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royc wrote:One thing synonymous with a lot of Edinburgh's better wins this season has been the speed at which the breakaway forwards and locks get to the breakdown and attack around the fringes, which has created attacking opportunities for the backs against a retreating defence. Last night was the reverse of that until maybe the last 20, getting done at the breakdown with no support in sight and some solo carries by Mata, unsupported by his fellow breakaways.
It helps if you have a fast, nuggety openside, they won't always be the first to the breakdown but will be there or thereabouts. Ritchie is quite quick but didn't make much impression in that department. But he was not alone among the breakaways.
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Friday Knight Lights wrote:Agree on the backrow. I don't think Mata and Bradbury work in the same unit because they don't clear breakdowns fast enough. I think they are two 8s but we need a nuggety 6 to glue it all together.
I think we've been desperately short of quality at 9 and 10 the last few weeks. We need a new 9 and have to hope with a pre season van Der Walt adjusts and Hickey is a good player.
It's disappointing but I think it's important to remember where we are. It's still down to us for Champions Cup and we've been dreadful for years with no realistic shot. We're doing well and we just need to beat the Scarlets (who'll have an eye on their semi final) next week.
Weegie wrote:I think Ulster were lucky the first half was so scrum free. At best afew scrum penalties would have pinned them back, at worst it would have tired their forwards as it looked like, given the chance, they'd have taken a battering there. But it did not happen and Edinburgh did not respond to what did.
A few Edinburgh players were either trying too hard, or believe their own publicity. There were numerous time where the ball should have been moved but a player either took contact, or ran sideways to close down the space for the players outside them.
I am really having trouble working out why so many players appear to stand around waiting for someone else to take responsibility. It may be letting the ball bounce, it may be failing to get back into the defensive line, or it may be watching an attack but not supporting, but it looks like players are not working hard enough at the right things and then compounding by playing as individuals rather than a team.
And once again, Edinburgh mistakes and missed tackles that really should have been made let the opposition make hay.
I am struggling to see how you fix this, so it just as well I am not head coach.
disco wrote:I think you'll be getting a second string or at least weakened Scarlets team next Saturday. They got the result they needed today and with the Dragons on the final day the result in Round 20 is of much less consequence. That will allow them to keep their main men fresh for the Champions Cup semi-final the following week.
biffer wrote:Anyone who can’t see the difference between this year and the last eight isn’t watching.
joe soap wrote:royc wrote:It helps if you have a fast, nuggety openside, they won't always be the first to the breakdown but will be there or thereabouts. Ritchie is quite quick but didn't make much impression in that department. But he was not alone among the breakaways.
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first paragraph is right.
Second one - no openside is anywhere near all attacking rucks, it isn't how pro rugby is played. In attack its forward pods, usually the same players will form a pod in similar areas of the park.
royc wrote:By 'breakdown', which is admittedly a rather vague term, I am referring to the period between the collision and the ref saying a ruck or maul has been formed, including the short interval until the rest of the troops arrive. The 'fast nuggety opensid'e, if up to scratch, will generally - as nominally the fittest and fastest forward - be the first or second person to the breakdown, wrestling for the ball or acting as first receiver or jackalling in the maul. .
royc wrote:Agree entirely that, when the pods are formed, the role of the openside flanker is elsewhere, they are on flank guard duty or covering behind in case the pods go pear-shaped.
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