I said it then.....

earlier post

and I'll say it again. The "brand" of rugby we play is simply not good enough. Where did it all go wrong?

1)Exeter chiefs havent played 15 man rugby all season.
2)Lack of rotation in key areas.
3)Other teams rested players / wrote off their fixtures Vs us, opting to save themselves for play off fixtures.
4)Forwards / Backs are very much seperate entities.
5)Coaches / Players arent expressing themselves... Why? Surely the players dont wont to play so regiemented/boring rugby?
6)Lack of real leadership when chips are down
7)Lack of vision
8)Lack of Pressure
10)Lack of experience is key possitions.

Bottom line is this: We have the players / squad, we have he ability... but something is preventing us expressing our rugby on the pitch. too much kicking, not enough tries.

Thoughts?

100% right!! Brilliant post, this sums up my thoughts. Main problem is a coach who came from playing in one club straight into being a coach! Has RB ever playing in a premiership club No! Has he ever played anywhere but Exeter? Has he played with international players and an international coach at a top flight club? No.....

The reason we cant transalte all the talent we have, as on paper we are brilliant is the game plan. It is poor, RB is a forward through and through. He thinks by kicking the ball and going for penalties we can win every game. He likes to play a forwards game. He thinks that playing just with the pack, then we can win,our pack is good but we must use our backs more....I think this is why he doesnt play Marsden or McKenzie as they play open, expanisve fast rugby, They like the forwards to get the ball out to the backs and run with it. Finally last problem is arrogance!

Quote:

maulmonster
100% right!! Brilliant post, this sums up my thoughts. Main problem is a coach who came from playing in one club straight into being a coach! Has RB ever playing in a premiership club No! Has he ever played anywhere but Exeter? Has he played with international players and an international coach at a top flight club? No.....
The reason we cant transalte all the talent we have, as on paper we are brilliant is the game plan. It is poor, RB is a forward through and through. He thinks by kicking the ball and going for penalties we can win every game. He likes to play a forwards game. He thinks that playing just with the pack, then we can win,our pack is good but we must use our backs more....I think this is why he doesnt play Marsden or McKenzie as they play open, expanisve fast rugby, They like the forwards to get the ball out to the backs and run with it. Finally last problem is arrogance!

Rob spent a year at Gloucester so get your facts right or your criticism loses its validity (I don't necessarily disagree with you but facts is facts)

Apologies!! My mistake...

Rob was at Gloucester 1993/94. The game of rugby has changed since then.

[email][/email]

Quote:

bruinyoung
Rob was at Gloucester 1993/94. The game of rugby has changed since then.

Agreed but those of us who played 40 years ago still think that we know more than today's youngsters!! (and we're right )

I dont see a big connection between RB's past, and his coaching ability. This might raise an argument but although the game is different, the concepts have always been the same - get the ball and run forward. What we're doing is the opposite to what sucessfull rugby teams do. Since Xmas, we've learned nothing and stayed stale as a team. Tactics, lineouts, backs play etc hasnt changed. On the other hand, other teams have moved forward... they've suffered the defeats and learned lessons. But who's responsibility is it to motivate the players. Answer - the coaches. Theres an old saying in rugby that goes something like this.. "If your winning, train harder to stay on top". At the end of the day, if teams arent challenging us, then training must test our reslove.

In my opinion its times for the coaches to inspire the players and get this season back on track.

Hi guys,

I had a bad feeling about the play offs ROb said that the season was set up with this in mind and what happens we come unstuck against a stubbern Notts side. Am I surprised not really am I angry definately. Watching us this year has been like watching England in the 6 nations there is no doubt we have a decent team I refer back to the game at Bristol some may say they did not put their full team out but you can only beat whats in front of you, but for me it was the way we went about it. We attacked them we asserted our game on them in the fixture we went back to fronting up with the forwards played very narrow and got shown up. We needed a plan B and there was none of that yesterday. We went back to pick and go and forward boring style and came away with nothing What is the point in a backs coach if we don't want to use then.

Absolutely right in everything you say. The players don't have a plan B. - too much kicking. The players also didn't look committed but they assure us they are. How disappointing for the supporters who gave up their Sunday to watch this spectacle. Exe always seem to bottle it when it matters and always end up the Bridesmaid never the Bride!!