JWP wrote:I was maybe rushing a tad, and didn't explain my point well. My point was that if you look at the defenders, the positions that they are in etc, body positions and whatnot, they are awful. They are just 'scattered' as oppose to getting off the line and pointing out 'who is there man', you've got a bloke on a wraparound play that King will feel he needs to go for because nobody is near enough nor seems to have tracked his run, and it's easy to see how he gets sucked in. There's two or three, who may be in a good position Dave ie, on the field, but in terms of actually being in a good position to make the tackle, they may as well not be there.
I think what happens in general is, in my terms, ie, simple mans terms, there's a problem somewhere by the posts, and every defender along somewhat plugs that gap, so your backrow goes in to cover, phew, the gap/overlap moves wider, the centre moves in to cover the backrow slot, phew, the winger covers the centres ground, phew, Gardener walks in the corner (or doesn't as Penny ahs the presence of mind to go for him) and the try is scored.
The upshot is that Penny is left all on his own, with little or no hope. If he stayed on his wing, he'd leave a massive gap, literally 15m between him & King, Gidley would walk in, and the players would look at him no doubt for not 'pulling in' as that's the structure we've adopted, he can't win.
I can't work out, how we can't work out why this is happening. Cull couldn't stop it, fine, he didn't coach defence or whatever, but how come a new broom can't stop it ? I don't get it. Why can't we come up with a new structure to stop it happening ? I'm asking the Mark_m's of this world ?
My laymans view is is is all down to line speed. When you are on your line you have to be off it, rapid. Force the ball handler to make a decision as opposed to having the pick of runners and dummy runners. The negative of this, is that it leaves you susceptible to the kick behind, it just means the fullback has to be ultra aware.