Wires71 wrote:
It is interesting to note how our defence has improved markedly under Smith. Taking all of Smith's 6 games (even including the hammering at Quins) we have conceded 142 points at 23.6 per game. Excluding the Quins game its 16.4. In the Lowes period we conceded 494 points in 16 games at an average 30.9 per game.
I know it is early days, and our attack has struggled, but this is a measurable improvement which should give us all encouragement that we are building a solid foundation. It clearly shows where his focus has been in his first 6 weeks.
Totally agree.
Our structures held up well. We looked far more difficult to penetrate. Also, that left edge no longer has huge holes in it like it did, and we don't seem to all pull in, under the posts and look vulnerable to a switch back to the left.
The three tries we conceded yesterday, one was a one on one miss from a scrum, the other a mistake from a kick, and the last one I think a good play by Salford, we were intent on charging the kicker, we got done by a clever switch. None of the tries, were what you would call, we were 'exposed', the line looks better now, and we seem to go up in a line etc.
I think it's very much about 'building a house on solid foundations', there's no point spending the week creating fancy plays if we can't defend our line, get that in order, then we'll add the nice touches, plays etc. There's definate signs of improvement.
