ID :
114172
Tue, 03/30/2010 - 19:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/114172
The shortlink copeid
Reds stiffen up their Super 14 defence
Queensland's revival has showcased some of the best attacking skills in the Super 14
but it is gritty defence which has most epitomised their 2010 transformation.
Under new coach Ewen McKenzie, the previously tackle-lazy Reds have gone from being
the second worst defensive team in the competition to the second best.
Whereas in 2009, they leaked a total 380 points - almost 30 points and four tries
per game - Queensland have conceded an average 19 points in their 4-2 start to this
season.
Only the Scrooge-like Cape Town-based Stormers (59 points) have a better defensive
record than the hard-edged Queenslanders (115).
Even NSW, renowned as Australia's defensive flag-bearers, have conceded 178 from
seven games while the Brumbies (179 from 7) and the Western Force (200 from 6) are
no better.
While Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane have filled the highlight reels with
their attack, the unsung hero behind the Reds stunning turnaround is former
schoolboy coach and Scottish Sevens rep Matt Taylor.
McKenzie "stole" Taylor, the Reds Academy assistant coach, shortly after he took
over from Phil Mooney and placed him in charge of fixing Queensland's inherent
defensive problems.
Taylor wrote discussion papers on the Reds' defence at the end of the disappointing
2008 and 2009 seasons.
McKenzie read them, liked his analytical style and immediately told him to go about
fixing the problems he'd identified.
And fix them he has, with the Reds allowing just on two tries a game against some of
the best attacking teams in the competition.
For Taylor, a hungrier new attitude under McKenzie and a greater focus on tackling
have been major factors at Ballymore.
"You can tell the spirit of a team by the way they defend," he said. "When a team
defends well it shows their opponents and also the supporters that they have a lot
of pride in themselves.
"Over the past couple of years there wasn't a lot of emphasis placed on defence and
we were never a really defensively proud group.
"Now we're holding the players quite accountable in terms of their games and their
stats. Guys who aren't tackling well are basically told they won't be in the team."
The best example in the Reds side is back-rower Scott Higginbotham who lost his
place last year for poor defence but is now the form blind-side flanker in
Australia.
Queensland have also been incredibly disciplined in defence under the new law
interpretations, waiting for the right moment to attack the breakdown and then
striking effectively for turnovers.
Despite eying a possible fourth-straight win against the Sharks in Durban on Sunday
(AEDT), Taylor isn't getting carried away.
"We are aiming to win this comp and I'm aiming for us to become the best defensive
team in the comp," he said.
"To get there we still have lots of work to do and we are under no illusions that
we're there already."
but it is gritty defence which has most epitomised their 2010 transformation.
Under new coach Ewen McKenzie, the previously tackle-lazy Reds have gone from being
the second worst defensive team in the competition to the second best.
Whereas in 2009, they leaked a total 380 points - almost 30 points and four tries
per game - Queensland have conceded an average 19 points in their 4-2 start to this
season.
Only the Scrooge-like Cape Town-based Stormers (59 points) have a better defensive
record than the hard-edged Queenslanders (115).
Even NSW, renowned as Australia's defensive flag-bearers, have conceded 178 from
seven games while the Brumbies (179 from 7) and the Western Force (200 from 6) are
no better.
While Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane have filled the highlight reels with
their attack, the unsung hero behind the Reds stunning turnaround is former
schoolboy coach and Scottish Sevens rep Matt Taylor.
McKenzie "stole" Taylor, the Reds Academy assistant coach, shortly after he took
over from Phil Mooney and placed him in charge of fixing Queensland's inherent
defensive problems.
Taylor wrote discussion papers on the Reds' defence at the end of the disappointing
2008 and 2009 seasons.
McKenzie read them, liked his analytical style and immediately told him to go about
fixing the problems he'd identified.
And fix them he has, with the Reds allowing just on two tries a game against some of
the best attacking teams in the competition.
For Taylor, a hungrier new attitude under McKenzie and a greater focus on tackling
have been major factors at Ballymore.
"You can tell the spirit of a team by the way they defend," he said. "When a team
defends well it shows their opponents and also the supporters that they have a lot
of pride in themselves.
"Over the past couple of years there wasn't a lot of emphasis placed on defence and
we were never a really defensively proud group.
"Now we're holding the players quite accountable in terms of their games and their
stats. Guys who aren't tackling well are basically told they won't be in the team."
The best example in the Reds side is back-rower Scott Higginbotham who lost his
place last year for poor defence but is now the form blind-side flanker in
Australia.
Queensland have also been incredibly disciplined in defence under the new law
interpretations, waiting for the right moment to attack the breakdown and then
striking effectively for turnovers.
Despite eying a possible fourth-straight win against the Sharks in Durban on Sunday
(AEDT), Taylor isn't getting carried away.
"We are aiming to win this comp and I'm aiming for us to become the best defensive
team in the comp," he said.
"To get there we still have lots of work to do and we are under no illusions that
we're there already."
