Gallagher Premiership 2019/20

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Table

Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Pts Difference	Bonus	Points
1	Northampton Saints	7	5	2	0	194	146	48	3	23
2	Exeter Chiefs	6	4	2	0	142	97	45	4	20
3	Gloucester Rugby	7	3	4	0	149	121	28	6	18
4	Bristol Bears	7	3	3	1	157	165	-8	4	18
5	Bath Rugby	7	4	3	0	139	145	-6	1	17
6	Worcester Warriors	7	4	3	0	122	144	-22	1	17
7	Sale Sharks	7	3	4	0	144	105	39	5	17
8	Harlequins	7	3	3	1	158	169	-11	3	17
9	London Irish	7	2	4	1	128	179	-51	2	12
10	Wasps	7	2	5	0	134	191	-57	3	11
11	Leicester Tigers	7	1	5	1	118	191	-76	0	6
12	Saracens	6	5	1	0	158	87	71	-32	-13

Bath
Last Season - 6th

Players in: Lewis Boyce (Prop), Christian Judge (Prop), Will Stuart (Prop), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Josh McNally (Second Row), Ollie Fox (Scrum Half)
Promoted from Academy: Miles Reid, Will Vaughan, Sam Nixon, Tom de Glanville, Will Britton, Jack Davies, Tom Doughty, Levi Davis promoted (X Factor permitting)

Players Out: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Paul Grant (Back Row), Luke Charteris (Second Row), James Wilson (Utility Back), Kahn Fotuali'i (Scrum Half), Jacques van Rooyen (Prop), Jack Wilson (Wing), Cooper Vuna (Wing), Anthony Perenise (Prop), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker), Max Lahiff (Prop)


Bristol Bears
Last Season - 9th

Players in: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Nathan Hughes (Back Row), Nicky Thomas (Prop), Max Lahiff (Prop), Tyrese Johnson-Fisher (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Sam Bedlow, John Hawkins, Toby Fricker

Players out: Nick Haining (Back Row), George Smith (Back Row), Nick Fenton-Wells (Back Row), Joe Latta (Second Row), Tusi Pisi (Fly Half), Sione Faletau (Prop), Jack Lam (Back Row)


Exeter Chiefs
Last Season: Runners Up

Players in: Stuart Hogg (Full Back), Will Witty (Second Row), Tom Price (Second Row), Stan South (Utility Forward), Jannes Kirsten (Utility Forward), Jacques Vermeulen (Utility Forward)

Players out: Santiago Cordero (Wing/FB), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Moray Low (Prop), Ollie Atkins (Second Row), Mitch Lees (Second Row)


Gloucester
Last Season: 3rd

Players in: Joe Simpson (Scrum Half), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), Chris Harris (Centre), Corne Fourie (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Charlie Chapman, Alex Seville, Alex Craig, Ciaran Knight, Tom Seabrook, Henry Walker

Players out: Paddy McAllister (Prop), Gareth Denman (Prop), Kyle Traynor (Prop) Tom Savage (Second Row), Gareth Evans (Back Row), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Henry Purdy (Centre/Wing)


Harlequins
Last Season 4th

Players in: Santiago Garcias Botta (Prop), Martin Landajo (Scrum Half), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Scott Baldwin (Hooker), Stephan Lewies (Second Row), Glen Young (Second Row), Will Evans (Flanker), Simon Kerrod (Prop), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Travis Ismaiel (Wing), Veriniki Goneva (Wing), Tevita Cavubati (Second Row)

Players out: Alofa Alofa (Utility Back), George Merrick (Second Row), Lewis Boyce (Prop), James Horwill (Second Row), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop), Tim Visser (Wing), Charlie Walker(Wing), Demitir Catrakilis (Fly Half), Mat Luamanu (Back Row), Luke Wallace (Flanker), Stan South (Second Row), Dave Ward (Hooker), Dave Lewis (Scrum Half), Ben Glynn (Second Row)


Leicester Tigers
Last season 11th

Players in: Jordan Taufua (Back Row), Noel Reid (Fly Half/Centre), Calum Green (Second Row), Jaco Taute (Centre), Tomas Lavanini (Second Row), Nephi Leatigaga (Prop), Charlie Clare (Hooker), Joe Thomas (Centre), Johnny McPhillips (Fly Half), EW Viljoen (Utility Back), Hanro Liebenberg (Back Row), Jordan Coghlan (Back Row)
Promoted from Academy: Tom Hardwicke, Joe Heyes, Sam Lewis, Jordan Olowefela, Tommy Reffell, Sam Aspland Robinson, Harry Simmons, Ben White

Players out: Matt Toomua (Centre), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Mathew Tait (Utility Back), Will Evans (Flanker), Tom Varndell (Winger), James Voss (Second Row), Matt Smith (Centre), Gareth Owen (Centre), Michael Fitzgerald (Second Row), Brendon O'Connor (Back Row), Valentino Mapapalangi (Back Row), Fred Tuilagi (Back Row), Leonardo Sarto (Wing),  Joe Ford (Fly Half), David Feao (Prop), David Denton (Back Row), Ross McMillan (Hooker), Campese Ma'afu (Prop), Charlie Thacker (Centre)


London Irish
Last Season: Promoted

Players in: Allan Dell (Prop), Nick Phipps (Scrum Half), Curtis Rona (Wing), Sean O'Brien (Back Row), Sekope Kepu (Prop), Paddy Jackson (Fly Half), Waisake Naholo (Wing), Adam Coleman (Second Row), Ruan Botha (Second Row), Steve Mafi (Utility Forward), George Nott (Utility Forward)

Players Out: Josh McNally (Second Row), Ian Keatley (Fly Half), Brendan McKibbin (Centre), Mike Coman (Back Row), Tommy Bell (Utility Back), Topsy Ojo (Wing), Fergus Mulchrone (Centre), Luke McLean (Full Back), Sebastian de Chaves (Second Row), Ofisa Treviranus (Back Row), Greig Tonks (Utility Back),  Napolioni Nalaga (Wing), Sam Twomey (Second Row), Filo Paulo (Second Row), Manasa Saulo (Prop)


Northampton Saints
Last Season: 4th

Players in: Matt Proctor (Utility back), Owen Franks (Prop), Ryan Olowofela (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker)
Promoted from Academy: Ehren Painter, Fraser Dingwall,  James Grayson,  Alex Mitchell,  Alex Moon

Players Out: Luther Burrell (Centre), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), James Craig (Utility Forward), James Haskell (Back Row), Dominic Barrow (Second Row), Nafi Tuitavake (Wing), Ken Pisi (Centre)


Sale Sharks
Last Season: 7th

Players in: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Robert du Preez (Fly Half), Akker van der Merwe (Hooker), Lood de Jager (Second Row), Coenie Oosthuizen (Prop), Dan du Preez (Utility Forward), Jean-Luc du Preez (Back Row), Simon Hammersley (Full Back), Mark Wilson (Back Row)

Players Out: Andrei Ostrikov (Second Row), Mark Jennings (Centre), Alexandru Țăruș (Prop), Johnny Leota (Centre),  Paolo Odogwu (Wing), James O'Connor (Utility Back), Josh Strauss (Back Row), George Nott (Utility Forward)


Saracens
Last Season: Champions

Players in: Elliot Daly (Utility back), Rhys Carré (Prop), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Alistair Crossdale, Dominic Morris

Players out: Christopher Tolofua (Hooker), Sione Vailanu (Back Row), Hayden Thompson-Stringer (Prop), David Strettle (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half) Dominic Day (Second Row), Marcelo Bosch (Centre), Schalk Burger (Back Row)


Wasps
Last Season: 8th

Players in: Malakai Fekitoa (Centre), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Prop), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Matteo Minozzi (Utility back), Sione Vailanu (Back row), Biyi Alo (Prop), Paolo Odogwu (Wing), Zach Kibirige (wing)
Promoted from academy:  Will Porter,  Callum Sirker,  Sam Spink,  Tom Willis,  Tim Cardall,  Gabriel Oghre,  Owain James, Jacob Umaga

Players out: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Nathan Hughes (Back row), Will Stuart (Prop), Elliot Daly (Centre), Joe Simpson (Scrum half), Willie le Roux (Full Back), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Kearnan Myall (Second Row), Gabiriele Lovobalavu (Centre), Matt Mullan (Prop)


Worcester Warriors
Last Season 10th

Players in: Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Jono Kitto (Scrum Half), Melani Nanai (Wing), Ed Fidow (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Andrew Kitchener,  Ted Hill

Players out:  Bryce Heem (Wing), Josh Adams (Wing), Darren Barry (Second Row), Wynand Olivier (Centre), Dewald Potgieter (Back row), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Jonny Arr (Scrum half), Carl Kirwan (Back row), Luke Baldwin (Scrum Half), Ben Te'o (Centre), Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Back row)

Leicester Tigers (v Saracens, Welford Road, Sunday 3.00pm)

15 George Worth
14 Adam Thompstone
13 EW Viljoen
12 Kyle Eastmond      
11 Jonah Holmes      
10 Noel Reid  
9 Ben White
1 Greg Bateman
2 Jake Kerr    
3 Joe Heyes
4 Will Spencer
5 Calum Green (c)
6 Hanro Liebenberg
7 Tommy Reffell
8 Guy Thompson

Replacements
16 Charlie Clare
17 Facundo Gigena  
18 Nephi Leatigaga    
19 Harry Wells
20 Sione Kalamafoni  
21 Sam Harrison
22 Tom Hardwick
23 Jordan Olowofela

Saracens: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Richard Barrington, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Will Skelton, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 6 Calum Clark, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Jackson Wray (c)
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Ralph Adams-Hale, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Callum Hunter-Hill, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Rotimi Segun

Damn Sarries have got some serious strength in depth. No TV for Tigers is a blow as he's electric and could have given our attack a boost.

Looks like I am spending my birthday surrounded by family and watching Sarries B team kick our arse. That is a scary looking pack. Wonder if Malins is injured?

LondonTiger wrote:Looks like I am spending my birthday surrounded by family and watching Sarries B team kick our arse. That is a scary looking pack. Wonder if Malins is injured?

Both Goode and Malins injured. Probably lucky for us. Need to get stuck into young Vunipola early and see if we can put him off his game.

Harlequins Starting XV:

1 Santiago Garcia Botta (3)
2 Scott Baldwin (3) (VC)
3 Will Collier (155)
4 Stephan Lewies (3)
5 Matt Symons (28) (VC)
6 Chris Robshaw (Captain) (278)
7 Will Evans (4)
8 Tom Lawday (3)
9 Martin Landajo (4) (VC)
10 Marcus Smith (62)
11 Gabriel Ibitoye (23)
12 Ben Tapuai (25)
13 Joe Marchant (83)
14 Cadan Murley (17)
15 Aaron Morris (34)

Game Changers:

16 Elia Elia (39)
17 Mark Lambert (243)
18 Simon Kerrod (5)
19 Glen Young (4)
20 Alex Dombrandt (28)
21 Niall Saunders (9)
22 James Lang (52)
23 Ross Chisholm (105)

15. Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Siale Piutau, 11. Mat Protheroe; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. John Afoa, 4. Joe Joyce, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16. Shaun Malton, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Lewis Thiede, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Will Hurrell.

Ex-Wasp half-back pairing for a strong looking Glaws team who are likely going to tear Wasps a new one tomorrow afternoon. Won't be a great afternoon for Dan Robson to win his 100th Wasp cap, I fear.

Wasps:
******
Watson, Kibirige, Fekitoa, De Jong, Bassett, Sopoaga, Robson
Zhvania, Taylor, Brookes, Gaskell, Flament, Shields, Carr, Vailanu

Oghre, Harris, Toomaga-Allen, Cardall, Johnson, Wolstenholme, Umaga, Miller


Glaws:
*****
Woodward, Marshall, 36, Atkinson, Thorley, Cips, Simpson
Rapava-Ruskin, Marais, Ford-Robinson, Slater, Grobler, Ludlow, Kriel, Ackermann

Fourie, Hohneck, Balmain, Clarke, Morgan, Polledri, Braley, Banahan

Why do Quins need three vice-captains?

Why do Wasps only need seven forwards?

LondonTiger wrote:Why do Quins need three vice-captains?

Had'nt noticed that!
Leadership group..... !

SirBurger wrote:Why do Wasps only need seven forwards?

Jack Willis wasn't fit, and we decided he was irreplaceable....

Nothing to do with me being rubbish.

Rinsure wrote:

SirBurger wrote:Why do Wasps only need seven forwards?

Jack Willis wasn't fit, and we decided he was irreplaceable....  

Nothing to do with me being rubbish.

Fair enough...he was by far and away your best player last week. Fear a bit for Wasps this season sadly.

Looks like after tomorrow's it'll be Tigers and Wasps propping up the table. 15 years ago that would have been unthinkable. How many are Wasps missing? Tigers should be getting 9 expected first teamers back inside the next few weeks so there's almost an excuse.

Saracens are missing Vunipola x2, Carre, George, Singleton, Koch, Itoje, Kruis, Farrell, Daly and Williams. Plus injuries to Figallo, Rhodes, Barritt, Goode and Malins off top of my head.

My hope for tomorrow is to see the set-piece stay strong against the Sarries machine and a hugely improved kicking display. The kicking from hand against Worcs was dire at times. Hardwick on the bench reduces kicking options in the starting XV as well.

I'm excited (and worried in equal measure) to see Green and Spencer up against Skelton and Isiekwe. I rate Isiekwe extremely highly.

Reffell vs Earl is a battle of two hugely talented opensides as well.

I expect Tompkins and Lozowski to cause Eastmond and Viljeon huge problems in defence though.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Looks like after tomorrow's it'll be Tigers and Wasps propping up the table. 15 years ago that would have been unthinkable. How many are Wasps missing? Tigers should be getting 9 expected first teamers back inside the next few weeks so there's almost an excuse.

Yeah, about that. We're missing... Joe Launchbury. I think that's it. Minozzi has joined up with the club, but is yet to feature, and I think that's it. Thomas Young, Jack Willis, Jimmy Gopperth to come back from injury, but, hey, everyone has injuries.

We got humped in the wet today by Glaws, no complaints. They did a job on us. Predictably Simpson scored a brace, and we were pretty dreadful. Had a mini-resurgence after half time, but not enough.

Fekitoa got binned for a cheap shot in a ruck, Sopoaga gifted a try by dropping the ball... we are not, repeat not, in good shape.

Wasps and Tigers look in fairly similar places to be honest. First XVs look dangerous on paper, depth is more questionable and then the execution on the field is at times embarrassing.

I do have a lot of hope for this Tigers squad, particularly the improved back row and young players coming through. The lack of accuracy in key areas of the game is so frustrating though.

king_carlos wrote:Saracens are missing Vunipola x2, Carre, George, Singleton, Koch, Itoje, Kruis, Farrell, Daly and Williams. Plus injuries to Figallo, Rhodes, Barritt, Goode and Malins off top of my head.

My hope for tomorrow is to see the set-piece stay strong against the Sarries machine and a hugely improved kicking display. The kicking from hand against Worcs was dire at times. Hardwick on the bench reduces kicking options in the starting XV as well.

I'm excited (and worried in equal measure) to see Green and Spencer up against Skelton and Isiekwe. I rate Isiekwe extremely highly.

Reffell vs Earl is a battle of two hugely talented opensides as well.

I expect Tompkins and Lozowski to cause Eastmond and Viljeon huge problems in defence though.

The Sarries strength in depth is terrifying. The cohesion even with so many big names missing is a bid to the excellence of the coaches. They were unlucky to lose last weekend and will be fired up. Agree their centre combo are very good but the flyhalf is very raw, we need to get into him.

Tigers have to start making WR a fortress again so I just hope our boys are feeling mean. If someone smashes Calum Clark early on then the Welford Road crowd will be in full voice to drive them on.

Agreed on Sarries. It's the way their squad players perform so well within their structures that's so impressive.

Barrington and Wray are good players but in most sides they'd just be run of mill Prem players. With the Sarries coaching and systems they have put in some brilliant performances though. Barrington has developed into a rock in the scrum and Wray gets through a huge volume of work.

Players such as Lamositele have improved out of sight as well within their set-up.

Spencer vs White could be a really tough match-up if White plays as he did against Worcester.

Spencer Vs White would have been tough but Spencer is off to Japan. Sarries back up is pretty good.

Big loss for Sarries but as you say Wigglesworth isn't a bad replacement. Then again Wigglesworth has been coaching at the RWC so wont have had a full preseason.

Tigers execution at key times is once again painfully frustrating but there have been some bright spots.

Viljeon and Reffell have once again impressed.

As I send that Viljeon gets charged down from a terribly planned exit.

I can see why Tigers are looking to get the ball to Viljeon to use his huge boot (a welcome addition) but to do so by throwing a flat pass, in our 22 and with no dummy runners is just abysmal.

We're playing in the wrong areas so often it's giving Sarries an easy time of it. Running the ball in our own half is just giving Sarries an open invitation to try for turnovers and easy territory. We are kicking when under pressure an not from a position of strength so often most our forwards are on the floor and it's to easy for Sarries to make it to half way. Foley is rewarding the team he sees as in ascendency, get in their half and apply pressure and we'll get the rub of the green Sarries have enjoyed.

Reid has had a shocker quite frankly. Just no control and no subtly to his play. I'd be tempted to swap him and Hardwick at half time, allow him to be the secondary playmaker and look to get more from the backs that way.

Agree in the charge down. We should have been looking for a crash ball off of first phase. Quick recycle and then switch play to the blindside and use EWV's massive boot. On the favoured side for a right footer.

Agree on Reid switching to 12. I rate him highly and think he could be a shrewd signing but looks like a man out of position. Reid and Viljeon would complement each other well as centres.

White has had another tough game.

My point in case. How stupid to pass it back 10 metres into our own half. The whole line is there ready, that's the time to hoist up the bomb.

Tackling has to be better than that.

Such poor game management. Twice we are going nowhere on halfway and instead of kicking in behind it gets forced and turned over.

That's better from White. Calls the mark when others wouldn't to buy some breathing space then puts an excellent touch finder in.

I'd bring Gigena on now to pressure Lamositele more.

Great read by Thommo.

Unsure whether that's Foley's incompetence or the touch judge. Straight in at the side.

Huge scrum from Tigers. Good to see Gigena and Leatigaga showing up well there.

Hopefully the line-out can back it up now...

Woolstencroft has been terrific since coming on for Sarries.

He's been excellent all game. Between him and Earle for man of the match.

I can't believe the number of seatbelt tackles that haven't been called.

Since Reffell went of the breakdown work has dropped off noticeably.

Ben Earl is another hugely talented openside coming through and he's been slowing ball down all half.

Our attack play has looked a lot better with Kalamafoni on though. Reffell was too quiet in attack.

Too many knock ons. It's killed us. We've looked better as the game has gone on, it's just too little.

The quality of that kick sums up the difference in execution. A metre off the 22 and perfectly judged for Maitland to contest.

Of course it's Earl who collects as well.

(Not sure why I thought Woolstencroft had been subbed on early for Gray...)

Stanko must have put some serious hours in with Leatigaga. He's looking destructive in the scrum and Gigena has carried on as he finished last season.

Last play sums up our attack.

Agreed scrum looks good.

We have to find some way to get people over the gain line consistently because we didn't. Those half backs can't be in those shirts next week.

1.Gigena 2.Kerr 3.Heyes 4.Lavanini 5.Green 6.Kalamafoni 7.Reffell 8.Thompson
9.Harrison 10.Hardwick 11.Holmes 12.Reid 13.Viljeon 14.Thompstone 15.Veainu

16.Clare 17.Bateman 18.Leatigaga 19.Wells 20.Liebenberg 21.Simmons 22.Worth 23.Olowofela

Got to just target getting points on the table next week. Losing two home games on the bounce in the opening three rounds would sling us into the relegation battle once again.

Liebenburg was one of our best players I wouldn't bench him. He was hitting rucks and making tackles all over the place. Bateman got through a lot of carrying work, I don't think we can leave him out at the minute. Need those carries. If Bateman is going to the bench then we need to start Leatigaga to make up the difference as a combination of Heyes and Gigena won't do enough.

I'd be tempted to beef up the backrow in the short term and have Reffell off the bench as impact. Once Ford is back and we have some control and width to our play we can go back to the twin openside approach but at the minute we could do with the brute force. Use the scrum and the maul, play the territory.

I cannot countenance Viljoen playing again. He was so bad that I was hankering for Gareth Owen to come back.

LondonTiger wrote:I cannot countenance Viljoen playing again. He was so bad that I was hankering for Gareth Owen to come back.

I thought his defensive work against Lozowski and Tompkins was one of the brighter spots to be honest.

He offered nought in attack but running down dark alleys. When the backline is just yo-yoing from touchline to touchline without any momentum, shape or threat offered that's unsurprising from a 13 though.

Tbh I did not notice the defence, especially as in the second half they were at the other end from me.

What stood out was the lack of any obvious attack and the kicking. Twice missing touch from penalties was appalling, exacerbated by choosing to kick to the touchline further away. The incident with the charge down was bizarre at the least. No idea how he escaped a YC.

EWV looked to be severely lacking match fitness. He wasn't sharp and Reid passing on the kicking duties didn't help. I like it as a tactic for the season though, that's a boot that can kick a good 60 odd metres, just needs to refine bias accuracy. At least defensively the 13 channel wasn't a revolving door like it was with Gareth Owen. He needs to show something in attack though as our lack of penetration in the backline killed us.

Taute is back training which would be a huge boost along with Lavanini and Veainu hopefully coming into the XV.

The charge down was a embarrassing. Trying to exit in our 22 by throwing two flat passes with no runners to hold the defence then Viljeon attempting the kick with Lozowski on top of him.

Oh dear. I missed the game but have it recorded to watch. Judging from these comments I'd perhaps be best to avoid it? Any positives to take away from it at all? Did Reffell go well up against Earl?

bluestonevedder wrote:Oh dear. I missed the game but have it recorded to watch. Judging from these comments I'd perhaps be best to avoid it? Any positives to take away from it at all? Did Reffell go well up against Earl?

Reffell looked good, but Earl was better.

Thompson as always was magnificent. Scrum went well and Thompstone and Holmes showed some pace. Spencer and Eastmond going off in the first quarter did not help, nor did a subdued 70% full stadium.

LondonTiger wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:Oh dear. I missed the game but have it recorded to watch. Judging from these comments I'd perhaps be best to avoid it? Any positives to take away from it at all? Did Reffell go well up against Earl?

Reffell looked good, but Earl was better.

Thompson as always was magnificent. Scrum went well and Thompstone and Holmes showed some pace. Spencer and Eastmond going off in the first quarter did not help, nor did a subdued 70% full stadium.

I'd agree with all that.

Scrum has kept improving from last season. Line-out is showing some improvement with Green but still needs to get a lot better. Defence has also shown signs of growth.

The attacking shape and game control was shocking again though. As we knew last season the only semblance of attacking shape or game management came from Ford. Then what little threat we showed in the outside backs came largely from Manu and May. Without them the backline looks listless.

It's a frustrating watch. The knock ons under minimal contact killed any momentum we got in attack. The Reid/White combo for schooled by Wigglesworth in the territory battle.

Defence much better than last season, lineout went pretty well and as LT says we were good in the scrum and dominated in the second half particularly.

With Line-Outs we were winning the ball, then too often not setting up the maul well.