As soon as I saw that Finucane was out, I was worried about the game. The team looked awful in the effort areas - support play, kick chase, defensive line speed, first contact, and pressure on the kicker. When they were behind with Parra - they looked confident. They didn't panic, they just played their game. Tonight they were trying to score every play that there wasn't any structure. Even the try was from a clusterf*ck of a play salvaged by Moylan.
Some thoughts on specific players:
- Worst game from Hynes. He was terrible. He was slow, yet also look panicked. First game he has looked like a rookie half out of his depth.
- Game got worse with Williams and Tolman on. It happened last week, and it's happened again. These two are soft as butter in defence, and look like they're running in it too. Unfortunately, with BHU out they will keep seeing game time.
- Ramien looked elusive, but so many times he's crabbing across the field I just want him to explode into the line. It's like he expects there to magically be a hole for him.
- Brailey worked and he got out quickly at dummy half when he could, but there was literally no one with him. He was let down by the team IMO.
- Graham's first game back. Meh. I can't really judge him too much because of how the team was playing, but the left side looked awkward with him there.
- Trindall - didn't look awful and actually had some energy.
- McInnes played too many minutes - his line speed in the last 20 was awful.
- Katoa has some amazing put downs, but boy can he drop passes so much.
- Kennedy looked dangerous, but I'd really like him sniffing around the ruck and supporting Brailey, etc.