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Super Rugby Semi-Final: Waratahs vs Highlanders
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<blockquote data-quote="smartcooky" data-source="post: 730921" data-attributes="member: 20605"><p>To give my take on the game overall, I think the Highlanders handed the Waratahs a master class in tactical rugby. They kicked when they needed to kick (and with the right types of kick) and ran when they needed to run. They dominated possession (53%), territory (62%) and all the attacking stats such as clean breaks, defenders beaten, running metres and offloads. </p><p></p><p>In short, they followed the adage that winning rugby involves the four "P"s</p><p></p><p>Possession</p><p>Position</p><p>Pressure</p><p>Points </p><p></p><p>Its an old school saying, but its as relevant today as it ever was.</p><p></p><p>Another thing the Highlanders did well was to shut down Will Skelton. They turned him into Mr Invisible. His 7 runs for 11 metres must be among his worst running stats all season and on top of that, he missed two of his five tackles. IMO Skelton is overrated. He may be a big strong bruiser with some good skills, but he doesn't do the basics well enough and the ease with which the Highlanders shut him out of the game will not have gone unnoticed by Hansen, Foster & Smith.</p><p></p><p>As for the Waratahs, their set piece was a disaster (lost four out of 13 line-outs on their own throw and one of their four scrum feeds). They were also tactically woeful. The kicking was poor and misdirected and didn't put the Highlanders under much pressure They also failed to run the ball down the 9-10 channel against Sopoaga, whose defence has been a bit suspect in the past. Between them Smith and Sopoaga only had to make eight tackles all game (one missed). Compare that with White & Foley's 16 tackles (six missed). You can be sure that Broadhurst, Thrush, Shields and Ardie Savea will not make that mistake next Saturday night.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="smartcooky, post: 730921, member: 20605"] To give my take on the game overall, I think the Highlanders handed the Waratahs a master class in tactical rugby. They kicked when they needed to kick (and with the right types of kick) and ran when they needed to run. They dominated possession (53%), territory (62%) and all the attacking stats such as clean breaks, defenders beaten, running metres and offloads. In short, they followed the adage that winning rugby involves the four "P"s Possession Position Pressure Points Its an old school saying, but its as relevant today as it ever was. Another thing the Highlanders did well was to shut down Will Skelton. They turned him into Mr Invisible. His 7 runs for 11 metres must be among his worst running stats all season and on top of that, he missed two of his five tackles. IMO Skelton is overrated. He may be a big strong bruiser with some good skills, but he doesn't do the basics well enough and the ease with which the Highlanders shut him out of the game will not have gone unnoticed by Hansen, Foster & Smith. As for the Waratahs, their set piece was a disaster (lost four out of 13 line-outs on their own throw and one of their four scrum feeds). They were also tactically woeful. The kicking was poor and misdirected and didn't put the Highlanders under much pressure They also failed to run the ball down the 9-10 channel against Sopoaga, whose defence has been a bit suspect in the past. Between them Smith and Sopoaga only had to make eight tackles all game (one missed). Compare that with White & Foley's 16 tackles (six missed). You can be sure that Broadhurst, Thrush, Shields and Ardie Savea will not make that mistake next Saturday night. [/QUOTE]
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Super Rugby Semi-Final: Waratahs vs Highlanders
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