Pollard article (could be about Farrell)

[Scrumhead]

Just read an interesting article about Handre Pollard not being a top fly half in the writer’s option (https://rugby365.com/opinion/why-pollar ... no-10-club). If you change the names, the same observations could easily be applied to Farrell.

Personally I think Pollard is a good player, but it’s interesting that he’s being picked out for criticism for things that sound very much like what most of us think about Farrell’s playmaking being hugely overrated.

In particular, there’s a line half way through which says: “Pollard plays as a distributor early on in the play or in the phase before the try is created by someone else”. That could easily be written about Farrell. I did some analysis of our tries in the 2019 6 Nations (on here) and concluded that Farrell very rarely made the killer pass (or kick).

The main difference is that this article is asking for Pollard to ‘take over the reins’. Our problem is that Farrell has ‘the reins’ but lacks the playmaking skill to justify it. Take the Italy warm-up game for example, Youngs created Marchant’s try and we didn’t look dangerous in attack until Ford came on.

The other part of our problem is that no-one in the media seems to want to do anything other than keep to the narrative that Farrell is a world-beater.

[Oakboy]

Perception v measured analysis. That's the problem with Farrell. Punditry favours the former.

Perhaps the parallel with Pollard is that both were perceived as the messiah-in-waiting at junior level. Self-fulfilling prophecy just snowballs.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Out of interest how often does the fly half make the killer pass / kick, and which pass in particular in the build up is the killer one? What about those who create it by opening space to enable the pass. For example May’s try against France, where Youngs recognises the quick tap is on, Farrell changes his line inwards to hold the last defender, Youngs throws the misspass to Slade who arcs outwards and then delivers the inside ball to May in support. Is Youngs the killer pass? Can that happen to such effect without Farrell’s line? Or is it a combination where the try is scored because of the work of all four players?

[Stom]

Out of interest how often does the fly half make the killer pass / kick, and which pass in particular in the build up is the killer one? What about those who create it by opening space to enable the pass. For example May’s try against France, where Youngs recognises the quick tap is on, Farrell changes his line inwards to hold the last defender, Youngs throws the misspass to Slade who arcs outwards and then delivers the inside ball to May in support. Is Youngs the killer pass? Can that happen to such effect without Farrell’s line? Or is it a combination where the try is scored because of the work of all four players?

Yeah, I agree with that.

Ford rarely makes the killer pass, either. It's the constant min-holes he creates in the backline through his passing on the line that causes gaps to appear elsewhere, allowing someone to score.

A FH's job isn't to provide the killer pass, it's to create a situation where anyone can make a final pass.

The idea is the same, though, Farrell rarely manages this. And the example you give...a perfect example why Farrell should play 12 for England, not 10.

[Scrumhead]

Agreed.

Personally, I regard the ‘killer pass’ to be the one that makes the move, not necessarily the actual assist. For example, Underhill absolutely deserves credit for the assist for Curry’s try against Ireland, but you could make a case to say that Sinckler makes the killer pass to Underhill by putting him through a hole that he’d spotted and pointed out.

Ford is far more adept at picking up on good lines run outside him than Farrell is.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Even then let’s take one where Farrell arguably makes the killer pass; May vs Ireland. Billy manages to get his arms free to offload to Youngs, keeping the attack in motion. Tuilagi makes a hard line / Earl’s bites in for fear of Manu enabling the misspass to Daly, which is executed well. Daly moves marginally inside to maintain space for May on the outside, draws and passes for the finish. Now the misspass is key, but again without the other elements does it work in isolation? It’s a culmination of actions that makes the try.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Out of interest how often does the fly half make the killer pass / kick, and which pass in particular in the build up is the killer one? What about those who create it by opening space to enable the pass. For example May’s try against France, where Youngs recognises the quick tap is on, Farrell changes his line inwards to hold the last defender, Youngs throws the misspass to Slade who arcs outwards and then delivers the inside ball to May in support. Is Youngs the killer pass? Can that happen to such effect without Farrell’s line? Or is it a combination where the try is scored because of the work of all four players?

Yeah, I agree with that.

Ford rarely makes the killer pass, either. It's the constant min-holes he creates in the backline through his passing on the line that causes gaps to appear elsewhere, allowing someone to score.

A FH's job isn't to provide the killer pass, it's to create a situation where anyone can make a final pass.

The idea is the same, though, Farrell rarely manages this. And the example you give...a perfect example why Farrell should play 12 for England, not 10.

Totally agree on Ford. He creates space and momentum really well, and above Farrell no doubt.

[Timbo]

Perception v measured analysis. That's the problem with Farrell. Punditry favours the former.

Perhaps the parallel with Pollard is that both were perceived as the messiah-in-waiting at junior level. Self-fulfilling prophecy just snowballs.

Punditry might favour perception, but coaches don’t...and they keep picking Farrell.

[Oakboy]

Perception v measured analysis. That's the problem with Farrell. Punditry favours the former.

Perhaps the parallel with Pollard is that both were perceived as the messiah-in-waiting at junior level. Self-fulfilling prophecy just snowballs.

Punditry might favour perception, but coaches don’t...and they keep picking Farrell.

True, but there remain doubts even there. If he was as good as his reputation implies why would he not be a permanent fixture in the 10 shirt? How could the 3rd best player in the world ever get shunted to 12?

[Peej]

It's a bit horses for courses though - if you're playing Pollard alongside Faf and Le Roux, do you need to worry so much about play making? Or do you want to have a guy who can stand up in defence, kick his goals, and move the monster back around the field in the best possible way?

I think the Boks are better with Pollard than with Jantjies

For Farrell - it's often Goode who will act as a second playmaker when they're both in the team at Sarries. For so long with England Farrell didn't have that when at 10. Which is why I think a Ford/Farrell axis is our best option.

[Scrumhead]

Yeah - I agree and FWIW, I think Pollard is a lot better than the article makes him out to be.