That isnt aggression.

Exactly, its about controlling the ball. Why would a controlled tackle, where the ball is being controlled by both the defenders and attackers result in more ball being spilt?

I havent derided modern players at all. I'd agree our modern player are bigger, faster and stronger, i would agree that they defend more as a unit. I disagree they are more aggressive, and i disagree that they are responsible for the terrible ball handling we have seen from the top teams over the past few years.

Also im unsure what global positioning data will tell us about impact, i mean its great for pokemon but doesnt really tell us much about the g-force of an impact.

What i would say is that those players listed from 2001 are better players. They were better then and if playing today, with todays training etc, would be better. Not because of a rose-tinted view of the game then, but because the facts are, in 2001 the best players we produced played in SL, and clubs could afford to import better players. Now that just isnt the case. Our best play elsewhere and much of what we import strives for dross.

For the love of god, yes it is. Of course it is. It's an aggressive defence.


Are you really asking how, in a situation where the ball rather than the man is targeted more, that leads to higher rates of lost possession? Come on Smokey, you're not daft. There's no need for this to go on for 15 pages whilst you insist black is actually white.


Does this mean you think the size, speed, strength of players and their cohesion in defence has no effect on whether a ball carrier drops the ball?


The GPS packs the players wear give exactly that information.


I disagree that they were better players in 2001. If those players were put under the same defensive pressures as in 2016 they would've dropping just as much ball in my opinion. The game has changed, don't mistake an inferior spectacle for inferior quality.

no it isnt, its just fast. Ian Kirke was a pretty good defender, he was organised and up in a quick defensive line. Nobody would describe his defence as aggressive.

but the ball isnt targeted to be stripped, its targeted to be held. Why havent we seen the same ball retention issues in the NRL? And why arent we knocking balls loose left right and centre on the wcc if our defence has improved so much? also why do we see far fewer dropped balls in tight defence focused games like the GF?
No not really. To dislodge the ball there needs to be some sort of impact on it.

Im guessing you mean an accelerator or G-force sensor.

except they didnt did they. 37 year old JP didnt drop huge amounts of ball did he? There wasnt a noticeable fall in JP's ball retention over the years was there?

Aggressive defence isn't just hitting hard, like Him says, getting up off your line and taking space away is aggressive. And they still hit hard, there's just more control and technique these days.

Shit! (won't miss live attended games sorry to say)