Aviva Premiership - Round 5

First topic message reminder :

Table:

Team	Points
Saracens	17
Exeter	15
Harlequins	13
Leicester	12
Bath	10
Worcester	10
Sale Sharks	10
Wasps	9
Gloucester	9
Northampton	8
London Irish	0
Newcastle	0

Fixtures

Fri 27th Nov

19:45 Northampton Saints  v  Gloucester Rugby BT Sport
After a fortnight of European action, the AP returns (for one week two weeks only) with the action kicking off at Franklins Gardens. Saints managed to put some iffy form behind them as they recorded home and away wins against decent opposition. Gloucester meanwhile went largely under the radar as they started their defence of the Challenge Cup. Two decent wins with a largely second string side will have pleased David Humphreys, but perhaps left him a touch worried that his first choice players may be lacking a little match practice. Saints will hope to continue their set-piece form of last weekend and unleash their powerful backs at Gloucester's pacy but often defensively fragile back line. The pace in that backline, especially May and Sharples if both fit, could really scare the home team. However for Glaws to get anything from this game you do feel that their pack will need to perform at a level well above that they have achieved so far this season.


Sat 28th Nov

14:30 Sale Sharks  v   Newcastle Falcons
With both sides returning from Challenge Cup action, it is hard to know what sort of form they will bring into this game. Actually that is not true. I think the win over the Russians last week was Falcons first win since beating London Irish in the LV cup in February. Their results this season have been poor, as have the performances. These sides have met twice already this season in a pre-season tournament with Sale winning both times. A home win really should be nailed on - but sometimes rugby can surprise us.


15:00 Exeter Chiefs  v   Harlequins
Chiefs had mixed results in the Champions Cup with Rob Baxter taking the chance to rotate his squad a little. The often blunt Baxter did not shirk from expressing his disquiet at the performances, especially the defensive laxity. Quins will have been pleased with the style of their two victories but no the trip down to Devon is a massive challenge. connor O'Shea will have been worried by the number of injuries his back rowers picked up in Cardiff and will be hoping some of the walking wounded can play. will Baxter prefer LCD to Yeandle. Where will Slade play? Will Robshaw and Clifford play and impress Eddie Jones against a very good Exeter back row, where Dave Ewers will be keen to continue making his case for international selection.


15:15 Saracens  v   Worcester Warriors BT Sport
The first of the London double headers sees the only top flight unbeaten team in Europe this season face Dean Ryans premiership returnees. Worcester this season seem very similar to Saracens, albeit at a lower level, in that the collective is stronger than the individual combinations. Saracens will again look to rest key players - but even so should be far too strong.


17:30 London Irish  v   Wasps BT Sport
London Irish finally broke their losing streak in the Challenge Cup, but will surely need to raise their game even further against a Wasps team that was on fire in Europe. What may work in Irish's favour will be the temptation for Dai Young to rest a lot of players to concentrate on the Euro double header with Bath. Depending on just how many he rests, Irish could well sneak a win.



Sun 29th Nov

15:00 Leicester Tigers Tigers  v   Bath Rugby Bath Welford Road BT Sport
Both sides will feel they have something to prove after the events of last season. No two ways about it but Leicester were thrashed twice on visits to the Rec. However Bath arrived at Welford Road over the Christmas/New Year period with all the form and skill, yet allowed themselves to get into an armwrestle which they duly lost. Leicester have been a much more attacking side this season, and despite the stuttering backline play this season from Bath we all know how good they can be. It coudl, conditions depending, be an excellent free flowing game. Much will depend on how well the back rows go - especially O'Connor vs Louw.
But really there is only one contest we are interested in this week. After seeing how well Bath's tyro props went against Leinster the match up between Ayerza/Youngs/Cole vs Auterac/Webber/Thomas will be highly illuminating.

Saracens truly have the ugliest kit in the entire world.

Yes with the shading on the shirts it always looks to me like they are wearing high-waisted shorts ...

Just checking the laws, if the ball is lost sideways surely that isn't a knock-on?

And now we see again how Andy Goode never actually starting for LI is going to cost them this season ...

Has Barnes just had a John Lacey moment?

Blair Cowan knocks the ball backwards, no ruck or maul formed and LI's 4 drops on it. How can he be offside?

Unfortunately he's correct - you can't play the ball if you're in front of the last player on your side to touch the ball ....

forgot to add ... unless you've come from behind them of course ...

However he did ping LI incorrectly in the first half IMO ...

fortunately Wasps' kicking not much better than LI's at the moment ...

hmmm kick for goal when Noakes couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo????

That penalty was wrong however - knock on by Wasps followed by a penalty against LI ... and the ball looked out as well anyway as the Wasps player's foot was along side it not over it

Good win for Wasps

Huh. Just checked the offside law, thinking that there was no offside in open play. And what do you know? There IS offside in open play. Is that a recent change or have I just been missing that for years?

I suppose a positive for LI is they were still in it with 10 mins to go against a very good Wasps team, but in the end all that defending must have taken its toll ... couple of iffy penalties and not given penalties (e.g. holding on after the scrum before their last try) by Barnes didn't help of course

HammerofThunor wrote:Huh. Just checked the offside law, thinking that there was no offside in open play. And what do you know? There IS offside in open play. Is that a recent change or have I just been missing that for years?

Always been there - I remember a match LI lost to Scarlets in the HC a few years back came from a late penalty from this law.

Bit of a scratch for one of the Wuss players yesterday, I'd run that under some cold water if I was him

yappysnap wrote:Bit of a scratch for one of the Wuss players yesterday, I'd run that under some cold water if I was him

Maybe a plaster too?

nathan wrote:Wuss really are poor

That is the worst I've seen Wuss play for a long time - Saracens seemed to tear them apart at will when usually Wuss defence has been much better than that. I think a lot of credit needs to go to Saracens who I believe are going to take a lot of stopping this year.

stub wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Bit of a scratch for one of the Wuss players yesterday, I'd run that under some cold water if I was him

Maybe a plaster too?

Yea I'd put a plaster on it, probably overkill but better safe then sorry.

stub wrote:

nathan wrote:Wuss really are poor

That is the worst I've seen Wuss play for a long time - Saracens seemed to tear them apart at will when usually Wuss defence has been much better than that. I think a lot of credit needs to go to Saracens who I believe are going to take a lot of stopping this year.

Sarries always have the ability to absolutely dismantle a team, luckily their mind set and game plan means it happens far less often then it probably should, but Wuss aren't the first and won't be the last. At least you managed to score some points.

yappysnap wrote:

stub wrote:

nathan wrote:Wuss really are poor

That is the worst I've seen Wuss play for a long time - Saracens seemed to tear them apart at will when usually Wuss defence has been much better than that. I think a lot of credit needs to go to Saracens who I believe are going to take a lot of stopping this year.

Sarries always have the ability to absolutely dismantle a team, luckily their mind set and game plan means it happens far less often then it probably should, but Wuss aren't the first and won't be the last. At least you managed to score some points.

Yup  Heem's last minute rampage added a little bit respectability to the final score! (But not much)

Just a quick reminder that today's demolition of Tigers by Bath is free to watch.

Oh great, cheers Fuzzy. Where and how?

I'm going with Tigers 13 - 13 Bath I can feel it

Think this will beva scrappy game, weather here is awful

*very

Agh, Tait off already

Hmmmm, forward pass?

We're looking a bit clueless at the moment

BBC preamble. Denton

Former Edinburgh man Denton is a classic modern back-rower, away from the usual set-piece and breakdown responsibilities, he's also adept at ball-carrying, has smart hands and naturally loves a tackle.

Great at doing his thing and a real handful, but...

Youngs having a bit of a mare with his throwing

We're poo with the high ball

Pooly? When?

You don't need to make Poopie up, there's enough actual examples.

There's been one bad throw, the wind took the other as explained by the ref

He's missed 2 throws and was off target on another. The wind thing was after the jumper had been missed. That last one was on Williams hip.

Lol, you must be watching another game!!

No, same game, I'm really unsure on what you're seeing.

Great scrum contest.

Ironic cheer from the Tigers fans when Youngs nails a jumper!

nathan wrote:Hmmmm, forward pass?

yes by miles

How was Tait injured?

Watson is quick!

Tigers looking good in attack, their winger is causing all sorts of problems.

Bath getting away with sealing off all the bloody time

Rugby Fan wrote:How was Tait injured?

hurt himself tackling I think

Sgt_Pooly wrote:He's missed 2 throws and was off target on another. The wind thing was after the jumper had been missed. That last one was on Williams hip.

The weather is filthy. I'm sat at the back of the Crumbie Stand. The rain is coming across at an angle. Though Hooper is having a stormer at the line out for Bath.

Tigers seem strong around the park but Bell is out of his depth in this wind. His tendency to put the ball high when he kicks is hampering us.

Bath forwards aren't looking too great but are getting away with murder at the scrum where they are pushing early and at the angle every time. Batty seems unable to hook the ball however and Youngs has nicked at least one against the head.

Doyle not having a great game, no hands on the ball

There just always seems to be an excuse for Youngs, he's just a poor basics hooker, nothing more.

Anyway......could really go either way this one.

nathan wrote:Doyle not having a great game, no hands on the ball

he never does ....

are players actually allowed turnovers with Doyle? He makes players have their hands on the ball for ages before blowing - same to both teams

Apparently it's legal to join an attacking maul from the front and act as a blocker though.

Heaf wrote:

nathan wrote:Doyle not having a great game, no hands on the ball

he never does ....

I rest my case ...