5. Execution/Decision Making
(By Bobas)
Rugby at times can be a bit like an arm wrestle and you’ll often see passages of play, in some cases (especially internationals) three quarters of a match, where you think, “it will open up and the next team to get a try should run away with this game”. Our lower ranked teams are not any worse at defending than many of the teams ranked above them on the super rugby table and our 6th spot Brumbies have conceded the least points. So what is going on?
Well this week we saw two passages of play with the game still very much in the balance where the opposing team was practically gifted seven pointers through no defensive faults. We’re talking specifically about James O’Connor’s kick clearance into the chest of Ungerer and Pat Leafa’s perfect pill to put Leyds in untouched on the stroke of half-time.
The momentum swing in such a taxing sport is phenomenal, just when you think you’re fitter than the other team and they will break, they get a second wind and they’re happy to wait for their mate to slot a conversion, while you’re standing under the goal post being told by the captain the game plan was “working”, It was, it was just undone by poor execution or a brain explosion under pressure.
Let’s have a look at both scenarios:
The O’Connor scenario is in the above video and appears at the one minute mark. The rest of the video is certainly worth watching if you have the time.
The Reds have secured the ball, under pressure on the back foot and are trying to clear it, Hunt passes back to O’Connor who tries unsuccessfully for a kick to touch. Hunt’s pass is serviceable and O’Connor certainly has time to clear before he is met by the two chasers. The decision making here is flawless, unfortunately the execution of the kick is very poor and one of the chasers after pulling up stiff during the chase, finds the ball on his chest and dives over for his brace. With correct execution James may have put that out on the ten metre line and the Sharks would have to work harder to build on their current two point lead with twelve to play. The Red’s would have only needed a penalty to get ahead going into the last ten minutes. They lost by seven.
The next scenario has the Rebels with clean ball inside their 22 in injury time of the first half. Stirzaker chooses to go probing wide and passes the ball to Leafa. Leafa straightens the attack and lets go a short pass off his left shoulder which is intercepted by the Stormers’ winger who scores a try untouched.
This, whilst having an element of poor execution, is mainly poor decision making. The person with the ball in his hands gets to make the decision and that’s Rebel’s hooker Pat Leafa. No one except Leyds could have caught that pass.
What he should have done is dummied, stepped off his left into the defender and formed a quick ruck in front of Timani, Timani would have secured quick ball for Stirzaker who would have cleared early to English, who was just coming into the line. Higginbotham by this stage would be wider and there is no way the only defender, Leyds is going to let his opposing winger through. Higginbotham would have had a clean line break down the left wing with only a front rower in cover defense, he may not have scored but at least they would have gone into half time either up, closer or within a converted try.
It is also worth noting the confidence and momentum swing as Leyds scored again five minutes after half time after being gifted his first.
