It must be short.
Polyboy, i hear what you say in the other thread that has gone a bit to pot. But an attack focused game will not be the game to win the S15 as it takes a balanced side. Like the Chiefs were last year. But this year, its too much fling the ball around stuff.
There is one chapter of the book devoted to forward play - you cannot play rugby with card board forwards.
Mike once Schalk and Etzebth are in this side watch out. Great to see Tiaan back. We will have a very strong match 22 when and if all are fit. A pack close to 940 kg and hugely physical.
Goodman not completely to pot. Stormers deserved win no doubt but all this forward dominant approach that is espoused does not translate to consistent wins, like I said in previous threads its too early in season to say how the comp. is going to turn out, I also said that a speed game has its risk in defence patterns can be compromised, in fact the chiefs outscored the stormers in tries didn't I say we know how to score tries.
Clevermike, cardboard forwards my ass if the Stormers were so dominant the score should've been hugely in the Stormers favor, they won and they deserved it but the constant bagging of NZ forwards by SA fans still doesn't account for NZ rugby's better winning record against SA in all facets, Super Rugby, Tri nations, RWC, and RC, and under 20's. Card board forwards don't play in multiple championship winning teams.
I fact I'm going to use the "Beeno" principle for the exactly why the Chiefs lost that is," they were jetlagged, the ref was bias against them, there's a IRB conspiracy against the Chiefs or the ever mentioned that was not their full strength team".
Go on say it, the Boks are going to win everything this year.
I hear you, and agree in part. I too think it's early...this is a marathon not a sprint.
polyboy
I was only joking. The problem today ws that the Chiefs were bad in the line-outs and in maul situations. In rolling mauls they were driven backwards and they lost the game because of that - too many kicable penalties givn away by their forwards. There can be no argumet - they have the best backline of any of the franchises - but they lost the game because their forwards were not really showing anything of value. Their forward pack was inadequate - to say the least.
Indeed Goodman, defence was poor... but lets face it SA forwards were just far better than any NZ team forwards, Cheetas just hammered highlanders, Blues were just dominated in all aspects of the games. NZ defence has a strong history as far as AB go. Looks like all NZ teams if they want to compete in this years Super 15 will have to start getting tougher and give what they receive, or be bungled out and it could be a Bok top 4. Early days yet so lets not get carried away.
