Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
One thing I think the Rebels are struggling with atm is they have no identity on the field now. To start the season and in their best performances last year they were a very South African pragmatic style. It’s not pretty but it suits the abrasive style of player they have in their squad and allows them to capitalize on the one area they are better than compared to the other Aus teams which is kicking. They have attempted to expand their game considerably the last couple of weeks but when they have to go toe to toe against other teams they just don’t have the dynamic players other teams do and will more often than not lose that battle.
If you look at the two best teams in Aus both played a couple of years of conservative rugby to build foundations from. Saracens did it years ago with a huge South African influence then built on the game from there. Rebels need to do the same, a couple of weeks is not a foundation. 20/30 games is and only once you have nailed these areas you look to expand on them.
In the past two weeks they have pushed an unusual amount of passes to the sidelines resulting in 2 interceptions last week and this week a lot of isolated players and turnovers. They need to go back to the first two weeks of line speed, territory and contestable kicks making other teams play to our strengths. The try’s will come when teams overplay their hand thinking they need to do something different as they don’t want to get into a dog fight with the Rebels or if they are up with 20mins to go and the opposition needs to throw caution to the wind to catch up. But unfortunately they are trying to prove they can move the ball around, bringing essentially knives to a gun fight against the likes of the Brumbies and Reds.
If you look at the two best teams in Aus both played a couple of years of conservative rugby to build foundations from. Saracens did it years ago with a huge South African influence then built on the game from there. Rebels need to do the same, a couple of weeks is not a foundation. 20/30 games is and only once you have nailed these areas you look to expand on them.
In the past two weeks they have pushed an unusual amount of passes to the sidelines resulting in 2 interceptions last week and this week a lot of isolated players and turnovers. They need to go back to the first two weeks of line speed, territory and contestable kicks making other teams play to our strengths. The try’s will come when teams overplay their hand thinking they need to do something different as they don’t want to get into a dog fight with the Rebels or if they are up with 20mins to go and the opposition needs to throw caution to the wind to catch up. But unfortunately they are trying to prove they can move the ball around, bringing essentially knives to a gun fight against the likes of the Brumbies and Reds.