Reds spear floundering Force
14 Mar 2010
The Reds ran in seven tries in a 50-10 rout against the Force in Brisbane on Sunday.
Take a bow Quade Cooper. The Reds pivot played a big role in the win, setting up four tries and kicking 13 points. His biggest contribution was in the first half when he set the platform for the hosts to claim their four-try bonus point in just the 33rd minute.
By half-time, the game was already won as the Reds were up by 28 points and the Force never looked like coming back.
The visitors produced a poor performance, mainly on defence, which allowed the Reds to capitalise. They slipped too many tackles, especially on the Reds’ first phase attack while they were too predictable on attack allowing the hosts to repel several try-scoring opportunities.
The Force’s defensive lapse came early on and saw the Reds surge into a 12-0 lead. In the seventh minute, the home side found themselves in the Force’s red zone. Cooper passed it wide to centre Anthony Faingaa, who had an easy 5m run through a gap for the opening score. Two minutes later, the Reds broke down the field again and wing Luke Morahan scored in the corner.
Centre James O’Connor opened the Force’s score tally with a penalty, but it was all Reds for the rest of the first stanza as they ran in another three tries and Cooper kicked a penalty to see the Reds to 36-3 at the break.
Fullback Peter Hynes was sin binned soon after the restart for an infringement at the breakdown. This allowed the Force to score their only try as they capitalised on their one-man advantage through wing Nic Cummins. O’Connor added the extras.
But that was to be all from the Force as the Reds scored all the points from then on. Despite running the changes in the third quarter and losing Faingaa to the sin bin for a high tackle, flank Scott Higginbotham was the third Reds player to grab a brace and seal their 40-point win.
By Gareth Duncan
72 Comments
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14 Mar 2010, 12:45 pm
At Last, my Reds are coming right! I’ve waited a long time for them to finally start winning. Too many poor coaches and seasons, but now they’re starting to look good.
Cooper is playing brilliantly at the moment, as is Genia. I just hope it continues!
14 Mar 2010, 12:46 pm
@RugbyRulz:
What’s with all this? Putting words in my mouth? I’ve never supported the Lions.
14 Mar 2010, 12:51 pm
@Kobus Kitty: Hmmm Stade is on the money then
14 Mar 2010, 12:53 pm
@Ian: Just shows how important that 9/10 pairing is…unfortunately we still stuck with fat@ss January,and keep going backwards in the last 20..much like Boks
14 Mar 2010, 13:22 pm
@Ian:
Cooper should be the Wallaby flyhalf this year, he has jumped the Q ahead of Barnes ,Giteau should move back to inside center. Playmaker of note
14 Mar 2010, 13:31 pm
@wp_boytjie: Yep…Genia and Cooper the established combo,Giteau lethal at inside center with Mortlock on his outside…
14 Mar 2010, 14:22 pm
@RugbyRulz:
Racing Metro, Francois Steyn.
14 Mar 2010, 14:32 pm
@Storm outta hell:
That will be an awesome combo.
Giteau is more dangerous at inside centre than he is at fly half.
14 Mar 2010, 14:53 pm
@wallabie.: And then you have to find a place for O’Connor, Barnes, Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Ioane, Hynes, et al. Nice problem for a coach to have, but just reward for his trust in them on the last EOY tour. Cudos to Deans.
14 Mar 2010, 14:55 pm
@Kobus Kitty: Liar!
there are so many bitter former Lions around these days.
14 Mar 2010, 17:35 pm
@Ian: 51… Yeah, it’s great mate. The Super 14 can only get better if all the sides improve. Now can the Lions come to the party too???
14 Mar 2010, 20:55 pm
@Ian:
yeah a very confident bunch at the moment the reds
They run some very good angles and their timning of the passes and decison making is good
Remember they also beat the Crusaders
yes this is good for super 14 rugby
Lions just need to have the same approach
14 Mar 2010, 23:31 pm
The Reds are looking good now, winning has become infectious and they want to suceed for each other as much as the fans. The younger guys can’t help but be spurred on by the old timers, Its great to see, Well done guys
15 Mar 2010, 01:04 am
@catleya:
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell/Turner (whoever has the better form this season)
12. Giteau
13. Ioane
14. Hynes
15. Ashley-Cooper
20. Barnes
21. O’Connor
22. Mortlock
Ioane is destructive at 13, he just needs time there to work on defensive patterns to be world class at Test level.
Sadly Mortlock just isn’t having the same impact he once did. Still a very handy player to have around, having played 12, 13 14 and 15 at Test level.
15 Mar 2010, 01:52 am
@DonutDunning: Yes looks good and the bench… old and new.
15 Mar 2010, 02:54 am
This years 3N could be quite revealing is to the coaches plans for next year 2011. Deans seems to have himself a fair enough squad to draw on now.
many players putting their hands up. the question for me is whether that depth exists in the pack.
do they have props to back up robinson?
do they have an openside to back up pocock?
and the 2nd row? besides sharpe and chisholm?
ABs play twice in ozzie this year i think. could be very interesting 3N.
15 Mar 2010, 03:28 am
@Tomsta: Alexander should be backing up Robinson imo, not converting to tighthead.
He did well at tighthead, but the extra weight required affected his normally outstanding all-round game.
Laurie Weeks and Salesi Ma’afu both looking strong at tighthead, and one or both should get a look in.
Matt Hodgson has really stepped up at openside with Pocock and Brown both injured. If they decide to overlook Waugh then he will be next in line as was already in the squad last yr.
Julian Salvi should be back soon from a good stint in Bath to aim for the spot too.
2nd row depth looks to be the biggest issue. Horwill is out all year, Peter Kimlin too, and Sharpe does not deserve a look on current form (even the Force lineouts are abysmal).
Chisholm and Dean Mumm as starters, with a blooding of a youngster like Kane Douglas, despite the old man Van Humphries being the most impressive Aussie lock so far this year.
15 Mar 2010, 03:50 am
@Tomsta: I don’t think the openside (Pocock injury)is a problem. Openside play of the last 5 years has gone out the window. George Smith has given many years of service and can see it, McCaw is diversifying on the blindside, so the game is evolving again.
Evolution is the beauty of the game.
15 Mar 2010, 04:08 am
@DonutDunning: ioane is still fresh at 13, wouldnt he be a better bet on the wing.
9 genia
10 cooper
11 ioane
12 gits/ barnes
13 ashely cooper/mortlock
14 turner/hynes/mitchell
15 o’connor
and who is the speedster from the reds. rod davies? surely there is value in having an absolute speed merchant in the side.
15 Mar 2010, 04:16 am
@RugbyRulz: do you reckon mccaw will get the AB 6 jersey?
15 Mar 2010, 04:23 am
@Tomsta: That was my other thought – Ioane on that Mitchell/Turner wing and Mortlock into 13. Mitchell/Turner on bench.
That is probably the best bet for the 3N, with Ioane taking 13 during the EOYT.
I don’t think O’Connor has been good enough to warrant a start just yet, especially not at fullback. Just a shame that Gerrard left when he did, he was the form fullback hands down.
15 Mar 2010, 04:37 am
@DonutDunning: gerrard was solid and gamebreaker when on song.
o’connor unfortunately is in a losing team. still reckon deans will give him game time.
the way mortlock has gone the last few seasons deans has to be prepared for a full replacement and reshuffle. he is just so injured, and when he has been fit, then barnes is out. so rarely gets opportunity to settle midfield combination. having a settled midfield works wonders. jdv/fourie and nonu/smith.
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