We don't need Gards back. I'd love for him to play but it'd be the wrong move.
The way we play teams has completely changed each half of the season. We were never a squad that beat a team by flair, flashy or brilliant plays. We were a ground and pound. Consistent and constant pressure. Kicking well and chasing well. We scored by growing through a team to creat the space to go around them. When we couldn't get around them we'd roll the ball into the in goal gain a repeat set and going through that same motion again. We'd compete and defend our goal line. Getting numbers in the tackle, reading the plays and stopping the offloads.
These are no longer there in out game. We no longer have the consistency of kicking well and chasing well. Too often are teams gobbling up kicks and making it back to the 30, 40 or even 50 meter line to start there sets. No longer is out goal line defence something to trust. Our outside men can no longer read the play, can't make the right decision on when to jam in and they can't restrict the offload. Our forwards are lazy when the play switches back in field, and it takes 3 or 4 men to bring down that inside man leaving us short out wide.
Our composure and execution inside the opposition 20 is no longer existent. Players are over-running plays, confusing which plays are which, forcing off loads and their handling is terrible. Fifth tackle options have been beyond poor. The intention is sometimes there for a repeat set but the execution is just terrible. Other than that the options are kicks that are too deep or too short.
It's pretty simple to fix basics when you have perfected them once already, just need the consistency and belief to do it.
