I suspect that is the answer you usually get.

So you are not a defensive guru?

Shucks, I would never have guessed from your informed opening post.

Why is there a question mark at the end of your statement? What do you do for a job?

If you have any comments on my analysis or wish to disagree in any way then I would be happy to discuss. Or you could just try (and fail) to be clever.

I agree with G1 that Smith did not show enough faith in his inside defenders, however as someone who has played on the wing and been in that situation alot, I know that if there is no talk on the inside telling you that they have the centre covered, it is very, very tempting to jump in, just a natural reaction. Not saying that absolves the winger from blame, but I think our lack of defensive organisation is probably affecting the communication, and is a cause of Smith coming off his wing alot.

I think and suspect you are quite correct and have not seen it to say otherwise, but we agree finding himself in that position so many times is also an issue.

This is a good thread.

I, too, without the benefit of re-watching the game on video, had Mcguire down as the main culprit.

Interesting to read a more in depth analysis of the defensive issues on the right hand side of the team.

Wingers coming inside and leaving their opposite number a free run? Feck me, that's probably part of the coaching manual at Headingley!

Right hand sided problems were noted last season, but for the life of me I can't remember who it was that disagreed.....

I used to bold the phrase I was replying to but after the site revamp it became almost indistinguishable from the remaining text hence the change to the use of colour instead.

I must admit, I missed the 'right hand side' reference but in my defence I was still picking myself off the floor after reading your appreciative comments of your usually much maligned 'in game discussion' nemesis.

Would imagine in Aussie Delaney would have primeriley defended againt his opposite number, over here players get shuffled about in accordance with the size of the opposition sometimes squeezing the halves outside the centres, this is an observation made from a sofa or bar stool, i may be wrong, so please don't jump on me.

It's funny how these frailties never seem to be exposed at the business end of the season. I'm sure the boys will tighten up.

We've had alot of chopping and changing of the team this season due to injuries, especially in the backs.

Sounds remarkably similar analysis to England's failings in the first game v Aus last year. Everyone had a pot shot at McGuire and Smith (and Briscoe was also involved IIRC), and you could certainly have a go at them for poor reads and missed tackles on each occasion Australia attacked our right. And yet I think most rational suppoprters realised the problem was at least as much to do with a dreadful structure which left the right side trio exposed again and again to one on ones (or worse).

I suspect at club level this will be an easier fix - hard to believe it may be but Yeaman and Briscoe are not quite as good as Inglis and Slater - and could be as easy as determining from the outset which second row has responsibility to push out wide and help plug the gaps.

Very astute observations.

For the second try, Sinfield (from the terraces I thought it was McGuire) had the opportunity to stifle Yeamen when he first got the ball and stumbled slightly. However, he hesitated allowing Yeaman the time to stand him up. It just goes to show that the first impressions can be very wrong indeed.