Is it really too much to ask of a full-time professional player that they should be able to catch the ball ?

Not only catch it (without knocking on), but also

catch it on the full instead of waiting for 3 or 4 bounces ?

work with team-mates in the same area of the field to decide WHICH of them is going to catch it ?

Would it also be too much to ask to return the ball up with some enthusiasm ? (running would be a good idea instead of a half-hearted jog)


I thought we were frankly amateur in that department today and the pressure we put on ourselves made the difference in the result.
Forget all the "blame the ref" moaning - only when you have your own house in order should you look to blame others. WE had that game won today and WE blew it, not ganson.

And the kicking game is shocking. Can't be that difficult to improve an individual's kicking ability

It must be, we've been trying with Horne for over 10 years now and if anything he's got worse.

Full backs have no problems catching Hornes kicks

Shame we cannot get him kicking to ours then

Our kicking didn't lose us the game. Catching (or lack of it) did.

His kicking in 2005 and 2006 was much better than it is now

It rarely wins us any either.

If our kicking game was anything like then we'd have put much more pressure on saints

Sharp would have maybe caught his , if he had been stood in the correct place.

You beat me to it TKOAH.

Kicking game and the back 3's catching were poor today and ultimately cost us. on the other side of the coin, and for balance, our '5 drives and a kick' team continue to score some really top notch tries with great support play and speed.

Spot on.

Ur right he should have been stood on the goal line.

He will learn from that, bet he is never short again