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Reds' huge loss of experience
May 19, 2008
THEY have been drained of 1000 caps of Super rugby experience in the past two seasons but Queensland have full confidence an "exciting" youth policy will restore the Reds to a position of power.
The battling Reds finished the 2008 Super 14 in 12th place - the fourth straight year in the bottom three - with just three wins and a draw, and lost eight of their most experienced players.
The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) confirmed wing-fullback Clinton Schifcofske, prop Rodney Blake, lock Ed O'Donoghue and centre Chris Siale won't be at Ballymore next season.
The quartet join Australia's Chris Latham (Worcester), Sam Cordingley (Grenoble) and Stephen Moore (Brumbies) who are departing while veteran flanker David Croft has retired.
Between them the eight players have 382 caps of experience but when you add the number of others who have left since the 2006 season - after the Western Force had already raided their stocks - the number grows to 1000.
The exodus could be even worse with senior men John Roe (82 Super games), Morgan Turinui (71) and Van Humphries (45) all weighing up their futures.
If the trio farewell the Reds, coach Phil Mooney's likely starting side for the start of next season would have an average age of 21 and with an average 22 games of experience.
Form winger Peter Hynes, at 26 and with 55 caps, would be the team's veteran. This compares to an average of 58 Super caps of the strongest team of 15 players who have left in the past two years.
But the QRU, regarded as a provincial powerhouse in the 1990s, talk up the potential for a major turnaround after a six-year spiral. "Our take on it is experience is one thing but performance is the ultimate," said QRU high-performance manager Ben Whitaker. "Experience and performance gives you absolute quality: eg Latho. But I don't think we have the opportunity this year to pick up a lot of experience. "We've concentrated on selecting and promoting performers and a good example there is (Wallabies halfback contender) Ben Lucas who was our No.3 halfback at the start of the year. "We have built on young guys. They are performing and are bringing huge enthusiasm to play for Queensland and the team and that's encouraging."
While the results didn't come, the play improved markedly, prompting Croft to confidently predict a title in three years' time. The injury-affected Reds did lose their last four matches of the season, but their ability to push top two teams NSW and the Crusaders and tough Kiwi sides the Blues and Chiefs suggested a major improvement around the corner.
Skipper James Horwill, Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Lucas, Digby Ioane and Leroy Houston all showed the most encouraging signs and are all under 22. Whitaker said there was a sense of togetherness and a growing culture which will not only trigger success but attract and develop other talented youngsters.
"We're very confident that's how it will work out," he said. "We use the word exciting and then you have to live up to that excitement tag. We don't use potential, it's more than potential."
The biggest problem the Reds believe they have to solve is how to replace David Croft at No.7. Whitaker and Mooney are desperate to lure future Wallabies flanker David Pocock, 20, from the Force and have talked up their vibrant expansive style and youth culture in their bid as well as leadership.
"We have a game style that suits his. He can play like George Smith. He can play very hard on the ball but can also be a linkman and ball runner," Whitaker said.
Mooney recognised it was a tough sell alongside the Force's extra experience and better position (seventh) but holds strong hope. "I know he's a young guy who likes a challenge and he very much has leadership qualities and he could potentially entrench himself to be one of our leaders long term so it really depends on what his motivations are," he said. "We believe we have a program that can develop his potential as a footballer and develop him as a person off the field."
Players Lost
Chris Latham (Worcester) 109
Clinton Schifcofske (Ulster) 22
Ben Tune (Retired) 98
Julian Huxley (Brumbies) 32
Drew Mitchell (Western Force) 35
Elton Flatley (Retired) 84
Sam Cordingley (Grenoble) 50
Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies) 28
David Croft (Retired) 94
Tom McVerry (Japan-Italy) 44
Mark Connors (Retired) 88
Ed O'Donoghue (Ulster) 21
Rodney Blake (France) 36
Stephen Moore (Brumbies) 47
Anthony Mathison (Retired) 24
Total Super caps - 866 Average - 58
In doubt - Morgan Turinui (71), John Roe (82), Van Humphries (45)
Likely 2009 team (plus current age and Super caps)
Peter Hynes (26) 55
Brando Va'aulu (21) 18
Blair Connor (19) 0
Berrick Barnes (21) 34
Digby Ioane (22) 27
Quade Cooper (20) 22
Ben Lucas (20) 10
Leroy Houston (21) 13
Tasi Luafutu (20) 9
Scott Higginbotham (21) 5
Hugh McMeniman (24) 21
James Horwill (22) 39
Dayna Edwards (22) 12
Saia Faingaa (21) 27
Greg Holmes (24) 34
Average age - 21.6yrs. Average caps - 22
AAP
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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