Jamie Roberts reckons an Exeter 'weakness' running off 9 can help Racing to Euro glory
Jamie Roberts believes that Wasps’ dismantling of Bristol in last weekend’s Premiership has given Racing 92 a blueprint to help them defeat Exeter in this weekend’s Champions Cup final. Backing his old club to win the decider at Ashton Gate, Roberts claimed what Wasps achieved in their Premiership semi-final highlighted a tactic that Racing could potentially use to great effect against the Chiefs.
In conversation with Dylan Hartley on the latest episode of RugbyPass Offload, Roberts said: “If we look at the way Wasps dismantled Bristol, that is a footprint for Racing to beat Exeter. I mean that in the way that they [Exeter] have this strict pattern of play.
“You kind of know what is coming with Exeter, the way they play off the touchline, the shapes of their forwards as they run off 9, their phase play shape.
“Wasps had done their homework on Bristol. Bristol have a similar shape how they play, you know what’s coming, it’s bloody hard to defend against. They [Wasps] went after they contact area like anything else.
“They went after the contract area and the back row lads from Wasps absolutely cleaned up. If Racing are really studious, they will see weaknesses in the shapes Exeter run off 9, especially their forwards.
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“Often they are a bit short at those first rucks. I just think they have an opportunity there and if Exeter aren’t careful their game plan could unravel. But here’s me, watch Exeter now put 40 on them.”
Young Jack Maunder has become the first-choice Exeter No9 in recent months in the wake of Nic White’s return to Australia, and Hartley backed up Roberts’ assessment about shape. “I’m with you there, all these teams have really good shape. Bristol have it, Exeter have it, Northampton I experienced that. It all relies on speed of ball.
“You can have perfect shape but if the contact area is slowed down it basically gives defensive lines time to reconnect and create width to match that sort of attacking width. If Exeter can generate quick ball their attack and shape become effective, but basically the contact area, slowing ball speed, that will be crucial.”
Roberts responded: “Racing will go after Exeter. Bath couldn’t do it. And the other thing Bath struggled with is they just didn’t have that punch in the wider channels. When they got the ball to width they were so far behind the gain line they never crossed it in the wider channels.
“They needed to flatten up in those wider channels. They had the skills to get the ball there and Exeter are happy for you to go there because they will back their push defence but there are opportunities there and with the likes of (Virimi) Vakatawa, (Simon) Zebo, (Juan) Imhoff in those wider channels they could cause far more problems than what Bath caused.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments