If the planning is right — half the battle is won
The first leg of the 72nd Bradby Shield encounter is that much water under the bridge. The difference of five gives reasonable hope to Trinity that all is not lost. The Sunday Times button-holed four prominent rugby personalities for their views on what Royal did right, and where Trinity went wrong. A former Trinity and Sri Lanka captain
Trinity wanted to run ball at the outset. But the interception changed all that. They got their act back later and played with much spirit. They came back at Royal. Trinity could have scored a couple of times. On one occasion after the overlap was formed, the ball was passed to a Royalist. It was a fifty-fifty game. Given dry weather at Pallekele, Trinity should do well.
Ayesh Rajapakse – Royal hooker – 2005, 2006, 2007.
Royal played to their strengths – the forwards and the Rolling Maul. They spread out play; kept it with the forwards. They kept it simple. The Royal three-quarter line lacked experience. Fly half Lennox Calyaneratne did the basics. He gave the ball out to the forwards and also tackled well. Dilshan’s try was the product of individual brilliance. The Coach’s strategy was good. Royal slowed it down. They didn’t allow Trinity to play their own game. Trinity had good ball carriers. They gained 5-10metres each time they ran with the ball.
Trinity has the capacity to come back. Each time Royal scored, they came back and did likewise. A game is won before the match with all the planning. Then its up to the boys to come out and execute those plans. If I were to single out players, I would point to the skipper Nikhil Gunadheera and prop Ayesh Maduranga. Both had a high work-rate. (In lighter vein) Azmeer Fajudeen was in the right place, at the right time!
An ex Sri Lanka player (neither Trinity nor Royal)
Trinity has to open up the game and run away from the Royal forwards. They couldn’t do it because of the bad weather. The entire strategy changed because of the bad weather. Royal enjoyed the conditions. Their forwards like to keep the ball with them. They like to pick and drive, again ground. Trinity must have a plan to control the rolling maul.
Trinity should play according to their plan. Last Saturday, they were drawn into playing according to Royals plan. Trinity enjoyed 70 per cent of possession in the first half. But handling errors and a bit of selfishness undid them. One defender and three attackers. That should lead to a try, but it didn’t. Centre Sheik should learn to draw and pass. You can go through once, but not again and again. A team doesn’t need a big game plan to win a match. Doing the basics well is of the essence.
A Rugby analyst – Trinity
The side with the better game plan won. Royal had planned how to counter Trinity’s strengths. Trinity had more possession and territory, but the Royal defend was up to it. There wasn’t even one movement from Trinity where the ball went down the line. There were no innovations such as grubbers, dummies, scissors by the back division. No Gary Owens! Royal didn’t dominate the set pieces. It was fifty-fifty. Trinity shouldn’t have gone for a six man line out. Throwing to six is riskier than throwing to three.
The best man should have been at three, with the props hoisting him. Trinity can’t go with one plan. They should have a back up plan. Trinity should find an answer to the Rolling Maul. They were pushed back yards, over and over again. The pack must bind and hold their collective strengthen. The Royalists should be pushed laterally, across the touch line.