Bryn Hall

That was a big part of maybe stunting that ability to be able to get around the Crusaders but yeah I think just very, not predictable but they probably had a mindset I think trying to go through the front door and I guess with those stats that I touched on around the Crusaders being operated at 94%, being a lot more dominant in those tackles even though it is a little bit easier being tighter and not a lot of animation and variety but it seemed like it must have been a plough dripper, like they were very very tight in their carries.

34% of the game was inside the Blues 22 and the Crusaders having 12 entries and the Blues only really having 5.

So those are some pretty big numbers of where the game was played and I think any time you're in that 5 or less when it comes to being entries in the 22 you probably weren't in the positions of the field where you wanted to be.

yeah that's a credit to the Crusaders and I think you look at the line out as well probably was a little bit wonky in terms of the percentage of you know 71% for the Blues but yeah I think at the same time the Crusaders attack was a lot better and been able to score tries and you know Leicester was it was a big part of that you know I think the variety that he did show that he did show you look at that that George Bauer first try those little touches that you that is required of a seven you know Leicester was able to do that the kick in behind and I know that

Sam Nock was in position but being able to have that skill set to be able to try and do that in the attacking structures with what we kind of talked to Aaron Jipper, trying to bring him in an array of skills of what Leicester's skill set is and then I think like we actually said in our WhatsApp group that when he did go into the flank, into the centres, he's able then to go to his natural game with what we saw and being able to use that attacking kick even through the middle of the ruck but yeah I think the variety of what we saw with Leicester

I definitely do feel the Crusaders are really trying to use his array of skills with him being at seven and I guess when he does move to his traditional outside back row as well.

It does seem that he does have a very roving kind of role with where he is kind of put into the attack.

Now I think it's more like when he is at that seven role, he's on the side of a scrum or if he's in that line out role, he's in that kind of bunter role or he's been able to carry off the line out even though he would be able to do it from the midfield.

I just think it's a good balance.

With whatever position he is playing, I think he does give himself more opportunities, I think, in the breakdown area.

He does, you know, he got two steals on the weekend, but probably being in the grunt work and having opportunities to do that with what we see with like a Duplicy Creafy who floats in and around in the middle of the third in that number seven position.

But again, he does that pretty much in the midfield as well.

So to answer your question, Jipper, I don't mind really.

either if i'm being honest because it just seems like he does kind of rove and that crusaders um defense will even attack and he's just kind of does where he was what he wants

For example, in the line-up, if it's a 57, you've got a five-man in the flanker, bent in on the ball, grabbing the ball to fake for like a more, but then going out towards the kind of transition area is what we probably see in a lot of specials, especially close to the 22, you see that kind of bunter play.

So it's more so the seven going in for a fake drive, bringing the ball out and then going into that transition area.

the numbers are very very similar in what they do for their respective teams very similar to Leicester in terms of the the breakdown area and being able to influence through the breakdown or just just in general with his ball carriers like man I had Leicester as my play of the week but then I was watching Jimmy and the way that he was playing and that's like it's almost changed my decision around with how he was playing because

He's just so influential for that Highlanders team and you look at his ball carries and at the international level that's really important to be able to get over their bandage line and he's able to do that against forwards and then against backs on the edge so that tight area is very very good for Jimmy.

And then his kicking ability, he's able to do that through an attacking array of kicks, being able to kick long.

And then I think also defensively around the breakdown, like his influence in that Highlanders game, and we'll probably touch on that against the Waratahs, but he's probably one of the reasons of why they won that game.