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Author Topic: Drop goals - discuss  (Read 675 times)

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Aha!

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Drop goals - discuss
« on: Tuesday 28-May-2019, 17:41* »
Owen Slot reported today that, with just 1 game left, there were only 2 drop goals by all teams during the league campaign - both of them kicked by Freddie Burns.
 
Given such a tight league (from 2nd down) and that 14 of our 22 games were won/lost by 7 points or fewer, are we missing a trick in our armoury, or not?

Bolly-Quin

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Re: Drop goals - discuss
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 28-May-2019, 18:00* »
I wasn't there, so I don't know if it may have worked, but in the last few minutes against Wasps, had we kicked for the corner, won the line out and driven a maul to the line and found that bashing away over wasn't working, that a quick dummy play to back and a switch back inside to whichever FH we had on the field at the time for a drop goal may have got us over the line...

honkytonk

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Re: Drop goals - discuss
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 28-May-2019, 18:47* »
Dont need a FH to kick them, Care can do it no problem.

Its one of my bugbears.  Early on in a game, first attack, sometimes its a great option.  Get points on the board, come away with something straight up. Wilkinson used to do it.

Bolly-Quin

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Re: Drop goals - discuss
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 28-May-2019, 18:52* »
Dont need a FH to kick them, Care can do it no problem.

I know he's done it before and is supposed to be good - but had thought that he might be supplying the first phase ball from maul/breakdown. But a one-two between Care/Smith/Lang back to Care would be a neat training ground number to have own your pocket for a needed 3 points...

DOK

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Re: Drop goals - discuss
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 28-May-2019, 19:53* »
I've argued drop goals are a missed opportunity before. Nick Evans doesn't believe in them, despite his famous wobbly shot at goal, so I doubt he's coaching people in their use. Given our habit of making it up to the 5m line then losing possession, I'd have thought it much less effort to make it to 10m out then drop a goal.

quinalan

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Re: Drop goals - discuss
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 28-May-2019, 20:28* »
Cant remember the last time we saw a decent drop goal for Quins. Its a pretty easy skill to be honest, even I used to be good at it, although not at quins level. Still cant understand why Deano never used Danny to drop goal in the game that can never be mentioned.

Mayor West

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Re: Drop goals - discuss
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 28-May-2019, 20:45* »
I’ve always wondered why it’s not used very often. Perhaps there are some stats that have proved that by persevering at going for the try and conversion you end up with a better return on points. They are mostly used when the ref has given a freebie and you get a penalty as a second chance. In a tight game where you aren’t getting  close to the try line very often I would think it was a worthwhile tactic. We must all be wrong.

Banstead Quin

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Re: Drop goals - discuss
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 29-May-2019, 08:41* »
Have to agree, it was the wrong call against Wasps. I can only assume that Buchanan's unreliable throwing under pressure swayed the thinking. IIRC, against Saints in the 2012 play off semi, DC tried one whilst running off the back of a scrum but was (rightly) disallowed as the ball didn't hit the floor first.

There have been so many times this season where we have coughed up ball after multiple phases in the oppo's 22 when after 5 phases a drop goal would have given us something. Plus, if we get a reputation for it, defences will be more prone to giving away penalties, trying to stop it.
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