Simmo71 wrote:No, I totally understand.
The yards that Handley and Fusitua make are very useful.
But how does that stop their pack marching all the way up the field in 5 tackles??
I don’t think it is their pack marching all the way up the field in 5 tackles. I think it is their pack and their outside backs jointly.
By comparison If you have handley and fusitua on the first two runs then you get more meters and a much quicker play the ball. So the third and fourth players are on a quicker play the ball, in a better field position and can get some momentum moving you forward.
Instead first and second is tindall and briscoe. So generally a slow play the ball with limited meters being made. Or the players who would take the third or fourth charge end up taking the second and third to try and move us forward, they maybe then have to take a second carry. We then have a slow kick play the ball and a kick under pressure from a relatively poor position. So Catalans start in a better field position, on the front foot and they have their first choice outside backs to get them going.