naza said:
Ash said:
Palu is a big basher who does his role very well. Not begrudging his ability for his role, rather just stating what the Tahs lack in the forwards. The Tahs need Palu. But where, though, is the link for the Tahs from the forwards to the (poor) backs? Traditionally it's the openside, but when you have a fetcher the role may go elsewhere. As much as I hate to say it, even a Sharpe seagull playing a link between forwards and backs would help the Tahs.
Interesting idea but I don't buy it. The Chiefs put on a half century of points. Who is their link forward - Sione Luaki ? Support play has to be embraced by the entire team.
Latimer, Messam, etc - the Chiefs have a few who play that link role or a the support role. Lauaki is a Palu type - Lauaki's a more slightly more damaging runner, but Palu's workrate and defence craps all over Lazyaki. Lauaki will give you a a few runs per game, Palu will give you plenty plus work more in defence. I know who I would want in my team.
Fair point about the support play - it's something that the Tahs have been woeful at this year.
One point that was glaringly obvious to me as well was how poor the Tahs backs work to get themselves into position. The Tahs get a turnover, and the backs are in a defensive line. You look at the NZ sides, or even the Reds, and those backs will run back to give themselves the opportunity to receive the ball. Not the Tahs. They stand up in their defensive line and do a heap of ball watching before bothering to lazily walk back (well after the 5/8 has received the ball) to an attacking formation, if you can call it that. I was yelling at them to move during the game, and it's very frustrating.
As well, the Tahs have the Reds syndrome at times of being able to throw a whole blanket over their players on attack. With no-one out wide, you can't even start to stretch the defence as they compress their line.
