Great point from KOTH and I agree but not sure where to apportion blame for this.kingofthehill wrote:I can’t remember an Ulster backline look so lost in attack never mind in defence.
Set piece plays (scrum mainly) from first phase was one of the joys of watching Ulster. Arguably in years gone by the best about from first phase.
Zero creativity currently and the common denominator is Peel.
Ulster are playing a winger in the centre, a winger at fullback, a centre at outhalf (will give that one a bye ball).
Peel is picking the backline,that is FACT. For me he doesn’t know his Brennan from his elbow.
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As far as I am concerned first phase strike moves are a great chance to line break.
I see it as the one time you know exactly where the oppositon will be standing and you can fully organise and prepare a move to score or line break.
This is generally done through set up play so the first move or two will attack a specific area.
After that the defence sets it's self to that and the attack shapes to go there but hits a different area.
Its what I love about rugby playing like a game of chess, involving intelligence and subterfuge honed in on training.
This included lineouts back row moves and team plays.
Its the one opportunity 15 men know exactly where the ball is going and 15 players don't and that advantage has to be maximised each time.
However there is a disturbing trend in rugby where coaches see first play moves as a means to an end.
In other words they are simply looking to commit players bludgeon over gain lines to create front foot ball and therefore space and time to move the ball.in the subsequemt phases.
I see this as a touch of sledgehammer and nut as why would you do something in 5 phases that you could potentially do in one?
Why work out an opposition mentally when you can bludgeon them into submission?
Actually think it's lazy coaching. lacking ingenuity which is why I love the way Gregor Townsend goes about his work.
I think KOTH is on to something here and Ulster look like they have adopted this policy.
Really glad he is addressing attack as so much focus has been on defence.
We have only got away with this due to our individual attacking flair.
However like others not sure that the blame for this can be levelled entirely at Peels door.