James Horwill
Reds coach Richard Graham has made a dramatic about turn in his stance on suspended Wallaby lock James Horwill.
Horwill was initially excluded from the Reds’ 27-man squad for their 2-week tour to South Africa, after copping a 1-game ban for striking an opponent in the 15 / 23 loss to the Melbourne Rebels.
Graham explained the decision to leave to the veteran lock at home by saying that he needed a full quota of players to prepare with.
However, subsequent to their 22 / 43 loss to the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria at the weekend, the Reds coach sent an S.O.S. to Horwill – who will join the team in the build-up to their encounter with the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this coming Saturday.
Graham admitted to being “disappointed” with Horwill’s conduct against the Rebels, but said the former Wallaby captain’s passion for the Reds means he is vital to their cause.
The Reds, with 1 win from 8 starts – with a 6-match losing streak.
And with the Cheetahs having ended their Australasian tour with a win over the Western Force at the weekend, Graham is expecting “confident” opponents, who will also have the “energy” that comes with being back home.
Graham was full of praise for the “effort” his team put in against the Bulls, especially during the opening exchanges of the 2nd half.
Despite dominating possession and collecting a 4-try bonus point, the Reds failed to push home the advantages they had in the game and lost convincingly.
The Reds’ 4 tries were scored by Nick Frisby, Lachie Turner, Will Genia and replacement Marco Kotze. Turner added 1 conversion.
The Bulls’ tries were scored by Marcel van der Merwe, Piet van Zyl, Burger Odendaal, captain Pierre Spies and a double to Francois Hougaard. Jaccques-Louis Potgieter added 3 conversions and a penalty with Tian Schoeman also landing 2 conversions.
“We were probably guilty of playing too much rugby in the 1st half and not capitalising on a number of opportunities we created,” the coach said.
He said the Bulls got most of their 1st half points through “simple, methodical pressure” that saw them race into a 24 / 5 lead.
“Unfortunately 2 of their 1st half tries were long range from our own turnovers and the 3rd from a high ball which we couldn’t control.
“The endeavour was good, we just need to manage the game a bit better,” Graham added.
With their 2 frontline kickers – Quade Cooper and James O’Connor – ruled out through injury, Turner was tasked with taking the kicks at goal and slotting just 1 from 4.
However, they were never able to build the required scoreboard pressure.
“We weren’t able to capitalise on that, with the opportunities we created,” the coach said, adding: “No fault to Turner – he spent all week practicing. At this level he just isn’t a recognised kicker.
“However, that wasn’t the aspect of the game that let us down – it was the soft moments that cost us the game.
“The group was confident of turning things around in the 2nd half due to the amount of possession and position we had. We changed a few things and started the second half really well with a high tempo and points.
“From 5 / 24 down at halftime to 22 / 29 down 15 minutes later we had some momentum.
“However, failure to execute a few plays and some soft moments allowed them to regain control.”
He said the Bulls have a tried and tested formula.
“It is simple, methodical and effective. It is about creating pressure and we didn’t handle that well enough on a number of occasions.
“To score 4 tries at Loftus is a good achievement and usually enough to win the game.
“However to concede 6 and in the manner we did is disappointing. It is something we will need to address this week in the lead up to the Cheetahs.”
The Reds could also regain the services of James O’Connor, who missed the Bulls defeat due to a calf strain.
rugby365
Richard Graham is a SOFT-COCK!!
I was at the after-match press conferences at Loftus last night, and he was satisfied with the way the Reds played.
Now I ask you this, how can a coach be satisfied with a 22 point loss, where your opposition (who by the way was not firing on all cylinders) scored 6 tries to your own 4?
How can a coach who’s team has lost 7 of the last 8 and who is on a 6 in a row loss stat, be happy at all?
Neewat, any Super Rugby side deserves better!
The Reds are diabollically kak… and that’s where it begins and ends
Well lucky for the Reds he only had 1 week suspension for punching someone in the face.
Strangely during the Lions tour Horwill got cited for stamping a player in the face, he was found NOT GUILTY because his defense claimed the camera angle was dodgy… the IRB APPEALED THE DECISION, and he again came off scot free. The Aus rugby union complained about the process at that time
“”The appeal will be heard by Graeme Mew (Canada) following the second Test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions. Horwill is free to play pending the outcome of the appeal.”
Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver was “surprised and disappointed” and said: “This is an unprecedented step taken by the IRB in what is the most important Rugby event staged in Australia since the 2003 Rugby World Cup.”
… so it would be seriously hypocritical had they been involved in the Frans Steyn appeal.
“Canadian judge Mew declined to uphold the IRB’s appeal after a two-and-a-half hour Skype video conference and more than 13 hours of deliberation.
“There was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable judicial officer could have reached the decision that was made,” he said.
“Accordingly it could not be said that the judicial officer was manifestly wrong or that the interests of justice otherwise required his decision be overturned.
“For the appeal to succeed the IRB would have to establish that there was some misapprehension of law or principle by the judicial officer or that his decision was so clearly wrong or manifestly unreasonable that no judicial officer could have reached the conclusion that he did.”
Canadian Mew also stated that the IRB’s appeal had been properly taken in the discharge of its responsibilities to promote and ensure player welfare and to protect the image and the reputation of the game.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/10154894/Lions-2013-how-James-Horwill-escaped-suspension-for-stamp-on-Alyn-Wyn-Jones-despite-IRB-appeal.html
What a %$@
So as I understand, if SANZAR follows similar processes in an appeal, the second judicial process there would have to be CLEAR EVIDENCE that Reinach had absolutely no influence in the spear tackle as was the outcome from the first judicial inquiry before an appeal could be made?
“For the appeal to succeed the IRB would have to establish that there was some misapprehension of law or principle by the judicial officer or that his decision was so clearly wrong or manifestly unreasonable that no judicial officer could have reached the conclusion that he did.”
So to the IRB your innocent till proven guilty
and to SANZAR your guilty till you are proven innocent?
And sometimes your are guilty without suspension 🙄
The only link for the Frans Steyn Red Card
http://www.rugbydump.com/2015/04/4185/francois-steyn-banned-for-5-weeks-after-rescinded-red-card-is-overturned
So for the Appeal to be upheld, the appeals committee would have to be unanimous in deciding that Reinach and even Kankowsi who ran into Cruden had no influence in the spear tackle.
@ MacroBull:
It is water under the bridge… Frans got what he deserved and is currently probably regaining the fat he lost while cycling in Japan..all will soon be back to normal.
@ robzim:
It is not Fransie I am worried about, the processes are inconsistent and flawed, it also leaves a lot of room for bias.
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