Round 4 Team Named

[Spanner in the works]

Our lock is our tight backrower. Has to do a lot of the dirty work in and around the ruck in the defence and help the props with hit ups. It's not Anasta's game.

Depends on the balance of the forward pack.

[Guest]

Depends on the balance of the forward pack.

For a number of years now, Smith has played a tight lock and two wide running second-rowers who can play close to 80 minutes. This also enables a bench stacked with plenty of size, so there's no lack of numbers in the system for creating go forward. When we've had that problem it has usually been our starting props simply getting outmuscled.

[Guest]

Also a player like Myles isn't suitable at second-row (except as a fill-in) under the Smithy system. Smith's attacking methodology relies on genuine impact there. He doesn't use many of those deep-sweeping movements behind waves of decoy runners, and instead you'll find us spreading the ball fast and flat. So it's vital we have damaging second-rowers who can run good lines, break tackles, and at other times draw attention and create overlaps for our outside backs. The idea is that with this pressure on the defence it also becomes vulnerable to inside balls or quick changes in the direction of the attack, which are also fundamental to the Smithy MO.

For a little bit of extra grunt in the early exchanges without losing the attacking options, a versatile player like FPN can be useful, which is probably why he started last week.

[Spanner in the works]

For a number of years now, Smith has played a tight lock and two wide running second-rowers who can play close to 80 minutes. This also enables a bench stacked with plenty of size, so there's no lack of numbers in the system for creating go forward. When we've had that problem it has usually been our starting props simply getting outmuscled.

Exactly my point. Now that Aubusson has moved to the centres, we aren't in the position where we have that lack of go forward from our second-row, because we have both FPN and Myles who are your traditional meat-head forwards. They can easily play a prop-like role from the backrow by focussing our attack through the middle rather than the edges. Aubusson and Anasta struggle to play that style. Both FPN and Myles also take up that defensive slack in the middle of the park. Since FPN and Myles are both there, we've created a lock position that can be filled by either another traditional forward, or a forward in the style of Anasta. Which is why I prefer him at lock this week. He can inject himself as and where needed, while not having to worry as much about getting 20 hitups and 30 tackles in the game. Depends on the coach I suppose...

[Guest]

we have both FPN and Myles who are your traditional meat-head forwards. They can easily play a prop-like role from the backrow. Aubusson and Anasta struggle to play that style

I think you posted around the same time I added my previous post. As I outlined in it, I don't think tight backrowers work under Smith's system. Our props and lock have to do their job. FPN adding a bit more size to the starting line-up is as far as we should take it. The go forward is a question of quality not quantity. Kennedy was great last Sunday btw.

[Guest]

If what your saying is You Want Anasta at lock to play a second 5/8 role. I think that would be crazy he would just get in the way of Carney and Pearce!

[Spanner in the works]

If what your saying is You Want Anasta at lock to play a second 5/8 role. I think that would be crazy he would just get in the way of Carney and Pearce!

No. Well sort of. I want to see Carney and Pearce run the ball more because I think that is an underutilized part of their games. If they start doing this and get tackled, an asset that Anasta brings to our side is as the third playmaker in support. That's when I would like to see him acting as a playmaker, either distributing the ball from first receiver to Pearce/Carney (catch and pass essentially), or as the second receiver on a running play on the edges of the ruck acting as a draw and pass or hole hitting 5/8. Never as primary playmaker, always in support of the other two. That's on the rare occasion that they do decide to take on the line.

Ninety percent of the time, I just want him sniffing around looking for opportunities - inside balls from Pearce or Carney, drawing players for our centres, hitting holes that have appeared etc etc.

[Spanner in the works]

I think you posted around the same time I added my previous post. As I outlined in it, I don't think tight backrowers work under Smith's system. Our props and lock have to do their job. FPN adding a bit more size to the starting line-up is as far as we should take it. The go forward is a question of quality not quantity. Kennedy was great last Sunday btw.

I totally agree about Smith's style of play. I guess it comes down to personal preference.

[Guest]

No. Well sort of. I want to see Carney and Pearce run the ball more because I think that is an underutilized part of their games. If they start doing this and get tackled, an asset that Anasta brings to our side is as the third playmaker in support. That's when I would like to see him acting as a playmaker, either distributing the ball from first receiver to Pearce/Carney (catch and pass essentially), or as the second receiver on a running play on the edges of the ruck acting as a draw and pass or hole hitting 5/8. Never as primary playmaker, always in support of the other two. That's on the rare occasion that they do decide to take on the line.

Ninety percent of the time, I just want him sniffing around looking for opportunities - inside balls from Pearce or Carney, drawing players for our centres, hitting holes that have appeared etc etc.

Everyone would love Anasta to simply support Pearce and Carney.

He can't. He is like Charlie Sheen - he only has one gear when at first receiver, and that is full-on 5/8.

You let Braith stand at first receiver, you get the shitty grubbers, poor options, and wayward passes that come with him being an average five-eighth.

If you persuade him (as Smithy is doing) to run straight, you get the 100+ metres and surprisingly effective defence that he provided last week.

[Guest]

So does anyone actually know if Linnett was dropped or is injured yet?

[Pass the Ball]

Myles is one that has been under-performing IMO..Sure he has chopped a few in half with his defence that we have come to expect from him, but his hit-ups have been disappointing..

Any stats out there on Myles in the opening games?
Minutes
Hit-ups
Metres
Tackles
Missed...

[Vasco]

Myles is one that has been under-performing IMO..Sure he has chopped a few in half with his defence that we have come to expect from him, but his hit-ups have been disappointing..

Any stats out there on Myles in the opening games?
Minutes
Hit-ups
Metres
Tackles
Missed...

He is going odrinary in Supercoach!

[roostwin]

Myles is one that has been under-performing IMO..Sure he has chopped a few in half with his defence that we have come to expect from him, but his hit-ups have been disappointing..

Any stats out there on Myles in the opening games?
Minutes
Hit-ups
Metres
Tackles
Missed...

Averaging 9 runs for 80 metres, 30 tackles per game and playing 55 minutes

[Pass the Ball]

Averaging 9 runs for 80 metres, 30 tackles per game and playing 55 minutes

Not bad stats at all...

Myles is never a player to stand out on the field, but I still have higher expectations of him..

[Vasco]

Averaging 9 runs for 80 metres, 30 tackles per game and playing 55 minutes

I want to know why he isn't playing 80 minutes. We need him out there as much as possible.