: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:45 pm  

Thought I was on our site when I saw the title of the thread

: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:54 pm  

I remember when a certain young Austrlian coach took us over. He spent the initial few games sorting our defence out; he then worked on our go-forward through the pack; all the time, the attacking plays started to appear and be developed; then the ball started moving around. It took months but he turned a group of pretty average (there are always exceptions) underperformers into a winning team. I think the 2009 team has some quality players but our defence is that of a 5th or 6th spot team. So I think we need to sort defence out first (as with Brian Smith). Our pack is going pretty well and will only get better with the drier conditions - I think we're a mobile pack that will play better on harder grounds - and the half-back pairing needs a bit more time to work better with the backs. I am still very optimisitic. Is it the play-offs next week?

: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:59 pm  

downtheante wrote:

I remember when a certain young Austrlian coach took us over. He spent the initial few games sorting our defence out; he then worked on our go-forward through the pack; all the time, the attacking plays started to appear and be developed; then the ball started moving around. It took months but he turned a group of pretty average (there are always exceptions) underperformers into a winning team. I think the 2009 team has some quality players but our defence is that of a 5th or 6th spot team. So I think we need to sort defence out first (as with Brian Smith). Our pack is going pretty well and will only get better with the drier conditions - I think we're a mobile pack that will play better on harder grounds - and the half-back pairing needs a bit more time to work better with the backs. I am still very optimisitic. Is it the play-offs next week?

And our attack has been 8th and 12th in the last 2 seasons, so which is the more pressing concern? Even in our GF season it was only the 5th best.

: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:03 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

And our attack has been 8th and 12th in the last 2 seasons, so which is the more pressing concern? Even in our GF season it was only the 5th best.

Defence. I said that at the start. Weren't you paying attention?

: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:11 pm  

downtheante wrote:

Defence. I said that at the start. Weren't you paying attention?

Yes, I was just questioning your reasoning and conclusion.

The last 2 coaches have concentrated heavily on defence and we've gone backwards. The defence is pretty good now IMO, it's the attack that needs work. I think a point that people seem to forget is that if we started to put more points on the board we'd have the added by-product of more possession. That in itself tends to bring the points against statistic down still further.

For example, if the extra sets we kept the ball meant that we saved only a try and a goal every other game, we would have had a defence bested only by Saints and Leeds in the last 2 seasons.

: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:35 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

Yes, I was just questioning your reasoning and conclusion.

The last 2 coaches have concentrated heavily on defence and we've gone backwards. The defence is pretty good now IMO, it's the attack that needs work. I think a point that people seem to forget is that if we started to put more points on the board we'd have the added by-product of more possession. That in itself tends to bring the points against statistic down still further.

For example, if the extra sets we kept the ball meant that we saved only a try and a goal every other game, we would have had a defence bested only by Saints and Leeds in the last 2 seasons.

Yes, sorry. What I meant was that we have been without a half-back pairing for two years. That co-incides with out poor point scoring record imo. But I genuinely believe that a few more weeks will see the understanding develop between the two of them. Then the rest of the backs will know what to expect. Add to that the harder grounds with our mobile pack and I think we'll be a force to reckon with. Oh, and we might need to pass to the wingers as well.

: Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:52 pm  

all previous posts can be summed up based on last outing as
CLUELESS AND BORING

Re: Exicting/Exspansive rugby. : Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:39 pm  

A unknown superstar wrote:

What will it take for us as a team to play good exspansive rugby?

We are far too easy to defend against because we are so predictable.

Do we need an attack minded coach like Nathan Brown? When he was at St George he loved to play exicting rugby.

Or is it less workhorses and utility players in the team?

It's really boring to watch Hull FC.

A scrum-half