Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
Super Rugby: Blues vs. Highlanders in Auckland (05/04/2013)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 562114" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>I agree Joseph seems to have no plan B. The real problem the Highlanders are having this season is they don't have the team to execute plan A, and that plan A (throw the ball from side to side and hope something happens) isn't really a game-plan I really have a lot of faith in at the best of times...</p><p></p><p>Anyways, onto the game tonight. The Blues should obviously start as favourites, but I do think the Highlanders have a very realistic chance of winning (on paper at least....). There are a few key things the Highlanders need to be doing if they have any chance of winning:</p><p>- Target he Blues scrum. The Blues scrum was a real weapon last season with Woodcock and Faumuina, but Woodcock gone and Faumunina injured the front-row looks vunerable. McCartney has actually done a resonable job at LH prop this season (for a converted hooker), but I'm still not convinced with Ta'avao's scrummaging at this level. Unfortunately with MackIntosh starting we probably don't have the front-row to exploit the Blues, but I do hope we at least try to put pressure on them at scrum time.</p><p>- Be more aggressive at the breakdown. This was a real feature of the Highlanders game last season, but seems to be missing this season. We don't have an overly fast or aggressive defensive line, so we need some way of getting the ball off the opposition, hence we need to be stealing more ball in this area.</p><p>- Kick accurately. The Highlanders don't tend to kick much, apart from the odd box-kick by Aaron Smith, but I think an intelligent kicking game will be vital against the Blues. I actually think targetting the Blues wings with box-kicks could be an effective tactic (assuming it is executed correctly), while the Chiefs found a lot of space behind the Blues wings last weekend too...</p><p>- Target Chris Noakes. Noakes has been good for the Blues this season, but he is a bit of a liability on defense. I would love to Ma'a Nonu running straight at him, while using Hosea Gear running off Slade's shoulder is another good option (and has worked well in the past).</p><p>- Make some space for the outside backs. For this the Highlanders need two things: quick ball at the breakdown, and the inside backs to run straight (and obviously pass the ball). Emery, Popoali'i, Gear, and Smith are all very dangerous - we just need to give them some quality ball!</p><p></p><p>There are certainly a number of areas they Blues will look to target: the Highlanders shaky lineout, the lack of mobility of the Highlanders loose-forwards (I predict Ranger will cause a lot of turnovers out-wide), Popoali'i lacks of size on the wing etc.... Overall I'm actually picking this will be a close match, but I'm picking the Blues by 5 due to their home advantage.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 562114, member: 24910"] I agree Joseph seems to have no plan B. The real problem the Highlanders are having this season is they don't have the team to execute plan A, and that plan A (throw the ball from side to side and hope something happens) isn't really a game-plan I really have a lot of faith in at the best of times... Anyways, onto the game tonight. The Blues should obviously start as favourites, but I do think the Highlanders have a very realistic chance of winning (on paper at least....). There are a few key things the Highlanders need to be doing if they have any chance of winning: - Target he Blues scrum. The Blues scrum was a real weapon last season with Woodcock and Faumuina, but Woodcock gone and Faumunina injured the front-row looks vunerable. McCartney has actually done a resonable job at LH prop this season (for a converted hooker), but I'm still not convinced with Ta'avao's scrummaging at this level. Unfortunately with MackIntosh starting we probably don't have the front-row to exploit the Blues, but I do hope we at least try to put pressure on them at scrum time. - Be more aggressive at the breakdown. This was a real feature of the Highlanders game last season, but seems to be missing this season. We don't have an overly fast or aggressive defensive line, so we need some way of getting the ball off the opposition, hence we need to be stealing more ball in this area. - Kick accurately. The Highlanders don't tend to kick much, apart from the odd box-kick by Aaron Smith, but I think an intelligent kicking game will be vital against the Blues. I actually think targetting the Blues wings with box-kicks could be an effective tactic (assuming it is executed correctly), while the Chiefs found a lot of space behind the Blues wings last weekend too... - Target Chris Noakes. Noakes has been good for the Blues this season, but he is a bit of a liability on defense. I would love to Ma'a Nonu running straight at him, while using Hosea Gear running off Slade's shoulder is another good option (and has worked well in the past). - Make some space for the outside backs. For this the Highlanders need two things: quick ball at the breakdown, and the inside backs to run straight (and obviously pass the ball). Emery, Popoali'i, Gear, and Smith are all very dangerous - we just need to give them some quality ball! There are certainly a number of areas they Blues will look to target: the Highlanders shaky lineout, the lack of mobility of the Highlanders loose-forwards (I predict Ranger will cause a lot of turnovers out-wide), Popoali'i lacks of size on the wing etc.... Overall I'm actually picking this will be a close match, but I'm picking the Blues by 5 due to their home advantage. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
Super Rugby: Blues vs. Highlanders in Auckland (05/04/2013)
Top