Queensland Reds have gone backwards at a rate of knots in 2014

[The InnFORCEr]

Jim Tucker
The Courier-Mail
July 06, 2014 11:00PM

IF the aim of this Super Rugby season was to raze nearly all the pillars of the Reds success in recent seasons, it’s mission accomplished in Queensland.

Aggressive defence built on big attitude ... gone.

Consistency ... non-existent.

Star quality tries and moments ... few and far between.

Wasteful kicking ... plenty.

Smart, calm heads for close victories at the death ... not any more and certainly not in Perth last Saturday night.

Don’t accept assessments that the Reds have been unlucky or just a few per cent off the mark.

The butchered result in Perth against the Western Force encapsulated so many of the ills of this season.

There was passive defence, Mike Harris and Ben Lucas passing balls into touch, errors at the breakdown and composure evaporating when the game was there to be won at 20-all.

The Reds will finish 12th or 13th this season and deservedly so. Three of their five wins have been over the Stormers, Cheetahs and Rebels, three of the teams in the bottom five with them.

About the only area of improvement has been the set piece work. The proof has been four tries from strong maulling drives off lineouts in the past two games plus that big tighthead pushover try against the ACT Brumbies.

The Reds have used 34 players this season. Only new outside centre Samu Kerevi has exceeded expectations and lock James Horwill has been one of the very few consistent rocks for 15 games.

Once-a-year lightning strike Aidan Toua was gold for a month and gone. Too many teammates have been diamonds one night and rocks at key times in other games.

There is no way the Reds can beat the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

It is up to the Reds to dig deep and find something special to rip up that script or the squad will be starting from ground zero next year. For all their crash landings, the spirit within the camp has remained strong, which is a big plus.

The upside is that powerful two-year plans turned the Brumbies into finalists last year and the NSW Waratahs into minor premiers this year.

That is if you have the right plan. New Reds recruit James O’Connor is carrying a big burden right now for a player of just 88kg until some big, ugly sidekicks are unveiled.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1226979624833

[hertryk]

IMveryHO I think Horwill has been a big soft marshmallow!

[valzc]

Was he actually crying again in that post match interview or just snivelling a lot! The body language between himself & Dickbrain is priceless I think Dicks too scared to look at him!

[Stone Cold]

They are suffering from Grahamitis.

[Rex Messup]

RG to the Reds was the best thing that ever happened to the Force. I can't believe they bought that farkhead. Mediocity follows him everywhere. The players are leaving in mass exodus.

The Reds won't turn things around until they show Graham the door. The guy is a muppet

[Happy]

they didn't buy him, he was placed there

[travelling_gerry]

before he even got here.....cryptic clue

[WF1964]

Richard Graham promises thorough Reds review as decks cleared for arrival of James O'Connor
Date
July 7, 2014 - 9:14PM


The impending arrival of James O'Connor at Ballymore is one of rugby's worst-kept secrets.
Richard Graham has promised a no-holds-barred autopsy at the end of Queensland's Super Rugby campaign, which comes to a potentially grisly end against the flying Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

It has been a year of humbling and bumbling for the Reds after a grand final win in 2011, followed by two seasons of finals football. This time, the Waratahs have a home semi in the can, while the Reds will be free to book tee times after just five victories to date.

There will be a player exodus as the Reds make room for James O'Connor and potentially Karmichael Hunt, who would add significant firepower to a backline that already features young prospects Chris F'Sautia (injured) and newcomer Samu Kerevi.


But the prospect of a brighter 2015 can't paper over the cracks of a season that sunk deeper in Perth when the Reds had all the momentum but couldn't get over the top of the Force, who keep their finals hopes in tact going into the final round.

Sub-par defence and an alarming lack of execution in attack have been the hallmarks of Queensland's campaign, a stark contrast to the glittering rugby that was played by many members of the same squad just a few seasons ago.

Regardless of the result against the resurgent Waratahs, Graham said there would be no pulling punches when the curtain came down, saying everyone would face a forensic assessment of their role in the side, from the coaching staff down.

"I think part of the review is to make sure you're better going forward. You can be honest, move forward and look to get things right, or you can go the other way and continue to drift. That process will be honest and thorough," Graham said.

"I think any time you sit down and review, that's the way it needs to be. I'm open to that. There's a process that we'll go through and that will deliver the outcome that we need."

With more than 30,000 paying members and consistently strong crowds, the 2014 season for the Reds needs to be an exception, not the rule. The franchise has hauled itself up from financial ruin and can't risk returning there with poor returns on the field.

The recruitment of O'Connor remains a calculated risk but chief executive Jim Carmichael clearly believes it's worth rolling the dice. It's likely to help retain crowds but the flow-on effect within the squad remains to be seen.

Graham has found himself in front of the cameras and unable to confirm or deny the signing, which appears to be one of rugby's worst-kept secrets, but remained adamant the recruitment process was sound and strategic.

"At this point in time, I think we've been very clear on the strategy. We've been pretty clear in releasing players and that's taken place over the past month, six weeks. In terms of guys coming in, there's been speculation but until then that's all it is," Graham said.

The Waratahs will start short-priced favourites to dispatch the Reds in their semi-final warm-up but captain James Horwill said his men would be motivated to give something back to loyal fans and send off the departing players, a number of whom were 2011 grand finalists, in good style.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...#ixzz36msgrs54

[Alison]

He just doesn't get it does he? Take a look in the mirror Dickie!!

[valzc]

What's the bit about ........"the Reds had all the momentum........." WTF?!!! Was he at the same game? Sounds like Dick is extremely busy shovelling shit sideways - anywhere but on himself! And how I'd JOC gonna rescue the Reds on his own FFS, the rest of the team must be feeling really loved up by that concept.

[SNOB]

Let's just hope nobody reviews Dickie and he stays there. It can't harm our chances.

[Tonkar]

get rid of horwill he is a cancer

[jargan83]

get rid of horwill he is a cancer

Keep him at Qld

[Tonkar]

well yes Jargs keep them all there would be nice then they will sink even further I agree

[GIGS20]

What's the bit about ........"the Reds had all the momentum........." WTF?!!! Was he at the same game? Sounds like Dick is extremely busy shovelling shit sideways - anywhere but on himself! And how I'd JOC gonna rescue the Reds on his own FFS, the rest of the team must be feeling really loved up by that concept.

That's a little unfair Val, the Reds did ride a wave of momentum up to 20 all, it was as a result of a poorly conceived and executed attempt to shut the game down early by a force team that are yet to be comfortable enough with their abilities to keep the foot in the throat, but there was momentum there.

Re JOC, Dick only EVER had the answer "buy me better players, then we'll win" that's why he went to Qld, with a list that comprised (essentially) the 2011 champions. The only major omissions that come to my feeble mind are Higgers and Digby. Of course he'd be all over buying hugely talented prima donnas at this point, he doesn't want to admit he's out of his depth. As for any current player who takes offense, they will find another place to play and the Qld press release will spin it as a clearing of the decks.