Scrumhead wrote:Rob Baxter has just led a team to win the biggest prize in European club rugby and is probably odds on to take them to the double. I wouldn’t imagine they’re thinking of making a change. In any case, Baxter is DoR these days and it’s actually Ali Hepher who is head coach.
With that being said, I think I kind of know where you’re coming from in terms of evolving their style. In a way, I’m kind of sad for rugby that they were able to take the ugly, unimaginative, pick-and-go grind all the way to being European champions.
When they weren’t successful in Europe in the past, I always felt that it was because their game plan was too limited. Today proved me wrong, but not in a good way really ...
To be completely fair, they do offer more in the Premiership and I think Joe Simmonds growing in to his role as captain may help to evolve their style as I feel like a lot of their style was based upon how to succeed with Steenson running the show at 10. Simmonds has more of a running game and is a more inventive 10. If he gets more freedom, there’s plenty of talent outside him to make them far more interesting to watch.
I don't think you can necessarily point at Racings attacking style of play and then ask why Chiefs can't replicate it. Racing's backline probably costs as much as the entire Chiefs starting XV.
Chiefs ran the ball quite a bit, they certainly grind it out in the opposition 22 when they get there but for me that's just game management. How often do you see a team try and go wide in the 22 too early get caught and turned over or make a handling error? Racing were very good at targeting the breakdown and their style was helped by the interpretation of Owens (playing the ref is a skill) which killed off a number of Exeter half breaks. If that's what is happening then you are going to be more cautious. If anything I felt Exeter ran the ball too much, especially towards the end of the game around the Racing 10 metre line. If I was an Exeter fan if have been scream for the grubber towards a lineout in the Racing 22. Force Racing to play out under pressure from the Chiefs lineout.
Puja wrote:On a completely unrelated note to the current conversation, I've worked out what it is about O'Flaherty's play that bothers me. He's got a lot of attributes that make him look like he could kick on to become a really good player - he's fast, evasive, picks good lines, has pretty good skills, is a regular source of linebreaks. However, you know how we say that some players always look like they've got time on the ball, that they've got a real ease and composure and look like they've got so much time to make decisions, even when they're under pressure? Well, he's the antithesis of that. No matter how much or little pressure there is, he continually receives the ball or play coming towards him with a panicked air of, "Oh sh*t, that's my job, isn't it?!"
He definitely has the skills and the raw materials, but he just seems to look like he's got far less time than he has. He's like the anti-Dan Carter.
Puja
He does look like panic sets in once he's made a half break and he needs to do something other than go for the try line. Couple of times yesterday he got in behind and as the cover defence surrounded him he just panicked. Needed to either grubber in behind them and turn it into a foot race or slow down and look for support.
