Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
The Rugby Championship 2023
[2014 TRC] New Zealand v Australia in Auckland (23/08/2014)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 666989" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>I definitely agree Folau's lack of kicking has a lot more to do with him not choosing to kick, rather than an ability to kick well. He played a season of AFL so he should be able to kick the ball pretty well. His lack of kicking in the Rugby Championship so far is not really an anomaly though. There was one game against France this season when he kicked 6 times, but he only kicked once in each of the other tests. He barely kicked for the Waratahs all season too - <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm" target="_blank">a total of 15 times in 14 </a>matches (1.1 kicks/match). To put that in perspective Ben Smith (who in general favours counter attack over kicking) kicked 76 times in 16 matches (4.8 kicks per match), while the more 'kick happy' fullbacks averaged higher again (Dagg 6.6, Le Roux 7.5, Visser 7.0, Mogg 8.9 etc).</p><p></p><p>I do think Folau's unwillingness to kick put Australia (/the Waratahs) under a lot of unnecessary pressure at times. Obviously this may have a lot to do with his league background - in league you certainly don't kick when you receive the ball at he back, and may also have a lot to do with the fact Folau backs himself so much with ball in hand (which is one of his best attributes). I do think with more time his option taking at the back will improve (he's been playing Union for less than 2 years...), I just think it is an area he needs to keep working on.</p><p></p><p>There is no doubt he is a world class player though. It is scary to think just how good he could be if he sticks with Union and continues to develop his instincts for the game!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 666989, member: 24910"] I definitely agree Folau's lack of kicking has a lot more to do with him not choosing to kick, rather than an ability to kick well. He played a season of AFL so he should be able to kick the ball pretty well. His lack of kicking in the Rugby Championship so far is not really an anomaly though. There was one game against France this season when he kicked 6 times, but he only kicked once in each of the other tests. He barely kicked for the Waratahs all season too - [URL="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/statscentre.cfm"]a total of 15 times in 14 [/URL]matches (1.1 kicks/match). To put that in perspective Ben Smith (who in general favours counter attack over kicking) kicked 76 times in 16 matches (4.8 kicks per match), while the more 'kick happy' fullbacks averaged higher again (Dagg 6.6, Le Roux 7.5, Visser 7.0, Mogg 8.9 etc). I do think Folau's unwillingness to kick put Australia (/the Waratahs) under a lot of unnecessary pressure at times. Obviously this may have a lot to do with his league background - in league you certainly don't kick when you receive the ball at he back, and may also have a lot to do with the fact Folau backs himself so much with ball in hand (which is one of his best attributes). I do think with more time his option taking at the back will improve (he's been playing Union for less than 2 years...), I just think it is an area he needs to keep working on. There is no doubt he is a world class player though. It is scary to think just how good he could be if he sticks with Union and continues to develop his instincts for the game! [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
The Rugby Championship 2023
[2014 TRC] New Zealand v Australia in Auckland (23/08/2014)
Top