ANDY ROBINSON Q & A REPORT

An informative session in which Andy Robinson confessed that he had never been offside in his entire career.

Andy Robinson’s Q & A session was a big success, well attended, open and informative.  Something of a return to the style of Richard Hill’s tenure.  What is it with these B**h people?

So, what was covered?  Let’s get the penalty kicking issue out of the way first.  As I think we had all guessed, Andy has decided that penalty kicks at goal have not, so far, been a feature of our game in order to test attacking tactics.  In particular his point is that when attacking a well drilled defence within ten metres of their line, the opposition will always be prepared and we have to learn how to break down these organised defences.  A secondary point is that going for tries rather than penalty points retains possession and, as we should all know, rugby is a game of territory and possession.  He pointed out that in all our games with have dominated the territory and possession stats.  He acknowledged that this has not always been reflected on the scoreboard, when we have been held up over the line several times and, more importantly, that our mauling is not up to standard.

Speaking of standards, he commented that the recruitment of what some described as older players was a deliberate move in order to bring younger players on.  Specifically, Dwayne Peel was cited as an example of an experienced player at the highest level who can use his experience to help our younger scrum-halves develop as players.  The question in this area did prompt some mention of players leaving “why would someone want to stay on as a third choice instead of playing?”.  This was linked with our academy system (which he believes is struggling because of the surrounding academies of B**h, Exeter and Gloucester) and suggests, to me at least, that some players who’ve been with us since their academy days may well be on their way out.  These players have already been spoken with.  It is a sad aspect of professional rugby, but I guess you can see the point for both player and club.  I think what we don’t want to see are players disappearing in mysterious circumstances, as has happened before.

In terms of standards of play he believes that we are only functioning at Championship level.  However, he expects us to move onto a higher level of play, peaking for the Play-Offs.  He did pose the question as to, if we get there, do we take the home leg of the game first rather than the more common approach of away leg first.  His attitude was that there was something to be said for playing at home first and handing the opposition a tanking and putting the pressure on them at their home!  A bold decision.

Player recruitment is not over.  However, there is one young player probably coming in within the next week who will be available this season.  All other recruitment is for next season.  He acknowledges that Bristol will be linked with almost every player who is available because of our acknowledged ambition to play at the highest level and the wealth of our owner.  This can, naturally, be used by agents in negotiating with current employers and other interested clubs.  He also confessed that he simply talks to a lot of people because he is interested in rugby.  For example, he has spoken recently to Brad Thorn, and you could easily make a rumour out of that.  He was asked; if he could recruit any one player who it would be and he named Richie McCaw.  Let’s see that rumour run.  Contrary to rumour neither Peel nor Perenise had been recruited on the basis of paying over the odds, both had recieved larger offers elsewhere, but chose Bristol.

Asked about the choice to adopt the blitz defence his answer was that he chose it because he had never coached it and the players hadn’t used it!  Seemingly a paradox, but his point was that all his team are technical coaches and need to be stretched themselves, just as players do.  Sean Holley obviously has used the system to good effect, and Andy is excited about the way it is working despite some issues when it has been executed poorly.  Overall, our strategy of defence and attack was questioned because no one else has adopted it.  Andy felt that Australia play in similar style as do the Queensland Reds, so it isn’t as if we are attempting something radical that no other side will utilise.

Looking at the fitness of players, it looks likely that the current injured list will be available by the end of February.  He singled out Jack Wallace as an exciting player for us to look out for.  The absence of Fautua Otto was mentioned and is down to injury affecting his performance and not that he is out of favour, as such.  He also praised Ben Mosses as the sort of passing inside centre who would give us a real cutting edge in mid-field taking a role similar to that of Will Greenwood operating outside Jonny Wilkinson.  If that works half as well for us we should see some good things.

A good evening that I haven’t fully described, because my notebook disappeared somewhere in the car and I had to work from memory.  Sorry about that.