Coaches comment 10th May

Coaches Comments
Saturday 10th May Aquinas College Aquinas 12.00pm
Result loss 0 -3

What a score???? I am not sure what direction I intend to head with this match score –it’s less than a soccer game, very rare & secondly why are we on the losing end?
I will begin by giving you the quote I was given by their coach at the end of the game.
“We were dump but you were dumper” This statements rings alarm bells & so it should.
My goal is to teach you how to think & to make good decisions. We have a game plan, we have worked on our skills & fitness so that we can play this plan– so what happened?
What were our goals for the game?
To keep procession of the ball for 5+ phases
To make 5 tackles each
To play aggressive & controlled rugby

We achieved all of these goals – However, we did not play our game – not until the end. So yes we were dumb. In future, we will play our game right from the start of a game – not in the remaining 5-10min. I want the ball moving in stages or across the field – I want opposition teams moving & becoming tired. Kicking to touch is too easy & no work being done here for both teams.
We need a kicker – why did we not take kicks at goal? We need people sticking their hands up, practicing on regular basis so we can kick the penalties. Nathan, Josh, & Peter what are you doing?
We were given lots penalties & failed to take advantage – Ask the ref where he will allow us to take a penalty or free kick-BEFORE the game.

We will frustrate teams heaps especially if they are prevented from getting the ball. Take time to watch the DVD you did an excellent job forwards of keeping possession & protecting the ball in rucks & mauls. Question the ref about players pulling in players or coming from the side. ½ Back / Captain need to talk to players & referees. We need to practice where players go at free kicks & penalties so it isn’t a wasted opportunity to score.

What went well? Right from the start & until the last minute of the game I never thought that we would lose. Preparation for the week & on the day was very good. Warm up time gave me a good smile – players looked ready. What happened to the 3 cheers at start of game? I wish we had a haka?
We still have a long way to go in terms of being mentally tough – We need to be hungry to score points, we need to have a bit more Mongrel – But mongrel with brains not like some teams who are more mongrel & NO BRAINS.

In summary we are still on a journey to see how good we can become as a team. Game against Aquinas was ours for the taking – but we need to learn to play our game plan. We need to know how a referee is going rule on infringements & adapt. We are going to learn how to kick for goals. We are going to learn to move to positions at free kicks or penalties. We will learn to work even harder on developing our & minds & bodies.