That saints v Wigan game was just a slow ruck flop fest for me. I don’t know what people want to watch really, but it annoys the heck out of me when I hear how Saints defence was brilliant against us, or generally is brilliant. They rush up because they slow the ruck down, that’s how it works. First game in the first twenty the ruck was quick and surprise surprise their defence can’t rush up and there is more space.
First half against tigers the ruck was ridiculously slow but the ref wasn’t interested at all. When the game was a bit quicker, on a god awful pitch and horrible night we fairly easily moved away from them.
I like a lot about how we look this year. I like that we can do things other teams cannot. If the ruck speeds up a bit as the pitches and weather improve I think we will look good. I think people talk about this fundamental style of rugby stuff but it’s all rubbish. People want us to play a certain way because that’s the style that’s won the comp for a good number of years. Both saints and Wigan play a slow the ruck, loads of rush defence and large number of props with a couple of worldy players out the back (field, French, Welsby, lomax). If we can win the comp playing the way we do, I cannot see how any single person would say I’d rather watch a slow ruck and squeeze defence style instead.
