Re: Challenge Cup Semi : Sat Aug 01, 2015 2:36 pm
Mugwump wrote:
One thing I will say is that I'm getting completely fed up with the way our forwards are handling Leeds' geriatric front row.
I'll never forget the time Kevin Ward played his last game against Australia at Wembley. At the time he was, maybe 36, and still playing very well for Saints.
I can't remember who was coaching Australia back then but I remember him saying something like, "a guy that age has no place on a rugby pitch". From the first minute to the last their younger forwards smashed Ward every time he took the ball. By half time he looked like an old man - finished.
Peacock is a great player. But if you aren't smashing 35 year old forwards every time they take the ball you really are behind the IQ curve. There's certainly no excuse for the treatment we gave KL.
Last night it was only when Mose arrived in his first spell and actually began targeting Leeds' props that we finally began to wake up. It really is frustrating seeing so many fans obsessing over Leeds' first twenty minutes when it is patently obvious that it's impossible for them to keep up such a pace.
Leeds know Saints' big forwards burn fuel quickly. But they also know we are not a high-scoring team. Their entire strategy is entirely dependent on focusing enormous energy early on to get two or three scores ahead. At that point they know we aren't likely to score four or five tries on the bounce. Other Saints' sides could. But not this one.
To be fair, Saints seemed to cope much better last night and our scrambling defence prevented them from going out of sight. But the one thing we couldn't overcome was our walking 14-point handicap.
But if I were Cunningham I'd have a serious word with Walmsley, Amor, Masoe and company about their ridiculous reverence for Peacock and KL. The Aussies never show any respect for age. Just look at some of the treatment dished out to guys like Wille Mason as the years rolled by.
If Peacock isn't leaving the pitch feeling his age and four score years then something is going wrong.
I'll never forget the time Kevin Ward played his last game against Australia at Wembley. At the time he was, maybe 36, and still playing very well for Saints.
I can't remember who was coaching Australia back then but I remember him saying something like, "a guy that age has no place on a rugby pitch". From the first minute to the last their younger forwards smashed Ward every time he took the ball. By half time he looked like an old man - finished.
Peacock is a great player. But if you aren't smashing 35 year old forwards every time they take the ball you really are behind the IQ curve. There's certainly no excuse for the treatment we gave KL.
Last night it was only when Mose arrived in his first spell and actually began targeting Leeds' props that we finally began to wake up. It really is frustrating seeing so many fans obsessing over Leeds' first twenty minutes when it is patently obvious that it's impossible for them to keep up such a pace.
Leeds know Saints' big forwards burn fuel quickly. But they also know we are not a high-scoring team. Their entire strategy is entirely dependent on focusing enormous energy early on to get two or three scores ahead. At that point they know we aren't likely to score four or five tries on the bounce. Other Saints' sides could. But not this one.
To be fair, Saints seemed to cope much better last night and our scrambling defence prevented them from going out of sight. But the one thing we couldn't overcome was our walking 14-point handicap.
But if I were Cunningham I'd have a serious word with Walmsley, Amor, Masoe and company about their ridiculous reverence for Peacock and KL. The Aussies never show any respect for age. Just look at some of the treatment dished out to guys like Wille Mason as the years rolled by.
If Peacock isn't leaving the pitch feeling his age and four score years then something is going wrong.
A couple of years ago Wigan had beaten Leeds in the Superleague semi final at Wigan on a Friday. The next day Wigan were playing their u19's Grand Final v Leeds at Headingley. As we were walking onto the ground Shaun Wane was talking to Peacock. "How are you Jamie"? "Sore Waney" replied Peacock. "Good, we did our job" said Wane. They then put their arms around one another and laughed.
