Wales

dillon says...

following on from jonesy2...it is surely therefore a given now that Wales must stop the negative kick and rush tactic that imo continues to be a major impediment to their development to the next level as exemplified by the Australian style of ball-in-hand offense. If we persist in kicking away (and mostly badly) a large portion of our possession, we will be kicking it to Beale the very last person we want to have the ball with space and time in which to weave his magic. He should be a little rusty, but we don't want to let him play himself in with plenty of lofted ball. Heaven forbid the coach should think to try and soften his confidence by kicking the ball away from him. We have neither the accuracy nor the surfeit of possession required to even begin to approach that strategy. I believe I am stating a lot of obviouses (in which case why don't we apply them?) when I say that if Wales are to do anything against the Wallabies it will be with ball in hand. We must back our fitness and ball retention capabilities (which have improved) because when we have it, they don't, and must expend valuable energy trying to win it back. That has to be our mindset and strategy if we are to stand a chance. Time to back ourselves, win or lose, and not kick and chase or has been the case (suicidally imo) recently, kick and wait. This could go either way, but if the outcome is to change most, if not all, of any improvements have to come from Wales.

Posted 10:35 22nd June 2012