just_browny wrote:
Talk about 'bottling' is a bit childish and doesn't help much. There were serious red flags about our composure though yesterday. Marshall talked about patience and building pressure at 16-6, which is fine, but as soon as we conceded that daft try after half time we went to Hail Mary passes and trying to score off every play - even with half an hour left. That made us very easy to pick off.
Totally agree about that last bit. Was a bit surprised when we began chasing the game so early. Yes, we were 3 scores down, but when the game actually settled down in the last 15 minutes of the first half, we had looked much the better side and a similar mindset in the second half could have got us closer to Saints on the scoreboard and that, coupled with fatigue, might easily have seen them crumble.
Instead, we played into their hands, playing some pretty dumb rugby.
On a positive note, the spirit was there, but they were just a bit naive how we went about things.
P.S. how long a contract as Drinkwater got, because unless we utilise him better (if he is capable), then he's going to become an obvious weak link as nothing with any attacking positivity seems to go through him?
Actually thought that Dufty to half back (hasn't he played there in Oz, or am I mistaken?) and Thewlis or Ashton to full back might have been worth a shot as that second half wore on.
