Lack of Repeat Sets in First Half Prove too Costly for Kiwis

By Gary Roberts RLCM

The pressure that is created by an attacking team having a repeat set is how positive field position can be created.

A repeat set can take a team out of their own half by receiving a 'piggy back' set from a penalty.

This will normally allow the attack to start their next play in the oppositions half. Once in this field position, pressure must be created on the next five plays that give a result in one of three options.

The obvious first option is a try to be scored by the attacking team.

If that cannot be achieved the second option is to kick the ball into the oppositions in-goal area and hopeful trap the ball receiver in that area and to receive the ball from an opposition drop kick.

The third option is to turn the ball over to the opposition in a corner and attempt to keep them confined in their own 'red zone' limiting the area of where their kick will land after the 5th play.

Simple stuff.nothing new there.

Well, that was the problem that the Kiwis had at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night during the first half.

They were unable to create the constant pressure required to gain an advantage by a positive restart in Australia's half.

The theme of what was going to unfold in the second half was laid by the method the Australians were going about their business in the first half and the lack of effective last play kicking by New Zealand.

From the lack of their effective kicking the Kiwis only had two repeat sets in the first half.

Repeat set number one was after they scored a fluky try after a poor first play pass by Hunt on Australia Play 8. They received the ball back from the preceding Australian kick off.

Repeat set number two was after they received a penalty on NZ Play 13. They kicked a penalty goal and received the ball back from the preceding Australian kick off.

So with, Australia's defence limiting the Kiwis go forward, by positive ball control, this allowed Australia to have better positive field position for their 5th play options and all of this happened after the Kiwis early brutal defence began to lessen after their first 15-minute containment of the Australians.

The above four points gave Australia a lead of 14 to 6 at halftime, but it also gave them the platform to understand the Kiwis style of play and the realisation that patience was only needed in the second half before the game would swing completely their way, which it overwhelming did in the second half.

In summary the Kiwis were not allowed to gain positive field position, thus not allowing them to create possible repeat sets in Australia's half and with Johns and Lockyer playing together it was only a matter of time before Australia put the match out of the Kiwis reach.

Australia 50 defeated New Zealand 12
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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