Work in Progress? Or on a downward slide?

[Vespula Vulgaris]

When I look at how we have performed for the last couple of seasons, and what appears to be happening now I am reminded of Sarries a few years ago when they were on the rise.  They were pretty dominant in the league and the Heiney, but failed to make it count at the last moment.  They managed to use that as a learning point and have gone on to dominate both competitons.

I really want to think we are following a similar trajectory, and whilst we have a good squad and can play some great rugby we are simply not experienced enough or hard-nosed enough to win silverware right now.  But I am deeply concerned that our lack of signings and squad improvement will stop any further improvement.  I can't help but worry that this might be as good as it gets and that next year we will be struggling to get into the top 4 again.  Beale is leaving, Leiua is leaving, Halai is leaving, Hasks is clearly struggling, we still don't have a first choice specialist 12, neither Cips nor Gopps seem to be able to perform well enough to claim the starting shirt.

It looks like we're only an few injuries away from struggling to field a decent team at all at the moment.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

We lost a game. We have not been on top form for a while. And when we were, it was not for a full game.

When you want to know why an organisation has gone awry look no further than the leadership.

The Wasps team that ran on to that pitch was filled with players capable of being a great team. But they were not a great team. And that is about leadership.

Saracens have Brad Barritt, a centre, as captain.
Exeter have Jack Yeandle, hooker, as captain.

Both are excellent, vocal leaders.

I have said this before to be slapped down, but Joe comes over as too nice and, when I watch from the stands, I don't see him conducting his orchestra of players. Very hard to see from TV coverage, as they don't watch the off-the-ball work, but I have been doing just that. Watching who actually appears to be doing the organising.

In one game I saw Gopperth, Beale, Robson AND WLR doing it. At one point in one game they actually appeared to be arguing, or at least having a heated discussion. But, in the main, it is Gopperth from 12 that is most effective.

For me, Gopperth is clearly the right character to have as a motivational captain. In all the years I have watched rugby, my feeling is that the right position for a captain to be in is somewhere between flanker and 12. You can't organise if you can't look up and see the play.

But Dai seems to want to keep the captain in the pack, and I do not understand this.

This is a change that requires no sackings. It uses the resources available far better. It would require that we sign JG for a longer term. Is he not worth that?

So, I would put Beale back to FB and WLR back to the wing, with Cips and JG at 10 and 12, for the Sarries game.

Haskell was, sadly, again mostly ineffectual. If he was supposed to contain Robshaw, he failed in that. Robshaw was just so destructive.

Defensively, Beale, WLR and Daly had poor games, and not much better in attack.

We just gave the ball away over and over again. Almost every kick came straight back at us.

I was disappointed. I know those players can do better than that.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

I think you might be right about the captaincy.  I seem to rememer we also struggled to hit the heights we are clearly capable of when Mullan was Captain.  But when Smashley takes over we do quite well.

Gopperth could be a good shout, I also wonder about Daly.  He certainly has the desire, and maybe his international recognition will give him the confidence to take control.

I also think you are right about bringing Cips back in to 10 and Gopps to 12.  Is WLR still struggling after his knock do you think?  Or is it simply a positional thing?  He certainly seemed to play a lot better off the wing, and Beale has done some great work from 15.

I think Hasks is struggling to get anywhere near his previous form, and so shouldn't be a starter.  And Youngyoung hasn't been anything like as good as he was pre-Wales.  My guess is that he was told how he had to play if he wanted to get into the team, and that is not compatible with the way we play.  I'd like to see Guy, Nathan, and Smashley if fit.  I think to stand any chance against Sarries our back row has to refuse to take a single step backwards.  They need to be solid, run hard lines, and hit the breakdown like a freight train.  Neither Hasks nor Youngyoung are doing that at the moment.

We'll see what Dai does, but I suspect we'll lose to Sarries, go to Sandy Park and lose to Chiefs in the Semis.

[Rossm]

I think Jimmy G would make a good captain. He has the air of a streetfighter about him. Also we wouldn't lose him when the internationals come around. In the past I have favoured a forward as captain, however our boys seem a bit too nice. We could really do with a Paul Volley/Buster White style of player who takes no prisoners.

Regarding WLR, his confidence appears to be shot. He needs one or two things to go right for him and he should bounce back. WLR on the wing and Beale at FB. Cips at 10 and Jimmy and Elliot in the centre. Wadey on the right wing - though last night Healey was musing about having him move to 11. Too late in the season for that IMO.

Sarries will come to the Ricoh scenting blood. There will be a big crowd - mostly our supporters. Lets go out and unleash hell.

[Rossm]

Regarding 'niceness', I remember this with relish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20bK-Gfb8cM

Should have been a penalty but it wasn't.

Neither our coaches nor our players are ruthless enough.

PS: And yes, we made a bollux of the kickoff.

[Fats]

Definitely not Daly for captain.  I think he has enough ego issues to deal with without having to lead.

Jimmy is a good call.

Because he leads by example Tommy Taylor might be the man for the job.  Doesn't seem to have an ego either.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Because he leads by example Tommy Taylor might be the man for the job.  Doesn't seem to have an ego either.

Leading by example is not enough. A good captain has to have the oversight of the game; the strategic and tactical vision. Hence Jimmy.