It is interesting to note how our defence has improved markedly under Smith. Taking all of Smith's 6 games (even including the hammering at Quins) we have conceded 142 points at 23.6 per game. Excluding the Quins game its 16.4. In the Lowes period we conceded 494 points in 16 games at an average 30.9 per game.

I know it is early days, and our attack has struggled, but this is a measurable improvement which should give us all encouragement that we are building a solid foundation. It clearly shows where his focus has been in his first 6 weeks.

Smith stated this in an interview I have mentioned. Basically, good defence brings consistency, consistency brings results.

Now i wanted to post on how our defence had improved but then i looked at the oppostition

Celtic, York, and Salford

2 were not in SL last year and are sat near the bottom with us and the mighty york

so i'll be honest until we play one of the big boys and keep them under 18 points then i'll start to think we have improved on our defence

good point there fellow...we did hold leeds but they were on a low after the wcc..lets see what monday brings against a cas team that got walloped at home by wakey...if we get walloped its back to the same old same old

Wouldn't Leeds want to bounce back afther their drubbing.

Totally agree.

Our structures held up well. We looked far more difficult to penetrate. Also, that left edge no longer has huge holes in it like it did, and we don't seem to all pull in, under the posts and look vulnerable to a switch back to the left.

The three tries we conceded yesterday, one was a one on one miss from a scrum, the other a mistake from a kick, and the last one I think a good play by Salford, we were intent on charging the kicker, we got done by a clever switch. None of the tries, were what you would call, we were 'exposed', the line looks better now, and we seem to go up in a line etc.

I think it's very much about 'building a house on solid foundations', there's no point spending the week creating fancy plays if we can't defend our line, get that in order, then we'll add the nice touches, plays etc. There's definate signs of improvement.

You would expect our defence to be a little bit better with only four or 5 backs in the squad.

Our defence was shocking for their last try, L Anderson was terrible for the try scoring play and the play prior to it. For me he has done very little, even when he scored a few last month I thought he was very poor.

I can see that defensively we have improved and are moving in the right direction.

Jwp you say that "There's definate signs of improvement"

but look who we've played, they are not exactly teams that open you up and rip you apart.
Frankly if we'd let more points in in these games i would have considered a trip to Celtic but not for the rugby

You could have said that about Quins.

i know, depressing roll on the tigers

our defence is improving each week , just are goal line defence is letting us down imo ,

I'd say Leeds and HKR are capable of ripping teams apart.

No, no, no. That doesn't suit the miserable turds script.

Thanks

mate

I do apologise, so good defensive outings only count against the so called "lesser sides"? I may be wrong but I'm guessing that Saints were pretty happy with their defensive performance against Crusaders.

salford points scored
28 v celtic then
10,16,18,12,12,12,18

celtic points scored
6,16,20,0,18,22,10

massive scores they are

really opening up teams ?

york are two divisions below us
and quins put 60 past us

you do know im only on about since TS as been in charge

Did he let others have a go in the other games then.

Leeds and HKR?

sorry but he would have had no impact at all at leeds, lets be realistic Tom

and the HKR game being the only one were i can see our defence play quite well.
but again was that down to TS really ?

So you honestly believe he didn't have any input or say into prior to the Leeds game, why wouldn't the HKR be down to TS?

leeds game:-

you tell me how being at a club for 5 minutes is going to turn performances round. it wouldn't of surprised me if he hadn't even spoke to all the players one to one


HKR game:-

I think it was the players that picked themselves up.
Having just been humiliated by the Quins and with all the agro that came with the Matt King incident, I genuinely think that they were embarrased and really put the effort in aswell realising that there was a very serious chance of being kicked out the club. he punished Briers by leaving him on the bench. I don't think it was Tonys input but more the fear of Tony that improved that game

I honestly can't argue with such strong, valid points.

I detect a slight hint of sarcasm.

It is my opinion if you don't agree with it, no problem. I't's not the end of the world.

Im not Smith bashing (far from it) just pointing out i think we are being a bit premature at the moment