AvivA Premiership Finals

First topic message reminder :

They've moved the Semis to the Friday night (likely Tigers fixture), and the second semi to the Saturday - almost certainly to accommodate BT Sport's coverage of the FA Cup final.
 
I think this decision is absolutely outrageous. Forget all the rights and wrongs of team preparation, unfair advantage etc etc. This decision more than ever shows the utter contempt Premiership Rugby has for its supporters.
 
There will be supporters from the clubs who will be involved on Friday and no doubt neutrals as well who will have made other arrangements for Friday evening and are now being denied the opportunity to watch the play off semi final, having supported their teams throughout the season to reach this goal. Dates of these games were inked into peoples diaries when the fixtures were announced last summer.
 
To have this changed with just over a weeks notice is a disgrace!

ChequeredJersey wrote:Hey, just because we are Quins fans doesn't mean we are interchangeable!

I'm taller, and fatter, than yappy

He lies, we are actually completely interchangeable. As are all other Quins fans. Once we've got that champagne and prawn sandwiches in hand then we're like zebras.















































































He's only just taller then me too...

I bet you both wear chinos!  

Ozzy3213 wrote:As a neutral, I would like to see a Saints vs. Quins final, with no preference as to who wins.

Yeah, I'm neutral as well.   And as a neutral I would want Saints to defeat Leicester, making amends for the last 200 matches where Leicester have beaten Saints.  I understand it is unrealistic to duplicate the score Saints put up on Wasps, but 50 or so points would satisfy the neutral in me.  This could possibly set up a Saints-Quins final.  

And continuing in my rôle as a neutral, I would relish the opportunity for a Saints-Quins final.  The hard working, nose to the millstone Northampton types versus the toffs from London could be classic.  Team v. team, City v. Midlands, Drivers of Fords v. drivers of Porsches, and pub drinkers v. members of the 'right' club.  Truly a match which has so much impact.  And clearly a match, for which I, as an obvious neutral, would find entertaining, especially with a Saints victory by 20 points or so.

but as a neutral, I cannot support either team....................

Am I allowed to secretly support the opposition?

Can I get hung as a traitor?

Wiki, HM prison, Leicester wrote:The prison was designed by William Parsons[disambiguation needed] to resemble a castle. The oldest part dates from 1825, and it was opened in 1828. The gatehouse including the adjoining building to north and south and the perimeter wall are grade II listed.

Between 1900 and 1953, eight executions took place at the prison. The last was that of John Reynolds, convicted of murder at Leicester Assizes, and hanged on November 17, 1953.

Within sight of WR   

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Am I allowed to secretly support the opposition?

Can I get hung as a traitor?

You can, if you use the argument that it's best for England. Queen and Country, don't ya know?

Separated at birth:
http://prisonmovies.nfshost.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/pierrepoint-01.jpg
http://images.dailystar-uk.co.uk/dynamic/60/281x351/269034_1.jpg

As a neutral and England fan i would HATE to see a QUins v Saints final.

Think thats the worst possible as we'd be missing most senior players for the first test.
Wood, Lawes, Hartley, Clark, Burrell, Foden, Dickson (plus potential in A.Waller) from Saints
Brown, Care, Ward, Sinkler, Robshaw, Marler - Possibly Buchanan / Gray, Wallace

Though a Quins v Saints final would be a great game in itself.

Agreed, GF. On every level nothing would be worse for ole Blighty than a Saints v Toppers final.

England could still put out a good team without Quins and Saints. Admittedly It would be a lot better were Youngs and Cole available but we could still field;

Mako, Webber, Wilson
Slater, Launchbury
Johnson, Vunipola, Fraser
Youngs, Farrell
Twelvetrees, Manu
Yarde, Goode, May

Bench: Mullan, LCD, Brookes, Attwood, Kvesic, Robson, Ford, Tait.

Bit raw around the flanks and hooker but that's a good team that would increase our squad experience and shouldn't be overwhelmed by the ABs.

Sam

May instead of Ashton really? LCD instead of George? Wigglesworth would more likely to be on the bench instead of Robson.

Fraser is injured I think.

Tait really?

beshocked wrote:Sam

May instead of Ashton really? LCD instead of George? Wigglesworth would more likely to be on the bench instead of Robson.

Fraser is injured I think.

Tait really?

We've already established that Ashton doesn't form part of the England plan and May is the encumbant (permanent or not).

Jimpy we'll see in NZ won't we?

May was arguably the worst England starter - his place is definitely not guaranteed. Ashton in comparison has been one of the form wingers in club rugby this season.

Wing was a weak spot for England in the 6 nations. One of the only ones.

beshocked wrote:Jimpy  we'll see in NZ won't we?

May was arguably the worst England starter - his place is definitely not guaranteed. Ashton in comparison has been one of the form wingers in club rugby this season.

Wing was a weak spot for England in the 6 nations. One of the only ones.

 
 
It has been proven time and time again that club form does not automatically translate into international form.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

Within sight of WR   

In fairness the Leicester Royal Infirmary also overlooks WR - my son was born there and we could see the pitch from the room! Suppose he should really be a Tigers fan himself but I was fortunate to get the indoctrination process started early   

In terms of movng game times, Hull City have to kick off v Arsenal tomorrow at 5.00 p.m. - so they'll be getting home sometime around midnight at best.

True but Ashton has performed well vs some good wingers who are definitely international class.

Suppose you hold a bit of bitterness towards Ashton because of his personal battles with the Tuilagi bros.

Jimpy do you think May had a good 6 nations?

beshocked wrote:True but Ashton has performed well vs some good wingers who are definitely international class.

Suppose you hold a bit of bitterness towards Ashton because of his personal battles with the Tuilagi bros.

Jimpy do you think May had a good 6 nations?

I don't hold any particular bitterness towatds him. Lets see now though, Manu smashes his face in and in return he pulls Alex's hair.... yeah I must admit the hair pulling incident leaves a sour taste.

May didn't set the world on fire, but so what. Ashton didn't get selected, which I believe is why you so vehemently resent May's selection.

You say so what? Surely you want England to win every game they play?

I disliked the selections on the wings because I didn't think they were the best options available and they hardly vindicated their selections - being the weakest England players starting.

If they were scoring tries for fun in the 6 nations I wouldn't have a case.

Ashton in comparison has been playing really well this season and scoring numerous tries.

I am not against seeing players picked ahead of my team if they vindicate that selection like Marler has over Mako and Brown over Goode did in the 6 nations.

Ashton can be a class act if not constrained by suffocating game plans.

Depends how Lancaster and Ford want to play the game but if they want the Splash to stay in tight channels, they/we won't see the best of him.

Ashton and Yarde will be the wingers for the 2nd test when EVERYONE is available.

I have a sneaky suspicion the final will be Sarries v Tigers

Thus the wings will be Yarde and May...

Jimpy, harsh criticism of Ashton. He was out of form definately...however lets be fair, the style of rugby that England were playing was hardly suitable for any winger.

Imagine what Ashton could do running his lines on the shoulder of Billy or Ben Morgan, Tuilagi, Burrell Mike Brown etc. He could have a field day.

Irish Londoner wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

Within sight of WR   

In fairness the Leicester Royal Infirmary also overlooks WR - my son was born there and we could see the pitch from the room! Suppose he should really be a Tigers fan himself but I was fortunate to get the indoctrination process started early   

In terms of movng game times, Hull City have to kick off v Arsenal tomorrow at 5.00 p.m. - so they'll be getting home sometime around midnight at best.

I was born there as well, fortunately though my Dad knew the team that play at WR was the right team to support

I have no real feeling on May vs Ashton. I plonked May in there because he was the incumbent. I forgot about George I'd have him over LCD. Tait has experience In big games and tends to show up pretty well in them. He also covers almost the entire back line and is in some decent form.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ashton and Yarde will be the wingers for the 2nd test when EVERYONE is available.

I have a sneaky suspicion the final will be Sarries v Tigers

Thus the wings will be Yarde and May...

Jimpy, harsh criticism of Ashton. He was out of form definately...however lets be fair, the style of rugby that England were playing was hardly suitable for any winger.

Imagine what Ashton could do running his lines on the shoulder of Billy or Ben Morgan, Tuilagi, Burrell Mike Brown etc. He could have a field day.

I don't think i was criticising him, I said just because his club form was good it didn't mean he would still be good internationally, and Lancaster must have had a reason for not selecting him.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Am I allowed to secretly support the opposition?

Can I get hung as a traitor?

Wiki, HM prison, Leicester wrote:The prison was designed by William Parsons[disambiguation needed] to resemble a castle. The oldest part dates from 1825, and it was opened in 1828. The gatehouse including the adjoining building to north and south and the perimeter wall are grade II listed.

Between 1900 and 1953, eight executions took place at the prison. The last was that of John Reynolds, convicted of murder at Leicester Assizes, and hanged on November 17, 1953.

Within sight of WR   

Port,
You will not be hung as a traitor. I will pardon all your recent trespasses. If I try to pardon all your past sins, we might be sitting around for a while. And if I look for absolution for my sins, well, we will be old and doddering before we get part way through. Besides, my sins were usually quite fun.

And if all fails, I know some people who are quite handy at breaking people out of tough spots. Of course, you might need to move to the sovereign nation of Northamptonshire (the Rose of Shires). There is always room for one more........

Jimpy wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ashton and Yarde will be the wingers for the 2nd test when EVERYONE is available.

I have a sneaky suspicion the final will be Sarries v Tigers

Thus the wings will be Yarde and May...

Jimpy, harsh criticism of Ashton. He was out of form definately...however lets be fair, the style of rugby that England were playing was hardly suitable for any winger.

Imagine what Ashton could do running his lines on the shoulder of Billy or Ben Morgan, Tuilagi, Burrell Mike Brown etc. He could have a field day.

I don't think i was criticising him, I said just because his club form was good it didn't mean he would still be good internationally, and Lancaster must have had a reason for not selecting him.

I think Lancaster had every right to drop him as his form was very poor, but ill still say this was much to do with tactics aswell. Ashton HAS proven himself a good try scorer for England under the right tactics...and i actually think the tactics we look to be playing at the moment will play right in to Ashtons hands.

A back three of
11 Yarde (Power and pace)
14 Ashton (Inteligence and lines of running)
15 Brown (Downright difficult to stop and tackle)

are three different types of players each offering a different style.

I'll get back to you, doc.

I'll tell you how I felt about my actual sentiments about the game whilst it was on tomorrow.

In the meantime, Come on you Saiiiiirrnts!

Portney, there was me thinking you liked tradition and things done right & as we all know it has become a tradition(& the correct thing) that Tigers go to the Final    

can't see Tigers being in the final unfortunately. We have about 5 players missing due to injury and concussion rules.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:In the meantime, Come on you Saiiiiirrnts!

ATTENTION ALL
IMPORTANT NEWS

Portnoy has come out of the darkness and into the light.
May the blessings of Saint Dylan be upon you, my son!

doctor_grey wrote:

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:In the meantime, Come on you Saiiiiirrnts!

ATTENTION ALL
IMPORTANT NEWS

Portnoy has come out of the darkness and into the light.
May the blessings of Saint Dylan be upon you, my son!

haha, congrats on the win doc!

Well that was one seriously brutal encounter last night. Massive respect to Saints for hanging in and getting the job done this time.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Well that was one seriously brutal encounter last night.   Massive respect to Saints for hanging in and getting the job done this time.

Yeah, I feel bruised and battered after that one. Big relief that one.

It was my birthday yesterday, I think Sarries ought to give me a birthday gift

Well won, Sarries

Got let off on the kicks, but we gave away too many penalties, and too many marginal forward passes. Too tired and too little on the bench

Sarries coaching set-up is very good.  But I hope Sarries try the same game plan against Saints, but I am sure it will be tailored a bit for us.  It it indeed is the same it will make me happy.  They can run all they like.  

I still worry about Brits more than any other Saracen.  Need Hartley back for that match.