Leeds Tykes v Edinburgh Gunners: Blackadder II?

By Oopnorth on 14/1/2004
January 14 2004

No Todd won't be playing as he has a worse shoulder injury than feared but pardon me for just wanting to write the headline. The Tykes need a cunning plan after a close but fruitless encounter at Meadowbank last week, and it is called keep possession of the ball and don't drop it or knock on.

Despite the disappointment of the second half performance in Scotland there is every reason for the Tykes to be optimistic about the rematch in Leeds. The Tykes pack shaded the battle for possession and territory, and showed up well in the scrum and stole some line out ball.

Should the game plan change ? Not much in terms of the overall strategy. Edinburgh have consistent strengths and weaknesses. They are quick around the park and can combine well to pose a great threat on the counter, so if you plan to kick against them it must be done well. The Tykes showed that the Edinburgh scrum held no fears, and Palmer and Murphy won the overall line out battle, so it is upto the half backs and three-quarters to find the cutting edge that mostly deserted them in the second half at Meadowbank.

It is very clear what the Tykes have to do to progress any further and it is simply win the next three games with at least two bonus points for tries. Toulouse look favourites to win the group and the issue is can the Tykes catch the Gunners ? That has to start with a good win against them. If that happens and the Gunners lose at Toulouse and only score a 4 point win against the Ospreys that would leave them on 17 points. To overhaul them Tykes must also beat Toulouse and the Ospreys, and two four try performances from the three games would put them on 18 points.

At the end of the game last week Tom Palmer kept the team on the pitch in a huddle and no doubt made these very points. Whatever happens the next two weeks are going to see some mighty action at Headingley, and it is upto the whole Club - the team and supporters to front up and go for it, or Baldrick will indeed be passing us the turnip.