REDS
Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:21
REDS 2008
It was not too long ago when the Reds were a dominant force in Southern Hemisphere rugby, with the bulk of their squad being Wallaby match-winners and not just stalwarts for their domestic team.
Players like Jason Little, Daniel Herbert, John Eales, Michael Foley, Ben Tune, Matt Cockbain, Toutai Kefu, Tim Horan, Elton Flatley and Wendell Sailor worked wonders for the Reds.
The Queensland-based team qualified for the semi-finals in 1999 and again in 2001, but the Reds have truly struggled to make a significant impact since those glory years.
Andrew Slack, Jeff Miller and Eddie Jones, who have all coached the embattled team since then, have been unable to revive the spirit that once characterised Queensland rugby.
One senses that the Reds may just be able to turn their outrageous fortunes around in 2008, with a young coach that may just be able to inject some energy into what is a youthful squad.
Make
no mistake the Reds are not a championship-winning team just yet (in fact far from it), but they may just improve from last year, where they finished stone last.
Strengths: This team is bubbling with young individual talent just waiting to get onto the field. They have a new coach and have made some very good signings this season, almost a case of out with the old and in with the new. There seems to be a positive energy at Reds training thus far and it can certainly be converted into positive performances on the field.
Weakness: It is the very fact that the Reds have a few extremely talented individuals that could prove to be their ultimate downfall. The team has shown tremendous defensive frailties in recent years and very little cohesion while attacking. The morale hasn't always been high in the past either and these are major obstacle that need to be overcome.
Noteworthy signings: Rudi Vedelago
(Force), Morgan Turinui (Waratahs), Chris Siale (Waratahs), Digby Iaone (Force), Josh Afu, Rob Simmons, Ben Lucas (All Academy), Van Humphries (Italy and Japan), Ben Daley (Academy), Leroy Houston (Waratahs),
Noteworthy losses: Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies), Ben Tune (retired), Anthony Mathison (retired), Nic Berry (Racing Metro), Andrew Brown (Japan), Tom McVerry (Japan), Ben Mowen (Waratahs), Cam Treloar (Sydney)
Coach: Phil Mooney can certainly be regarded as either a very brave man or extremely naive. But he is young, dynamic and comes to the Reds in 2008 with fresh and new ideas, which may just be what the Queensland team need this season. He has worked extensively with the Reds and Queensland Academies and has an uncanny ability to spot young talent. He also coached the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Championship-winning Australian Under-19 team. The man has a winning culture and may just transform
the Reds this year.
Captain: John Roe, a recently qualified medical doctor, has had the awful task of leading the Reds in three particularly difficult seasons where the team has had little joy. The 30-year-old captain offers a lot of experience at the base of the Reds scrum, having played 19 Tests for the Wallabies. He will have a lot of motivating to do this season.
Player(s) to watch: Morgan Turinui couldn't have come to the Queensland-based franchise at a better time. It is no secret that the team needs a revival and the former Waratahs star has all the qualities to guide what is an otherwise thin team. He is fast, has skill and tremendous experience. Australian commentators also can't stop talking about one Berrick Barnes, who made his Wallaby debut against Japan at the World Cup in France last year. He is generally a sound all-round player, who likes to attack. He has a
good kicking game and appears to read the game particularly well.
2007 Position: 14th
Best finish: 1st on standings and losing semi-finalists in Super 12 in 1996 and 1999
Worst finish: 14th in 2007
Home Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (capacity 52,500)
2008 Prediction: There are definitely good things to come for the Reds, but one suspects they are not going to quite make that much-awaited breakthrough this year. If they work really hard they may push for a top half finish, but it is going to be tough.
Reds: Rudi Vedelago, Morgan Turinui, Chris Siale, Digby Iaone, Josh Afu, Rob Simmons, Van Humphries, Ben Daley, Leroy Houston, Ben Lucas, Geoff Abram, Ole Avei, Berrick Barnes, Rodney Blake, Caleb Brown, Quade Cooper, Sam Cordingley, Ben Coutts, David Croft, Charlie Fetoai, AJ Gilbert, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes, James Horwill, Peter
Hynes, Lloyd Johansson, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Moore, Ryan Nicholas, Peter Niumata, Ed O'Donoghue, John Roe, Clinton Schifcofske, Henari Veratau, Chris Latham
Schedule:
February 16: v Highlanders, home
February 22: v Hurricanes, away
March 1: v Brumbies, away
March 8: v Stormers, home
March 15: v Bulls, home
March 22: v Lions, away
March 29: v Sharks, away
April 5: v Cheetahs, away
April 11/12: Bye
April 18: v Western Force, home
April 26: v Chiefs, away
May 3: v Blues, home
May 10: v Crusaders, home
May 17: v Waratahs, home
