"The eye in the sky never lies" Video analysis of the Lions

So said NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp on the importance of video analysis and game film.


Anyway I took a crack at looking at certain aspects of the Lions game on Saturday that can be found here (I've written more on other aspects whether it is done in a future peice I don't know but anyway)

Here: http://balls.ie/rugby/tale-of-the-tape-the-lions-defence-in-the-first-test/


Feedback, criticism and general musing s are appreciated as long as it is not completely personal.

My feeling is that North is at fault for the first try. The last line of defence ie: the fullback should always go to the man with the ball. North should of tracked the supporting players.

It is easy for us to pick holes in players after the event, but I'm sure the coaches will have analyzed the defensive mistakes made. I would hope so anyway.

North is still a young man and sometimes lets his enthusiasm get the better of him. Having said that he would still be in my team everytime.

The second try I agree with your analysis completely.

Saying North "is at fault" is a bit harsh. He did though jump inside on one of the tries to make the tackle thus creating a large overlap when he would have been better to let the men inside him cover the ball carrier.

Why is it a bit harsh? He was at fault, and I'm one of his biggest fans.

Someone is at fault for probably 95% of the tries scored. It would be a really boring game if no one made a mistake in defence, this allied with good attacking play.

I was trying to discuss my reasoning of why the try was scored and how it may have been avoided.

I'm sure big George couldn't care less of my criticism, but as stated I think Farrell may be of the same opinion.

Completely disagree with analysis 2 and 3.

So first of all Folau's first try. 
North, Folau, Genia and JOC are all running close to full pace, 1/2p is not. How the author of this analysis expects 1/2p to turn, catch and tackle either of Folau or JOC from a standing start is simply ridiculous. 
The correct defensive decisions would be for Halfpenny to tackle Genia and for North to stick with Folau. Unfortunately there is no good way to defend for JOC expect for Davies to try and cover across that would be an exceptionally tough ask. The mistake is technically North's as if he hadn't gone to tackle Genia (who was covered by 1/2p) then he would easily have tackled Folau as he slowed to pick up the ball.

Folau's second try is another tough one.
Sexton did the right thing by showing the touch line to Folau if anything he should have shown more and given Corbs less space to cover. That defense would have worked perfectly on most wingers it was just Folau was freakishly good. You could blame 1/2p for missing the tackle but really it was just great play from Folau IMO. Possibly Sexton should have left Corbs left to do, perhaps 1/2p should have made the tackle, perhaps Corbs should have gotten across quicker but overall it was Folau being ridiculous.

Thanks for feedback,  I think for the first try it's more of a case of if you had to blame someone or if you were looking for fault, I may be looking too much into it.

I'm the author of this analysis Pete;)


Fair enough, I felt that North had Genia covered, while Phillips was tracking JOC well. As I said in the piece it's hard to blame Halfpenney for it, he is kind of feiced regardless who he goes for, were I playing full back I would have backed my winger to catch up with Genia as he seemed to be doing. I think you need to read it a bit more closely, I said if you had to place blame on anyone it would probably be Halfpenney but it was more marvellous work from Genia then any major mistake.

As for the second try, I think it is nearly all Sexton's fault, he showed the guy the inside channel when he was up against a prop, now if we take into accountthat Sexton didn't know who was inside him that's more reasonable, but he seemed to have what American coaches call stiff hips. In my mind his body position is wrong, and he tried to overcorrect later on and gets stepped.


There's a bit more on the lineouts and scrum.


Even if you didn't enjoy it I hope you liked the new approach, will be doing it for the rest of the tests, sure there would be no point of this forum if we all agreed.

thom-

Love the approach  and yes North did have Genia covered  but 

how was Halfpenny going to get to top speed to catch Folau?? That was just never going to happen. The only one who could have stopped Folau was North. Also if you see it on the reverse angle, Philips is jogging by the time he gets to his 10metre line.

For the second one yeah, Sexton probably should have closed in a bit more and shepherded towards the outside.

Any reason you don't like Sexton Thom?? Not digging just curious more so.
Also fair duce on getting that gig

Also, Phillips isn't slow, but if he is the man tracking O'Connor, an International winger, the Aussies are going to score. If North tracks Folau and Halfpenny takes Genia, Genia pops inside and it's still a try, barring O'Connor screwing up a golden chance

CJ he had a bit of a head start, eventually JOC would have burned him but he was in the right spot at the time if the ball was going inside to catch him. Genia kicking it screwed everything up! I think 1/2p had enough lateral speed to catch Folau as he was positioned good.

Pete I love Sexton, I think Madigan has a higher floor then him but Sexton is our best outhalf at this point. There is no doubt in my mind he was at fault for that try though, but he also made some key ackles and won a turnover with North. He had a great game. Part two of the analysis shows what he did well, which was kicking, if ROG had played that well, I think Sin e would have been in heaven.


To be honest, I watched those 10 seconds 20 times, and my mind changed a fair bit, that was my last interpretation of events, again it was more brilliance in attack then poor defending.


Here's the second part, if any of you are on Twitter or any other social network, any help spreading the word would be greatly appreciated.

http://balls.ie/rugby/tale-of-the-tape-lions-kicking-and-set-piece-in-the-first-test/

This is worth a look too:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wallabies-v-lions-set-piece-contest/

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/wallabies-attack-opportunities-in-the-first-test/

Thom- 1/2p may be as quick as Folau but Folau at close to full gallop is going to stroll past 1/2p who has to accelerate to that pace. 

Like you said it was classy attacking play.

Will share that on FB my good man.

Thomond wrote:So said NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp on the importance of video analysis and game film.


Anyway I took a crack at looking at certain aspects of the Lions game on Saturday that can be found here (I've written more on other aspects whether it is done in a future peice I don't know but anyway)

Here: http://balls.ie/rugby/tale-of-the-tape-the-lions-defence-in-the-first-test/


Feedback, criticism and general musing s are appreciated as long as it is not completely personal.

Your analysis of the first try (I didn't bother reading on) is completely wrong. North initially did well running a line which cut Genia off from Falau which forced him inside where Halfpenny was waiting for him. North should have stayed wide and left Genia to HP, instead of which he did an impression of a dog chasing a car leaving Falau unmarked. This is basic schoolboy stuff, I can only assume you did not play on the wing

dragonbreath wrote:

Thomond wrote:So said NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp on the importance of video analysis and game film.


Anyway I took a crack at looking at certain aspects of the Lions game on Saturday that can be found here (I've written more on other aspects whether it is done in a future peice I don't know but anyway)

Here: http://balls.ie/rugby/tale-of-the-tape-the-lions-defence-in-the-first-test/


Feedback, criticism and general musing s are appreciated as long as it is not completely personal.

Your analysis of the first try (I didn't bother reading on) is completely wrong. North initially did well running a line which cut Genia off from Falau which forced him inside where Halfpenny was waiting for him. North should have stayed wide and left Genia to HP, instead of which he did an impression of a dog chasing a car leaving Falau unmarked. This is basic schoolboy stuff, I can only assume you did not play on the wing

Never played wing, only played hooker, flanker and the odd game at centre. I've defended the wing a few times as happens during games. The main thing that appeared to me was a lack of communication, I'm sure we've all defended a 2 on 2 or 3 on 2 either in a drill or a match. Halfpenney raises his arm and points, as Genia makes his break, why he has it raised may have no connection to what I think he is trying to say but I thought it was meant as "I have pop right", or he is taking Folau, what is clear is that neither communicated.

I watched the clip over about 10 times, the hand gesture kind of made me change my mind, probably wrongly admittedly.

I've been told by soccer and rugby coaches that that is a pretty psychological defensive technique. You almost point the opposition player to where you want him to go. Kearney does it a lot when he is completely on his own, Gary neville did it a lot too.

That being said he could well be communicating with north

Good chance I'm making too much of it Pete I think I said that in the piece, or if not I'm saying it now.

Unfortunately I wasn't on the sideline or in the team dressing room but if any of the Irish lads on here are the person who split the Euromillions you can fly me out and I'll do it for the second test...

Oh! Oh! Fly me out too please!

I get ya Thom, completely right on the second try though. Sexton will be being grumpy to himself all week I'd say. Interesting change for him I'd imagine

Green and Gold have questioned whether Sexton is carrying a mild injury:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/operation-spud-smasher-get-johnny-sexton/

They must have missed the part where Johnny held up a defender (North helps him out after a bit) for a maul, he is certainly as physical as ever when asked to be. He is defending wider and deeper then he does for Ireland and Leinster so I would think something is troubling him.

I think the wider and deeper defending thing is to make up for what absolute mongos North and Cuthbert are at kicking the ball. Halfpenny is obviously great but when the Aussies are in their own half Sexton drops back to be able to return the Aussie kick with a kick of his own. Sensible if you ask me.

First try, a lot / some of the blame (IMHO) lies with Philips. Watched the tape on numerous occasions, and at no point does he get move faster than a gentle jog. Could easily have been chasing back cutting down the space for Genia and putting additional pressure on. Closest man to him and just didn't seem to be bothered in the slightest, and primary reason Genia had so much time and space. Criminal attitude for someone wearing the Red of the Lions. Hoping for a much better game all round from him on Saturday, which he'd certainly capable of

SuperTanker wrote:First try, a lot / some of the blame (IMHO) lies with Philips. Watched the tape on numerous occasions, and at no point does he get move faster than a gentle jog. Could easily have been chasing back cutting down the space for Genia and putting additional pressure on. Closest man to him and just didn't seem to be bothered in the slightest, and primary reason Genia had so much time and space. Criminal attitude for someone wearing the Red of the Lions. Hoping for a much better game all round from him on Saturday, which he'd certainly capable of

100% agree and something I brought up before. Shocking laziness from Philips. Wearing a Lions jersey cant mean enough to him if he isnt busting a gut to get back. Looked like he was playing a game of beach tag.

One poster suggested he might have been injured. If so well and good but hopefully he will be much more switched on on Saturday.

Thomond wrote:They must have missed the part where Johnny held up a defender (North helps him out after a bit) for a maul, he is certainly as physical as ever when asked to be. He is defending wider and deeper then he does for Ireland and Leinster so I would think something is troubling him.

Do you mean when North holds up Israel and then Sexton helps eventually ?

It was North on Ioane no???

I think he ran into Sexton first, either way it was superb defence from both.