It was going to happen at some point. Our first league loss of the season. To be honest, I’m pleased it’s happened. We were starting to get a little complacent. That was in terms of attitude and from players starting to think they were able to “take a little time off”. We selected a good team. Everyone was what you would consider a first team player as individuals. However, due to availability, our back line was very different and was unable to get going under pressure from the opposition.
They wanted it more. They were faster to react, more physical at the breakdown and had a lot more energy. We turned up at their place in dribs and drabs, had a slow, flat warmup with people turning up late and in the match we were too slow to react, not physical enough and the backs were too flat and made poor decisions. Our handling was poor and contact skills not good enough.
We only lost 15-7 and held them out when poor discipline took us down to 14 men for 10 minutes. However a dead leg and a concussion will leave us short again for next week.
The 2s lost 17-10 but mullered a couple of their chances and had a try disallowed so came out of things feeling pretty good. Dragons won as well against Sale. Recorded so will watch that later I think.