Seen quite a few games at a number of levels where we have been blown off the ball, momentum built against us, and never regained. The only real go forward was a kick that provides the opposition the ball and we defend.
Even with Pocock out there, if the opposing team is running planned channels and dominating the go forward with players in support, or clearing out - & DOING IT WELL we need to arrest the momentum.
As on Saturday, players need to defend, and as seen when defending on the back foot it usually has the defender standing up because its hard to have low body height when you are going backwards.
Thus if the ball player isn't immediately grassed the D line is bent, multiple players are required - space created - points scored.
You can have the best backs in the world in your side, but it is about momentum.
You can have the biggest ugliest forward back in the world, but they need to get momentum.
As said above I've seen this tactic used above quite a bit recently - if i could make a suggestion, pull out a couple of reruns of the Reds 2011 season. I recall they were very very good at;
> making sure the first tackler grasses the ball carrier and that reduced the momentum.
> then ensuring there are always 2 players in over the ball and this forces the opposing team to contribute players and reduced the number of players standing off to attack / continue the go forward.
> next player hitting it up gets grassed again, and they often ended up attacking in D with this model.
I want Cheika that selects the team to execute the game plan, to take the points. At least at the Tah's game we struggled to shift the momentum in our favor.