SIX NATIONS 2021

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Dave
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Dave »

I have to say I was wrong about Farrell. I must congratulate him on masterminding a 15-13 defeat to France.

That scoreline massively flatters Ireland. It wasn't rugby. As only one team was trying to play it. The other spoiling it. High bomb, bish bash bosh etc... What other style of play does Andy know? Did he even play 50 games of rugby in his life?

Jokeshop.

IRFU out.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Bart S »

Was watching some of the Off The Ball post match analysis stuff. Keith Wood was very good overall and both he and BOD have highlighted James Lowe’s weakness in defence, being not just his reads but also tackle technique. Liam Toland on other other hand seemed to think that Ireland may need to alter their defensive structure to effectively hide him.

I know Lowe has the flowing long hair which would look the part in a L’Oreal add but I would question whether he really is “worth it.”

A back 3 of Larmour, Stockdale and Lowe would have you on the edge of your seat when they had the ball and behind the sofa when they were on the back foot , albeit Larmour mainly under the high ball.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Bart S »

Dave wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:59 pm I have to say I was wrong about Farrell. I must congratulate him on masterminding a 15-13 defeat to France.

That scoreline massively flatters Ireland. It wasn't rugby. As only one team was trying to play it. The other spoiling it. High bomb, bish bash bosh etc... What other style of play does Andy know? Did he even play 50 games of rugby in his life?

Jokeshop.

IRFU out.

What is also concerning is that he wanted to play that kind of game then Cooney and Byrne at halfback would have been better suited to it than JGP and Burns.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by rumncoke »

Farrell is ex Rugby League like Kiss a New Zealand rugby coach once said to me you can never win at Union with a Rugby League coach

Rugby League is Americian Football without the Huddle and the forward pass a game of yardage hence one pass into contact by the forwards or a kick as first option by the backs lying in a flat line which denies space to the outer 2 players in the back line , a third man rush defence kills option of passing to the wing.

It also leads to half backs playing by numbers and lacking flair compare the french half backs to the Irish half backs -- passes inside -outside and nippy little breaks and then passing to support -- the Irish half backs were 100% predictable -- kick or pass out side or run diagonally till tackled. -- Yardage rugby pure league approach.

But to be fair bar Cooney there isn't an Irish Half Back with a mind quick enough to play a flair lead game. Lowry is too small by a mile for international and Carberry too "star" and a unknown quantity since being injured ( My problem with Carberry is I don't think he can link after a break he loses his support ) Both are players who have to avoid the opposition for 80 minutes -- and Sexton is living proof that at International level it is an impossibility .
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by mea97mb »

rumncoke wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:58 am Farrell is ex Rugby League like Kiss a New Zealand rugby coach once said to me you can never win at Union with a Rugby League coach

Rugby League is Americian Football without the Huddle and the forward pass a game of yardage hence one pass into contact by the forwards or a kick as first option by the backs lying in a flat line which denies space to the outer 2 players in the back line , a third man rush defence kills option of passing to the wing.

It also leads to half backs playing by numbers and lacking flair compare the french half backs to the Irish half backs -- passes inside -outside and nippy little breaks and then passing to support -- the Irish half backs were 100% predictable -- kick or pass out side or run diagonally till tackled. -- Yardage rugby pure league approach.

But to be fair bar Cooney there isn't an Irish Half Back with a mind quick enough to play a flair lead game. Lowry is too small by a mile for international and Carberry too "star" and a unknown quantity since being injured ( My problem with Carberry is I don't think he can link after a break he loses his support ) Both are players who have to avoid the opposition for 80 minutes -- and Sexton is living proof that at International level it is an impossibility .
Every Union team these days is now heavily influenced by League tactics particularly in defense with teams staying on their feet, not competing at rucks, spreading out the defensive line and trusting their first up tackling. However attack is also increasingly influenced by league, note the heavy use of screen passing and Janny's favorite, the loop around.
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Dave
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Dave »

Toland is an absolute clown. How do you hide a 16 stone winger? Lowe is good ball in hand running into people. Unfortunately for him, Farrell appears to like him because of his large boot. Wingers are an after thought in his hoofball game plan. The Irish defensive system generally shafts the winger. There is tendency to become too narrow when the pressure is applied from the opposition. The winger needs to be able to make the right decision at the right time.

Some players can do it instinctively. I think young Baloucoune for Ulster has great defensive instincts. Stockdale I believe is improving at this. Lowe has never managed this. I don't think he will change in this regard at this stage of his career.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Snipe Watson »

Union can learn from league coaches especially in defence which for me is a positive. While it would be daft to write off all league coaches as defence specialists end of, there very few of them that have excelled as head coaches.
For any coach, their thinking must be influenced by their playing roots and the bowl they were baked in, if it's league then that's going to come through.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Bart S »

Dave - I agree on Baloucoune. He seems like he will be an excellent defender as already looks comfortable in this area. Of all ulster's back 3 options if I was asked which one I would want to be 1 on 1 defending I would choose him.

The defence can be worked on if you have the other attributes. Trimble had some real horror shows in defence in his early years on the wing yet turned into a high class defender in that position later in his career. All done through hard work.
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Dave
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Dave »

'League' is a different sport. So that is a major issue. The eggheads at the FIRFU are happy to experiment with the biggest coaching role on the Island.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

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Bart S wrote: Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:19 pm Dave - I agree on Baloucoune. He seems like he will be an excellent defender as already looks comfortable in this area. Of all ulster's back 3 options if I was asked which one I would want to be 1 on 1 defending I would choose him.

The defence can be worked on if you have the other attributes. Trimble had some real horror shows in defence in his early years on the wing yet turned into a high class defender in that position later in his career. All done through hard work.
Rob's big strength in defence is that if he gets wrong footed, he has the gas and footwork to get back for a second go.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by rumncoke »

League has undoubtedly influence the modern defence used in Union but defence is possibly 60% the other 40% is attack and league is a game of yardage first and foremost whereas Union is a game of space which is something very few if any league coaches know how to create.

The problem in the professional game is that games are won and lost by mistakes rather than by creative play hence the importance of the place kicker -- which is all fine and dandy except referees" play" what may be described as blind eye rugby -- the many and varied infringements which are ignored to allow the game to flow except it doesn't enable creative rugby the marginal offside at nearly every ruck . playing ( holding men into rucks when on the ground and pulling men out of mauls both are infringements, binding before the tackle creating a "FLYING WEDGE ' which is also formed when two or more players when bound break from a maul it is illegal and dangerous .

They are types of play which discourage passing and expose would be tacklers to have to tackle high
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by mea97mb »

rumncoke wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 1:22 pm League has undoubtedly influence the modern defence used in Union but defence is possibly 60% the other 40% is attack and league is a game of yardage first and foremost whereas Union is a game of space which is something very few if any league coaches know how to create.
You clearly do not watch mush League, or if so poor matches. In league they use the big forwards to gain ground but as soon as space is identified they go wide very quickly using tactics that I mentioned before like screen passes, loop arounds, dummy runners....all tactics that have been adopted by Union in order to "create space" for runners.
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Dave
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Dave »

There is rugby. There is league. League is shyte.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by big mervyn »

Dave wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:41 pm There is rugby. There is league. League is shyte.
Miles better than soccer.
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Re: SIX NATIONS 2021

Post by Bobbievee »

big mervyn wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:17 pm
Dave wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:41 pm There is rugby. There is league. League is shyte.
Miles better than soccer.
Ironically it used to be...........until defence coaches took over!
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