Watching Leeds playing Cornish Pirates yesterday I realised that a number of features which have dogged us all season were missing. This included unforced errors such as knock-ons and turnovers. Our backs looked likely to score (and did - often). Everyone was playing in position (at the start of the game)
Why is this, I wondered? Certainly seeing Tommy Bell at fly-half made his season at fullback seem like a weird experiment & left me thinking that DE had gotten it seriously wrong playing him at 15.
As for the lack of errors has the weight of expectation weighed so heavily on the players all season that once promotion was lost they could relax and play proper rugby? Well that is what it looked like to me.
There has been much talk of Diccon's performance this season. He is now alluding to mistakes made and the lessons that must be learned from them. I hope he means his own mistakes & lessons. Next season he must do better in that the teams that he puts out each week must do better. Mid table will not get us into the play-offs next time. Players that are joining us are all his choices. This last season has been a difficult one for all of us. Next year must be better.
