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The ref wasn't the difference last night, we were.
Very disappointing performance, nevertheless I will still keep turning and supporting the Force, because they are my team, simple as that.
I really hope we can finish the season strongly, starting with next week.
On a positive note, great work to those of you who were selling the bumper stickers. Hopefully lots of sales.
Ruck Involvements – Force v Highlanders
It was good, but difficult, to watch the game again to collect the stats – at least it was dry in the lounge room.
The strength of our Western Force has been that our set piece generally held its own against better credentialed teams and it seemed that we could rely upon our relentless defence.
I still think that our set piece punches above its weight – except for our poor throws to the lineout – particularly when in the “red” zone.
However, in this game we failed to show our defensive mojo and cohesion with consistently too many missed tackles – particularly important first-up tackles.
Remember:
1. Early means 1st or 2nd of player’s team AFTER the ball carrier has been tackled and brought to ground.
2. Impact means active engagement: strong physical contact, changed shape of ruck, clean-out, protecting ball etc. (more than hand on someone’s bum or arriving after the hard work has been done). Yes it’s subjective - but as I collect all data at least it’s consistent.
3. Impact DOES NOT equate to Effectiveness. I’ve concluded that coming up with an effectiveness measure is just too hard in the time that I have available – but open to suggestions.
Comments:
- Force had 55% Possession & 49% Territory.
- The Highlanders scored 3 Tries (21 Points) during the 20 minutes that we were down to 14.
- Force had 30 Handling Errors (SR average 15) and 22 Missed Tackles (Tackling at only 74%). Highlanders at 94% - 8 missed tackles.
- Penalty Count: Force 7:5 Highlanders
- Turn Overs Won: Force 1:7 Highlanders
- Not often we see a Lock (Coleman) top of the list for Ruck Involvements.
- Hardwick had 25% of the limited number of Def Ruck Involvements.
- Another good rucking effort by Cowan.
- Stander’s work rate at 35 rucks (30A/5D)/80 minutes is by far his best in 2017.
- Both Carmichael and Philip showed good ruck involvement in the last 20 minutes.
- Best Tacklers: Meakes 10; Naisarani, Stander & Morahan 6; Morahan, Prior, Rona & Ruru 5; Hardwick, Arnold & Masirewa 4; RH-P 3.
- Best Ruck Involvements by Backs: Meaks as above. No other Back made double figures. Backs made only 21% of Total Rucks (Backs made 31% against the Jaguares).
- Kicks from Hand: Force 36:45 Highlanders
- Run m: Force 328: 564 Highlanders. Force av 2.8m/carry – Highlanders 5.5m/carry.
- Offloads: Force 8:9 Highlanders
- Clean Breaks: Force 2:18 Highlanders
- Def Beaten: Force 8:22 Highlanders
- Best Ball Carriers: Masirewa – 8 Carries for 40m.
- Ball Carries by Back Row: Haylett-Petty – 2 for 1m; Stander – 2 for 1m; Hardwick – 6 for 14m.
The Highlanders sustained speedy support all game and were applying a lot of pressure on the Force ball carriers.
Our response was to commit more players in support.
15% of Force Attack Rucks had 4 or more players- an up to 7 - in support. Often this was to provide a screen for a predictable and slowly implemented box kick. This left a lot of space open for any counter attack.
The plots attached to the Jaguares game thread show that the 24 DRIs is the lowest level of involvement so far in 2017.
Standing off 63% of Def Rucks represents the lowest level of D Ruck Involvement all year.
If this was part of the game plan then I suggest it’s NOT a winning plan – particularly against NZ teams.
The results so far in 2017:
Force 6:55 Highlanders – Standing off 63% of Def Rucks.
Crusaders 45:17 Force – Stand-off 60%
Blues 24:15 Force – Stand-off 33%
Force 16:17 Chiefs – Stand-off 23%.
IMO, overcommiting to support of our own ball carriers and giving the opposition free reign at their own rucks has rarely been part part of an effective game plan.
Nor is leaving a proven breakdown warrior and reliable tackler out of the 23.
Hodgson IS NOT injured to the extent that he is not match fit.
I’m interested in the game plan and team selection for the games ahead – but particularly against the Hurricanes.
It’s very encouraging that some of our top players are returning from injury.
Update of Ruck Involvements by OSF & Back Rowers after Round 12
No change in Round 13 to Hodgson, Smith & Miller.
McMahon has yet to play a full game.
Last edited by andrewg; 23-05-17 at 16:03.
I am desperate to see them win that one next week! The same problems still seem to be Too much (brainless) kicking(not chasing the kick), delivering the ball from the ruck way too slow, and standing motionless when on attack (why do they need to stand so flat), and not quick enough supporting runners. As TPN said "We were abysmal"
Not knowing the rules as well as some of the twf people on here i'm happy to be wrong - but My frustration at the game last night was not the ref so much as the linesmans inability to make decisions or assist the ref when blindsided. Not saying we would win but momentum has a big say in it and the score line may have been a lot different with at least one player staying on the park. The ref was blindsided by what was a forward pass but the linesman was either
A. Not watching the game.
B. Cannot make a call on forward passes or knock- ons
C. To frighten to make a call.
As I said happy to be corrected.
Ecky has provided some insights into this previously.
It seems that the Refs advise the Ref Assistants as to what specific issues he wants the Ref Ass to help him with.
Very often the AR's are giving calls and just being ignored by the Ref.
Doesn't make it any easier to accept when it appears that so much is being missed or is being handled seemingly inconsistently.
The guys looked tired right from kick off.
But any wonder. Think about the flying time.
Perth to Durban 24+ hour
Durban to Argentina 30+ hours
Argentina to Perth 30+ hours
That's 84+ hours over the past 2 weeks.....ridiculous!!
Now they have to try and front up for a Friday night game in Queensland.....come on!
Who scheduled the fixtures?????
Any wonder the boys were tired....and you must wonder how much it influences injuries.
With all that's been going on and the fact we are struggling to get 22 fit players out on the paddock ....hence why we are playing 5 locks.
We dont have a fit fly half.
Can you blame the boys for having a bad night at the office?
Hopefully the boys can pull together for a big one against the Reds and do something special.
Because it will take something special with what they are going through.
How far have the Highlanders travelled in the last few weeks?
No excuses, just seeking a comparison.
Apparently it is the first time ever that we have arrived back in Perth and our opposition was already here waiting for us.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
No not entirely, but it was an important one for us to at least look competitive in with the shit storm that's flying around us and we clearly didn't achieve that.
I guess that's where the frustration comes from.
Like Shasta said if we perform well against the Reds this week, everything will be fixed. If the Brumbies could help out by falling over their own feet in PE this week it'll be even better.
C'mon the![]()
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By perform well, I mean kick ass and take names
C'mon the![]()
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Dunedin to Bloemfontein: 10,953km
Bloemfontein to Pretoria: 476km
Pretoria to Perth: 8338km
Total distance: 19,767km
Force travel distance:
Perth to Durban: 7882km
Durban to Buenos Aires: 8148km
Buenos Aires to Perth: 12,614km
Total distance: 28,644km
Both venues for the Highlanders trip to South Africa being in the same time zone as opposed to the Gorce travelling to South Africa then onto Argentina and then back to Perth.
Last edited by jargan83; 22-05-17 at 11:01.