^^^^^^
Yeah must admit, I was much more impressed with the starting line-up and so was the scoreboard (27-13?). Things looked like much more of a struggle once the replacements came out (from about the 53rd min) and the game went into limbo for both teams. This leads one to believe that there may be a significant gap of ability and belief from the starting team. The weather may of been a factor to the more lethargic outcome for both teams.
Think maybe the coaches are looking for more combinations? My gut feeling is "don't play players out of position". I know it worked last week with Callum Ball, but....here we go again with AS-Y is in at 6? he's not a 6 (just watch last years u20 World Cup, and this is not AS-Y fault, it's the coaches or the selectors!) imho, he's an 8. That said he is too good to leave off the field. And this is exactly the selectors/coaches dilemma. Positions are so specialised in rugby these days that one missed opportunity, due to lack of experience in a position, can cost tight games. And that can come from playing out of position. So let's try and eliminate that possibility by: NOT PLAYING PLAYERS OUT OF POSITION!!
I think patience is also an element. I saw on a number of occasions the 2 go for the line when setting it up and NOT loosing the ball was the right option. The 9 needs to be clear in asking for the ball as there were gaps out wide (particularly when QLD was attacking and inside the 22); bit of white line fever (not to be confused with Saturday Night Fever
). Things have to be learned from the game, but then have to be executed on the field!
