Our Riches
We’ve established the differing mindsets, now we’ll throw in the match defining play.
Tuilagi breaks the line on half way and is sprinting for a try. Dagg is the only thing in his way.
Sam Cane, full of beans and keen to make as many tackles as possible sprints down Tuilagi, makes the tackle and attempts to force the turnover in tandem with Dagg. England recycle, spread the ball and score in the opposite corner through an overlap.
The flip side. McCaw tracks back and trusts that Dagg will make the tackle. He watches England approach the ruck and recycle the ball. During this he identifies a mismatch in numbers between the White and Black jumpers. He gets onside and identifies the lock in the backline. He targets him as he is most likely to have the slowest hands. Richie makes the tackle and slows the movement enough for the All Blacks to reset their defensive line.
The take home message here is that decision making is more valuable than physical ability. Think of Ali v Foreman and the rope-a-dope tactic. We have great riches in McCaw and his reading of the game.
We have arguably the greatest player in our favourite sport. He is willing to endure broken bones for us. We try to tear him down. Wake up.
Article by Bennet Dalton
- Rugby Chat with the Boys