: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:59 pm  

jonh wrote:

Given the fact we have continued to make the same errors through the same players in the same situations i am not sure he can, or if he can that he does.

I would also say that if our ball carriers were not sent forward like cannon fodder, easily identifiable even prior to the hooker getting the ball in his hands at the play the ball then the defence would not be able to apply the pressure and help force the error, if we stood a little deeper in attack we may give ourselves more space and time to take the ball, all of the above have been issues for the last 2 years and non look like improving anytime soon.

Its not an issue of expansive rugby, its an issue of playing a smarter game, and still using the basics to carry this out, i am not confident we have a coach that can provide us with this.

Sadly this is how I see it too. Our lack of ideas with ball in hand is what killed us yesterday. Conceding 12 points should be acceptable (conveniently forgetting Wakey's 3 disallowed tries!). We still have last season's problem, i.e., we simply do not score enough points.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:01 pm  

This is used as a scapegoat every season and its getting very boring. It shouldn't matter who the captain is, there should be 3 or 4 leaders on the pitch at least.

Being club captain is an honour Sean deserves imo!

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:08 pm  

Thank you hula, Nogga, Steve and others. Sanity has returned!

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:14 pm  

Shocker of a topic after 1 game

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:16 pm  

Hogan Knows Best wrote:

Shocker of a topic after 1 game

It was always going to be O'Loughlins fault at some point, its jsut come a little earlier this season

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:24 pm  

AJ wrote:

It was always going to be O'Loughlins fault at some point, its jsut come a little earlier this season

Just a tad earlier !! People seem to think they can hear everything when they are sat in the stands, we cant hear what is being said on the field etc. Locky is a fine player ands loves this club.

People knee jerks to some points yesterday are comical, may i add that the Mathers topic is more on the line of what we need to change.

Although alarmingly after one game some things need to change very quickly:

Coley needs dropping, waste of a bench spot over Prescott
Mathers Needs dropping, Ainscough Wing, Pat Full Back
Phelps needs dropping, hoepfully Goulding will be fit for the hull game
We need to play Tomkins off the bench, or purchase a 6 (rather the 1st one)

Moving Locky away from captain is not what we need to do after one game.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:29 pm  

Hogan Knows Best wrote:

Just a tad earlier !! People seem to think they can hear everything when they are sat in the stands, we cant hear what is being said on the field etc. Locky is a fine player ands loves this club.

People knee jerks to some points yesterday are comical, may i add that the Mathers topic is more on the line of what we need to change.

Although alarmingly after one game some things need to change very quickly:

Coley needs dropping, waste of a bench spot over Prescott
Mathers Needs dropping, Ainscough Wing, Pat Full Back
Phelps needs dropping, hoepfully Goulding will be fit for the hull game
We need to play Tomkins off the bench, or purchase a 6 (rather the 1st one)

Moving Locky away from captain is not what we need to do after one game.

Id agree with 90% of that. Locky is the easy target and for as long as he is related to Andy Farrell, he always will be.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:29 pm  

jonh wrote:

Given the fact we have continued to make the same errors through the same players in the same situations i am not sure he can, or if he can that he does.

I would also say that if our ball carriers were not sent forward like cannon fodder, easily identifiable even prior to the hooker getting the ball in his hands at the play the ball then the defence would not be able to apply the pressure and help force the error, if we stood a little deeper in attack we may give ourselves more space and time to take the ball, all of the above have been issues for the last 2 years and non look like improving anytime soon.

Its not an issue of expansive rugby, its an issue of playing a smarter game, and still using the basics to carry this out, i am not confident we have a coach that can provide us with this.

I have to say I do agree with this - watching a team like saints aroound the ptb it's extremely difficult to pick out the runner - leaving the defence unable to target a man.

Watching Wigan at the ptb, it's obvious who is going to get the ball and they are gang tackled by 3 every time.

I did think Riddell would help improve this, but as you say - it all depends on what the runners are taught in training.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:35 pm  

Big Steve wrote:

I have to say I do agree with this - watching a team like saints aroound the ptb it's extremely difficult to pick out the runner - leaving the defence unable to target a man.

Watching Wigan at the ptb, it's obvious who is going to get the ball and they are gang tackled by 3 every time.

I did think Riddell would help improve this, but as you say - it all depends on what the runners are taught in training.

It was like watching an under 8's team. Ptb pass it to someone and see how far up the pitch they can get, just like a game of bulldog really!!

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:35 pm  

AJ wrote:

Id agree with 90% of that. Locky is the easy target and for as long as he is related to Andy Farrell, he always will be.

Not 91%