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Roar Rookie
Joined July 2020
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Good article Brett. “Pub test” is a good analogy I think. These on line forums are kind of a modern version of the pub chat- except that my shout doesn’t mean I have to buy beers for 1,000 people.
Here’s a genuine question. And this is a medium- long term consideration rather than just for 2021. Brett and others, what is the downside of say a 10 or 11 team Trans Tasman comp operating with an open player trade environment i.e. any player can be contracted by any club? Let the competition be the main priority rather than just as a feeder to the national teams. Yes, a salary cap, but no draft of course. It would allow weaker teams to progressively strengthen over time with judicious recruitment. The standard of the comp must improve and, with that the attraction for sponsors and broadcasters should be stronger. Who a player plays for should have no implication for his national selection eligibility.
Personally I could find myself getting very interested in this model as a fan. Maybe I’m naïve in terms of what might be possible, but, for me, the last 3-4 months has changed the conventional wisdom on so many fronts. Schooner of Stone and Wood thanks.
The pub test: What is actually plausible for 2021?
You have to think that these young guys who have reached this level must have been leaders in their position through school, schoolboy reps, Under 20’s etc. In terms of the lock position, why is it so few of them seem to have the credentials to run a lineout? Particularly given the individual and unit skills these guys practice and lineouts set every week in training.
Changing of the red guard bodes well for the Wallabies
Brett, I reckon the Rebels performance as you described in your piece highlights one of the real failings in our rugby and in so many of our players, and that is what seems to be an ingrained lack of patience. It has been a problem for a lot of years. It’s not a failing to take the tackle instead of throwing a 50/50, at best, pass- you don’t have to score off every possession. 3 points is not as good as 7, but it’s much better than 0 when there are still 30 mins to go. The Rebels continued to execute what looked like nothing more than one out white line fever, instead of moving the point of attack around and probing for holes. The Reds had to be knackered, but were almost never asked to move out of tight channels in defense.
Michael Cheiks’a helter skelter ball movement that so often ended in errors did nothing to manage this problem. I’ve probably over simplified the issues here but I believe there is a big upside to Rennie’s Wallabies results by playing more patiently and developing better decision making under pressure and somehow controlling the adrenalin rushes.
Vicious circle for Rebels as Reds attack through defence