Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Schatz is well aware of the challenge that awaits him in Christchurch. Source:News Limited
UNSUNG Jake Schatz will head confidently into his playoff duel against Crusaders captain Kieran Read because even the best player in the world can be rattled out of his rhythm by the harassment the Reds are packing for Christchurch.
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
No game plan will beat the seven-time champions in Saturday night's sudden-death qualifying final unless rattling, disruptive defence is at the core of it like it has been for the Reds in the tightest jams this season.
Schatz, 22, personifies that zeal as one of the best defenders for a side that has conceded just 23 tries in 16 matches, a starch that only South Africa's Stormers (18) bettered during the regular season.
"Read is the best No.8 in the world and good in every area of his game from the lineout to his runs out wide," Schatz warned as he contemplated his 50-game milestone arriving on the biggest stage of the year for the Reds.
"You can't keep an eye on all their stars but you can get them on the back foot by challenging their skills by never letting them have it easy.
"You don't give Dan Carter an easy kick. You hustle up in his face to make it a tough kick and the same goes with getting tacklers on Read when he catches the ball or contesting lineouts so they don't get into the rhythm they want."
The Reds became one of the few teams in 19 seasons of Super Rugby to keep the Crusaders tryless in Christchurch last year so stifling one of rugby's most renowned attacking outfits is possible.
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
No.8 Schatz has enormous respect for Read, the All Blacks captain in their recent series against France and regarded by many shrewd judges as having taken the mantle as best player in the world from Crusaders teammates Carter and Richie McCaw.
You feel the bony hardness of certain players when you tackle them or get skewered by their forceful running. Read is one of them.
"He is like Radike Samo. They are sort of hard all the way through and you know it when you tackle them," Schatz said.
The successful Ewen McKenzie era has pushed 13 Reds through to the Test ranks but uncapped role players like Schatz, utility back Ben Lucas, red-haired flanker Ed Quirk and lock Ed O'Donoghue have been just as important to reaching this year's playoffs
The backrow partnership he forms with close mates Quirk and Liam Gill is one that Schatz cherishes.
"Knowing each other so well off the field just adds to the trust on the field that your mate has the inside (runner) no matter what," Schatz said.
The trust doesn't quite extend to Schatz yet sharing a dive with Quirk, who recently became a novice spear fisherman.
That the Reds are more than just a footy team was reinforced to Schatz in 2011 when he played against the Crusaders beside teammates wearing black armbands to honour his late mother Alison after her death from cancer.
"It was a very emotional time in my life. I can't thank the boys enough for their support going into that game and after it because, no matter what, there are guys at the Reds who'll help you through anything," Schatz said.
Centre Anthony Faingaa (hamstring) is doing his utmost to prove his fitness for a playoff that his harassing style and breakdown work out wide are perfectly suited to.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Reds' Schatz out to rattle Read
Dengan url
http://sportlivestyle.blogspot.com/2013/07/reds-schatz-out-to-rattle-read.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Reds' Schatz out to rattle Read
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Reds' Schatz out to rattle Read
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar