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Joined July 2018
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It’s easy to be up for the ABs but the Pumas in the three matches so far look a much better side with Ledesma at the helm.
They seem more organised, fluent and focused even in this loss.
Unless there is major regression in the upcoming matches, they could be building nicely for the World Cup.
Figallo was a big loss but at least Ledesma knows he might need to look to Europe again in that department.
Otherwise, the other worry is Sanchez in both a positive and negative sense.
He was a bit careless and aimless in his general kicking, usually punished by the ABs.
But he seems to be more of a running threat these days especially when paired with Bertranou.
The problem with the Pumas is if he got injured, is here a realistic back up?
Pumas good, All Blacks better
Actually it would be extremely difficult to see how any seemingly endless tiebreak scenarios could not involve two supreme servers.
If two primarily baseliners ever went to 30-28, they would actually have played 58 games and that is unlikely.
But these big servers typically put all their energy into holding serve then roll the dice on a couple of returns and tank the rest of the return game if they don’t work out. So a 30-28 for them would actually mean only 29 games were actually effectively played.
Also, the doubles examples in the article are irrelevant for obvious reasons.
Should tie breakers be introduced in the final set at Wimbledon?
But take Serena out and women’s tennis is actually just as fascinating because any of perhaps 30 players could reasonably expect to win a slam.
The men’s, when the three obvious legends are involved, usually means semis/ finals are competitive if they are up against each other. Throw Murray and Wawrinka into the mix and one cannot remember the last time someone else beat one of them to win a final.
These top players just produce on the big stages and when it counts because they are so used to it.
As Gulbis suggested, there really is not as great a gulf in tennis ability as rankings differences suggest but let’s see some of the top players produce their top tennis at the Challenger level in front of half a dozen people.
'The Djoker' pockets fourth Wimbledon, and 13th Slam
Nonsense.
Leave as is.
These results are outliers.
It is just unfortunate that it happened in a semi but it is no coincidence that both the longest matches now involve Isner.
Leaving as is sends a message out to the juniors that working on your return and all round game is just as important as serving.
Furthermore, i didn’t think it was boring at all. The interest was obviously no longer the tennis but the drama. After all, sport is really about a contest between humans.
Besides switching to tie breaks will be another advantage to the bigger server who in every other set was probably playing for the tie break?
Live by the sword die by the sword.
Should tie breakers be introduced in the final set at Wimbledon?
Not at all, just need to find solutions that is best for every country.
The Run Home – part 2: The equations
That’s one theory.
Another says the NZ teams have an unfair advantage as they are playing the best ie each other, going into the finals.
By knockout time, they would be battle hardened, finely tuned and operating at peak levels.
Meanwhile, the other two conferences are playing effectively division 2 opposition.
Come finals time, they might possibly have to beat not 1 but 2 NZ teams just to be in the final…against another NZ team. No chance.
Yes the format needs to change…but to help the non NZ teams!
The Run Home – part 2: The equations
Except in those June tests, they looked disinterested and seemed in holiday mode waiting for the SR restart.
The risk of burnout by the RC is however very real especially when the other three sides can select from players who have had a month’s break.
The Run Home – part 2: The equations
As usual, a very SANZcentric perspective.
And what of Japan and Argentina?
The Sunwolves will have a token Japanese player on the bench at best.
The Jaguares might actually have surplus players to supply to the rest of the teams but they will be relatively weaker so cannot say they benefit.
Every solution comes with new problems.
The Run Home – part 2: The equations
That’s going to be the problem for the Pumas in the RC if the Jaguares go far in the playoffs.
The players will be exhausted and could get blown away by the other RC teams who could rotate.
Ledesma has a dilemma.
Go all out for SR and risk RC capitulation, or factor in RC and underachieve in both.
Of course, one could argue the Pumas didn’t really expend that much energy in their three June thrashings.
The Run Home – part 2: The equations
By that logic, you could also use SA as a reference point since both Pumas and Wallabies have played them…
I think it’s really all about match ups and in the past, the Wallabies have always just had a bit more cutting edge and the accompanying confidence.
Not so sure about that any more with the Pumas back three on form possibly at least the equal of any of the other teams.
As for confidence, unlike other years, they are the same team that have just had the best ever SR season.
The Wrap: Wallabies will need more than resilience to beat Argentina