I am struck by the amount of work forwards need to do 'off the ball' these days ( I played in the 1990's) to create different pod formations, achieve depth where required etc. I have been reading a lot of adoring press about Will Skelton (who is clearly a high-quality player), but as I look at the amount of work forwards really need to do to manipulate and adjust pod formations and positions, I look at his plodding movements and can't see how it is not another adjustment he forces any team that picks him to make. There's also the being a lock who can't jump at lineout thing. I end up thinking that he forces his own side to make more adjustments than he does the opposition? I can see an argument NZ may have gone too far the other way, where they seem to have endless hybrid backrowers with huge work rate, lots of dynamism over the ball but not many true 6 or 8 players who can add lineout options and high impact in collisions. Any thoughts? I am just a casual watcher of the game, so may well be totally off. On Skelton, I also want to emphasise that it is not a dig at him personally, more a question about that kind of physique. Having played the game at a shit level I have nothing but admiration for anyone who plays and anyone who plays at province/international level deserves nothing but respect.
Awesome mate
Thanks 👍
I am struck by the amount of work forwards need to do 'off the ball' these days ( I played in the 1990's) to create different pod formations, achieve depth where required etc. I have been reading a lot of adoring press about Will Skelton (who is clearly a high-quality player), but as I look at the amount of work forwards really need to do to manipulate and adjust pod formations and positions, I look at his plodding movements and can't see how it is not another adjustment he forces any team that picks him to make. There's also the being a lock who can't jump at lineout thing. I end up thinking that he forces his own side to make more adjustments than he does the opposition?
I can see an argument NZ may have gone too far the other way, where they seem to have endless hybrid backrowers with huge work rate, lots of dynamism over the ball but not many true 6 or 8 players who can add lineout options and high impact in collisions. Any thoughts? I am just a casual watcher of the game, so may well be totally off.
On Skelton, I also want to emphasise that it is not a dig at him personally, more a question about that kind of physique. Having played the game at a shit level I have nothing but admiration for anyone who plays and anyone who plays at province/international level deserves nothing but respect.