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Monday, 15 January 2007 10:44 | Written by Lee Grant
Rodzilla : Photosport.co.nzFor the umpteenth time the Reds are rebuilding their team, and the recent injury to Latham will be a hammer blow.  Like the Force: they will be better than last year, but not as good as next year.

Changes
Gains:
Eddie Jones is to be congratulated for some canny acquisitions from the few assets available.
 
Clinton Schifcofske Canberra Raiders - NRL
Ryan Nicholas (tbc)        Suntory
Ben Coutts Sale / Southland
AJ Gilbert  (R) Warringah Rats / Oz U/19s
Quade Cooper (R) Oz Schoolboys
Charlie Fetoai (R)      Toowoomba Clydesdales /Aspley Devils - QRL

Losses: 
Changing camps may be good for Drew Mitchell, Josh Valentine and Julian Huxley but they are big chunks out of Queensland depth.  Latham (injured) - huge. 
Chris Latham Injured – out for S14
Drew Mitchell          Western Force
Mark Connors Retired
Josh Valentine NSW Waratahs
Julian Huxley ACT Brumbies
Tim Atkinson Cut
Tom Court Cut – Ulster
Elton Flatley Retired
Dan McKellar Cut
Steve Kefu Castres

Strengths
There aren’t many, but they will benefit from improved coaching – It will be good for the Reds to have an experienced head coach after their ordeals under McBain, Slack and Miller: loyal Queenslanders all.

Weaknesses
Halves depth – The only specialist flyhalves are Berrick Barnes, a teenager last year, and Quade Cooper, a schoolboy last year.   Backups are a specialist 12, Johansson, winger/fullback, Hynes and utility Andrew Brown. 

Scrummie Cordingley is a fine player when he doesn’t get pinged for various penalties, and snipe to isolate himself.  He will have to stay healthy because his young backup, Berry, though full of promise, doesn’t boss a game at this time of his career.

Inexperienced tight five – they all have the potential to be regular Wallabies one day but it is still early in the careers.  They won’t have the benefit of learning by playing with old stagers; so prop Coutts may have to start sometimes to add a bit of seasoning.

Ad hoc backline – EJ has done well to recruit Schifcofske and he can nail down Nicholas it will be better still, but with Latham out now they will be flying by the seat of their pants.  They won’t be able to suffer too many more injuries, otherwise they will have to slot in unproven players. In any event the backline will lack experienced leaders and playmakers.


Draw
Excellent.  They play all the NZ teams but the Chiefs in the period when certain All Blacks are being quarantined for the RWC.  Also they have only 2 matches in the RSA.  However they don’t play at Suncorp on consecutive weekends.           
                                                             

Questions
How much progress will the (likely) young tight 5:  Holmes, Moore, Blake, Chapman, Horwill – progress this year?   Has the operation to Barnes’ shoulder been successful?  Will 3M and Cordingley stay healthy?


Best team
1.  G. Holmes 2. S. Moore; 3. R. Blake; 4. M. Chapman; 5. J. Horwill; 6. H. McMeniman; 7. D. Croft; 8. J. Roe; 9. S. Cordingley; 10. B. Barnes; 11. C. Brown 12. L. Johansson; 13. R. Nicholas; 14. P. Hynes; 15. C. Schifcofske.
[One would prefer 3M to play lock to add future depth to Oz lock ranks, but it probably won’t happen.]

Look Out For
Flyhalf Berrick Barnes, Larkham’s natural successor, had a good S14 as a teenager last year, though he was hampered by an injury picked up at the Broncos the year before.  All Aussies will hope that his shoulder operation was successful and that he can have a full season to develop for RWC selection. 

Quade Cooper, the Oz Schools team’s answer to Gavin Henson in playing style, and haircut, is usually a flyhalf but can play 12 and 15 also.  The significant loss of backs since last year may see him promoted before his time at 10 or 12 if there are injuries there.  If he gets on the park the cocky teenager, who played 12 outside Beale for Oz Schools a few months back, won’t lack confidence, but his inexperience will be a negative.

James Horwill, the 2006 Oz U/21 lock who played for Oz A on the EOYT two months ago.  He is one of the few young elite locks in the country and practically the only specialist long-term prospect to replace Sharpe and Vickerman.   

Prediction
One hopes that this is the year when the Reds settle down and stop haemorrhaging players to other teams so they can build some depth.  In the meantime inexperienced tight 5 forwards will have to service a makeshift backline that is now without the iconic Latham.  Though favoured by a good draw I fear that a normal injury bill in the backs will have them struggling:  10th
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