moto748 wrote:
Struck me last night that we attacked the South Stand end first half last night. I can barely recall this happening before. So presumably Leeds won the toss? I don't understand why other away teams don't have the same policy, because the way it normally works suggests that when opposing teams win the toss (presumably about 50% of the time), they effectively do what Wigan would have done anyway. If I was an away team skipper, I'd rather have Wigan running towards their own fans in the first half than in the second.
Comes down to the coin toss rules not QUITE being what people would assume, and what you give up by choosing ends. If you win the toss you can't say "We'll kick that way." which is what you would ideally want to do. The choice is actually:
- kick (in which case the other team choose ends)
Or
- choose ends (which means you receive and the other team doesn't get a choice)
For as long as I've been watching rugby Wigan have chosen ends (thus receiving) if they win the toss. Generally if the opposition win the toss they'll either elect to kick (in which case Wigan choose ends anyway) as they want to defend first and hopefully get on top in the territory battle. Failing that they won't care and tend to say "Stay as we are" i.e the same ends the teams warmed up in which again means Wigan attacking the north.
So basically for Wigan not to be attacking the North stand first they have to lose the toss (there goes 50%), then the opposition has to be more bothered about swapping what end Wigan attack than about kicking off (there goes 90% of the remaining 50%). Obviously sometimes there are other factors e.g strong wind or the position of the sun.
