Premiership Rugby Cup - Sarries vs Tigers

[strawclearer]

Methinks a lineout specialist coach from South Africa is needed. Initial catch and drive is pretty good but it’s the maul that needs work on.

...and Mark Bakewell's honeymoon period is well and truly over. He's got some big units to work with - and needs to show a step-change improvement.

[RagingBull]

Does he have some big units though?

Take Spencer away and we lack any physical grunting lock, sure Williams and Wells are great in the breakdown and tackle but that is very different to mauls and lineouts.

Even props wise 19 year old Heyes is prob the biggest prop we have the rest are excellent technique wise in the scrum.

Back row
Thompson, BOC excellent players not really units.

Tigers have lacked a few units in the pack for quite some time now.

[BFG]

Mauling isn't just about size and actually taller units can struggle to maul effectively.
It was noticeable how long in the leg the scrum was yesterday, the complete opposite to being most effective in defensive mauling situations.
Not everyone can be reaching over the top, if the rest are mostly long in the leg to apply force then it can be off balance and rolled around much easier.

[RagingBull]

Size certainly helps though.
Especially in attack.

[BFG]

Size certainly helps though.
Especially in attack.

They are all big now aren't they and the opposition included.
I think you have to give credit where it's due and say that they were better at it yesterday.
Kpoku was very strong and really stood up.
I thought Wells did that for Leicester yesterday with a strong all round game.

[drc_007]

Mauling isn't just about size and actually taller units can struggle to maul effectively.
It was noticeable how long in the leg the scrum was yesterday, the complete opposite to being most effective in defensive mauling situations.
Not everyone can be reaching over the top, if the rest are mostly long in the leg to apply force then it can be off balance and rolled around much easier.

I think this is the problem, lack of organisation, who does what. OK to have one trying to reach over the top but others have to be willing to get stuck in a stop the drive. When the maul rolls around the temptation is for the defenders to simply hang on and find themselves on the wrong side of the maul unable to halt it's progress.

[RagingBull]

Size certainly helps though.
Especially in attack.

They are all big now aren't they and the opposition included.
I think you have to give credit where it's due and say that they were better at it yesterday.
Kpoku was very strong and really stood up.
I thought Wells did that for Leicester yesterday with a strong all round game.

Big is only relative for example Kpoku who was very strong indeed is around 6ft 6ish and nearly 20 stone.

I would beat that man for man only Heyes and Faeo would be heavier than their opposition.

[jgriffin]

Weight is not the issue - when static a smaller slightly lighter guy can exert greater force (basic mechanics, levers, below COG etc), and when driving, opposition has to have excellent technique to counter - and some teams have just that. It's that area I believe we are poor in, not sheer mass.