N
Newter
Guest
I say boys. In the first quarter of this Test the Springboks were flying into the ruck collision zone and totally dominating over the ball. James Horwill battled more or less alone, and more or less lost that battle. Driven backwards in the tackle, time after time. The rest of the tight five were either a bit too late, or a bit too off balance, or didn't have low enough body height or hadn't timed their run into contact properly. Sekope Kepu was the only one who really stood up and did his job properly.
My impression is that Moore and Alexander are, like many Brumbies in days gone by, running centers trapped in front rowers' bodies. Their speed to the ruck battle and technique was far inferior to the Boks'. Sure they run the ball well, and have great hands and run the right angles, but is that what we need from them? I'd rather have seen them make two or three dominant tackles each rather than the tries they scored.
Simmons will be great in a year or two but is still just a boy. He should have stopped that try on his goal line with a simple one on one tackle, but didn't have the power to dominate. England will eat him up for breakfast.
Everything else in the team is working fine, but this is our achilles heel again just as it was in 2007.
My impression is that Moore and Alexander are, like many Brumbies in days gone by, running centers trapped in front rowers' bodies. Their speed to the ruck battle and technique was far inferior to the Boks'. Sure they run the ball well, and have great hands and run the right angles, but is that what we need from them? I'd rather have seen them make two or three dominant tackles each rather than the tries they scored.
Simmons will be great in a year or two but is still just a boy. He should have stopped that try on his goal line with a simple one on one tackle, but didn't have the power to dominate. England will eat him up for breakfast.
Everything else in the team is working fine, but this is our achilles heel again just as it was in 2007.
