Honest debate, team: is our swashbuckling backline actually holding
Hot take incoming, don't shoot me: the offload stats are a comfort blanket. Leading the comp in miracle passes means squat when you're shipping 40+ three times on the road, that's not bad luck, that's a defence nobody trusts, and it's been that way for seasons now.
Every year same story, we look world-beaters at home then get pinged for 40-something the moment we cross the ditch, and every year the same crowd tells me the flair is "who we are". Nah mate, it's a lottery, not sport, and I've lost count of the multis I've torched backing our line to hold 😂 I love the running rugby as much as anyone, but top-four sides don't need ten offloads a game, they need a defensive line that doesn't fold like a deck chair. Trade the circus for some structure and watch us actually climb the table. Sure thing, the pretty rugby mob will cry about it 🤡😏
8 posts
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✓I'd half agree with you, Amy, except shipping 40+ away from home against the likes of the Chiefs and Blues says more about travel weeks and a thin forward bench than the backline itself. Define what "settled defensive line" means though, new personnel every season because half our squad gets poached? On condition someone shows me a top-four side with our resources defending like Crusaders, I'll drop the offload argument. Until then, the flair is the only reason we're competitive at all.
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Nah Retro's right, that bench got munted by injuries, the backs aren't the problem. Remember when we ran the Chiefs ragged at home? 🔥 Flair stays, fix the travel prep ah well, nowt to doYou don't abandon your own.
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Retro's got it right, I think. Three away blowouts is a small sample though, and two were against the Chiefs and Blues. But I'd still note the offload count drops sharply when our forwards are gassed.
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Reminds me of the old days at Eden Park, flair sides always bled points before they learned the grind. FixIsIn's right, offloads dry up when the forwards are gassed. Ah well, we'll see 😉Seen it all, lads.
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Seen worse arguments go the other way, fellas, but Retro's got a point worth pushing. Back in the day the flair sides learned the grind eventually, and we haven't yet - those 40+ nights don't get forgiven by a thin bench alone. Trade a few miracle passes for a settled line and she'll be right, I reckon. 😉Seen it all, lads.
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Small sample size caveat as always, but three away 40+ games is a pattern worth watching. Defence first, keep the offloads - I reckon we can have both, bro.Numbers > vibes.