Aviva Premiership Round 14(?)

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Thought i'd give it a go this week folks

Friday 14th February 2014 Aviva Premiership
Sale v Saracens 19:45
Saturday 15th February 2014Aviva Premiership
Harlequins v Newcastle 15:00
London Wasps v London Irish 15:00
Northampton v Worcester 15:00
Exeter v Bath 15:15
Sunday 16th February 2014Aviva Premiership
Leicester v Gloucester 14:00

Aviva Premiership
Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Bonus Pts Points
1 Northampton 13 11 1 1 338 185 5 51
2 Saracens 13 11 0 2 375 193 6 50
3 Bath 13 9 1 3 286 207 2 40
4 Harlequins 13 8 0 5 238 181 4 36
5 Leicester 13 7 2 4 283 270 4 36
6 Sale 13 7 0 6 237 235 6 34
7 London Wasps 13 6 0 7 246 245 8 32
8 Exeter 13 6 0 7 245 240 5 29
9 Gloucester 13 4 0 9 228 309 6 22
10 London Irish 13 4 0 9 213 265 5 21
11 Newcastle 13 3 0 10 107 276 2 14
12 Worcester 13 0 0 13 150 340 4 4

Sale v Saracens
After last weeks shock loss at home Sarries will be in a grim mood. Sale have been on an upward curve of late but Saracens will travel North with only one aim, victory at all costs. I don't think it'll be pretty but expect Sarries big names to step it up this weekend, Hodgson to have a good game and the visitors to win it ugly. Sarries by 5

Harlequins v Newcastle
Quins snuck a win at home against Wasps last week and will know they need a better performance this week. Falcons have looked pretty abject so far and are fortunate that others have turned out even worse. This game could be terrible to watch if Quins don't spark, but I expect them to and to run out comfy winners. Quins by 12

London Wasps v London Irish
Irish got the win of the round last weekend against Saracens. Within that performance they took any chance for points on offer and defended valiently. Wasps as well played a very good game away at Quins before falling in the final minute. If the weather holds then this could be a very entertaining game with home advantage just edging Wasps. Wasps by 2

Northampton v Worcester
Newcastle's new best friends will be hoping to salvage anything from a formidable trip to Franklins Garden's this weekend. Saints even with some key call ups are a colossal team and Worcester have been dire this season although last weekends close loss at Tigers was their best performance so far. I don't think they'll be getting that maiden win on Sat. Saints by 15 with the bp

Exeter v Bath
Exeter will feel they let themselves down last weekend when they lost to Northampton. Bath on the other hand had a fairly comfy win over Newcastle. The away team are missing a few due to injuries but should still have the pack to pressure Exeter. Chiefs will be smarting after their loss though and I expect a very physical performance from them to get the win. Exeter by 5.

Leicester v Gloucester
This is usually a quality game to watch for neutral's but so far both teams have been in terrible form. Glos can't seem to figure out how to mix forwards and backs while Tigers looked uncharacteristically clueless against Worcester last weekend. I expect the home teams pack to dominate this game and grind out a horrible win in poor conditions, with Leicester's marquee player P. Try getting on the score sheet again. Tigers by 10.

A bright, crisp day here in Leicestershire. Hint of wind but the nicest day of the year so far. Should be conducive to some good rugby. Wish the conditions were like this yesterday when I played in a gale, rain and a porridge of a pitch.

Tigers need to pull their fingers out and put in a performance in. This is one of out strongest team sheets this season, no excuses it must be a win at home.

HongKongCherry wrote:King, Burns being on the bench is a good thing; he has been woefully out of form since October so deserves to be dropped.

Hello HKC,

I thought he had a good game against Perpignan before the Saxons nonsense where the weather and coaching were competitively awful.

I think its more a question of protecting your assets for the rest of the season as I could see the pressure would be on him from both sides. This way he can come off the bench and lead the team to the win!

Seriously I just want both teams to turn up and play quality rugby, there's so much going on in our game that occasionally its worth remembering what its all about.

It's a good looking side Sam, they should be looking to lay down a marker and get the ball rolling for when the final few cogs come back into the machine.

agh, we're so frustrating to watch.we're nearly really good, but just missing that extra 10%

its nice to watch the rugby with a bit of sun

Glaws are coming up very quickly and very close to the offside line. That's putting lots of pressure on our power game but It's putting a lot of pressure on their pace players to cover the gaps it is leaving out wide.

Tigers accuracy in the Glaws 22 has been poor. Luckily we're on top at the scrum and that is tempering the damage from the knock ons.

this ref is Poopie, clearly there were glous legs on the ball all he kept saying was its his own player. errrr it wasnt you plum.

3/3 at the half......so whose going to offer us the little bit of quality that will win the game? Goneva perhaps, maybe Trinder or Sharples, or will Burns come on to take the day?

One things for sure, its a scrappy game and everyone looks knackered, too tired to think what they're supposed to be doing......

wonder if we'll see willams on at 60, flood has been a bit rudderless

straight off his feet

something is really wrong with Flood

nice worked try by Glous there. the ref is still awful though

Nicely taken try by Glaws. Tigers looking decidedly unstable at the minute. Lots of mistakes and little composure.

nathan wrote:something is really wrong with Flood

Lancaster....England...France....heads gone...

did the ref just say dont slip? lol

oh dear, how much more do the players want to go straight off their feet....

Since when does in at the side not mean a penalty? Glaws intensity is well up but Tigers look knackered.

i thought crawling on your hands was deemed off your feet?

formerly known as Sam wrote:Since when does in at the side not mean a penalty? Glaws intensity is well up but Tigers look knackered.

apparently it does when your the tigers

Enjoying the game. Last pen for pulling in the 9 was wrong and leads to a try but its entertaining as a neutral as a game. Glaws look like they have more attacking threat overall but struggling for enough ball

The a cracking counterattack to make my last post look daft :-)

TJ wrote:Enjoying the game.  Last pen for pulling in the 9 was wrong and leads to a try but its entertaining as a neutral as a game.  Glaws look like they have more attacking threat overall but struggling for enough ball

yeah i agree, but this ref has been awful allowing players to dive off their feet then get back up.

Nice try and a good break from the kick off. String a few passes together and we look ok. Stupid pass ruins another chance. It was never a penalty for pulling the 9 in but it was a high tacklr from Tindall as he clearly has a hand round Youngs throat.

Enjoyed the game. Two well matched teams both trying to play positive rugby.

TJ wrote:Enjoyed the game.  Two well matched teams both trying to play positive rugby.  

Nice what a bit of nice weather can do. Can't wait for the warmer months.

typical dayglo, wasp through and through lol

nathan wrote:

TJ wrote:Enjoyed the game.  Two well matched teams both trying to play positive rugby.  

Nice what a bit of nice weather can do. Can't wait for the warmer months.

Agreed.

Leicester really are struggling mind. Ben Youngs and Toby Flood far from their best. If they'll ever get it back is debatable right now. Would love to see them take it to Toulon, however I honestly think the answer is simple in that their ego's have been rubbished with the loss of their England places. Honestly it must be very hard to take.

Flood is gone now, Lancaster needs to wake up and get Youngs on side. We just can't let his talent go to waste.

bit disappointed in bt sport concentrating on a couple of bad decisions that went against Glous yet ignored all the others that went against the Tigers.

kingelderfield wrote:

nathan wrote:

TJ wrote:Enjoyed the game.  Two well matched teams both trying to play positive rugby.  

Nice what a bit of nice weather can do. Can't wait for the warmer months.

Agreed.

Leicester really are struggling mind. Ben Youngs and Toby Flood far from their best. If they'll ever get it back is debatable right now. Would love to see them take it to Toulon, however I honestly think the answer is simple in that their ego's have been rubbished with the loss of their England places. Honestly it must be very hard to take.

Flood is gone now, Lancaster needs to wake up and get Youngs on side. We just can't let his talent go to waste.

Wasn't Youngs dropped because of awful form and not vice versa?

nathan wrote:bit disappointed in bt sport concentrating on a couple of bad decisions that went against Glous yet ignored all the others that went against the Tigers.

Maybe that's because you're biased and there were many more against Gloucester than against Tigers? Maybe?

The fact Cockerill just said (basically) 'sometimes the ref favours you, sometimes they don't', suggests either Cockerill is unbiased and the refs was balanced, or...

Just listening to BBC radio Leicester - Cockerill fronted up well in a very honest interview - alot of talk around the refereeing of the breakdown and the subsequent slow ball.....I think the Gloucester back row out played their Leicester counterparts.

Its been a real tough year for the Tigers with all their injuries, however I wonder if we'll see quite a big clear out of the playing staff?

Flood and Waldron have both gone, it was mentioned in commentary that Goneva is rummoured to be going to France......the back row dosn't have the X Factor.

Just realised there are currently only 2 Tigers in the England 23.

It can't all be down to the loss of MT.

Well, Croft is out too. And they had lots of Lions...

ChequeredJersey wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:

nathan wrote:

TJ wrote:Enjoyed the game.  Two well matched teams both trying to play positive rugby.  

Nice what a bit of nice weather can do. Can't wait for the warmer months.

Agreed.

Leicester really are struggling mind. Ben Youngs and Toby Flood far from their best. If they'll ever get it back is debatable right now. Would love to see them take it to Toulon, however I honestly think the answer is simple in that their ego's have been rubbished with the loss of their England places. Honestly it must be very hard to take.

Flood is gone now, Lancaster needs to wake up and get Youngs on side. We just can't let his talent go to waste.

Wasn't Youngs dropped because of awful form and not vice versa?

Yes he was, however is he being managed appropriately? He's too big a talent to be left outside in the cold, it will be to Lancasters and our loss if he's not brought back to heel sooner rather than later.

kingelderfield wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:

nathan wrote:

TJ wrote:Enjoyed the game.  Two well matched teams both trying to play positive rugby.  

Nice what a bit of nice weather can do. Can't wait for the warmer months.

Agreed.

Leicester really are struggling mind. Ben Youngs and Toby Flood far from their best. If they'll ever get it back is debatable right now. Would love to see them take it to Toulon, however I honestly think the answer is simple in that their ego's have been rubbished with the loss of their England places. Honestly it must be very hard to take.

Flood is gone now, Lancaster needs to wake up and get Youngs on side. We just can't let his talent go to waste.

Wasn't Youngs dropped because of awful form and not vice versa?

Yes he was, however is he being managed appropriately? He's too big a talent to be left outside in the cold, it will be to Lancasters and our loss if he's not brought back to heel sooner rather than later.

True, but we don't know what SL is saying to Youngs and helping him with at the training camps. I'm sure he is being reassuring like he is with Burns, but I get the feeling both players need one big performance when it suddenly clicks then they will be back.

HammerofThunor wrote:

nathan wrote:bit disappointed in bt sport concentrating on a couple of bad decisions that went against Glous yet ignored all the others that went against the Tigers.

Maybe that's because you're biased and there were many more against Gloucester than against Tigers? Maybe?

The fact Cockerill just said (basically) 'sometimes the ref favours you, sometimes they don't', suggests either Cockerill is unbiased and the refs was balanced, or...

or if you actually read back i said he made errors for both teams. It's unfair on the Tigers to only mention the refs mistakes that only favoured them.

many more against Glous - Utter rubbsh. The amount of times they were off their feet, in at the side and a couple not straight throws come lineout.

I hope you're right.

I just can't remember both being so off form (for two seasoned professionals I doubt either has had to deal with these circumstances before) for what appears differing reasons, though I'd imagine Floods going has not helped Youngs's mentality.

B. Youngs is just out of from, dont think it's anything more.

Flood seemed to get really frustrated today and shouting at Munipolo. Haven't seen Flood like that before.

Well, if I wasn't so used to seeing my beloved Glaws losing - I'd be fuming. Wrote this season off a long time ago.

Still a decent game, lovely hands for the Sharples try and some nice breaks. More of that for the rest of the season, please!

Would have loved for it to be a draw. Think I called a draw on Superbru actually...

Probably against Quins

That comment should have been ages ago :/

So, try bonus point win for us next week, and the Chiefs get nothing at Sarries and we are level on points with them. Despite an awful start to the season, we still have a chance of making the top 6 this year!

Nathan, I think the one area Richards was consistent was at the ruck. He let both sides seal off the ball throughout the game. Perhaps it is my bias view but none of the bad calls Tigers received had any where near the impact those that Glaws received did, hence why BT focused on them. Regardless though, refs make mistakes just like any player, some days they go your way, sometimes they don't. I'd have taken that result before the game; I am bitterly disappointed, but at least have faith that come next season when we have a competitive pack we'll be a decent side.

Good luck Tigers for the rest of the season

It's OK, if we play like we have the last 2 weeks, you'll beat us next week

HongKongCherry wrote:Nathan, I think the one area Richards was consistent was at the ruck. He let both sides seal off the ball throughout the game. Perhaps it is my bias view but none of the bad calls Tigers received had any where near the impact those that Glaws received did, hence why BT focused on them. Regardless though, refs make mistakes just like any player, some days they go your way, sometimes they don't. I'd have taken that result before the game; I am bitterly disappointed, but at least have faith that come next season when we have a competitive pack we'll be a decent side.

Good luck Tigers for the rest of the season

oh i understand that all refs makes mistakes, but what i don't agree on is that they didn't effect the Tigers as much as Glaws. Yeah one of Glaws led to a try, but thats in hindsight. Who's to say if Glaws was penalised when they should of been for coming in at the side or flopping over the ball at rucks on a tigers attack they wouldn't of scored a try.

Think we may well need some luck, we're pants at the minute. It looks like an unhappy camp.

We'll have to agree to disagree then nathan, from my point of view Tigers were doing exactly the same throughout the game and went unpenalised; at least he was consistent here to both sides by failing to administer this law.

HongKongCherry wrote:We'll have to agree to disagree then nathan, from my point of view Tigers were doing exactly the same throughout the game and went unpenalised; at least he was consistent here to both sides by failing to administer this law.

  

The penalty for taking out the player in the scrum half position was extremely harsh but there was a high tackle before the ruck started. That was the only massively controversial penalty shout. The call for not straight against Glaws was strange but again the hooker's foot was clearly up before the ball came into the tunnel. They got away with two or three blatantly not straight lineouts though so it was hardly one sided.

Ben Youngs has struggled since his Lions injury. It meant his conditioning before starting the season wasn't as much as it needed to be so he's been playing catch up since. Thought he played better today and probed the defence ball in hand more than he has been doing in recent times. Maybe another game at Tigers will see him spark a little more and he can come onto the England bench in the latter stages of the 6N.

Remember Tigers are still missing three Lions stars in Parling, Croft and Manu. There's some serious x-factor missing there and also three players that would be with England.

And people say Lions burnout isn't a thing... sure it hasn't affected a few players like Farrell or BOD, but as a rule it's so clear!

ChequeredJersey wrote:And people say Lions burnout isn't a thing... sure it hasn't affected a few players like Farrell or BOD, but as a rule it's so clear!

BOD had a rest on the last game :p