Aviva round 14 ish - No thread???

[kingelderfield]

First topic message reminder :

Aviva Premiership

SATURDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2016
13:00 Sale Sharks v's Saracens
14:45 Northampton v's Worcester
15:00 Gloucester v's Newcastle


SUNDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2016
13:00 Exeter v's Bath
15:00 Leicester v's London Irish
15:15 Wasps v's Harlequins

Ok, so some great match up's and it's not all about Sale and Saracen's, where it just so happens two great great 10's will be doing their thing.

[kingelderfield]

Wasps 42 - 10 win over Quins........ouch

[formerly known as Sam]

Tigers defence went to hell in a hand cart when the subs were made. Particularly when Bell went into the midfield. Very disappointing to concede those late tries though LI did look noticeably better when Williams and Geraghty came on.

Agreed LT, Thacker was very good. Perfect lineout, all over the park, solid at the scrum and a menace ball in hand. We need to find a way for him to be in the squad every week. McCaffery had a good game and it was noticeable when he came off.

[LondonTiger]

Whole structure went to pants afte the "6th" try was rulked out. Given by the ref, then reviewed after conversion attempted. (unlike JDV's where ref did not initially gibvve, and Burns took a sneaky conversion but had to retake it).

Alongside the lack of structure th eref seemed to be applkying pity tactics and frankly at times was a 16th player for LI

[formerly known as Sam]

There was definitely some sympathy decisions going on. Did you get a good view of the tackle on Burns after he chipped through in the first half. Looked like the last LI winger took him out off the ball as he went for the catch but I don't know how much was in it?

Same winger who took out Thompstone when he went for the crossfield on the same side in the first half.

[LondonTiger]

It looked like a head high stiff arm tackle to me - but was no replayed. Was surprise ref did not look at it.

[formerly known as Sam]

I was expecting him to call play back for the TMO. Interesting that he decided the LI tackle on Croft which was near identical to the Haskell on Murray incident yesterday was deemed play on and not penalty plus yellow card. Which should have been the same decision for Haskell.

Manu made some showy big tackles, a couple of the LI boys will be feeling those tomorrow. He looks too rusty for international rugby at present and yet exactly what England need. How long will Jones wait, hopefully let him play vs Chiefs at least.

[king_carlos]

I've been away for the weekend again so haven't had a chance to see the games.

Watching the Tigers - LI highlights the main thing that catches my eye is the quality of handling in the build up to the tries. Thackers pick up for his try, Fitzgerald out the back off load and about 4 different passes in the build up to Croft scoring are really pleasing to watch. Especially after some of the frankly sh**e handling that Tigers showed last season.

The LI defence looks really poor though. Granted it's just the highlights I've seen but the ease with which Burns seems to be getting past the first man and getting his arms free is really poor, as is the very soft drift defence at times. Was it a case of building pressure that caused these lapses or was it just a poor day at the office for LI?

Also for anyone who watched Chiefs vs Bath... How did Sam Hill and Kyle Eastmond shape up against one another? It was a match up that took my eye when I saw the team sheets with a guy who looks to be on the radar for England now against someone who seems to have drifted from favour.

[kingelderfield]

Wonderful game of rugby yesterday in Coventry, a genuine advert for the professional club game unlike the weekend's 6N's which were lacking by comparison. How would that Wasps side fare against England?

Anyway that aside, on reflection you have to concede the number of call ups and injuries (6 & 2=8) Quins were light when compared to the 6 (3&3) Wasps were missing, especially when you compare the relative depth of squads.

Final thought; Cooper-Woolley's best game and oh dear oh dear me, young Kyle Sinckler maybe in hot water for a very dangerous head first no arm attempted clear out. He was really only saved by the clumsiness of his attempt and the opposing player falling out of the way, but for my money his violent intent was clear to see.

[LondonTiger]

k_c,

In terms of Tiger's attack v LI defence it was a case of both. We had wave upon wave of attack, with the running lines and point of attack consistently changing. However the LI defence was poorly organised and missed far too many first up tackles. Brophy Clews really struggled all day in attack and defence, but he is a young man and was getting no help from his team-mates at all. His kicking from hand and tee in the wrmups was not good and may have hit his confidence - we saw Fenby an Ojo taking the kicks to touch from penalties.

All in all promising from Leicester - we seem to be turning into a hard ground team, but the skills on display need to be viewed in the context of LIs display too. As one LI wag in the stand called out "Are we London Welsh in disguise"

[TightHEAD]

I was in Exeter this weekend on business and thought I'd pop along and watch Exeter v Bath, what a truly awful performance from Bath, they just didn't look up for it from the way they were warming up before the game, maybe they were hung over from the night before or maybe they already knew they would lose but something has to change behind the scenes as they are not a happy club.

I know they are missing players on international duty but I don't think I've seen a Professional club look so down before the KO.

Ford has to go.

[yappysnap]

Even though I knew the score for some reason I thought I'd watch the Quins game.

Imagine my surprise when I realise there must be some mistake and the Harlequins amateur side seem to be playing, not bad by the pub team to manage a few points against their professional opponents.

[king_carlos]

k_c,

In terms of Tiger's attack v LI defence it was a case of both. We had wave upon wave of attack, with the running lines and point of attack consistently changing. However the LI defence was poorly organised and missed far too many first up tackles. Brophy Clews really struggled all day in attack and defence, but he is a young man and was getting no help from his team-mates at all. His kicking from hand and tee in the wrmups was not good and may have hit his confidence - we saw Fenby an Ojo taking the kicks to touch from penalties.

All in all promising from Leicester - we seem to be turning into a hard ground team, but the skills on display need to be viewed in the context of LIs display too. As one LI wag in the stand called out "Are we London Welsh in disguise"

Cheers LT. About what you'd expect from the reports then. I hadn't seen that Fenby and Ojo were taking kicks to touch though, hopefully that doesn't knock the youngsters confidence too much. Young guys who have tough games can react very positively and kick on or it can really stall their progress. Hopefully Brophy Clews kicks on.

The ease with which Burns was making half breaks against him seemed indicative of a young guy who was slightly behind the physicality. I'm surprised that LI didn't look to shift him to the wing to give him a bit of a break from it when defending.

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