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#Post#: 68856--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: June 15, 2021, 4:31 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Our biggest problem against Bristol earlier this season was the
power game - they were very physical in defence and we couldn't
get on top of them. Tapuai should help there, and I'd hope
Chisholm comes on early if we're unable to make dents.
#Post#: 68857--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: June 15, 2021, 4:31 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour ---
> Our defence this week was the first time since we lost WEv and
Andre that we've kept the scoreline to within our season
average.
--- End Quote ---
Against a team averaging 9 points a game less than they scored
against us and provided them with only their 3rd try bonus of
the season.
#Post#: 68862--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: poorfour
Date: June 15, 2021, 4:40 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Brown Bottle link ---
>
> Against a team averaging 9 points a game less than they scored
against us and provided them with only their 3rd try bonus of
the season.
>
>
>
--- End Quote ---
We've handed many teams try bonuses and losing bonuses this
season, but the Quins mantra is "you can score against us, we
don't care, let us show you how".
#Post#: 68865--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: Bolly-Quin
Date: June 15, 2021, 5:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I think Bristol will respect Quins after the last game at Ashton
gate when they only won in the last few seconds.
I think they'll mix power with width from the start and if they
can build a solid lead, attempt to suffocate Quins; it's vital
that we stay in the game, so we'll need an enhanced defensive
effort as well as our ability to attack from anywhere.
#Post#: 68900--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: June 15, 2021, 8:54 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> We've handed many teams try bonuses and losing bonuses this
season, but the Quins mantra is "you can score against us, we
don't care, let us show you how".
>
--- End Quote ---
Well we all know that "mantra" but you were using our 26 points
conceded as a suggestion that our defence was encouraging. I'd
suggest it's no better at all.
#Post#: 68901--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: poorfour
Date: June 15, 2021, 9:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Brown Bottle link ---
>
> Well we all know that "mantra" but you were using our 26
points conceded as a suggestion that our defence was
encouraging. I'd suggest it's no better at all.
>
--- End Quote ---
I am using it as a suggestion. Our season average between
Gustard leaving and the time we lost WEv, Andre and Brown was
(from memory) 21 points conceded per game; in the games
immediately afterwards (and not counting the Sale game) it rose
to 38 points.
I would love for Quins to be a side who can restrict opponents
to 3 penalties a game while running in 8 tries themselves, but
they're not and they won't become that side overnight. In losing
WEv, Andre and Brown they've lost 3 players who were pivotal in
defence and have replaced them with a kid still in the academy,
a mix of squad players, and a promising youngster in his first
season with us. It's not surprising that our defence leaked a
lot.
Saturday's performance, for all that it leaked 4 tries, was a
big improvement on the other games we've had. The first 20
minutes were dicey, but Quins controlled the game for the next
40 and the last couple of Falcons tries were a piece of
breathtaking skill that very few teams would have been able to
stop and, essentially, a consolation score when the game was
already decided. We didn't need Marcus to produce a piece of
83rd minute magic to win (perhaps why he didn't make Flats' team
of the week).
It's also worth considering that the average losing score in the
games that went ahead was 25, with a range of 19-31. It was a
day for running rugby. 54-26 was the largest margin of victory,
and we outscored them by more than 2-1.
26 points is a big move in the right direction. It may not be
enough, but it still suggests we are in a better position
defensively than we were
#Post#: 68902--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: QuincyJones
Date: June 15, 2021, 9:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> Our defence this week was the first time since we lost WEv and
Andre that we've kept the scoreline to within our season
average. I was encouraged, and I think having Taps in the
centres was key to that - I think he's better suited at 12 than
any of our other available centres, and adds a point of
stability and experience in what is (Care apart) a very young
backline. Northmore goes to the bench for me, and gives us a
real game changing option from there.
>
> If Murley is fully fit, I'd be happy to see him start ahead of
Lynagh. Lynagh is exciting going forward but Murley has the sort
of rugby intelligence that Tom Williams and Mike Brown
displayed, and we are likely to need that.
>
> Wallace / Kenningham could be interesting in what's likely to
be an open game - though with Luatua and Hughes to face off
against, we might want a bit of carrying ballast. That said,
Louw has been making his presence felt in attack a bit more
recently, so it's possible he could fill that role.
>
--- End Quote ---
Some good points... I don't necessarily agree about our defence
having improved much. Newcastle aren't good at the moment and we
still shipped 26. We should be keeping a side like that to below
10. Though do take note of the pieces of magic that got them
some of those points.
I am a big fan of Tapuai and would have liked to keep him, so I
would have no issue in him starting and agree he's our most
experienced 12. Good passing game, defensive game and has an eye
for a gap too. But if he starts then it's Northmore at 13 for me
and Marchant on the wing. If LN is on the bench then he'll
definitely get on but we need to score points early, not wait.
He's hit so many holes and made so many breaks this season I
just think he has to be on the field. Then I'd have Murley on
the other wing.
#Post#: 68918--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: poorfour
Date: June 15, 2021, 10:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Another thing to note is that I think that there was a
deliberate tactic of trying to play out of our own 22 rather
than execute an exit strategy.
I don’t think they kicked from the 22 at all in the first half.
With the result that Newcastle got a lot more early possession
in the red zone that even we would normally have conceded.
I think Quins - knowing they were safe in the top four - were
deliberately trying to put themselves under pressure in their
own 22 for much of the match so as to get more experience as a
defensive unit. Would their first two tries have been scored if
we had kicked to half way? I’m not sure, but maybe not.
#Post#: 68921--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: June 15, 2021, 10:41 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I would also add that the really worrying defensive issues have
been teams making easy breaks through the middle, and I don't
think that was as evident against Newcastle. Instead we had our
old friend the maul defence to worry about!
#Post#: 68923--------------------------------------------------
Re: Team for the semi
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: June 15, 2021, 10:42 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> I am using it as a suggestion. Our season average between
Gustard leaving and the time we lost WEv, Andre and Brown was
(from memory) 21 points conceded per game; in the games
immediately afterwards (and not counting the Sale game) it rose
to 38 points.
>
> I would love for Quins to be a side who can restrict opponents
to 3 penalties a game while running in 8 tries themselves, but
they're not and they won't become that side overnight. In losing
WEv, Andre and Brown they've lost 3 players who were pivotal in
defence and have replaced them with a kid still in the academy,
a mix of squad players, and a promising youngster in his first
season with us. It's not surprising that our defence leaked a
lot.
>
> Saturday's performance, for all that it leaked 4 tries, was a
big improvement on the other games we've had. The first 20
minutes were dicey, but Quins controlled the game for the next
40 and the last couple of Falcons tries were a piece of
breathtaking skill that very few teams would have been able to
stop and, essentially, a consolation score when the game was
already decided. We didn't need Marcus to produce a piece of
83rd minute magic to win (perhaps why he didn't make Flats' team
of the week).
>
> It's also worth considering that the average losing score in
the games that went ahead was 25, with a range of 19-31. It was
a day for running rugby. 54-26 was the largest margin of
victory, and we outscored them by more than 2-1.
>
> 26 points is a big move in the right direction. It may not be
enough, but it still suggests we are in a better position
defensively than we were
>
--- End Quote ---
First 'distraction', then 'verbosity'!
I give in. 😉
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