The lack of possession in the first half was self inflicted, some handling errors but mainly penalties. I don't think we are a good enough defensive team to be able to allow that amount of possession to a decent team and win. It was like against the Warriors.
We needed the defensive practice but the knights offered basically nothing. Besides that one back rower their forwards were junk. We controlled the ruck and had a set line the whole game. Who knows if that will help us improve.
Matagi had a great return. Akauola went backwards. It's a shame Leota was dropped for RCG, Leota might have offered something come finals time with these lead in games under his belt.
If Matagi plays at his best, his bending the line back combined with Grevsmuhl doing the same, Latu's ball playing and Merrin's high quantity high quality work we have a chance of matching the best teams in the middle. Even better if RCG isn't in the team and Akauola holds a place and plays like he has the past few weeks. On the back of that this attack is a chance to do anything, attack is a non-issue now with this spine, they could just use some blooding against better defense which hopefully the next two weeks will provide.
We rightfully had a tag of playing down or up to our opposition in the early rounds, that's obviously not the case anymore.
Not confident in Blake or DWZ still, and it's getting old.
