Backline defence captain
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@nzzp It's a definite concern - Jack's lack of pace got exposed a couple of times in Super rugby this year - though mostly he was able to cover for it.
The worry, I guess, is that we won't have much time to test it against test match opposition prior to RWC, so we might only get exposed when it really matters.
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For those of you no longer playing or coaching, the modern vogue is to leave the opposition winger to the covering fullback. It provides the benefit of showing space, forcing passes and using the side line. It allows you to bunch and restrict the middle which is much harder to defend after a breach as a side line break can really only go one way. Breach the middle and you can go either way.
Currently our wingers look to position themselves to do neither, or make decisions that expose them having made no impact shaping the oppositions attack.
Caleb's positioning and impact on defence is worrying, as is the amount of missed tackles by Will Jordan.
On attack we're looking much better now that the forward's shape and impact has improved.
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@antipodean said in Backline defence captain:
For those of you no longer playing or coaching, the modern vogue is to leave the opposition winger to the covering fullback
Modern? That was the "vogue" 30 years ago and is just a simple numbers game. Fullback and potentially blindside wing enters the line on attack, so fullback sweeps and tidies...as does blindside wing.
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@antipodean said in Backline defence captain:
For those of you no longer playing or coaching, the modern vogue is to leave the opposition winger to the covering fullback. It provides the benefit of showing space, forcing passes and using the side line. It allows you to bunch and restrict the middle which is much harder to defend after a breach as a side line break can really only go one way. Breach the middle and you can go either way.
Currently our wingers look to position themselves to do neither, or make decisions that expose them having made no impact shaping the oppositions attack.
Caleb's positioning and impact on defence is worrying, as is the amount of missed tackles by Will Jordan.
On attack we're looking much better now that the forward's shape and impact has improved.
Clarke hesitates which means the shaping doesn’t work. Jordan rushes up the tramlines committing too early
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@mariner4life said in Backline defence captain:
@Chris-B said in Backline defence captain:
@pakman I've got ALB pretty much locked into my first choice midfield - I'm just not sure whether at 12 or 13.
Right now, I'd be somewhat tempted to push Rieko to 11.
Jack Goodhue also floating around as a wildcard. He could be starting or he may not even make the RWC squad. It's coming up two years since Jack played a test and we won't have tests to waste building new combos next year.
in my opinion only, a midfield of Havili and ALB lacks balance. Where is the threat that gives defenses kittens? At the moment we have the passing and kicking ability of Havili balanced with the threat of Ioane smoking you to the outside and disappearing in to the distance. ALB does not provide that threat, which means way more pressure on 10 and 12.
Either or. ALB hasn’t bashed for a long time.
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I think the coaches would have loved to have built an ALB-Goodhue combo but both have just been injured the majority of the time so it hasn't happened. Another combo I like the look of is Goodhue-Rieko. Goodhue is the closest thing we've had to Conrad, and on attack Rieko is the only midfielder running around that could rival Nonu. Different players to their predecessors but they offer some similar outcomes for the opposition. Jacks lack of pace would be less likely to get exposed at 12 as well and he could take charge of the defense.
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@No-Quarter said in Backline defence captain:
Jacks lack of pace would be less likely to get exposed at 12 as well and he could take charge of the defense.
I am probably completely wrong, but I have never gained the impression that Jack is a natural leader. I have been waiting for him to take games and his team mates by the scruff of the neck but he never seems to.
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@Crazy-Horse not overly relevant now, but didnt he Captain the U21s at some point?
he seems to do a fair bit of organising of the Crusaders defensive line when he is out there.
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@taniwharugby said in Backline defence captain:
@Crazy-Horse not overly relevant now, but didnt he Captain the U21s at some point?
he seems to do a fair bit of organising of the Crusaders defensive line when he is out there.
What day was that?
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@Crazy-Horse said in Backline defence captain:
@No-Quarter said in Backline defence captain:
Jacks lack of pace would be less likely to get exposed at 12 as well and he could take charge of the defense.
I am probably completely wrong, but I have never gained the impression that Jack is a natural leader. I have been waiting for him to take games and his team mates by the scruff of the neck but he never seems to.
It’s pretty hard to do any of that when you’re injured to be fair.
