TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
A question and a series of random observations.
Was South Africa’s try to Kolisi legal? I don’t see how you can lift a player specifically to pass him the ball. Further to that what is the actual merit in it? Yes - I know they scored but why throw him in the air. Ok - no one can touch him in the air but you also can’t start your drive until he hits the ground. A feel like it just buys the defence a bit of time. To be clear not suggesting for a minute it made a difference to the result. Just seems unusual.
With regards to lineouts a couple of comments on here around lack of third jumper. I thought most of the missed were just inaccurate throws. Our jumpers were mostly finding space (apart from once I think). It just looked like the throw missed.
As disappointing as that game was I obviously had lower expectations to others. Before the game I hoped for a win, but admit I feared it would be worse. The thing that most disappointed me is that we shot ourselves in the foot so many times. The lineouts were a big part but also a bunch of penalties we just didn’t need to give away. We actually defended really well for periods but just kept giving penalties away. And the kicking!!! I actually think Schmidt’s tactics may have been okay - but handing back possession on lineouts, needless penalties and poor kicks against one of the best teams I’ve seen in my lifetime - just makes it too hard. Some were forced by pressure, but plenty weren’t.
I don’t expect any miracle calls or silver bullets - there aren’t any. A few different players might had made it closer but we don’t have the team to beat SA at the moment, except if the moons align. But there were a bunch of fixable issues today so, hopefully, the coaching group can get some traction this week. But turning the ship will take time and take perseverance.
Was South Africa’s try to Kolisi legal? I don’t see how you can lift a player specifically to pass him the ball. Further to that what is the actual merit in it? Yes - I know they scored but why throw him in the air. Ok - no one can touch him in the air but you also can’t start your drive until he hits the ground. A feel like it just buys the defence a bit of time. To be clear not suggesting for a minute it made a difference to the result. Just seems unusual.
With regards to lineouts a couple of comments on here around lack of third jumper. I thought most of the missed were just inaccurate throws. Our jumpers were mostly finding space (apart from once I think). It just looked like the throw missed.
As disappointing as that game was I obviously had lower expectations to others. Before the game I hoped for a win, but admit I feared it would be worse. The thing that most disappointed me is that we shot ourselves in the foot so many times. The lineouts were a big part but also a bunch of penalties we just didn’t need to give away. We actually defended really well for periods but just kept giving penalties away. And the kicking!!! I actually think Schmidt’s tactics may have been okay - but handing back possession on lineouts, needless penalties and poor kicks against one of the best teams I’ve seen in my lifetime - just makes it too hard. Some were forced by pressure, but plenty weren’t.
I don’t expect any miracle calls or silver bullets - there aren’t any. A few different players might had made it closer but we don’t have the team to beat SA at the moment, except if the moons align. But there were a bunch of fixable issues today so, hopefully, the coaching group can get some traction this week. But turning the ship will take time and take perseverance.
