A few thoughts on where we’re going wrong: 💪 It’s obvious that our over-reliance on the pick-and-go game is too predictable. But I don’t think that’s an issue in itself - it wasn’t a problem two years ago, just as it wasn’t a problem for Exeter when they were winning titles with an incredibly predictable gameplan. The issue is more in execution. It can still be our plan A if we do it better. That means relying less on winning the arm wrestle with a one-man carrier and instead (i) quicker ruck speed to stop defences setting (ii) more deception about who is carrying (iii) better technique, both in carrying lower and finishing. Our main issue is not what we’re doing nor that people can predict it - it’s how we’re executing it 🏃🏻 When we do go wide, it’s often a phase or two late and we don’t look properly set up. Using our 12 as first receiver to carry or go out the back to Finn (which has been very fruitful the last couple of years) ties in both centres as 13 runs the dummy line, so when we go out the back we only have 2/3 options. We also generally don’t take out multiple defenders with long passes across the face. All that makes it easier for defences to drift on us and thus we don’t create overlaps or isolate defenders in wide channels. It’s all compounded by the fact our catch-pass skills are simply not good enough to compete with the likes of Northampton, Bordeaux or Toulouse 🥊 We’re losing the breakdown battle on both sides of the ball. We’re not getting there quick enough to protect our own possession, and it’s not clear what our strategy is defensively: against Montpellier we didn’t compete, and then we did more against Gloucester but our technique was poor (we were rightly pinged multiple times for hands on the floor or not releasing) 🔁 Our rotation strategy served us very well in the treble season, but I wonder if it’s now hurting us. Not only are we not building connections, it means selection is not fully linked to performance. Form players get planned rest and bad performances don’t come with the same consequences if selection is dictated by sharing game time. Maybe Dunn/Stuart/Big Joe’s omissions on Friday were a sign that that is changing. But despite our deep squad we don’t really have players competing for spots, which drives standards 🪫 Relatedly, we seem to be lacking the desire we once had. This is NOT saying the players aren’t trying hard enough - there’s no doubt that they care hugely. But are we fighting on our own line like Gloucester and Leicester did this weekend? Why are subs who’ve only just come on meandering back against Northampton? Are some of our missed tackles because we’re not fighting for every inch? I wonder if our selection policy means there’s a lack of consequences for less than 100% desire