Lol on Lima

[Neils]

'Not optional' - Lawrence Dallaglio's message to Lima Sopoaga

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/lima-sopoaga-wasps-lawrence-dallaglio-19568323#ICID=Android_CoventryTelegraphNewsApp_AppShare

[hookender]

Can’t argue too much with those comments.

Interesting that with all the speculation re Devoto , his missed tackle count is the same as Lima, yet most were saying what a good prospect.

[HDAWG]

They were both shocking tackles. Wonder why his defence is bad, I remember he had similar problems against Gloucester before lockdown. Could it be being at fullback he struggles defensively?

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Is it his tactical technique or his lack of ability to read the game as a FB and get in the right place to be able to make the tackle when there's a line break?

IIRC he doesn't get close enough most of the time to be able to make a tackle, or perhaps that's recency bias?

[Shugs]

For me it's positioning. Bear in mind he's played there about 7-8 times.

[Rossm]

For me it's positioning. Bear in mind he's played there about 7-8 times.

I agree. He hasn't looked shy  when playing at 10.

[Chunky24]

For me it's positioning. Bear in mind he's played there about 7-8 times.

I agree. He hasn't looked shy  when playing at 10.

Also different style of tackling, at 10 much more instinctive, more upright and head on as player tries to go through you with less thinking time, at 15 indeed about position and then more often a cutting down low side on type tackle as the attacker tries to round you that full backs such as halfpenny specialise in, they also seem to manage to get under the fend/ hand off.

[Heathen]

The Edwards sessions must have been fun!

[baldpaul101]

The interesting thing for me is that both the newspaper, the original poster & most of the comments focus on Lima's tackling.

To balance things out, here's the positives:

"The 18-times capped All Blacks international marked his 50th appearance for Wasps with a try and nine points from the boot to defeat Exeter Chiefs 34-5 last weekend.

He also made 60 metres with ball in hand from his backfield position at full-back in a performance that saw him named in Sky Sports' 'team of the week' which includes players from the Premiership and the Top 14.

It was the third consecutive week the Kiwi made the Select XV - with the article praising his 'threatening running throughout' against the Premiership and European champions.

Also pushing praise Sopoaga's way was Sunday Times rugby correspondent Stephen Jones, who awarded the full-back his 'god of the week' on The Ruck podcast.

He said: "He has changed things around, he is clearly committed, he is clearly playing a part as a leader, he's at fullback, he's kicking good goals, he's taking a part in the action and he looks like he's enjoying himself."

Former Wasps captain Dallaglio hosts The Ruck and agreed Sopoaga is playing 'magnificently well'"


I'm not suggesting his poor tackling doesn't deserve comment, just interested that the negative always seems to outweigh the positives for this particular player,,,

[Shugs]

I agree with that but would argue that prior to the Sale game the negative did outweigh the positive. Since moving to FB hes had some great moments but rarely consistent games. That is starting to come now and long may it continue. I think the confidence he gets from place kicking is helping his overall game too.

[Heathen]

The problem is that in tight games, one missed tackle could be the difference between winning and losing.

[RogerE]

Lima's problem is that in moving from FH to FB tackling, especially last ditch tackling, is under more scrutiny. There is hardly anything else about his game that can really be faulted

If you were to analyse the game on Saturday, yes he missed the last ditch tackle on Capstick, but prior to that so did others, including YY, and for the "nearly try", that Porter's tap tackle saved, there was an ineffectual challenge by Josh prior to Lima's miss tackle (yes Josh did well to get back and ensure the tackled player did not get to his feet).

[MarleyWasp]

I've been going through the tackle stats this season in the Premiership. Lima has attempted 18 tackles and missed 11 of them, a 38.9% success rate and the lowest of anyone this season.

[RogerE]

I've been going through the tackle stats this season in the Premiership. Lima has attempted 18 tackles and missed 11 of them, a 38.9% success rate and the lowest of anyone this season.

This table covering first 5 premiership matches of the season (and pinched from  Bobby Bridges article in the Cov. Telegraph https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/premiership-rugby-player-statistics-stats-19566392) indicates that he is as bad as Ollie Devoto, and beaten into equal second (worst) place.

[MarleyWasp]

The problem with that table is that it doesn't show tackles attempted. Jordy Reid has miss 18 tackles but made 72, so has a tackle completion rate of 80%.

Devoto has attempted 38 tackles, so has a tackle completion rate of 71%