I was a big advocate for McIntyre at the start of the season but we need to try something else. Every time he gets the ball he runs across field and cramps up our limited attacking options. We need the 12 to run a switch if he's going to do that all the time to put some questions in the defensive line. Currently all they have to do is drift across field and someone will run into them.
Greene should be given two weeks to train at 10 and see if he can run straight. I'd even take him as a kicking 10 who just pins the opposition down in their half at this stage. Kick some field goals to build some scoreboard pressure too.
I'm also not convinced on Frisby. He has some great skills but service from the breakdown isn't one of them. Gale seems to be able to get the ball out quicker when he gets on the field and it gives the 10 more time and space.
I thought Nevill was good yesterday, especially running wide.
Junior was also good in his first game starting. Think he worth sticking with.
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Interesting Jets. I was no supporter of Mac at the start of the season. But as things settle into the season I am becoming resigned to it. I probably would have chosen differently to start with, but at this stage it would be an unreasonably tough gig to say to Greene, "you're on, you've got two games to prove yourself, against the toughest opposition we've had so far".
You'd like to think that a more proven 10 will be available next year. So one of Mac and Greene ultimately gets dropped. Greene deserves his chance. But we start feeding him onto the field with 10 to go, then 20, then 30. In the mean time see how Mac develops.
Completely disagree with the assessment that Frisbey isnt up to it. I think he makes the WB squad this year and has "promise" tatoo'd all over him.
Frisbey delivery has been slow as the forwards havent worked out how to counter the opposition slowing tactics. His decission making and passing is good. Very rarely, these last two games, stepping sideways before passing.
Our attack strategy is poor. Hate to say that when I am trying to support this half-arsed CIHC thing in the post RG era. But comparing a) possession stats; b) ruck t/o; c) scrum success; hell even the diminishing d) l/o success - comparing this to points on the board - attack strategy is simply poor.
The halves are key to that, but shouldnt be judged in isolation. Sloting in Greene wont change:-
x forward go forward
x centres that (dont) open up passing opportunities off both hips from the 10
x run meters beyond the advantage line
This all starts from strategy. Lets be fair, though, to the CIHC and MOC in particular. They've had two weeks to work on it. Quality of performance in those two games is a gestalt leap ahead of where we were under RG. Hats off that they have NOT resorted to 10 man rugby.
Right now I think its time for everyone to take a deep breath. Its going to be a long arduous season. We are not finals contenders. Lets see the team focus on the longer term.
Its possible that this includes MacIntyre. It certainly includes one of Mac/Greene. And in my mind Frisbey is locked in for the future.
Over to MOC and Stiles. Fans now want to see development in attacking strategy. Continued work in D (I think Frisbey and Mac are making way too many tackles than is sensible at this level. Kutos to them, pox on the strategy.)
Things that I love is the exposure to new talent. OK Setu is no Gill (yet) but I loved seeing him out there. Matwijou will simply keep developing. Faagase, might have a couple of weeks thinking about wayward knees, but otherwise is peaking just at the right time. Talakai needs to make this season the one where he lifts to Super quality - so far so good keep it going. Ready, a possible bolter for the WBs? Ive never really been convinced by Simmo outside the set piece, bugger me if he isnt starting to shape up, actually had some run m and obvious tackles. Hunt is firing. Nabuli looked cack in R1 and 2, since then has shown some promise, ditto (the over-hyped) Karevi. The Ballymore Kid, what can you say other than "not bad for a kid".
What is missing is strategy. Not to say that we havent seen improvement in the game plan and all round performance. Because we have.
I'll be giving all of them a lot more than two rounds to start making ultimatums. Including the CIHC. And I am definitely not judging performance on a win/loss ratio. That particular horse bolted in 2015 with the re-signing of RG.
For now we need to be realistic.