A few of us posted in the pre-match thread that the most important thing to see tonight was the game plan. Well, I really couldn't see one, and for mine there are 4 reasons for that.
(The first half showed some reasonable control of the middle and structured plays, which is why we scored those tries.)
1 - Hoffman hasn't got a clue how to organize play. He had absolutely no impact as a thinking, creative play maker. For mine, he played exactly the same game as he did when he was full back, but starting in the middle of the field, not from the back. He can't kick to save his life and he just doesn't even look to pass, or set up a play.
He just gets the ball and, well, runs. I don't think he can really do much else. He should be on the wing, or out of the team.
2 - We really didn't control the middle. Like in any war game, control of the middle is critical. The reason we didn't control the middle was that there was too rarely, any organization and direction from Hunt and none from Hoffman. Even Macca looked lost, and predictable too often.
3 - Hook doesn't have a clue about how to structure an organized attack. Part of that problem is poor positional selections - like Hoffman at 6. But then, even when Hunt had a few good games last year, it was more just an individual effort, opportunism, than as a player who knows how to organize and direct plays AND has a role drilled into him based on playmaking not opportunism, or simple catch run a few metres, and pass.
4. The kicking game. What kicking game (except for Barba's too few efforts.)
IMO, we won this game on the back of excellent defence, particular in our red zone, but mainly on the back of some terrific individual performances: Barba (but not enough involvement), Vidot, Copley (just excellent), Hannant, Gillett and Glenn, Kennedy in small patches, Thaiday who has a new lease of life, even Maranta, who seriously surprised me.
But my point is that we won on the back of good individual performances. We were mostly playing as a team of individuals, rather than as an organized, well oiled machine, which then also gives every player the chance to shine, but as part of a team, not just great individual play.
At the same time, the tries we scored and nearly scored were well set up, but for mine, it was the exception and not the rule, or we would have won by 20+
We made the Dogs look so much better than they were, especially letting their halves have so much space to create plays.
And man, do I DETEST Ennis.
Damn I hope we get a new 6 next game and Hunt pulls out his fingers, and Hook puts in some creativity in the middle.
PS
I thought Hannant was easily our best prop, posters here have largely underrated Gillett's strong running game and great defence - although he is still being wasted in this so called "game plan". Last year, he was excellent on the edges and out wide which is where he should be more than he was tonight.
Copley was a revelation. I think Reed has got problems when Hodges returns, unless Hodges plays 6 which perhaps unfortunately, is unlikely.
