A Question of Balance

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A Question of Balance

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So we did it, heaven knows how. After being behind almost all game we managed to come back and beat Scotland with the last touch of the ball. Helped by them being down to 13 players. But helped by Gatland actually learning how to use his substitues.

What do I mean by this? Gatland has traditionally made substitutions almost by numbers – always making the same substitutions at the same point in the game, with little effect in general. However vs Scotland he realised things needed changing and, for a change, wasn’t afraid to change them.

The Problem Was Balance

There were a number of issues, so I don’t want to make it sound like I am saying it was just one issue. BUT a big part of what went wrong was, in my opinion, balance.

As the commentary rightly said we found that our breakdown and contact area were being hammered by the more enthusiastic Scots. This is a worry, we should be more focussed, more aggressive – and Gats and co need to get on top of that.

What was especially clear to me though was that with Andy Powell on the pitch (not something we have to worry about now thanks to his golf buggy stealing antics) we lacked the blindside presence to properly compete at the breakdown. Our support was slow and our clearing poor – roles the blindside will often be involved in.

People argue that Powell brings with him a carrying game worthy of inclusion, but without quick ball there is no point in him being there – and with him at blindside we struggle to win quick ball. More than that though, we saw how effective the Scottish backrow were at slowing and spoiling our ball, but again our blindside was unable to even try it with them.

What Gatland did, in making his substitutions, was to change the balance. Bradley Davies looked good as a powerful ball carrier, and cleared well. Jonathon Thomas, so often a peripheral figure earlier in the game, came into his own when moved to blindside, effective at the breakdown as a carrier and spoiler. For anyone who thought maybe the Ospreys have found his natural position at 2nd row just take a look at this game.

The change was dramatic, helped initially be the introduction of Gethin Jenkins who plays just like another flanker. Whilst he did go off injured he brought impetus – but to be fair to Paul James it should not be the prop’s responsibility and Paul James still played very well at both scrum time and around the pitch.

Gareth Cooper was ponderous in the first half and whilst God knows I am no Richie Rees fan he was swift to the breakdown to get the ball away – another vital part of the breakdown. His service was pretty good and his decision making better than Cooper’s. We drastically miss Mike Phillips but fair play to Rees, he did well.

What we lacked most though was that balance at backrow. Ryan Jones may well be a 6 but when he is playing 8 he also has his own responsibilities – and he can’t be expected to do 2 jobs. I also felt Ryan improved his game when JT moved to 6 as he was freed of having to perform two roles.

Powell’s antics with the golf buggy now mean we have a backrow that all but selects itself (though Warburton should be played against Italy imo), and one with balance. I honestly think this could help save some face in the remaining games as it will allow us to compete at the breakdown, getting quick ball for ourselves and slowing down opposition ball.

There are plenty fo other problems, but this is a good start.

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