Pretty impressed by this rooster this evening.
The only bummer is that I read on a NZ chat forum that the Force approached him before the Force did...
Will be watching on with interest.
Michael Harris
Flyhalf
Profile
Height: 186cm
Weight: 96kg
Date Of Birth: 08/07/1988
Place of Birth: North Harbour, NZ
Rugby Career
Senior Club: TBC
Stats
Provincial Rugby Caps: 2
Provincial Rugby Debut: Feb 2011 v NSW Waratahs, Anz Stadium, Sydney
Super Rugby Caps: 2
Super Rugby Debut: Feb 2011 v NSW Waratahs, Anz Stadium, Sydney
Michael was signed to the Reds on a two-year deal after impressing coach Ewen McKenzie during his four seasons playing for North Harbour in the National Provincial Rugby competition. A talented goalkicker, Michael has the versatility to play in range of backline positions for the Reds.
Despite having already played for the New Zealand U20s, Michael is Wallaby eligible by way of an Australian-born Grandmother.
Reds dominate Rebels in record breaking victory
3/18/2011, By Reds Media Unit
The St.George Reds continued their winning streak in Brisbane by scoring their seventh consecutive win at Suncorp Stadium with a record breaking 53-3 display against the Melbourne Rebels.
The winning score of 53 points is the highest points total ever recorded by the Reds in Super Rugby while the winning margin of 50 is also their largest.
The victory eclipsed the previous points scoring record set in 1996 - a 52-16 win over the Crusaders - while their previous highest winning margin was 40 points, coming against Western Force last season.
The dominant seven try effort has the Reds walking away with the maximum five competition points, which elevates them to the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference ladder as of tonight.
The win is the Reds third in four games played this season with previous victories over the Brumbies and Force.
The Reds, who secured their first bonus point of the season with their fourth try coming in the 51st minute, returned to their attacking best despite the wet conditions.
Replacement Mike Harris was dynamic coming on late in the match scoring two tries. He was one of six played who added five pointers, the others being Anthony Faingaa, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Scott Higginbotham, Ben Daley and Luke Morahan.
The Reds spent the past fortnight working hard on their game and it showed in the opening 40 minutes when they scored three tries to take a comfortable 25-3 lead into the sheds.
Lock Adam Wallace-Harrison was excellent in his first starting appearance of the season, applying enormous pressure at the lineout and continually disrupting the Rebels ball.
Flanker Beau Robinson was a standout in a positive all round display at the breakdown, an area the squad has worked hard on and made major improvements on since the beginning of the season.
The Reds opened the scoring through centre Anthony Faingaa thanks to some magic from flyhalf Quade Cooper, who commenced the movement by recovering his own high ball before throwing a beautiful spiral cut out to Scott Higginbotham.
Captain Will Genia spoke during the week about the importance of attacking and he remained true to his word when he twice knocked back a penalty goal to continue pressuring the Rebels line.
The attitude was rewarded with Wallace-Harrison touching down to extend the Reds lead to 15-3 midway through the opening stanza.
The Rebels responded and buried themselves deep in Reds territory but some nice counter-attack, a Cooper penalty goal and a nice blindside scrum move saw the Reds score their third try of the first half.
Ben Daley opened the scoring for the Reds in the second half before receiving a well deserved rest soon after, replaced by Greg Holmes, who impressed in his time on the field.
The Reds continued to pile on the points late in the match with two tries going to new recruit Mike Harris and the other going to winger Luke Morahan.
Radike Samo, after battling a broken finger throughout the opening part of the season, made his first Super Rugby appearance for the year when he entered the field later in the match.
St.George Reds 53 (2 Mike Harris, Anthony Faingaa, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Scott Higginbotham, Ben Daley, Luke Morahan tries, Quade Cooper 5 con, 2 pens, Mike Harris con) def Melbourne Rebels 3 (Danny Cipriani pen). Crowd: 22031.
