7
How good it is to get a win and roll the reds at home AGAIN.
Would much rather be the Force squad and Foley last night and today rather than the Reds squad and Graham.
I'm sure that we're all as frustrated as the players and coaches with having all of the possession and territory for the first Qtr of the game and not being able to turn this into points. Almost unbearable to watch. Especially as it continued until about the 60 minute mark.
This was the period when good play and momentum was repeatedly killed by handling errors.
I'm not going to focus on the aspects that almost caused me to stop watching or throwing the wine glass at the TV as there were so many improvements over the previous week's effort:
+ Handling Errors reduced to 15 (about the same as the best Aussie teams from the week before) compared to 28.
+ Won 99% of our Rucks compared to 87% the previous week.
+ 14 Turn Overs Won compared to the Reds 3 TOW. (Hodgo 3, Stander 2 and 1 to each of Cottrell, Cowan and Mafi and 6 TOW by the Backs). The Waratahs had 12 TOW against the Reds 8 TOW the previous week. It's going to be more hard yards for the Reds without Gill and Thomson.
+ Tackling Efficiency at only 83% instead of > 90%. Missing 1 out of every 5 just makes things too hard!
+ Lineouts at only 75% but up against the best performing Lock in Australia (Simmons. No matter what some think of him) and Neville is good.
Some won't like to admit it, but we miss Sam Wykes in the Line Out and around the park. (Not enough involvement from Mafi). Steinkamp never made an impact around the park.
+ Scrum struggled but still managed to win 85% of own scrums and managed to recover from a dominant start by the experienced Reds crew. It would have been easy for Gardner to really turn against us - but he didn't.
+ We should be proud of the way that Hodgo managed Gardner.
+ Great 1st run-on game from Mesirewa. Lance played an excellent strategic game. DHP did well again - despite his dropped high ball.
+ This was the type of game that previously, when the Reds fought back to within 6 points, the Force would have turned negative and we would have lost in the last 5-10 minutes. (AAAAaaaahhhhh!!) Instead they stepped up a cog with great defence and put on another 10 points.
+ Tapuai is growing in his impact with this playing squad.
+ Thought RHP put in a better showing this week and seemed to be playing with more confidence.
+ I understand that no injuries out of this game
+ Glad they rested Grant as we'll need him next week against the Brumbies.
+ How good was Ian Prior's conversion from the side line? I think his first kick on goal for the Force.
Work in progress but learning how to turn territory and possession dominance into points and maintaining pressure will be a sure sign of improvement over last year.