Aviva Premiership - Round 3 Preview

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Friday 20th September

19:45   Worcester Warriors v Harlequins   (BT Sport)
The BT cameras make their first visit to Sixways as we start the weekend with a vital match for both teams. In last weeks preview I talked about Worcester's inability to turn pressure into points, which according to independent observers was very true of their efforts against London Irish last week. Having had much of the territory, Warriors had the lead as the final minutes approached, but a late penalty saw Irish sneak a win and consign Worcester to two defeats in a row. They will need to improve to get anything from a fired up Harlequins side, who may feel they were unlucky in the rain last week. However Evans goal kicking percentages have been in decline for over a year, so it should have been no surprise that his frailties appeared. He has been an incredible performer for the former champions, but perhaps the decline is permanent? Warriors will have to dominate the Quins pack, and even if they achieve that, can they really score enough points. I cannot see it, so Quins should be favourites.



20:00 Sale Sharks v London Wasps
Sale will have been shocked by the comeback from the Falcons last week. Hold on for the win and they could have approached this match with confidence and feeling comfortable. As it is they will be feeling nervy and the pressure will mount as matchday approaches. Steve diamond will be working the team hard, and we can expect them to be really fired up come Friday.
Wasps have had some eventful Friday night trips to the North-West. thankfully we are unlikely to see a repeat of a few seasons ago when they refused to get off the coach, as the playing surface at the City of Salford AJ Bell Satdium is far superior to that at Stockport. Having suffered two very narrow losses, Wasps will be looking to open their win account - but will need an improved showing from their pack.




Saturday 21st September

15:00 Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons
Leicester host the Leicester Development Squad Falcons in their first non-televised match of the season. If there is ever a time for Dean Richards to lead his men to a victory at Welford Rd, this is it. Bereft of half a team due to injury and international duty Tigers will not often look so weak. However they should still be far to strong for a brave but limited Falcons side. Tigers fans will be crossing their fingers in hope (but not expectation) that Toby Flood is ready to lead his team out - we need him fit, far more so than the other missing faces. Play as they did in the second half last week, and I shall be driving home a happy man.
Falcons secured a fantastic comeback victory last weekend, but surely two away wins on the bounce is too much to expect. They did win the A league fisture earlier this week though, so who knows. Might Deano rest some key players this week, in preparation for the home tie in Round 4 with a struggling Gloucester?


15:00 London Irish v Exeter Chiefs
Some stout defending allied to a couple of flashes of inspiration saw London Irish win last weekend. They will be full of confidence and looking forward to the Chiefs visit. You feel that for this match though they will really need to keep all 15 players on the pitch. Chris Hala'ufia is a massive player to them, but he has to stop the silliness that attracts referee's ire.
Exeter were seriously under par in Round 1, and scraped over the winning line in Round 2. They will need to improve further if they are to head back down the M4/M5 with the vistory their fans would have pencilled in at the start of the season


15:15 Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints (BT Sport)
Apparently woeful in Round 1, Gloucester were undone by Nick Wood's moment of madness in Round 2. That they could get to half-time with a lead says a lot about Gloucester's spirit (and something about Sarries conservatism). However, rooted to the bottom of the table, things do not get any easier with the visit of an on-song Saints team. Gloucester will need to play right up to their potential if they are to stand a chance.
Saints have always had a strong pack, but they seem to have some real invention in the backs too. Often slated, Stephen Myler seems to be enjoying both the arm chair ride and the talent he can use outside him. The skills of Foden and George Pisis, nicely complement the power and pace of North and Burrell.



Sunday 22nd September

14:00 Saracens v Bath Rugby (BT Sport)
Apparently this match is a Play-off Final rehearsal!!!  While not impossible, making such predictions so early, and in Bath's case rather flimsy evidence, is a risky business. Having said that it is a tantalising fixture which should tell us a lot about just how solid Baths aspiration to return to the top of English rugby actually is. This match will be decided primarily up front. Bath will expect to have the upper hand at scrum time, with Sarries looking to dominate the lineout and more crucially the breakdown. Despite their try count, Sarries backs have looked a little rusty - and struggled to score against Gloucester until their opponents were knackered. Owen Farrell, though, is continuing to stand much flatter and direct the Sarries in a way that bodes well for England.
With Eastmond still likely to be injured, Henson has to be better than he has in his two appearances to date. Bath have potential, but Sarries should win by more than a score.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

SirBurger wrote:I think Nowell is injured..

He is indeed Sir Burger, a knee injury which may require surgery.  Naqelevuki still not 100% with his knees either, Mitchell tore a muscle in his upper arm in the Braves match on Monday, Dave Ewers tweaked a hamstring in training, and one or two others are still out as well.  Really hoping that the Chiefs front 5 can out-muscle their opponents and give the backs a decent set-piece platform

Am interested to see how Sam Hill goes for you guys. Lot's of people suggestion he is the long term solution at 12 for England.

45 mins gone in the Quins game and its Wuss 6 Harlequins 27 with converted tries to Care, Marler and Buchanan.

From what I've read the Quins pack has made mincemeat of Wuss with a try and a yellow from mauls alone. Marler has shone in the tight and loose and even stepped some opposition and Guest is linking and running incredibly with Care who's tearing it up as well.

In writing that we've just nailed the TBP with a try converted from Mike Brown.

Chris Pennell about the only bright light for Worcester tonight. Wuss have been absolutely dire and Dean Ryan must be glad it took them as long as it did to receive a yellow. Joe Marler might consider himself lucky not to pick up a card for a trip early doors though, that was pretty moronic and gifted Worcester 3 points from a nothing position.

Quins offloading game was sublime at times in the first half, they'll be happy that their more positive play is back on display after a lukewarm start to the season.

Not sure about Guest there Yappy. He blew a 3 on 2 in the first half because of a hesitant step, he's gone to ground a touch easy and looked decidedly outclassed by Easter who played out of his skin.

I wonder if it will be refs fault in Dean Ryan's opinion this week!!!

Considering he sin binned a Quins player and gave them a penalty try. Quins have emptied their bench and taken all momentum out of their performance.

4 tries achieved I guess the boys are looking forward to getting back on the bus now.

Also we can't not bring on subs when the score line is what it is, its then just up to them to keep momentum going. No point playing starters for the full 80 when mission is accomplished.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Considering he sin binned a Quins player and gave them a penalty try. Quins have emptied their bench and taken all momentum out of their performance.

Should be pointed out that the penalty try came from a scrum where we had a 21 yr old TH playing LH. Other than that, a pretty decent performance.

Worryingly a lot of people still saying that our centres create nothing. Time to bring in Hopper?

Lowe did alright, I thought it was Casson that was anonymous. I think that's an area Quins might wish they had invested in during the summer. Can young Sloan slot in there? Certainly JTH didn't pose much of a threat last season and with Casson's previous injury woes a centre may have been a good option.

If Worcester do go down then their 12, Matavasi (sp), would be a good shout as he showed some good touches in attack again and in the Quins system could flourish.

Speaking of the Wuss midfield they looked a lot better once Clarke came on, they need his experience in that midfield going forward.

JTH is out until the new year so we'll see Casson getting a much better run of games then he has before. hopefully he'll grow into the role but at the moment he is mainly there defending and just moving the ball along. Worth noting that in the later stages of lady season he was showing a lot more so there's def more to come.

I think Sloans probably a bit too raw for AP level games. If we need another 12 I'm guessing Botica will slot in there

Sale get a good win against Wasps too. It very much looks like the fall guys are going to be Worcester this year. It leaves a bad taste the way they've been picked clean by other AP clubs, but that is the hardball world we live in I suppose.

Worcester have suffered no more with having players picked up from them by bigger clubs than Irish or Falcons.

cipriani won the game for sale apparently, seems like he has one great performance every 6 months!

Cumbrian wrote:Sale get a good win against Wasps too.  It very much looks like the fall guys are going to be Worcester this year.  It leaves a bad taste the way they've been picked clean by other AP clubs,  but that is the hardball world we live in I suppose.

Wuss have 4 ex Quins, Murray at Prop, Joe Carlisle, the old Exeter 10, Hodgson at 9. Its hardly like they don't have some quality in there.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Worcester have suffered no more with having players picked up from them by bigger clubs than Irish or Falcons.

Oh I know and I've had good moan abou t that in the past too, I have obviosly been to restrained and need to whie louder!

With respect to the ex Quins at Wuss, they are in my opinion a drop in quality from the players they have lost.

Interesting to hear Diamond after the game saying Cipriani needed to show consistency in performance which is true but must be a bit gutting for Cipriani after a man of the match performance. Sounds like Cips is gonna get the kick up the backside he needs whether he wants it or not.

Tigers - Falcons sounds good

3 weeks in and the scrum is still a mess.

Good point, it was in really good shape last season, and the 5 before that...

nathan, are you Cockerill?

ChequeredJersey wrote: nathan, are you Cockerill?

lol, are you not watching the saints/glous match?

nathan wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote: nathan, are you Cockerill?

lol, are you not watching the saints/glous match?

Nah, listening to Tigers- Falcons

ChequeredJersey wrote:

nathan wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote: nathan, are you Cockerill?

lol, are you not watching the saints/glous match?

Nah, listening to Tigers- Falcons

ah cool,

Hows the match going?

Tigers breaking tackles at will, 12-3, 2 tries for Tigers, looks like a BP win to me

hmmm, looked like trinder was on his knee's when stealing that ball.

17-6 tigers at half time

2 reset scrums....

why is cowan always looking for a fight!

Is Burns on crack? Is Robshaw captaining Gloucester? Some of the most bizarre kicking decisions of all time...

ChequeredJersey wrote:Is Burns on crack? Is Robshaw captaining Gloucester? Some of the most bizarre kicking decisions of all time...

Cowan makes me laugh, i do wonder if he's a happy man out of rugby lol

31-6... Another heavy defeat...

refs screwed saints there, that wasn't forward!

brilliant try, havent seen that from north that season yet.

one last effort from the refs to screw over sainsts!

lol

dont normally say this, but i feel sorry for you saints fans

It's shocking they weren't pulled on offside for last kick off and no way Fox could have missed the ball popping out the back. Pretty shocking really.

kind of ruined the match for us neutrals, that last try by saints deserved to be the match winner.

are Glous actually walking around the pitch?

Phew



Still not clicking  

nathan wrote:are Glous actually walking around the pitch?

Terrible decision. Touchline appeals for gross refereeing mistakes are really needed pdq.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

nathan wrote:are Glous actually walking around the pitch?

Terrible decision. Touchline appeals for gross refereeing mistakes are really needed pdq.

It looked fine from where I was  

Given the rather blatant offside that wasn't spotted before Elliott's try these things have a way of equaling themselves out, but it was a wonderful irony that our scrum won the game!

I've tried not to read the Saints vs Glaws game posts as I've got it recorded. Great result for Tigers, nice 5 pointer and a valuable run out for the returning Lions. Good debut for Scully and Gibson by the sounds if it as well. Looking forward to seeing those highlights.

HongKongCherry wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

nathan wrote:are Glous actually walking around the pitch?

Terrible decision. Touchline appeals for gross refereeing mistakes are really needed pdq.

It looked fine from where I was  

Given the rather blatant offside that wasn't spotted before Elliott's try these things have a way of equaling themselves out, but it was a wonderful irony that our scrum won the game!

Sorry HKC, but there was a couple of big errors at the end. The ref was rubbish for both teams but the ending will stick out for most.

Absolutely gutted with that result today. For 60 minutes we played some really good rugby and got ourselves into a 23-12 lead. To lose from there is tough to take. Credit to the Chiefs, they managed the game in the final quarter better than we did. Lots of positives to take from the game, but also some negatives.

+ Scrum went well for the most part.
+ Sheridan and Lewington were both excellent.
+ We played good running rugby

- Topsy injured in the warm up and Halani with what looks like a season ending achilles injury.
- Lineout was poor.
- Game management in the final quarter was missing.

nathan wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

nathan wrote:are Glous actually walking around the pitch?

Terrible decision. Touchline appeals for gross refereeing mistakes are really needed pdq.

It looked fine from where I was  

Given the rather blatant offside that wasn't spotted before Elliott's try these things have a way of equaling themselves out, but it was a wonderful irony that our scrum won the game!

Sorry HKC, but there was a couple of big errors at the end. The ref was rubbish for both teams but the ending will stick out for most.

I do agree, which is a shame as Fox had a largely good game. A loss for Glaws would have been very difficult to take given the number of scoring opportunities we butchered, but at this stage I'll take a win anyway I can get it!!

HongKongCherry wrote:

nathan wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

nathan wrote:are Glous actually walking around the pitch?

Terrible decision. Touchline appeals for gross refereeing mistakes are really needed pdq.

It looked fine from where I was  

Given the rather blatant offside that wasn't spotted before Elliott's try these things have a way of equaling themselves out, but it was a wonderful irony that our scrum won the game!

Sorry HKC, but there was a couple of big errors at the end. The ref was rubbish for both teams but the ending will stick out for most.

I do agree, which is a shame as Fox had a largely good game.  A loss for Glaws would have been very difficult to take given the number of scoring opportunities we butchered, but at this stage I'll take a win anyway I can get it!!

i'd be the exact same if it were Tigers playing and won!

I am really sorry GF, Cumbrian, TrailApe and the other Falcon's fan I have forgotten - but your boys were dismal today. The lady falcon's fan behind me summed it up when she stated "We haven't come to play, just limit the damage".

Rob Vickers and James Fitzpatrick best sum up the match. Vickers overthrew the first lineout - then underthrew the next 3 - all 4 lost. Falcons had 3 or 4 attacking lineouts in the Tigers 22, and lost them all.
Fitzpatrick dropped every pass that came his way, and seemed to try and rough up Flood at every opportunity. This culminated in the Bowden try when instead of marking his man, he hit Flood high and late. Toby got a bit irate and there was a shoving match. Rose spoke to Toby as he prepared for the conversion, then after the kick waved a yellow in the Falcons direction. Brookes had his marching orders - but i will have to check the replays to see if this was wrong id.
the falcons scrum went well for the first 46 minutes.


As to Tigers - Scully and Mulipola looked out of their depth. Flood was a touch rusty but played with verve and ambition (made any number of half breaks but Bowden was on a different wavelength). YoungsB had a very good game, spinning the ball quickly when needed, directing the forwards when ball was slow. Manu had a great first half, but seemed to lack fitness in the second. He created the second try with pace and power, while deliverung Scully the 3rd try with a well timed pass. Towards the end he seemed to be suffering cramp and grabbed his calf after clearing the ball from under his posts. He went off clutching his shoulder with 2 minutes to go after making a try saving tackle on Alex Tait (I think). Tait was the one bright spark for Falcons.

Concern for Manu there but I suspect that's not a massiv surprise given he's been injured since before the first Lions test.

What was wrong with Mulipola and Scully?