Snake
Snake's Alive!
Interesting to read that Ennis lays some of the blame on the lack of punch from our back 5. They aren’t getting the sets off to a good start and that’s having a flow on effect to the forwards.
I’m sure there’s an element of truth in it but if the line speed in the middle from the forwards was better, teams wouldn’t be able to kick high and long and pin us in a corner and bash us. The first thing a winger should do off a kick is try and get the ball to the middle of the field so it can go left or right from the ruck. We can’t do that because Saab is getting hit the second he catches the ball. We need to make the opposition kick from deeper in their half to minimise this...that’s determined by line speed and aggression in defence.
Of course some better carries from the backs help, but they’re sitting ducks when the opposition is fresh, lined up and aware that the ball can only go one direction off the ruck.
I’m sure there’s an element of truth in it but if the line speed in the middle from the forwards was better, teams wouldn’t be able to kick high and long and pin us in a corner and bash us. The first thing a winger should do off a kick is try and get the ball to the middle of the field so it can go left or right from the ruck. We can’t do that because Saab is getting hit the second he catches the ball. We need to make the opposition kick from deeper in their half to minimise this...that’s determined by line speed and aggression in defence.
Of course some better carries from the backs help, but they’re sitting ducks when the opposition is fresh, lined up and aware that the ball can only go one direction off the ruck.