Since Scythe is so keen to chat, let's consider Cranbrook. How can they be beaten?
First: you won't beat them up front. Waverley was hugely competitive everywhere last Saturday except in the set pieces, where they didn't turn up at all. I think Waverley won three line-outs all day, and routinely lost their own throw. Cranbrook was also dominant at scrum time. Try not to let them dominate, but don't expect to win here.
But there were three big weaknesses in the Cranbrook game. First, the breakdown. They missed Mahony here. Makas spent a lot of time standing outside the centres. Summerhayes is outstanding, of course: he usually gets to the breakdown, but takes inspiration from Richie McCaw and often infringes. There are penalties to be won if you can get to the breakdown fast. It seems counter-intuitive because individually the Cranbrook back rowers are really good, but this season they have conceded plenty of penalties (and yellow cards) at the breakdown. Challenge them there. Take the points when they're available (Waverley led for much of the game without ever looking like scoring a try).
Also on Saturday, their kicking in general play was woeful. There were several kicks banged out on the full, and some aimless kicking down field. So - put pressure on the kickers, and there's free possession to be picked up.
Finally, against Waverley, the backline didn't have much to offer from first-phase ball or when the defensive line was otherwise set. The main tactic seemed to be to run No 8 Makas at the Waverley centres, who did a good job containing him, on the whole. A lot of the time, when the ball was in the backs, it moved laterally, with big loopy passes and no-one trying to straighten. When the two centres, McNiven and Guihot, did run straight, they were determined but had no penetration to offer - they didn't break the line at all. Under pressure (and sometimes even without pressure), there were numerous poor passes thrown. Harrison, the scrum half, tossed an alarming number of Harbour Bridge passes (he did redeem himself with an excellent solo try). Apart from Harrison's snipe, I think the only time Cranbrook's backs split the defence was when Renton ran through a huge gap in the first half. In fairness, the Cranbrook backs looked more dangerous in broken play, especially running back the possession Waverley kicked away.
So, my advice (to Trinity, this week) would be: be fast to the breakdown, get up to put pressure on the kickers, and get up fast in defence on the backs, especially from set play. I guess it boils down to applying pressure. There are vulnerabilities to be exploited there. That said, I doubt that Trinity has the cattle to pull it off.
Last point: Cranbrook also has admirable strengths. I'm not knocking them at all. Just saying how I'd approach playing them if I were coaching.
