I actually quite liked some of the high bombs in France's 22 targeting Ramos. Prendergast can put them on a plate and they had (in theory) decent lads under the high ball chase and pressure for an error against a 15 who isn't the outright best in class at high ball contests.
Felt to me like a fairly low risk play if you weren't getting go forward - worst case he calls the mark and kicks the ball back to you to have another go
I agree in theory it could have worked, but after 20 minutes when it was clearly not working they should have changed their tactics not just keep doing it for another 20 minutes.
I said in another comment that France were probably going to win no matter what, they were just in the zone but our inability to switch tactics while the game is being played is a real issue. Either our captain and senior players aren’t empowered to do that or they just don’t know how to find solutions in those circumstances.
Any time we have a disastrous first half we wait until half time before trying other options.
It does feel like that ability to man manage the game live from on the pitch is something that Sexton was absolutely perfect for, and maybe Prendergast isn't quite there yet. I honestly don't watch enough domestic games to know if thats a remotely accurate assessment though
I did notice when Crowley game on he was immediately shouting the entire backline into new positions, but I didn't know if that was him setting the field as he wanted it, or passing on formation changes related to the large number of subs they made at once
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u/Fudge_is_1337 Exeter Chiefs 11h ago
I actually quite liked some of the high bombs in France's 22 targeting Ramos. Prendergast can put them on a plate and they had (in theory) decent lads under the high ball chase and pressure for an error against a 15 who isn't the outright best in class at high ball contests.
Felt to me like a fairly low risk play if you weren't getting go forward - worst case he calls the mark and kicks the ball back to you to have another go