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Author Topic: Turning points  (Read 2350 times)

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Re: Turning points
« Reply #15 on: »
Have you ever, ever, ever seen Sarries decline to take the points? I never want to play the Sarries way, but by refusing to take the free points on offer they were laughing at our game management and their confidence grew cos they knew we'd carry on banging our heads against their defensive wall. They simply chipped away. 3 + 3 + 3 ......... we need some pragmatism sprinkled with our wonderballs!

Re: Turning points
« Reply #16 on: »
But when we did go for the points, we missed? When else should we have gone for points? Should we have gone for the points at the start of the final when instead we scored a try? Likewise, should we have gone for the points at the end of the first half of the final, when instead we scrummed and dombrandt went over? Our recent success is built on trying to score tries. Of course take the points if it'll win the game with a couple of minutes left. Otherwise, why revert to what we were doing under Gustard, rather than sticking to what won us the Prem?
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Re: Turning points
« Reply #17 on: »
I think the decision should be -
- are the 3 points definitely kickable?
 If yes, then consider kicking them
 But, don't take the 3 points if you are chasing a 4th try.

- is a shot at the posts 50/50 at best?
 Go for corner or scrum
But, consider going for it if you have scored anything other than 3 tries and 3 points would win you the game.


I'm not sure that quick taps are worth while since the law changes introduced this season.
 - basically, getting held up over the line results in you having to start again from the half way line.


IMO, the kick that hit the posts was a 50/50 at best. Kickers seem to struggle kicking towards the south stand when it is a little windy.

Re: Turning points
« Reply #18 on: »
I'm pretty sure we kicked penalties fairly regularly on our winning run. We didn't do a full Bristol-style approach of turning down all kicks at goal to get tries.

Re: Turning points
« Reply #19 on: »
IIRCC the kick on Sunday was our first kick for the posts this season!

Re: Turning points
« Reply #20 on: »
IIRCC the kick on Sunday was our first kick for the posts this season!

I think we took a pen against Sale.

It is too easy to say when we have gone for pens we have lost! However, the wider point of going for tries at every opportunity is absolutely right. It is what we have done in every game this year and is definitely the club's identity.

Re: Turning points
« Reply #21 on: »
I thought we did very well against Saracens' rolling mauls. I've said before this has been a huge problem where we defend the bit of the maul that doesn't have the ball carrier. So that was a positive.

Re: Turning points
« Reply #22 on: »
I think we took a pen against Sale.

I think those two penalty kicks for the posts are the only ones that we've made since before the semi-final.
« Last Edit: Wednesday 03-Nov-2021, 06:47* by Fearless Fred »

Re: Turning points
« Reply #23 on: »
I think we took a pen against Sale.

It is too easy to say when we have gone for pens we have lost! However, the wider point of going for tries at every opportunity is absolutely right. It is what we have done in every game this year and is definitely the club's identity.

To be fair, we’re not the only ones. Totally different style, but Exeter rarely kick for goal from penalties.
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Re: Turning points
« Reply #24 on: »
To be fair, we’re not the only ones. Totally different style, but Exeter rarely kick for goal from penalties.

Until last weekend!

Re: Turning points
« Reply #25 on: »
To be fair, we’re not the only ones. Totally different style, but Exeter rarely kick for goal from penalties.

Absolutely. It added to Exeter's aura of power. 'We don't need to take 3, we will kick it to the corner and drive over for 7'. They have lost that a bit, I would say.

We have that same 'we'll take 7' aura but with a different approach. We can hit people from anywhere when we have the ball! Long may that continue!

Re: Turning points
« Reply #26 on: »
Have you ever, ever, ever seen Sarries decline to take the points? I never want to play the Sarries way, but by refusing to take the free points on offer they were laughing at our game management and their confidence grew cos they knew we'd carry on banging our heads against their defensive wall. They simply chipped away. 3 + 3 + 3 ......... we need some pragmatism sprinkled with our wonderballs!

I have to politely disagree with this, obviously this is just my opinion and everyone else is entitled to their own but for me the game started slipping away when Danny went for the drop goal. That is the moment that Sarries really knew they had got us under pressure because we changed our winning formula (same as with the Sale game) and I would also say it is exactly the same as the way Quins felt (certainly I did) when Exeter took their shot at goal in the final, that was the moment we knew they where panicking.

In my opinion Danny should have done almost anything else with a penalty advantage, boot it sky high into the try area and see what happens we had absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

At the same time I am very proud of our team, they have a never say die attitude and still showed commitment to try and get that draw at the end when they must have felt very demoralised after what they know was a missed opportunity. I would be very surprised if we see any drop goals or penalty kicks at goal unless it is the last second and in front of the posts to win the game.

But that is just my two cents  :)
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Re: Turning points
« Reply #27 on: »
I have to politely disagree with this, obviously this is just my opinion and everyone else is entitled to their own but for me the game started slipping away when Danny went for the drop goal. That is the moment that Sarries really knew they had got us under pressure because we changed our winning formula (same as with the Sale game) and I would also say it is exactly the same as the way Quins felt (certainly I did) when Exeter took their shot at goal in the final, that was the moment we knew they where panicking.

In my opinion Danny should have done almost anything else with a penalty advantage, boot it sky high into the try area and see what happens we had absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

At the same time I am very proud of our team, they have a never say die attitude and still showed commitment to try and get that draw at the end when they must have felt very demoralised after what they know was a missed opportunity. I would be very surprised if we see any drop goals or penalty kicks at goal unless it is the last second and in front of the posts to win the game.

But that is just my two cents  :)

I think you've got that spot on. i felt disappointed with the drop goal and surprised at the penalty decision. As you say, it was an obvious turning point that the opposition will have picked up on
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Re: Turning points
« Reply #28 on: »
It's tricky though isn't it? If we'd gone for the corner and not scored, again, that would also have been a turning point that the opposition would have picked up on.

Re: Turning points
« Reply #29 on: »
It's tricky though isn't it? If we'd gone for the corner and not scored, again, that would also have been a turning point that the opposition would have picked up on.

Yes, it is, and we're not the ones there making the decision in the heat of the moment!

I'm not sure that would have been as much of a turning point though, defence is what they are about and they expect to hold out. If we had breached it (again), the game would have finished differently I'd think.