Last season when Gopperth played at 10, we still attacked incredibly well
This season when Cipriani was at 10, we didn't always play that well
I'm as big a Cips fan as the next guy, but he's currently gaining a lot of credibility by not playing
I didn't like to see Gopperth standing as deep as he was, but I don't think a part time fly half (WlR or Miller) will be a significant improvement
And i definitely don't think Dai will be making that kind of change.
Instead, there's likely to be minor changes using the same/similar personnel.
It's usually just minor sharpening that's required to change from a blunt blade into a sharp.... something (terrible analogy. sorry)
Last season Cips played almost exclusively 10, and Gops 12. The season before we attacked well with Gops at 10, but if you check the actual plays, we used a huge number of players regularly at first receiver, Daly and Miller both regularly took those duties, and we saw the same in the few games Gopps started at 10 last season, and in the Bath game. Gopps 2 seasons ago was useful though, not amazing in terms of attack (kicking yes), but he did a better job, and that we had so many viable stand-ins at first receiver, would help beat a defence, since they'd never be able to relax when they saw the 10 wasn't available.
I've said I need to watch again, but it really felt to me like Gopps was the issue. He was far deeper than Cips normally players, but the rest of our alignment was our normal attacking structure, when Daly/Miller slotted in at 10, the structure looked far more familiar as to when Cips plays, with this
9.
...........F.....F
.............10
.....................F.........F
.........................12
...................................Outside backs/odd forward
It gives the 9 a choice to go one out to a forward, and then the first reciever also has a choice of a forward runner, or further out the back to release the backs.
When I watched Gopperth it looked more like:
9.
........F.....F
............
........10.........F........F
..................12
.........................Outside backs
He's removed his option of going to the forwards, and either runs himself (to an already advancing defence), or we go even deeper, and the defence hasn't been checked by any other options, since the 2nd line of forwards were never a viable choice. Also, by being deeper, he has to be closer to the 9 in terms of width, so that the pass is still a reasonable distance.
I do need to watch again though, and could be wrong. Would be very interested in how others view our attacking structure too.