Pro 12 yardstick: How do you measure your team?

First topic message reminder :

Hey all,

Ok had a wee idea about the pro12 league and about how we think our teams measure up to the others in the league. Now this could get a little heated as we are not always going to agree on how well you think your/someone elses team are doing so show some respect for others and keep the debates clean, rational and friendly.

If when doing this you could copy the table below, fill in the blanks about your team and then write a bit at the end supporting what you have put down.

All ratings should be based on this season.

Team:
Best Player:
Most Improved Player:
Unsung Hero:
Problem Position:
List of Strengths: (short list, be rational)
List of Weakness's: (short list, be rational)
Attack out of 10:
Defence out of 10:
Scrum out of 10:
Lineout out of 10:
Breakdown out of 10:
Kicking game out of 10:
Coaching out of 10:
Improvements you'd like to see: (keep short, realistic)

Then scribble a bit about why you think you deserve certain marks and what could be done to make it better. Have a look at the marks other people give their teams and debate away but keep it clean.

Thomond wrote:Leinster ruck in droves, Ireland don't.

Actually Leinster rarely commit more than two men in on their own ball. Ball is presented cleanly, next two men in clear out, next man in gets the ball away to keep the tempo going, no numbers on shirts just simple total rugby. Simples

D'arcy is one of the best at it as are Jennings and SOB.

No scrum halves faffing around looking at the ball wondering which direction to attack or men trucking into heavy traffic and getting isolated. No no no. Slow ball is a killer. The All blacks ALWAYS kick slow ball.

Quick ball and support play, thats the difference.

roddersm wrote:

Thomond wrote:Leinster ruck in droves, Ireland don't.

Actually Leinster rarely commit more than two men in on their own ball. Ball is presented cleanly, next two men in clear out, next man in gets the ball away to keep the tempo going, no numbers on shirts just simple total rugby. Simples

D'arcy is one of the best at it as are Jennings and SOB.

No scrum halves faffing around looking at the ball wondering which direction to attack or men trucking into heavy traffic and getting isolated. No no no. Slow ball is a killer. The All blacks ALWAYS kick slow ball.

Quick ball and support play, thats the difference.

I agree with all of that excluding the bit in bold. Leinster do play total rugby. the only ones who can't are Cullen and Ross with ball in hand they look a little clueless everyone else is good at every facet of play so it doesn't matter if it is your winger or your loosehead who is in the ruck they get it done. it doesn't matter if your 10 or your 6 gets the ball they will make something positive out of it and see space.
Everyone is coached to the same criteria to a level

Team: Newport Gwent Dragons
Best Player: Aled Brew (Can't really count Toby and that because we don't see them).
Most Improved Player: Dunno really, guess for a while it has been Adam Jones who has really stepped up now.
Unsung Hero: Ash Smith for me, think we struggle without him.
Problem Position: Prop
List of Strengths: Backrow, wingers (for now), character, ground (acoustically)
List of Weakness's: scrum, front row, depth, ground
Attack out of 10: 6
Defence out of 10: 6
Scrum out of 10: 5
Lineout out of 10: 6
Breakdown out of 10: 7
Kicking game out of 10: 6
Coaching out of 10: 5
Improvements you'd like to see: Scrum, more dog in the forwards to make us a better side on the road.

Dragons are considered to be Wales' poor relations, which is a tag they will struggle to shake off. A constant failure to grind out results away from home is an achilles heel and has been for a few years now. There is talent there and the more experience they get, the stronger they will become. They need to turn the majority of performances they produce at home to performances on the road.

The coaching team is struggling a little to turn the support around. Initially seen as a breath of fresh air (when our all running rugby style was evident at the end of the season), a few iffy signings coupled with the announcements of key players leaving and the uncertainty of the Dragons future has left a bit of a negative air over Rodney Parade.