I also think this has a bigger impact on our overall performances than just the breaks we don't make and tries we don't score. It's a cumulative effect where not taking advantage of a purple patch of good possession and field position really works against us. Our forwards might give it their all and actually do their job, but they never get the rewards of the spine controlling the game for them.
Put it this way, have our forwards only matched it with the opposition twice in the last 28 games? No way. We've been in the contest a lot more often. But we simply don't have anyone making it count, earning repeat sets, pulling off a big play, building pressure. And in the end it costs the whole team and it looks like we're running out of gas.
But I think a lot of it comes back to the fact we have to work twice as hard as the opposition because our spine is half as effective.
People rightly rubbish the dogs for having all the spine creativity of a potato
Still nearly double us
Not even slightly. Levi is the only guy in our spine worth feeding based on current output.Is it an exaggeration to say we have the worst 1, 6 and 7 in the competition? Not just collectively (because obviously), but on an individual basis as well? I can't think of any other permanent 1, 6 or 7 I would not immediately do a direct swap for.
Not even slightly. Levi is the only guy in our spine worth feeding based on current output.
Yeah, I was going to comment something to that effect... but after going through last weeks teams, there's quite a few blokes that I would take him over purely on current output without even regarding his continued potential. He's around middle of the pack I think - he's alright, our Danny. He gets a pass from me thus far... if he was putting Matt Scott or Jason Taumalolo over the advantage line, he'd look a million bucks and be running a lot more.And even he is bottom 25% in position at present
If those stats were about the forwards, Brown could do a Flanagan and fire them up. But unfortunately you can't give a rev up that goes "Now get out there and show people how creative you are, Trent!"
Is it an exaggeration to say we have the worst 1, 6 and 7 in the competition? Not just collectively (because obviously), but on an individual basis as well? I can't think of any other permanent 1, 6 or 7 I would not immediately do a direct swap for.