In the opening show of the 2013 Finals Day, the seasoned performers from Division 1 North met the high-flying newcomers from Division 1 South as Vaasa Wolves took on Old Town Shamrocks from Porvoo.
Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO0W8dQTWKo&feature=c4-overview&list=UU4VIzdCgmDTM_g4QHVE8bXg
Here's what we thought:
01:50
First scrum of the game - Vaasa have the more attacking body positions and seem more in-tune with each other, whereas OTS have different rows scummaging at different angles. OTS get lucky that the ball bounces off a Vaasa leg.
02:04
The first hint of a lack of game plan - even after the first phase OTS are grouped around the ruck rather than working in units to move play quickly. The poor fly-half is handed the ball standing still and facing a wall of waiting defenders.
03:30
On the one hand, taking points at this stage of the game is exactly the right strategy, especially after the break in play for the injury. On the other hand, a 40-50m kick is a massive ask for any kicker. Either OTS have a lot of faith in their kicker, or very little in their lineout.
04:05
Check out the tackle technique from OTS - Vaasa's 12 is not the biggest man on the park, but tacklers are going in with heads down (i.e. eyes on the ground, not the target) and arms outstretched. With a steppy back like him, mark the target, hit with the shoulder and wrap the arms.
Following on from that, did anyone else think the final pass was so far forward that Stevie Wonder could have called it?..... Great effort by OTS 13 to run down the ball carrier.
05:40
Vaasa could have been much more clinical. Firstly, the tap-and-go is an odd call when they have such a strong lineout jumper, but ok. Secondly, Vaasa don't work as a unit: we have the number 8 taking the ball in essentially alone - we would have liked to see his support players latch on to him and drive him into the defensive line - the extra weight might have been enough to make the difference, as Porvoo allow him to run all the way to the line.
From the ruck, look how many Porvoo players are in or around the ruck. Vaasa get a bit of white line fever and squander the chance to sling it wide. Well defended by Porvoo.
08:42
Again, we're seeing a lack of structure to OTS's attack. Players are standing around well behind the gain line. There are no pods formed to take the crash ball up and no clear next phase attack. Here, we would like to see the fly-half taking more control and organizing the players around him. The kick serves no real purpose and essentially hands Vaasa possession.
10:10
It was harder not to score than to score here..... Vaasa's 4 just needed to give the pass earlier and the overlap would have done the work for him.
19:01
For the front rows: freeze here and compare the body position of Vaasa's loosehead with OTS's tighthead. The Vaasa prop has his weight forward, back straight and knee's bent - the ideal pushing position. Right from the start, the OTS prop's hips are too high, his legs too straight and actually his body is pointing in towards the hooker, which is a) illegal and b) making his own pushing ability weaker.
25:10
Great pressure and opportunism from OTS's number 4, but there was no reason that Vaasa shouldn't have been able to regroup and secure that.
26:17
Kicking was a horrendous option! He had support players there so he could have taken the ball into contact and set up a ruck.
29:15
This is bizarre: the OTS player has done everything right - he lined up the attacker, got into a good body position to make the tackle and makes a good hit......then he lets him go. Please listen when we say that tackle practice is the number 1 requirement this off-season.
30:50
Again, it's the organisation: OTS have had some great phases of attack, thanks to numbers 14 and 15, and the team has done well to secure possession - but then the ideas run out. Here, the big number 4 is given the ball while he is still moving backwards, so not only does he have no attacking momentum, but it also allows Vaasa to press up and reclaim several metres. It's only raw strength that gets 4 out of trouble.
41:05
What kills OTS is their failure to form a defensive line quickly. Vaasa move the ball quickly and exploit open space. On a positive note, check out a nice tackle by OTS number 10 on Vaasa's 4. Because there is not line pressing up on Vaasa, they are able to keep forward momentum and make steady progress until the line breaks. The final tackle attempt left a lot to be desired - again, it's a technique issue.
HALF TIME
48:48
Again, compare the difference in bodyweight distribution between the two props. Vaasa are in a much stronger position to win the hit as the prop is already leaning forward. OTS's prop has his body weight back over his second row, so pushing forward is going to be far more difficult.
50:30
It's good pressure from Vaasa, but OTS's fly-half really needed to dive on the ball rather than trying to kick it. Securing possession would have been the much safer move. Instead, Vaasa are able to claim the loose ball and grab another try.
1:26:30
This is better play from Porvoo: their scrum is becoming more secure, they drag Vaasa across the field one way, then the other. The key thing is that they send in a crash runner with fast support, so that they can suck in defenders and move the ball away quickly. It's a great solo effort from 14 to finish the try, but it was a good team build-up as well.
FULL TIME
Vaasa: 33 - 5 Old Town Shamrocks
In truth, it was not a polished performance from Vaasa. There were plenty of handling errors and it was a far more open game than it needed to be. Vaasa were by far the more alert squad - support play was quicker to arrive and better positioned. The attack phases were also better organised in terms of the next wave being ready and in-tune with each other as to what to do next.
There were elements for OTS to be happy about: they were highly competitive at the breakdown an their game improved considerably in the later stages of the match. Yet they left themselves so much to do and it was too little too late. A key issue seemed to be adapting their game style from the free-flowing 10-a-side game that they have been playing in D1 South to the 15-a-side game, which relies so much more on phase play. Considering this is their first proper season of rugby, OTS should be extremely happy at making the final and look to build on the experience for their first season in the Championship next year.
Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO0W8dQTWKo&feature=c4-overview&list=UU4VIzdCgmDTM_g4QHVE8bXg
Here's what we thought:
01:50
First scrum of the game - Vaasa have the more attacking body positions and seem more in-tune with each other, whereas OTS have different rows scummaging at different angles. OTS get lucky that the ball bounces off a Vaasa leg.
02:04
The first hint of a lack of game plan - even after the first phase OTS are grouped around the ruck rather than working in units to move play quickly. The poor fly-half is handed the ball standing still and facing a wall of waiting defenders.
03:30
On the one hand, taking points at this stage of the game is exactly the right strategy, especially after the break in play for the injury. On the other hand, a 40-50m kick is a massive ask for any kicker. Either OTS have a lot of faith in their kicker, or very little in their lineout.
04:05
Check out the tackle technique from OTS - Vaasa's 12 is not the biggest man on the park, but tacklers are going in with heads down (i.e. eyes on the ground, not the target) and arms outstretched. With a steppy back like him, mark the target, hit with the shoulder and wrap the arms.
Following on from that, did anyone else think the final pass was so far forward that Stevie Wonder could have called it?..... Great effort by OTS 13 to run down the ball carrier.
05:40
Vaasa could have been much more clinical. Firstly, the tap-and-go is an odd call when they have such a strong lineout jumper, but ok. Secondly, Vaasa don't work as a unit: we have the number 8 taking the ball in essentially alone - we would have liked to see his support players latch on to him and drive him into the defensive line - the extra weight might have been enough to make the difference, as Porvoo allow him to run all the way to the line.
From the ruck, look how many Porvoo players are in or around the ruck. Vaasa get a bit of white line fever and squander the chance to sling it wide. Well defended by Porvoo.
08:42
Again, we're seeing a lack of structure to OTS's attack. Players are standing around well behind the gain line. There are no pods formed to take the crash ball up and no clear next phase attack. Here, we would like to see the fly-half taking more control and organizing the players around him. The kick serves no real purpose and essentially hands Vaasa possession.
10:10
It was harder not to score than to score here..... Vaasa's 4 just needed to give the pass earlier and the overlap would have done the work for him.
19:01
For the front rows: freeze here and compare the body position of Vaasa's loosehead with OTS's tighthead. The Vaasa prop has his weight forward, back straight and knee's bent - the ideal pushing position. Right from the start, the OTS prop's hips are too high, his legs too straight and actually his body is pointing in towards the hooker, which is a) illegal and b) making his own pushing ability weaker.
25:10
Great pressure and opportunism from OTS's number 4, but there was no reason that Vaasa shouldn't have been able to regroup and secure that.
26:17
Kicking was a horrendous option! He had support players there so he could have taken the ball into contact and set up a ruck.
29:15
This is bizarre: the OTS player has done everything right - he lined up the attacker, got into a good body position to make the tackle and makes a good hit......then he lets him go. Please listen when we say that tackle practice is the number 1 requirement this off-season.
30:50
Again, it's the organisation: OTS have had some great phases of attack, thanks to numbers 14 and 15, and the team has done well to secure possession - but then the ideas run out. Here, the big number 4 is given the ball while he is still moving backwards, so not only does he have no attacking momentum, but it also allows Vaasa to press up and reclaim several metres. It's only raw strength that gets 4 out of trouble.
41:05
What kills OTS is their failure to form a defensive line quickly. Vaasa move the ball quickly and exploit open space. On a positive note, check out a nice tackle by OTS number 10 on Vaasa's 4. Because there is not line pressing up on Vaasa, they are able to keep forward momentum and make steady progress until the line breaks. The final tackle attempt left a lot to be desired - again, it's a technique issue.
HALF TIME
48:48
Again, compare the difference in bodyweight distribution between the two props. Vaasa are in a much stronger position to win the hit as the prop is already leaning forward. OTS's prop has his body weight back over his second row, so pushing forward is going to be far more difficult.
50:30
It's good pressure from Vaasa, but OTS's fly-half really needed to dive on the ball rather than trying to kick it. Securing possession would have been the much safer move. Instead, Vaasa are able to claim the loose ball and grab another try.
1:26:30
This is better play from Porvoo: their scrum is becoming more secure, they drag Vaasa across the field one way, then the other. The key thing is that they send in a crash runner with fast support, so that they can suck in defenders and move the ball away quickly. It's a great solo effort from 14 to finish the try, but it was a good team build-up as well.
FULL TIME
Vaasa: 33 - 5 Old Town Shamrocks
In truth, it was not a polished performance from Vaasa. There were plenty of handling errors and it was a far more open game than it needed to be. Vaasa were by far the more alert squad - support play was quicker to arrive and better positioned. The attack phases were also better organised in terms of the next wave being ready and in-tune with each other as to what to do next.
There were elements for OTS to be happy about: they were highly competitive at the breakdown an their game improved considerably in the later stages of the match. Yet they left themselves so much to do and it was too little too late. A key issue seemed to be adapting their game style from the free-flowing 10-a-side game that they have been playing in D1 South to the 15-a-side game, which relies so much more on phase play. Considering this is their first proper season of rugby, OTS should be extremely happy at making the final and look to build on the experience for their first season in the Championship next year.
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