ABClub wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 7:37 am
LE18 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 9:48 pm
sk 88 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 9:26 pm
I think the chances of those being our tactics in league games is nil.
If our "brand new tactics" are to give the opposition first phase ball 40m from our line then we will be toast. Given this was a pre-season game I think it is far more likely we were looking to practice our defensive line outs.
People are reading a lot into a half where the forwards massively over matched Nottingham. Any team would run more loosely when they have front foot ball from practically every ruck.
I prefer my interpretation to your assumed opposition winning ball back from lineout so easily.
How often do good teams get turned over at the lineout these days? If that's the tactics against the top end of the Premiership then we will be cut apart even with the leagues currently lower standards.
I agree few of the top teams will get turned over cleanly at the lineout. But if we can put on enough pressure with the likes of Henderson, Carter, Wells, Chessum/s, Liebenberg etc, then if forces more chaotic pressure for the opposition. Our high line of defence to rush up and then put pressure on the 9 and the 10 then gives us more of an opportunity, and if not we still have some good counter attack threat from the likes of Steward, OHC, Watson?, Shillcock, Basset etc to profit.
I’m not saying it’s the best tactic to use, and like some I’d like to see more attacking shape. But as LE18 has said, the winning years of Tigers teams have been founded with very good basics (defence, scrum, lineout, maul, kicking) and clinical backs play. As we found with SB in the first season, get the basics right and we can then add the attack on top. It’s a shame we seemed to stagnate following the prem win and the adding didn’t happen - but I think if DMK can get the basics sharp again, and start to add some of the flair that those who attended on Friday suggested was beginning to show, we will hopefully be in a decent place.
Time will tell as to whether it comes together and works against different opposition, but it sounds from all accounts as though the thinking is at least in the right place.