New Thread - What Do We Need?

[Rossm]

Watching the games, NWW, is there an issue that would indicate why too often, we seem to be less than the sum of the parts?  Or has it been circumstance?

The individuals have not gelled as a team. They lack on field leadership. They look as though they are a 'bring yer boots' team, who have not played or practiced together. Much as I like the guy, Joe is not a thinking leader. He is more of one of those guys leading men out of the trenches; first over the top and lead by example. But we need the thinkers. People like Haskell, Beale and Gopperth. Instead we have arm wavers like Le Roux and Daly. The few minutes of Gopperth on the pitch showed what a difference he makes. He changed the plays as they were happening, making our attack unpredictable.

Haskell as a thinking leader?

Kind of jarred with me too

[BG]

I'll never forget him and Hartley questioning the ref about the laws of rugby when Italy didn't compete at the breakdown and therefore not creating an offside line and could therefore stand wherever they wanted

[Vespula Vulgaris]

Haskell as a thinking leader?

That did make me chuckle.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Haskell as a thinking leader?

Yes. Curiously, he has quite a good rugby brain underneath all that social media front. For a forward I mean.

[Raggs]

Haskell as a thinking leader?

Yes. Curiously, he has quite a good rugby brain underneath all that social media front. For a forward I mean.

I'd not consider him to be bad, but I don't see any reason in particular to believe he'd be better than Launch.

I do agree that someone likes Gopps is very valuable in helping keep everyone on point during the game.

[JonnyD]

Big merry go round of coaches today in Ireland and Wales... wonder if we were in the hunt? Although Leinster and international jobs are no doubt a more appealing prospect than us at the moment

[mike909]

Haskell as a thinking leader?

Yes. Curiously, he has quite a good rugby brain underneath all that social media front. For a forward I mean.

I thought that all reasonable - its not like we're playing international standard chess, and leadership can just be suggesting to the 10 that the ball is best off the pitch rather than trying some 5% chance move.

You saw that with players like Lol and others in the past - you see it with Kvesic at Exeter, just a word to adjust what's happening.

My experience is mainly leading work teams - its more often surprising that people with good ideas, often don't want to suggest them...and someone like Hask would not suffer that problem!

[Brandnewtorugby]

Looking at the injury report, I think what we need is some fortune to fall our way for once.

[Raggs]

Pretty much my opinion. Some consistency in selection would be very nice. It would require contracts and injuries to come together on our side.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

You have to wonder if any other team has had luck this bad.

[Raggs]

You have to wonder if any other team has had luck this bad.

Leicester have had a fair few I believe.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

And Falcons

[BG]

I think Bath might be ahead of even us in terms of injuries.. off the top of my head, Watson, Joseph, Obano.. the saffa international 7 (can't think of his name).. I'm sure there are more squad players who I'm not familiar with who have ben injured for them in addition.

As supporters we naturally look inwards. Everyone thinks we've had a bad season (coaching, injuries, player comittment) but go and have a quick read of the tiggers forum via the sportnetwork.

The worrying aspect that some have mentioned there is that nothing appears to be changing for next year. Apart from a few players coming and going is that the same with us?

Tiggers parachuted arguably a good coach in to help (which some wanted to happen here) and its achieved the square root of didley squat.. its probably destabilised the squad/coaching dynamics if anything.

[Heathen]

Watson, Joseph, Obano. All three played against Sale.

[Raggs]

Watson, Joseph, Obano. All three played against Sale.

They have been missing for the vast majority of the campaign though.