Here's what goes wrong.....

....our guys have now been coached to offload. But haven't been coached to look for space, change the direction of attack.....stay with the ball carrier when he makes a break. . So when our players get the ball it arrives exactly in the anticipated spot. Two NZ players are there....enough to stop Etzebeth and turn into a tackler cum fetcher for the backs. We get no penetration and get turned in any continuous phase play. . And if by chance somebody breaks, there is nobody on his shoulder....the last decent break by Carr where he passed to a Highlander for example. Kolisi who should have stayed with him was trotting behind. . So the defence knows the contact point and gets there fast. Which of course means there is space behind...but a chip kick is now not allowed, whereas a few of those would set up our ball in hand play. . It's a lumbering, joyless and ultimately fruitless attempt to mimick NZ rugby.

 It was not a mimick of any rugby - it was just poor display of incompetents.   The worst was the defense where to microlights in the backline could not make tackles and had constantly to be helped out.  
And then there was the loosies who cannot play proper rugby either,  Du Toit brought his part - the others did not.
I do not think that playing a ball in hand game is wrong - but then you must not isolate yourself and loose possession.  
I had a look at the defensive stats of Etzebeth as well - 6 attempted - three missed tackles.   Just not good enough.   Etzebeth's carries was not hot stuff either - 11 carries with a meter gain of 13 with 3 possession turnovers conceded.   He had a poor game - and one should be honest about it.     Du Toit was much better - he also conceded 3 possession turnovers - but made 15 tackles and missed only one.      

 It was not a mimick of any rugby - it was just poor display of incompetents.   The worst was the defense where to microlights in the backline could not make tackles and had constantly to be helped out.  
And then there was the loosies who cannot play proper rugby either,  Du Toit brought his part - the others did not.
I do not think that playing a ball in hand game is wrong - but then you must not isolate yourself and loose possession.  
I had a look at the defensive stats of Etzebeth as well - 6 attempted - three missed tackles.   Just not good enough.   Etzebeth's carries was not hot stuff either - 11 carries with a meter gain of 13 with 3 possession turnovers conceded.   He had a poor game - and one should be honest about it.     Du Toit was much better - he also conceded 3 possession turnovers - but made 15 tackles and missed only one.      

The guys weren't isolating themselves....the Landers knew exactly where the contact was going to take place and always had a team of tacklers ready to pounce. . Du Toit missed only one tackle, but never even got close enough to register a missed tackle when Smith did a Youngs on him.

 Mozart
Even if Du Toit was 30 meters away you would still blame him.   No comments on Etzebeth dismal performance????????

Etzebeth was subdued today.....who can blame him with all the stupid criticism he is copping. He was quoted talking about his lack of penalties shortly before the game. Still his season long tackling percentage is way higher than Stephanie....and if you look at the one long chase featuring Etzebeth and Stephanie, my guess is Eben is 10 metres faster over the 100. Not crucial if Stephanie plays lock.....but certainly a concern if Fleck continues with him at 7.

 It is not the stupid criticism that caused Etzebeth to underperform.   The whole attack on Du Toit has been ongoing for years - while the continuous under-performance by Etzebeth is ever mentioned - why?
Sorry Mozart - but it is not only the number of missed tackles - it is the number of tackle attempts made.   Etzebeth has always been lacking in that respect - and that is a fact as well.  
I am not saying Etzebeth is not a good lock - all I am stating is that criticizing D u Toit and not looking at his performance and not looking at Etzebeth as well is just not on.  It smells very much of prejudice.    

 
Well the Stormers opted for Fleck instead of Mitchell and most were in favour of it ... so don't cry because of a series of embarrassing matches.

You guys have been thrashed in the last three and I suspect another hiding is due against the Canes next week.

You wanted Fleck ... you have him ... accept it.

 Moz I think the notion of a pass beating the opposition and running into space is also coached out of the guys. You see it at schoolboy level but the dunces coaching here don't understand that running directly into the opposition and forming predictable patterns will not work.Then there is the fact that out wide the micro backs lose the contact battle and further are driven backwards when tackling. For the bigger backs they face their opponents love running against them and its easy getting in your off load against powder puff tackling.But what the Lions have illustrated is just how poor the skills level are of other SA sides. Richer unions with greater player resources etc get beaten by a Lions outfitted that look competent and coached.Then add on to the fact that you give away forward dominance by fielding 4 small pack members.  Bongi, Notche, Carr and Kolisi are not up to it physically. They are small and not that quick!
One move I would love to see is Kolbe at 9. Get in a tough grafting hooker with some pace and a decent 7 as a minimum. We need a another wing of quality.Its difficult to say how much Fleck is being messed up with quota requirements it bedevils everything.
The amateurish approach to professional rugby continues and morons are mostly charge as coaches and administrators. Add in the racial problems and a weak rand and the future looks gloomy when compared to past glories.
Dr Mozzz needs to understand that we have get back to playing balanced rugby. The old Bulle kick and charge stuff doesn't cut it. LETS BE HONEST APART FROM THE LIONS THE SA SIDES LOOK LIKE RANK AMATEURS. THE BOKS ARE IN DISARRAY AND MORONS ARE DESTROYING SA RUGBY.I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR SOUND REASONS FOR OPTIMISM.I ALSO SAY THAT EVEN IF WE HAD THE GREATEST TALENT IN THE WORLD WE WOULD STILL FLOUNDER. TALENT IS NOT THE PROBLEM AS THE LIONS HAVE PROVED COMING FORM NOWHERE AS THEY DID.

The Stormers did say that they thought it would be essential to play New Zealand teams this year, unlike last year. He may be mincing on his words now

 P laying nz teams is one thing playing nz teams plus a bent ref another.