymore and despite some turbulent human resource issues early in his tenure, namely the dropping of Quade Cooper to club rugby coupled with the personal issues of Wallabies James Slipper and Karmichael Hunt, Thorn has assembled a 2020 squad that is a blend of talent, experience and desire that is free of controversy.
Furthermore, only weeks ago, Thorn sent his players out to regional Queensland so they could not only gain a deeper understanding of who they were playing for but also see how hard those not blessed with the opportunity to play professional sport are doing it in regional Queensland. It is understood this experience has had a profound effect on some of the younger players.
ADVERTISEMENT
Some may recall the late, legendary All Black and All Black coach in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup, Sir Brian Lochore, did a similar thing with his side which aided his team to reunite with everyday New Zealander’s after some fractious times in New Zealand Rugby post the 1986 Rebel Cavalier Tour of South Africa.
It's been a long time since the @Reds_Rugby last reached the @SuperRugby play-offs, but the beginning of the decade proved to be a breakthrough period for the Queensland club. #Reds #SuperRugbyhttps://t.co/9Y1i3kkUfT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 20, 2019
New Zealand went on to win that tournament, beating France in the final, who had defeated the All Blacks the previous year. That World Cup final victory ushered in a golden period of All Black Rugby that lasted until 1991.
Thorn’s agenda to drive a positive team culture is attractive to younger players wanting to push for higher honours whilst also bringing success back to Ballymore. Only good things can come from such endeavours.
The loss of powerhouse Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi to the Suntory club in Japan is damaging to Queensland’s chances in this coming season yet not entirely fatal.
Seasoned professionals James O’Connor and Henry Speight join the squad in 2020 and thus bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, pace to the flank, and a versatile, mature talent in O’Connor who has the proven ability to put damaging ball runners like Jordan Petaia and Chris Feauai-Sautia into areas and spaces where they can dominate the opposition.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5taEspAqm8/
Greater pressure will come onto live-wire halfback Tate McDermott as opponents will now be aware of the threats his running game presents after a stellar 2019 that saw him mentioned as a possible World Cup bolter.
The battle for the halfback jersey between McDermott and Moses Sorovi should bring the best out in both and if Sorovi can recapture the form he displayed against the Highlanders in round 2 of 2019 where he ran threatening support lines all day, McDermott will have his work cut out for him.
An area where Queensland must improve on from 2019 if the Reds are to feature at the business end of the season is the decision making between the halfback and fly-half.
Attacking opportunities earned by turnovers or penalties obtained by forward play were too quickly squandered by the Queensland backs in 2019, who at times either overran passes or simply ran back into traffic when space beckoned in other areas. To minimise this, the experienced and resolute Bryce Hegarty should start as the fly-half for 2020.
Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Queensland Rugby Union.https://t.co/TZykOEGkHC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2019
As the 2019 season progressed, Hegarty’s option-taking became more effective – as did the accuracy of his kicking game. Too often in 2019, Queensland kicked either too far or into the incorrect areas, not allowing enough chase pressure to ensue. These errors must stay in 2019 if Queensland is to threaten in 2020.
In the forwards, Queensland has lost veteran backrower Scott Higginbotham to France, yet his void should be filled by Australian U20’s back-rower Harry Wilson. Wilson is a formidable player even at his tender age of 20 and standing at 195cm and weighing about 106kg ensures he will have an impact from the get-go.
Whilst he may not be the heaviest of Number 8’s in the competition, Wilson is an intelligent player who reads the play well. Coupled with sharp hand-eye coordination, he will link well with his outside backs in broader channels when required. Wilson is joined by Fraser McReight who also played brilliantly for the Australian U20’s in 2019 and McReight will pressure Wallaby Liam Wright for the starting openside flanker position.
A player that will keep Wallaby locks Izack Rodda and Lukhan Salakia-Loto very honest is Harry Hockings.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6N9HwVAWr4/
Hockings, who began his rugby career at the Bowen Mudcrabs, has been in around the Reds set up for several seasons but if anyone saw his effort in the Brisbane club rugby final between Hockings’ University of Queensland and traditional rivals Brothers, few could argue what intelligence, toughness, skill and positional play the big lock can bring to a game. His try saving lurch with one hand to pluck a pass out of the air to deny Brothers what appeared to be a certain try is evidence of such.
Hockings has better hands than either Rodda or Salakia-Loto, he just needs to learn how to impose himself physically at Super Rugby level more consistently. 2020 could well be a breakout year for Hockings.
All the about suggests there is genuine justification for cautious optimism for Queensland Rugby folk in 2020. After finishing 4th in the Australian conference in 2019, Queensland should be the notable improvers in the Australian game and will be hoping to finish 2nd behind the Brumbies. Finals contention isn’t out of the picture either if the Reds manage to start winning more frequently against foreign opposition. In any event, the Reds will not be rollovers and swept away on false hope in 2020 and should not be taken lightly.
WATCH: One of the Reds’ brightest signings for 2020 is the seemingly matured James O’Connor.
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
2 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments