I can talk tactics if you want.

As a former stand off that played to a pretty high level, I would have took the steam out the pies by kicking. It was plainly obvious there pack was on top and was smashing ours to pieces like they do.

I'd have kicked them to death, like Leeds did in the play offs few years back. Pin them back, let them have to work and take the steam out of them.

I had a chat with a former st Helen's great who plays 7 and he said the same thing.


Why didn't Walsh do that ?

That would limit posters dramatically. First of all they would have to have knowledge of the Saints current training techniques to say what they would change. They would need to know what tactics Nathan Brown sent the team out with, to know what to alternate.

Some can probably pick up elements from watching the game, but no one would really know the full extent.

If your suggesting we just let people post who have inside information only, just look at the fuss that gets kicked up when someone posts the team line up. If tactics and training methods where publicised we'd really get it in the neck.

It's a forum, it's the same as going down to the pub and discussing the game over a few beers. Surely you are not suggesting we vet people before they post.

What does high level mean?

'Kicking a team to death' is all well and good if you have any sort of field positions to start with. Can't do it from your own 20, which bears back to the route cause which is defence and organising to stop them marching down the field in the 1st place. You can take it back further by saying, yes get a good kick in whilst attacking to pin the opposition down. Everything works in phases, and a knock on straight from kick off isn’t the way to start a good one.

The was times we was on our 40m and could kick deep. Walsh kicking early on in the season was very good and could easily have pinned them down. At times they had Clubb on the wing as well.

We can't match Wigan with fire. They are to strong for us.

it’s just annoying when posts say 'xxx missed to many tackles' which is obvious and correct, they never seem to expand on why those tackles where missed. Did the player pick up an injury the set before, where they out of position, are they in a new role, is the technique wrong, does the last few games show they have confidence issues, are they stood next to a new player who is young and attempting to protect them more..... you get the drift.

Put it this way, I know what Bobbie Goulding, lee briers and Kevin sinfield would have done

That doesn’t really relate to the post however feel free to expand

Simple really, they are old school clever players and a dying breed.

Against Wigan, as I previously posted, we should have kicked and pinned them back. Nothing worse if your a big heavy lump having to keep driving it out your 20m, that's something our pack obviously don't like. It also takes Wigan fire out of them.

Simple but effective.

...

I'd like to know the answer to the top line as well. Might have played against him depending on who he's played for.

Leeds do the basics well first and foremost IMO, especially defensively. Our line speed has been poor though which doesn't help. Earlier on in the season we looked much more aggressive and our line speed was a big difference for us early on. We were suffocating teams IMO. The likes of Amor and Walsmley we're finding quick play the ball the balls and Walsh and Hohaia were kicking early, on the front foot. Not happening at the minute and our long kicking game has suffered. Certainly a factor.

We'll improve though. This is a squad who as we all know, haven't won anything together. That's possibly the difference between us and a few other teams, but it will come. We're competing against teams who have a core set of players who know what it takes to win trophies and know what it takes to pull through and dominate those big moments in big games. That's why changing the squad is never the answer, as people have suggested. The foundations are there though in terms of the squad. Plenty of young talent at Saints who have the ability to grow and improve. How far they go is up to them.

Talking of a kicking game, saw Tommy Martyn the other day. Not many better kickers of a ball than him.

Yes you can. Kick on the 2nd or 3rd tackle whilst the wingers are still up and kick towards touch (but keeping in the field of play), it's a pretty simple tactic when your pack is beat and we should have used it. Force their big men to turn around and run 70m back then have a set of drives and they'll soon tire out.

We did it constantly early on this season down the right but they appeared to have sussed Walsh out in that area though. Haven't seen the game back but at the game, I thought he was taking the ball much more centrally on the last than he was early on this season because of their left edge. Could be way of the mark though because I haven't watched the game back. Doesn't help when you have a Wilkin at 6 either I suppose.

Anyone know if Walsh's 40/20 was on the last?