Sums up Potter's tactics - recently Saints were lucky to beat Wigan, clueless against both the might of Salford and Wakefield and unable to utilise territory and possesion against the Giants.

The biff and bash tactcis are plain to see and the moves telegraphed. Poor at the moment.

Spot on!

It's a difficult one, i dont really think we have been playing that well for a long time, i do think wins against Wire and Quins have papered over the cracks somewhat, but i am slightly concerned about the way we are playing.

I agree with you that it is pretty much one dimensional stuff at the moment, drive, drive, drive, kick.

I didnt expect us to beat Wigan, as we seemed to have absolutely no idea of how to beat their defence. Same for Huddersfield yesterday, when the defence got in our faces, we had no idea. It took 60 mins for us to put a kick behind their wingers who were rushing up in defence to read our set plays.

Of course, you have to differentiate between knee jerk reactions, and the views which hold merit, but you have to agree that the way we have been playing in the past 6-8 weeks, hasn't been that great at all.

5 and a kick is ok if teh kick is good... but our 5 and a poor kick is simply not good enough.

How much of our attacking play is created by making yards up the middle of the field? We can't give our team space if we're not able to make yardage up the middle and if you took two starting props out of any first 17 in the competition their effectiveness going forward would be dramatically reduced. Suggesting that the reason why we lost is because we adopt a forwards first mentality seriously ignores that the most critical aspect of winning a rugby game (either code) is winning it in the forwards. It's basic rugby knowledge. If you don't get on the front foot your half backs play on their heels and you do nothing in the game.

Let's not forget that we've managed to beat sides without that additional power upfront but Hudds' defence was way too strong for us yesterday and two additional props might well have made a significant difference.

It's incredible that we're still top despite these two injuries.

Indeed. If you get nowhere on the first 3 tackles you can't then go wide on the 4th.

Spot on.

Put Cayless and Maurie in that team and it's a different ballgame. Our forwards were out on their feet.

Feel sorry for Cloughy for that poor missed tackle, he's been heroic up front for us recently.

the problems which are occurring in all matches not just saints is they speed and impact which they r bein played at. i.e. saints wigan. the first half was played at such a speed that u could only take 4/5 simple plays and role in a kick. The pace was to quick to get a strangle hold on it. hence all the errors. When it slowed down in the second half individual skills came to the fore and team moves beame more effective!!

Dont forget tho all teams run the same moves, but its the option you ad to a move which creates the chances. too often it goes, cunningham to kyle to the back player pryce to the back player wellens. The options r available they just arent mixing them up enuf creating doubt.

saint r a quality team but they just need to play each option out so the defence cant over read a move!!