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Attacks will breathe fire into Eels v Dragons
FRIDAY, 12 MARCH 2010 05:41
By Jason Taylor - Parramatta and St George Illawarra met twice at the end of last season for a win apiece, with the Eels winning the one that mattered - the qualifying final. With both teams having successful seasons last year, neither side will have changed its game plan too much in the off-season, giving us some great insight into how tonight's game will unfold.
The Dragons' left edge of Ben Hornby, Ben Creagh, Matt Cooper (replaced late by Matt Prior) and Brett Morris is their go-to side and a lethal one at that. They will set up for this at the middle or far edge of the field before launching one of two plays at the Eels' right-edge defence.
Both plays will start in a similar way, with Hornby deliberately carrying the ball towards Parramatta's fourth defender in from the sideline. This will allow Hornby's outside men to pressure the remaining three Parramatta defenders in the following ways:
Parramatta's attack set the rugby league world alight last year, with the Eels scoring some of the most entertaining team tries the game has seen in a long time. This high-skill, high-energy game can, however, be error-ridden if the confidence and timing aren't there early in the season. Parra fans may need to be patient here.
The other thing Parramatta had late last year that can get them home tonight is brilliance from individuals. When they knocked off the Dragons in the qualifying final they scored four tries, all of them coming from individual brilliance. There were two from Daniel Mortimer, an intercept from Grothe and the individual try of the year from Jarryd Hayne.
For the Eels to win, they must first handle a potent Dragons left-edge attack that includes Brett Morris. He scored 25 tries in 24 games last year.
For the Dragons to win, they must work together to control the unpredictability and power of Hayne, Mortimer, Fuifui Moimoi and Timana Tahu.
Strap yourself in!
Play 1. Creagh on Jeff Robson
Big man on small man. Hornby (A1) will run towards D4 and then pass short to Creagh (A2), 104kg running full speed at 88kg Robson (D3). Creagh will change direction late in his run from Robson's left shoulder to right. Creagh being on Robson's right shoulder means D4 is unable to help in the tackle. D2 cannot help either because he must stay marking his opposite man, A3. In this example, in round 26 last year, Creagh pushed through the Robson tackle to score. Robson will know this play is coming tonight and must be ready to put his body on the line.
Play 2. Numbers advantage
The second option the Dragons will use is to bring fullback Darius Boyd (A5) into the play, creating a numbers advantage. Hornby (A1) and Creagh (A2) will run towards D4 and D3 respectively to hold them in position, limiting their ability to help their teammates on the outside. Hornby will then pass behind Creagh to Boyd (A5), creating a three-against-two advantage. On this occasion in last year's qualifying final, Boyd passed across the front of Cooper (A3) to Morris (A4), who scored in the corner untouched. The depth created by the last three attackers running deep behind Creagh is important, as it allows time and space for Boyd to pass the ball to the men at the end of the line. This depth is accentuated by defender Eric Grothe (D1) being behind his centre, Joel Reddy (D2), which is where he stayed as the play comes towards him.
PLAY 3. How to defend it
In this example, Grothe's positioning (D1) is clearly different from the above example, as he has come forward, in front of Reddy, thus reducing the time Jamie Soward (A5) has to throw his pass. This way, Grothe has eliminated some of the options available to the attacking team. His position means a short pass to A3 is not an option and a pass to the winger (A4) is now a dangerous play unless it can be thrown high over Grothe's head. A pass thrown with such height takes longer to get to its target, which gives Reddy (D2) more time to get across the back to save a possible try. History shows that Grothe's position enabled him to intercept this pass and run 85 metres to score, winning the game for the Eels. The battle here will continue tonight. If Grothe and Reddy hang back, the Dragons will pass and score; if they come forward, look for a grubber or chip-kick in behind.
http://rlcm.isntweb.net/latest-news/4416-rugby-league
FRIDAY, 12 MARCH 2010 05:41
By Jason Taylor - Parramatta and St George Illawarra met twice at the end of last season for a win apiece, with the Eels winning the one that mattered - the qualifying final. With both teams having successful seasons last year, neither side will have changed its game plan too much in the off-season, giving us some great insight into how tonight's game will unfold.
The Dragons' left edge of Ben Hornby, Ben Creagh, Matt Cooper (replaced late by Matt Prior) and Brett Morris is their go-to side and a lethal one at that. They will set up for this at the middle or far edge of the field before launching one of two plays at the Eels' right-edge defence.
Both plays will start in a similar way, with Hornby deliberately carrying the ball towards Parramatta's fourth defender in from the sideline. This will allow Hornby's outside men to pressure the remaining three Parramatta defenders in the following ways:
Parramatta's attack set the rugby league world alight last year, with the Eels scoring some of the most entertaining team tries the game has seen in a long time. This high-skill, high-energy game can, however, be error-ridden if the confidence and timing aren't there early in the season. Parra fans may need to be patient here.
The other thing Parramatta had late last year that can get them home tonight is brilliance from individuals. When they knocked off the Dragons in the qualifying final they scored four tries, all of them coming from individual brilliance. There were two from Daniel Mortimer, an intercept from Grothe and the individual try of the year from Jarryd Hayne.
For the Eels to win, they must first handle a potent Dragons left-edge attack that includes Brett Morris. He scored 25 tries in 24 games last year.
For the Dragons to win, they must work together to control the unpredictability and power of Hayne, Mortimer, Fuifui Moimoi and Timana Tahu.
Strap yourself in!
Play 1. Creagh on Jeff Robson
Big man on small man. Hornby (A1) will run towards D4 and then pass short to Creagh (A2), 104kg running full speed at 88kg Robson (D3). Creagh will change direction late in his run from Robson's left shoulder to right. Creagh being on Robson's right shoulder means D4 is unable to help in the tackle. D2 cannot help either because he must stay marking his opposite man, A3. In this example, in round 26 last year, Creagh pushed through the Robson tackle to score. Robson will know this play is coming tonight and must be ready to put his body on the line.
Play 2. Numbers advantage
The second option the Dragons will use is to bring fullback Darius Boyd (A5) into the play, creating a numbers advantage. Hornby (A1) and Creagh (A2) will run towards D4 and D3 respectively to hold them in position, limiting their ability to help their teammates on the outside. Hornby will then pass behind Creagh to Boyd (A5), creating a three-against-two advantage. On this occasion in last year's qualifying final, Boyd passed across the front of Cooper (A3) to Morris (A4), who scored in the corner untouched. The depth created by the last three attackers running deep behind Creagh is important, as it allows time and space for Boyd to pass the ball to the men at the end of the line. This depth is accentuated by defender Eric Grothe (D1) being behind his centre, Joel Reddy (D2), which is where he stayed as the play comes towards him.
PLAY 3. How to defend it
In this example, Grothe's positioning (D1) is clearly different from the above example, as he has come forward, in front of Reddy, thus reducing the time Jamie Soward (A5) has to throw his pass. This way, Grothe has eliminated some of the options available to the attacking team. His position means a short pass to A3 is not an option and a pass to the winger (A4) is now a dangerous play unless it can be thrown high over Grothe's head. A pass thrown with such height takes longer to get to its target, which gives Reddy (D2) more time to get across the back to save a possible try. History shows that Grothe's position enabled him to intercept this pass and run 85 metres to score, winning the game for the Eels. The battle here will continue tonight. If Grothe and Reddy hang back, the Dragons will pass and score; if they come forward, look for a grubber or chip-kick in behind.
http://rlcm.isntweb.net/latest-news/4416-rugby-league
