Aviva Premiership - Round 9

First topic message reminder :

Table

Team	--P--	--W--	--D--	--BP--	Points
Saracens	8	8	0	4	36
Exeter	8	6	0	6	30
Harlequins	8	5	1	5	27
Leicester	8	6	0	1	25
Northampton	8	4	0	5	21
Gloucester	8	4	1	2	20
Sale Sharks	8	3	1	3	17
Bath	8	3	0	4	16
Wasps	8	3	0	3	15
Worcester	8	2	0	4	12
Newcastle	8	1	1	0	6
London Irish	8	1	0	0	4

Fixtures

Fri 8th Jan 16

19:45 Bath Rugby Bath P - P Sale Sharks
Postponed to allow Bath to travel to Toulon.


Sat 9th Jan 16

15:00 Exeter Chiefs  v   Gloucester Rugby
Both sides have growing injury lists, but at home Chiefs should have too much and maintain their place at second in the table.

15:00 Harlequins  v   Saracens
Common wisdom is that Quins are incapable of beating Saracens. common wisdom is that they will struggle up front and then run into blind alleys. Common wisdom states that Saracens are too clinical, too ruthless and just too awesome for a fragile Harlequins.
Well Love sacks to common wisdom. Quins are tougher up front this year and should conditions be dry have easily enough to run the famed Sarries defence ragged, especially if McCall decides to conhcentrate on next weeks visit from Ulster. Will it be dry though?

15:15 Leicester Tigers  v   Northampton Saints BT Sport
Saints are in the poorest form I have seen since the relegation season - yet win at their old rivals and they will be in the Top 4! Will Mallinder decide to come with his strongest team, or will he be looking ahead to the Glasgow fixture next week? To be honest I am not sure the visitors can afford to worry about next week, they have to win this weekend in front of what will be the biggest ever crowd at Welford Road. Saints will be ruing the injury to Brookes, but will be certain they can get scrummage control - though it is possible that young Paul hill may learn a lesson or two from Marcos Ayerza. Saints will look to replicate the Sarries template from last week, take the scrum penalties, kick to the cornes and maul like crazy. They have shown little creative ability otherwise this season - but may well be looking for a Penalty Try TBP.
This game is free to air, for any interested.

Sun 10th Jan 16

13:00 London Irish  v   Newcastle Falcons BT Sport
Huge game for both clubs, but even more so for the hosts. They cannot afford to lose but can their half backs give them the control they need? Newcastle will look to dominate at scrum time, but have to improve at the lineout if they are to secure a vital away win. In their favour, the lineout is an area that LI have really struggled in. LI will be looking to take advantage of what has been at times a porous defence and certainly have some speedy backs who could prosper.


14:00 Wasps  v   Worcester Warriors
Wasps have looked like Gods in the ECC, but like dogs at times in the AP. Gopperth has had his one good display of the season and shoudl be dispensed with. Simpson needs to regain his earlier form. Most of all though they need hughes and Smith to be fit.
Wuss will fight for everything and never give up. If Wasps are not on top form they could prosper.

North is one strong boy. Hill looks like an England international in the making, can't believe he's only 20.

What were Tigers doing?!?!

27 - 12 Gibson against his old club

Great run by Clifford who was the quins player outside him? Should he have passed or was he in tryline mode

well Quins have definitely got the better of the ref since the red, not sure how Robshaw came through the gate there

Well played Quins....what an effort!

Aaaagghhhhjhhjhhhhhh

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Literally the best feeling in the world.

That was never straight from Youngs, very lucky Barnes didn't spot that.

Horwill and Robshaw you beauties!!!!!!

I agree in the second half we got a couple of dubious decisions. Though, Farrell should have seen yellow. Arguably Horwill red :/ though biased me thinks yellow was right call

not best pleased that Horwill will end up the hero for Quins after his earlier cheap-shot but... very very good performance from Quins to end the Sarries run

Well done quins!

This is a truly epic game of rugby at Welford Rd.

why did he kick?

I don't think Horwill will be the hero, but he was at least carded for his stupidity, unlike Farrell.

Any way let's not get into a ref bashing debate.

Harsh call there, looked like saints brought it down

27 - 27 What a comeback

there've been two absolutely cracking games of rugby this afternoon

Can I just say that Brown looked MUCH better today. He loves a fight

Nervy end this

Collins

ChequeredJersey wrote:Can I just say that Brown looked MUCH better today. He loves a fight

agree with this, was superb under the high ball all day, and looked much more like his old self, good to see.

In fact, from an England perspective, a pretty good afternoon so far, with plenty of players showing up well.

clutch kick this

Lucky to win that

what
a
game

Great game though in Poopie weather

looking at the replay, Lawes is a tad unlucky, in that he's trying to come through and kick the ball, but trips. Can't argue with the decision though, and Burns duly kicks it to give Leicester the win. What a game!

What a game, but Tigers very lucky with that final penalty, Lawes tripped over the top into Youngs by a Tigers player.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:What a game, but Tigers very lucky with that final penalty, Lawes tripped over the top into Youngs by a Tigers player.

Why are tigers lucky for that though, it's not there fault if lawes trips and falls into youngs. It's more unlucky for lawes.

Well done Tigers and Saints, the second epic game of the day.

I will re-phrase it, Lawes tripped up by a Tigers player over the top.As Healy said, he saw Lawes coming and raised his arm to stop him

nathan wrote:

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:What a game, but Tigers very lucky with that final penalty, Lawes tripped over the top into Youngs by a Tigers player.

Why are tigers lucky for that though, it's not there fault if lawes trips and falls into youngs. It's more unlucky for lawes.

I agree...lawes made a mistake. These things happen.

Tigers were going for the drop goal anyway.

nathan wrote:I don't think I've ever said this, but I don't think this weather is going suit us

Yeah first time I can ever remember saying Tigers are desperate for the weather to pick up so they can play on some fast, dry pitches. Williams a big loss today, game started to unravel from then onwards.

MOTM for McCaffrey was an easy choice tbh, thought he was amazing.

Good game, Tigers a tad lucky with the win but you play what's in front of you. On the England battles....

Connor vs Harrison - Harrison had a great game, shame for OC
Youngs vs Haywood - Haywood convincingly
Youngs vs Dickson - Youngs by a whisker, good from both
Smith vs Burrell - Burrell probably shades it
Cole vs Hill - Cole just, Hill looks a real player
Gibson vs Croft - pretty equal, Croft good in lineout

But the 6 spot is Robshaws.

That was a crazy game.

Eddie Jones has some very healthy selection headaches coming up. It's actually a pretty exciting time to be an England fan

Come on Pooly everyone knows you don't like Youngs but he was again good today.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:I will re-phrase it, Lawes tripped up by a Tigers player over the top.As Healy said, he saw Lawes coming and raised his arm to stop him

Ah sorry, get what your saying

No 7&1/2 wrote:Come on Pooly everyone knows you don't like Youngs but he was again good today.

You reckon? I thought he was pretty poor. Haywood was excellent throughout, especially in the lineout.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Come on Pooly everyone knows you don't like Youngs but he was again good today.

You reckon? I thought he was pretty poor. Haywood was excellent throughout, especially in the lineout.

Didn't saints lose 2 lineouts?

nathan wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Come on Pooly everyone knows you don't like Youngs but he was again good today.

I don't really bother with him anymore, read the last two pages and it tells you what he's about

What exactly am I about? If you don't like my posts, just stick me on ignore.

Where was Youngs pretty poor.Where did Haywood have anything over him?

Haywoods accuracy in the conditions was excellent, often hitting the back and middle jumpers, it's a real strength for him.

Youngs was his normal unaccurate self, over/under throwing and making the jumpers really work. He's lucky Croft came on as he's an outstanding technician and cleaned a lot of poor ball up.

For our match:

Brown vs Goode - Brown had his best game in ages, strong under high ball. Both offer very different things, both played well but Brown's defence also looked strong
Ashton vs Yarde - neither got any clear chances, both played well and were busy and looked for work. Can't fault either but not a chance for them to shine
Farrell had a very good game, one soft miss and a poor tip tackle apart. Unfortunately, Nev can't play for England
Care had a very good game, even box-kicked well under a lot of pressure! Made a try. Wrigglesworth was solid coming on
Marler vs Mako - clearly Mako, Sarries scrum destroyed us completely in first half. We won a couple later on but definitely Mako is a scrummaging force now
Buchanan vs George - George missed an early throw then solid and helped the scrum, looks a good player in the loose. Buchanan had a good game in the loose, running over Ashton and Farrell I think, but noooooot so good at the lineout. George could easily start for England
Matthews vs Kruis/Itoje. Kruis clobbered by Horwill for the yellow v early, hope he's ok Itoje put our lineout under all kinds of pressure and good at the breakdown. In general play, both carried ok and tackled very well. Itoje and Kruis both likely in the EPS
Robshaw vs Wray - Wray carried well, but Robshaw had an immense game in carrying, cleverness, leadership, breakdown and defence. Showed he can be a 6
Wallace vs Fraser - Fraser had a good game on the floor in a match with lots of turnovers, Wallace did more in the loose but Fraser also a very clever player. Think Fraser the better prospect
Clifford vs Vunipola - Vunipola running back kicks well and took his try well, he is in great form but Clifford is such a prospect - pace, power and intelligence. No reason Clifford won't be in the same England side as Billy one day

No 7&1/2 wrote:Where was Youngs pretty poor.Where did Haywood have anything over him?

Around the park and in the lineout. Scrum was pretty even with young Hill probably evening up Youngs lack of impact.

The Sarries scrum is something to behold this season, I've no idea why?!?

I honestly can't say I saw the same match.