Dobson says lack of skills hamper progress

Editor

While teams have generally been trying to play a more expansive brand of rugby, the reality is the players don't have the skills to execute it properly.

That is the opinion of Western Province coach John Dobson. While most teams have tried, only the Lions have really succeeded in playing an exciting style of rugby, something other teams are now looking to emulate.

According to Dobson there is a clear intention among teams to play more exciting rugby.

"I think more teams are trying to do it, but I think we fundamentally are hampered by our skill sets at the moment," he said.

"I think there's a genuine will … everybody is holding up internationally the All Blacks and locally the Lions … all the teams are trying. If you're going to play a game with width then your breakdown skills, your passing skills … all those fundamentals I think we're lacking there.

"It's very much a work in progress. You can see people wanting to."

Dobson said the Sharks were the most successful side so far in changing their style.

"The team that has probably made the most significant change this year is the Sharks," he said. "The Bulls were trying last year and were the biggest talking point of last year's Currie Cup … we've sort of gone in between."