Brian Moore: Why three Ps are essential for rugby glory

When it comes to pace it is true that out-and-out speed is frightening for

defences and more teams have speedsters that can trouble defences. The

second-half break made by Wasps’ scrum-half Joe Simpson, which set up the

Nathan Hughes try, was scintillating but that game, eventually won by

Saracens by 34 points to 28, showed why pace without power has limitations.

For much of the first half Wasps’ fliers, like Christian Wade, had little

opportunity to strut their stuff as they had no space. They were often on

the back foot and had to try and make the most of whatever ball they fielded

by way of counter-attack. When the roles reversed after half- time and Wasps

contested more powerfully at the breakdown and Ashley Johnson got the ball

in his hands to make hard yards, they were able to test Saracens more fully.

The secondary definition of speed, as it applies to rugby, is that of thought

and action and it is this definition that is only belatedly being

understood. When people talk of the All Blacks playing with pace they should

focus on their rapidity in recognising which is the right option to take and

how quickly they go about exploiting that opportunity.

The second game of the Twickenham double-header was not only marred by chronic

errors but by an almost total absence of this quality.

This brings us to the last of the three Ps — precision. The reason Saracens

ultimately beat Wasps and also reversed what seemed like Wasps’ irresistible

second-half momentum was because they were precise when it mattered. Four

genuine try scoring chances; four tries and their opponents were left to

wonder how they had lost.

When they look back at the game Wasps will see that a mere few minutes before

David Strettle’s hat-trick and winning try they failed to make the

most of an incursion which had taken them to within a few yards of the

Sarries’ line. Simpson eschewed his initial instinct to pass wide and turned

the ball back inside to Johnson who was isolated and the multiple phase

broke down. Any kind of score would have won it for Wasps and you had the

feeling that had the experienced fly-half Andy Goode still been on the pitch

he would have been in the pocket for a drop at goal.

Even if Wasps had merely retained possession for a fresh assault on the

Saracens’ line they would probably have seen out the clock, but they did

not. From that came Saracens’ at-the-death chance and the result is history.

From the first round of Premiership games, Saracens and Saints, and possibly

Leicester, can claim to get the three Ps right more often and that is why

they form the leading group for the title.

Bath, Harlequins, Sale and Gloucester, if they get their act together, will be

hard pressed to stay on that group’s tails.

Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/468668/Leicester-star-Ed-Slater-ready-to-test-England-locks

Brian Moore: Why three Ps are essential for rugby glory