How I understand some relationships between attack & defence & effort currently:
1. Attack is built on strategy and creativity. Individual skills dominate. Defence on team structures and attitudes.Weak links are the key.
2. Hitups allow the attack to get a breather, so effort is reduced and spasmodic. And creativity needs a cool, still mind, with too much effort getting in the way.
3. In defence, everyone in the straight line moves up and back every single play. Aerobic fitness is challenged - and effort is needed to keep with the pace.
4. Very different skills and strategies in attack and defence (gives the need for specialist coaches). But defence and attack successes are strongly interconnected. Put the opposition defence under pressure and they lose the energy, possession and position for their set. Nullify the opposition attack and we get a leg-up for our set. This is why teams with better attacks usually have better defences, and vice versa.
