Re: Catalans match thread....... : Thu Mar 08, 2012 3:30 pm  

Both Nero & Gleeson got a couple each last week so I don't see it as being that weak, especially not with Patten & Moon in there if they carry last weeks form with them but I do see what you mean about missing our 3 first choice wingers. They are also missing key players, in key areas ie Henderson at hooker, Greenshields FB, Sa in the centres. I actually quite fancy us getting a result after being less than confident at the beginning of the week. Come on you REDS!!!!!!!

[John_D]

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Thu Mar 08, 2012 3:46 pm  

reds89 wrote:

Missing: Clint Greenshields, Ian Henderson Louis Anderson and Setaimata Sa

And the old feller, Sir Steve Menzies Campbell.

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Thu Mar 08, 2012 4:10 pm  

I wouldn't be suprised to see Anderson playing centre with Gleeson on the wing. I'm sure he's played at centre in his Saint's days.

Were obviously missing a lot of speed outwide in Broughton & Williams but it does look a bit stronger defensively - Nero was playing second row last season!

I just hope we can play as we have been and get a few breaks of the ball to give us a chance.

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Thu Mar 08, 2012 4:12 pm  

On a side note though...... It's amazing how many injuries every team has suffered so far this season. I don't think anyone's escaped it so far!

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Thu Mar 08, 2012 5:20 pm  

John_D wrote:

And the old feller, Sir Steve Menzies Campbell.

Anyone recall the last game at the Willows and the damage Menzies did to us? Quite a relief he's out - pretty much the same for Sa & Greenshields too - whilst we'll clearly miss Williams & Broughton I think Nero & Gleeson did a pretty good job for us

Allez les Diables Rouges

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:05 pm  

We'll miss Williams and Broughton's strong running from dummy half to get us on the front foot in the first couple of tackles brining it away from our line. We struggle there enough as it is. Gleeson and Nero will do a decent job for us but they haven't got the speed from standing or the finishing ability of them two and Gibson. We'll certainly miss them more than we did against London.

We'll be less creative with Wild or Anderson at centre and I still worry about the way Vinnie switches off in defence (although he has a decent off load which will be good for Gleeson if he plays there)

That said we've probably had worse first choice 3/4 lines in the past than this patched up one and Holdsworth and Patten in particular have been timing their runs into the centre position so well that it won't be the problem it could have been.

I thought one of the U20s might be asked to step up - a few of them have been scoring tries for fun. Maybe they're not quite ready yet

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:45 pm  

Can Josh Vievers play on the wing with Gleeson or Nero as his centre?

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:55 am  

Yes

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:08 am  

I thought Wild looked good in the centre last week, made same telling breaks. I'd go with Ave It's team above

Re: Catalans match thread....... : Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:21 am  

Ave It! wrote:

Massive test for us on Saturday. We need to keep chucking the ball around as we have been so far this season, if we try to keep Catalan up the middle I fear a heavy defeat.

If you think our normal forwards are big you ain't seen nothin' yet! Bousquet (in the 19) weighs in at 1m93cms and 117kgs whereas Paea is a mere 1m84cms and 104kgs.

He is young and very mobile!