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It's been all the rage in the past 12 months. Hansen employed it and Jones reverted to it. Schmidt ignored it and his team didn't fire a shot, but the two most successful teams of the year by my metric of trophies alone didn't really go near it, bruising 12s and ball playing fullbacks (in theory SA) won a slam, the RC and the big one. You also have France who have three, 9, 10 and 15 but lord knows they're the analysts enemy.
So my question is, over the next four years how does back play develop?
Personally, I hope the trend set by NZ and England continues for the entertainment factor but can it consistently be more effective than an assured 10, a battering ram 12, a strike running 13 and at least one form wing ready to pounce on all of the few opportunities that come their way? That's the formula that won the 2019 world cup and rugby championship, the 2019 and 2018 grand slams and presumably the 2019 and 2018 team of the year awards.
So my question is, over the next four years how does back play develop?
Personally, I hope the trend set by NZ and England continues for the entertainment factor but can it consistently be more effective than an assured 10, a battering ram 12, a strike running 13 and at least one form wing ready to pounce on all of the few opportunities that come their way? That's the formula that won the 2019 world cup and rugby championship, the 2019 and 2018 grand slams and presumably the 2019 and 2018 team of the year awards.