Alex Twal #206

Twal is a worker.i certainly would not describe him as either a plodder or an impact player.He is decent depth but will not terrify the opposition while he is on the field.
At this stage i see Seyfarth as a better prospect
He’s less consistent at this point - but looks far more dangerous on both sides of the ball…
And brings a little bit of fire and passion for the game
 
Alex fulfils his role, however limited that may be.

WT are not doing either him or themselves favours by using him in a short minutes role that suits neither. Worse still, not utilising him properly diminishes the impact of those with capabilities and we run out of interchanges like Friday night.

As a result and based on form in that match, not being able to bring Liddle back on may well have been the difference that cost a win. I was an advocate for Simpkin to be used in rotating the nine, but he deserved to be hooked and you cannot carry a second one if you don't utilise your only middle that can allow it properly.
 
I remember seeing him play for Lebanon in the 2017 World Cup and thinking he was going to be a great player. Made 50 tackles without missing any and made decent metres. He's gone backwards over the last two years.
 
I don't understand his use as a 20-30 minute battering ram.

Different people have different uses in the team. I don't want Luciano or Tuilagi or Stefano to make 50 tackles a game. You want them to get back to the defensive line but guys like Tamou, Twal and Peachey need to tell them, don't worry if you don't get back the 10, I will cover you. Save your energy for attack. We seem to be giving the wrong people the wrong chores.

That's not to say Twal is faultless. The two kick returns he made from drop outs were the softest I have seen in my life. The first one I thought he was injured. He needs to put his body on the line in attack. He reminds me a little of Boyd Cordner in his running technique (upright, slightly leaning in), but Boyd ran with a lot more purpose, kept his legs pumping and had an offload.

We have the slowest and least talented team but Twal epitomises what's wrong with this club. We are just not smart enough to use people's strengths and definitely not good at hiding weaknesses.
 
Does anyone remember when he first came on to the scene he had a brilliant offload and was far more assured and confident playing the ball and trying things out keeping the defence guessing....Am i making that up...?

Last few years we've seemed to castrate him and just use him as a ball carrier that just runs straight and nothing else...he barely bends the line or does anything of note any more.
 
Just on the offloads - he has 17 in his career (92 games). As a comparison Jarrod Wallace who can't make the Titans 17 had 35 last season.

I'm not sure if he has been told he isn't allowed to pass - it really makes him such an easy target for the other teams defence.
 
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