Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:48 pm  

You failed to put briers under any pressure with his kicking tonight. He had all night to pick his kicks

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:49 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

I disagree, the forwards stood up quite well. They lack an offloading style which is disappointing, but the lack of go forward in the first 10 - 15 mins, was due to us having a lack of ball. That was caused by the 2 wings being complete liabilites tonight. When we did eventually get some ball, it became more of an attrition game from both sides.

Of course we miss Graham, take the best forward in SL out of anyside and they will miss him, but he had more to his game than go forward, he had an offload and a short passing game.

We were lucky to come so close at the end of the game, but it was really under Wires control as we could not give any ideas from the backs even with 10 minutes to go, we where still doing the same old thing, no trying anything different to force some ideas.

It's what Saints fans have said all year, that we lack a decent half with a good kicking game. Today both wingers had a shocker, you can live with one, but 2 is impossible, basically Briers could kick it where he liked and was certain we would fluff it.

Our pack was completey dominated. They made good yards and stopped us making any. They was by far better than our pack.

Laffranchi was stopped dead all night as he does against big physical packs, Perry went ok but far to quite, TP was complete waste of space, flannery was rubbish and wilkin tackled well but rubbish with the ball.

Robes gave his all but unless we get quick play the balls hes stuffed.

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:00 pm  

Saint's resurgence after the twenty minute mark came about because of the indiscipline from Wire. Not because your forwards finally got on top.

You were constantly being held to a 30 - 35 meter gain each and every time. Were your kicking game better you may have been able to negate that.

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:06 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

Saint's resurgence after the twenty minute mark came about because of the indiscipline from Wire. Not because your forwards finally got on top.

You were constantly being held to a 30 - 35 meter gain each and every time. Were your kicking game better you may have been able to negate that.

You could say the same for wolves in the first 15 mins, they got few pens and saints mistakes give them the front foot.

We depend on pens in big games as we've got no brains in the team, we will just do one up rugby all night and if that doesn't work we just carry on playing one man rugby or do the odd poor kick.

I'm not just saying this but I've not seen a worse kicking than the one we've had this year, it's been totally shocking.

What I'd give for lee briers to come back!

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:07 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

Saint's resurgence after the twenty minute mark came about because of the indiscipline from Wire. Not because your forwards finally got on top.

You were constantly being held to a 30 - 35 meter gain each and every time. Were your kicking game better you may have been able to negate that.

I agree with the kicking game, it's something that we have decided to sacrifice to try and develop this partnership at half back and most weeks we can do without a kicking game, but in a tough game, your kickers need to be able to turn the game around for you and give you a chance. Although with Makinson and Meli gifting the ball back to Wire, the repeat sets were also a killer.

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:09 pm  

We rely totally on our pack turning up to play as we have nothing at all in the halves or 3/4s to be able to take on the likes of Warrington. We have the best pack in the league pretty much, but if they have a bit of an off-night and the backs don't do a solid defensive job as tonight (and several times this season against Wigan) then we're pretty much screwed. We also have no kicking game. We knew all this before the game and we still know it now - nothing's changed.

We need everyone up front to step up their game and dominate the opposition pack, and for the 3/4s to catch their bombs and make their tackles come the playoffs to win. I firmly believe we can do the former, but when your 3/4 line is 2 raw kids who've only just made the squad, an ex-GB centre who's mind is more on flat purchases in Castleford than on the game, and Meli who none of us need reminding can have the odd defensive 'mare in him, then the latter is more of an ask. We can win in the playoffs but we need some good individual performances and a bit of hoodoo residue to do it. I still wouldn't bet against us

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:10 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

Saint's resurgence after the twenty minute mark came about because of the indiscipline from Wire. Not because your forwards finally got on top.

You were constantly being held to a 30 - 35 meter gain each and every time. Were your kicking game better you may have been able to negate that.

What are you saying? A side that dominates possession and territory, being behind 5-1 in the penalty count after 40 minutes is a sign of indiscipline?

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:12 pm  

St pete wrote:

You could say the same for wolves in the first 15 mins, they got few pens and saints mistakes give them the front foot.

We depend on pens in big games as we've got no brains in the team, we will just do one up rugby all night and if that doesn't work we just carry on playing one man rugby or do the odd poor kick.

I'm not just saying this but I've not seen a worse kicking than the one we've had this year, it's been totally shocking.

What I'd give for lee briers to come back!

5-1 penalty count to Saints at the end of the first half. 8-5 after 80 minutes. I am fearful for your counting.

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:14 pm  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

We rely totally on our pack turning up to play as we have nothing at all in the halves or 3/4s to be able to take on the likes of Warrington. We have the best pack in the league pretty much, but if they have a bit of an off-night and the backs don't do a solid defensive job as tonight (and several times this season against Wigan) then we're pretty much screwed. We also have no kicking game. We knew all this before the game and we still know it now - nothing's changed.

We need everyone up front to step up their game and dominate the opposition pack, and for the 3/4s to catch their bombs and make their tackles come the playoffs to win. I firmly believe we can do the former, but when your 3/4 line is 2 raw kids who've only just made the squad, an ex-GB centre who's mind is more on flat purchases in Castleford than on the game, and Meli who none of us need reminding can have the odd defensive 'mare in him, then the latter is more of an ask. We can win in the playoffs but we need some good individual performances and a bit of hoodoo residue to do it. I still wouldn't bet against us

Saints don't have the best pack in the league, by a comfortable margin.

Re: nice n easy.... : Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:18 pm  

getdownmonkeyman wrote:

What are you saying? A side that dominates possession and territory, being behind 5-1 in the penalty count after 40 minutes is a sign of indiscipline?

A 5 -1 penalty count in Saints favor clearly shows indiscipline from Wire. The fact that Wire were still able to dominate the majority of the game despite being behind on the penalty count shows the gulf in class between the two side's.