Key tips Leeds to bounce back
Leeds director of rugby Andy Key is tipping his side to bounce back in emphatic fashion after an opening day loss to Bath.
Leeds lost their first game of the season 16-32 and made a number of unforced errors during the game that presented Bath with chances to score. However, Key says there is no reason to panic just yet and the side still has time to work hard on weaknesses.
The longer Leeds goes without a win on the board then the more likely it will be that nerves and anxiety creep in and spread all over the club. This is something that Leeds cannot allow to happen because of the importance now linked with staying in the Premiership.
There are many areas that Leeds can work on and get better at based on their first game with Bath. However, they need to make calculated and planned decisions because Leeds' fate will be sealed over the next nine months.
Things to work on
Leeds need to work on many areas. There were far too many unforced errors during the game with Bath. Poor handling of the ball and poor positioning allowed Bath to seize upon nearly every mistake that Leeds made.
The players have to hurry the opposition and fight for the ball more when the side is out of possession. This means simply getting stuck in and creating some chaos. If a side is allowed to keep the ball then they can be openly creative and will inevitably score at some point during an attack.
Passing needs to get better as there were too many short and long passes going into the hands of a Bath player and not a Leeds player. This is a simple point to work on but it is vitally important if Leeds are to have a bigger chance of winning a rugby match.
Key said: "We have lessons to be learnt about being a top four side and what that's about. But we will get ourselves back into the right shape this week and go to Gloucester in a more positive mood. We have to look after the ball much more and, like last season, we were not finishing off the opportunities we created."
No need to panic
There is no need to panic just yet because the Premiership season is very long and there is plenty of time to try and change things around. A lot of coaches have traditionally said that the first game of the season is more about seeing where a club is as opposed to the importance of the result.
Leeds has to make calm and calculated decisions based on the way they play in their opening matches. If it quickly becomes apparent that the team is not good enough to beat the better sides then the club can pick certain matches, which can be focused on for all-out wins.
Key added: "They were just much more clinical than us at the vital times and we need to work on that. I'm sure there are a lot of sides this weekends having a close look at themselves. Maybe they had good pre-seasons and their game wasn't a reflection of what pre-season was, and that's us."
Betting advice
Be a little wary of backing Leeds for now and see how the team bounces back in their next game against Gloucester. If the side plays positively then don't be afraid to have a punt on Leeds breaking the top four by the end of the season. However, they are making basic errors and this could ultimately be the thing that holds the team back.
Tags: