Defence : Sun May 01, 2016 8:44 pm  

I'm convinced our problems in defence hinge on line speed, or lack of it.

Most of the time it's a slow step or two forward and then we stop and wait, the opposition has so much room before we make any contact it's unreal and that's why we look like headless chickens trying to complete tackles some of the time.

Away from our goal line we might get away with it but from 25 meters out a dynamic fast moving attack with all the runners against a stationary defence just break through time and time again.

We have had several combinations at right wing and centre with some good players in there but it makes no difference in view of the above and it's now spreading to other areas.

It has to be down to defensive plays and should be fixable starting by getting fast off the line and in their faces.

Re: Defence : Mon May 02, 2016 12:48 am  

So what are we doing differently this year we weren't last when out defnce was our main assets?

Re: Defence : Mon May 02, 2016 7:01 am  

Well i don't like to criticise individuals but the right hand side is a huge problem defensively as that is where all the points get shipped in. Week after week teams watch the video from the week before and just simply do the same, and get the same success. Always seemed more solid defensively with heaton in the centre but for whatever reason RM seems to favour smeaton, I think smeaton has made some huge hits in defence in every game but I have also noticed that on many occasions he is also the one of of position in the defensive line that creates the gaps for attacking teams. RM needs to address the right hand side and quick.

Re: Defence : Mon May 02, 2016 12:24 pm  

BiginJapan1970 wrote:

Well i don't like to criticise individuals but the right hand side is a huge problem defensively as that is where all the points get shipped in. Week after week teams watch the video from the week before and just simply do the same, and get the same success. Always seemed more solid defensively with heaton in the centre but for whatever reason RM seems to favour smeaton, I think smeaton has made some huge hits in defence in every game but I have also noticed that on many occasions he is also the one of of position in the defensive line that creates the gaps for attacking teams. RM needs to address the right hand side and quick.

That and Mozz's flailing most of the time.

Re: Defence : Mon May 02, 2016 1:26 pm  

Scott gets badly exposed at times due to his lack of pace which is usually the cause of the troubles on his outside.

Re: Defence : Mon May 02, 2016 2:45 pm  

BiginJapan1970 wrote:

Well i don't like to criticise individuals but the right hand side is a huge problem defensively as that is where all the points get shipped in. Week after week teams watch the video from the week before and just simply do the same, and get the same success. Always seemed more solid defensively with heaton in the centre but for whatever reason RM seems to favour smeaton, I think smeaton has made some huge hits in defence in every game but I have also noticed that on many occasions he is also the one of of position in the defensive line that creates the gaps for attacking teams. RM needs to address the right hand side and quick.

TheEnforcer273 wrote:

Scott gets badly exposed at times due to his lack of pace which is usually the cause of the troubles on his outside.

Summed up in 2 posts.

Our right side defence has been poor all season. As has been said Murrell has not got the pace to defend in the position he does which leads to indecision by whoever plays centre and ends up with the winger looking stupid. Smeaton seems to get the credit for big hits but a lot of the tries we have conceded this year down that side have been by him making a bad read and leaving the winger exposed. Smeaton probably has advantage over Heaton with ball in hand though so it must be a tough decision for RM as Heaton was superb last season and Im sure we would be stronger down that side with him in the team.

I also still think Murrell is a very good defender but should be defending at least 1 more position to his left so he cant get exposed for pace even if that meant Manning or Tangata defending 1 further out which I still do not think would have any adverse effect in our middle. For me that would be Tangata to save his energy for when we have the ball as he is a devastating runner.

Re: Defence : Mon May 02, 2016 10:32 pm  

Big concern after seeing the highlights of the game as you say the right hand side is a real problem I would guess 70% of our tries are conceded on that wing but with different players as well, what's going on?
We also struggle with the kicks to our in goal area when we try to kick the ball out and I would suggest we should try gather the ball instead its much safer, a 'fly' kick often misses and it costs us tries.
Confidence is the key to our problems the players just need to get it back, come on lads!

Re: Defence : Tue May 03, 2016 8:14 pm  

I am sure RM and his coaching team can see all we do both live and after. Unfortunately so can our opposition!
Our defensive line speed needs to be much quicker when they all do the pass out of the back move and get to the person with the ball to rush the pass and lose accuracy. Muzza needs to defend further inside as he is getting exposed for lack of pace I'm afraid. Nothing he can do about that and he does offer the team much more in other areas. Team game just need to work to each players strength and weaknesses.It will come.

Re: Defence : Tue May 03, 2016 8:55 pm  

Living The Dream wrote:

I am sure RM and his coaching team can see all we do both live and after. Unfortunately so can our opposition!
Our defensive line speed needs to be much quicker when they all do the pass out of the back move and get to the person with the ball to rush the pass and lose accuracy. Muzza needs to defend further inside as he is getting exposed for lack of pace I'm afraid. Nothing he can do about that and he does offer the team much more in other areas. Team game just need to work to each players strength and weaknesses.It will come.

Exactly it's what's happening in open play long before they get into our 20 that's contributing to shipping all the points, we are just giving them far too much space to go through their moves.

If we can get in their face front on a bit more then they won't have as many opportunities or the room to run round Muzza or anyone else and it's what we were doing for much of last season.

Front on Muzza is a match for anyone, side on or chasing back not so.

Re: Defence : Tue May 03, 2016 9:31 pm  

Just a thought, but when Fax were at their best (back in the 80's era that is, others might differ!), a certain Chris Anderson wasn't the fastest player on the pitch. Maybe the game has changed too much since then, but we used to utilise a flat defence of 11 players, with Anderson covering slightly (a few yards) behind the defensive line and then the full-back beyond that of course. Any partial line break up the middle by the opposition was quickly snuffed out by having the extra man their, although it doesn't help out wide.

Just a thought, but could something similar work with Scott? He's the engine room that makes us tick in more ways than one (as was Chris A!), and it might be a way of tightening things up and still keep the "brains" of the team on the pitch.