Lions - tactical predictions?

anonymous_joe

Ok, I hope the mods don;t mind this thread, it might be something covered a bit already.

Anyway, we've all had a while to digest the squad. Most of us here are delighted at the players picked for obvious reasons.

At this juncture however, I feel obliged to sate my own curiosity, and turn my mind to the tactical decisions that have clearly already been made.

To start with, a lot has been made of the Welsh element of the coaching team. My first thought is that we're ignoring the Wasps element. Given the style of rugby played by Wasps this season (i.e. shít) what effects will that have on the team?

I think we can all safely agree that the choice of half-backs indicates a huge emphasis to be placed on kicking this tour, with those scrum-halves and those out-halves we don't really have many other options. This is not a team full of game winning half-backs, there won't be guys seeking out invisible gaps and probing the South Africans around the edges (except for Ellis maybe).

Then comes the other thing - Ireland and Wales play very different game styles. Ireland's is quite defensive, rather like Leinster's almost, with very little emphasis on attack. Given how close the Welsh and English (in their case undeservedly) came to beating us, it's quite a high-risk game plan against a team with a lot of lethally fast strike runners up front and at the back.

The Welsh play a very physical game, with a perhaps inefficient emphasis on physical confrontation. Probably the worst team to try that against would be the Saffers, given their surfeit of big strong and above all fast players.

Anyway, any thoughts?

corny

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Ok, I hope the mods don;t mind this thread, it might be something covered a bit already.

Anyway, we've all had a while to digest the squad. Most of us here are delighted at the players picked for obvious reasons.

At this juncture however, I feel obliged to sate my own curiosity, and turn my mind to the tactical decisions that have clearly already been made.

To start with, a lot has been made of the Welsh element of the coaching team. My first thought is that we're ignoring the Wasps element. Given the style of rugby played by Wasps this season (i.e. shít) what effects will that have on the team?

I think we can all safely agree that the choice of half-backs indicates a huge emphasis to be placed on kicking this tour, with those scrum-halves and those out-halves we don't really have many other options. This is not a team full of game winning half-backs, there won't be guys seeking out invisible gaps and probing the South Africans around the edges (except for Ellis maybe).

Then comes the other thing - Ireland and Wales play very different game styles. Ireland's is quite defensive, rather like Leinster's almost, with very little emphasis on attack. Given how close the Welsh and English (in their case undeservedly) came to beating us, it's quite a high-risk game plan against a team with a lot of lethally fast strike runners up front and at the back.

The Welsh play a very physical game, with a perhaps inefficient emphasis on physical confrontation. Probably the worst team to try that against would be the Saffers, given their surfeit of big strong and above all fast players.

Anyway, any thoughts?

I wouldn't say Irelands gameplan is defensive. Low risk definitely but not defensive.

I think the only way we're going to beat them is with a large of dose of physical confrontation, these things can't be shyed from. Attacking off our set pieces is the only way i can see us beating them. We try throwing the ball around off every phase and we will lose, we make the hard yards set a good platform in their half and we have a chance.

Stev_o

If we go down the 10 man rugby role then we will be hammered and i don't think we have the muscle in the selection to do it anyway. Slightly worried the plan may just to out kick the Boks. Ill say we will know come selection day for the first Test. If Shanklins at 12 then it ll likely be trying to steam roll over the Boks centre to put the rest of the backline in space, if it's Flutey then it would probably be the more subtle approach that he brings.

subfreq

Everything starts with the platform the forwards provide and they have the right mix in the selection to protect their own ball but get involved with the physical brawl.

It is the back play that has me slightly confused at this stage. ROG and S.Jones are both great game managers and tacticians but they don't drift into gaps themselves so it condenses the width the back line has to work with. The lions will either need flat out pace or guile in the centers to take this series I think which poses a massive question about the 12 slot. I think Earls could really have a chance of taking a test jersey if he holds his form.

The lack of options at 10 really shows the drought of world class options for the four nations. I am a huge fan of Hook's but he really took his name off the list in the Munster game. Such a waste because he could be world class.

Amabokke

Stev_o wrote: »

If we go down the 10 man rugby role then we will be hammered and i don't think we have the muscle in the selection to do it anyway. Slightly worried the plan may just to out kick the Boks. Ill say we will know come selection day for the first Test. If Shanklins at 12 then it ll likely be trying to steam roll over the Boks centre to put the rest of the backline in space, if it's Flutey then it would probably be the more subtle approach that he brings.

Against De Villiers he will be steaming back into his own tracks. SA generally plays a very defensive game and are quick to attack from loose ball or broken play. I doubt even with Shanklins size if he will get over the gainline.

MarVeL

If DeVilliers is fit to play that may be the case. Then again Shanklin always seems to put in a very solid performance and be in the right place at the right time.

Also it might be Roberts

Amabokke

MarVeL wrote: »

If DeVilliers is fit to play that may be the case. Then again Shanklin always seems to put in a very solid performance and be in the right place at the right time.

Also it might be Roberts

Shanklin and Roberts both very good centres. From watching the 6N it looks though as both players are strong and like to bash through the defence. This is the kinda thing boks would luv and it might not work to well for the Lions. If Darcy was selected, he is so quick to make breaks and believe he would've offered more against our centres.

Webbs

Amabokke wrote: »

Shanklin and Roberts both very good centres. From watching the 6N it looks though as both players are strong and like to bash through the defence. This is the kinda thing boks would luv and it might not work to well for the Lions. If Darcy was selected, he is so quick to make breaks and believe he would've offered more against our centres.

D'arcy may have have quicker feet over the first few yards but I would be surprised if there is anything between him and Roberts (who has played on the wing many times for the Blues) after that.
I dont see much difference in any of their styles, thats the role of the 12 these days, all about taking it into contact and tying up the defence with hopefully quick ball resulting or an offload.
I would like to see the centres switch a bit more as the likes of Roberts may benefit from a bit more space but BOD is not a great distributor though this may be offset by his ability to always seem to get an offload away.

MarVeL

Also if we did need a speedy and elusive centre (at 12?) theres always Earls

stephen_n

I agree in principal about the half backs but there is also the case that Phillips and Jones are the half back pairing that has moved the welsh backline with lethal effect. So employing the welsh game plan of quick attacks off squeez ball might be an option although the boks back row might make **** of that approach very quickly it would seem insane to take on the boks up front so that kind of leaves aerial tennis and picking off penalties (really hope it is not the case)