Gallagher Premiership 2020/21

First topic message reminder :

The new season starts next weekend. What are people's hopes and expectations?

Oops - just realised that may have been the first try I missed before tuning in and they were replaying it at half time ...

Hooper is out of his depth. Imagine what Dean Richards could do if he was in charge of Bath.

Well GF will be happy - although not sure why they didn't go for the TBP at the end ...

Emergency came up and had to go out....couldnt watch the game. Just got in and I'm speachless...

Jasper Wiese on his Tigers debut reminds me of Jono Ross which I mean as a huge compliment. Just the sort of back row signing we needed.

Wigglesworth has made big impact with his leadership and Taute has had his best game for Tigers too.

25-15 with 25 minutes left and 3 tries already scored is the sort of position Tigers need to start turning in TBP wins. Fingers crossed but plenty of positives.

I really rate Jordy Reid as a signing by Gloucester too. His work in the build up to Simpson's try was excellent.

C'mon Tigers!

Just as the whistle goes for England to win, Tigers secure the TBP through Charlie clare.

It's not been pretty and Gloucester haven't played well but Tigers need to start winning and it's looking like a 5 point win to start the season.

king_carlos wrote:C'mon Tigers!

Just as the whistle goes for England to win, Tigers secure the TBP through Charlie clare.

It's not been pretty and Gloucester haven't played well but Tigers need to start winning and it's looking like a 5 point win to start the season.

Not been pretty? We scored from our own 22. I had dual screens with both games on but the Tigers/Glaws games held my attention more. Wasn't a polished performance from either side but I thought Glaws looked dangerous when we weren't on top of them, our defence just bullied them.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

king_carlos wrote:C'mon Tigers!

Just as the whistle goes for England to win, Tigers secure the TBP through Charlie clare.

It's not been pretty and Gloucester haven't played well but Tigers need to start winning and it's looking like a 5 point win to start the season.

Not been pretty? We scored from our own 22. I had dual screens with both games on but the Tigers/Glaws games held my attention more. Wasn't a polished performance from either side but I thought Glaws looked dangerous when we weren't on top of them, our defence just bullied them.

The van wyk try was lovely of course - Wigglesworth showing his good decision making. I thought Taute's pass to Potter with the lovely grubber for Wigglesworth's try was a good touch as well. Jordy Reid's half break and off load in the build up to Simpson's try was a good bit of attacking play for Gloucester.

Outside of that I felt it was a scrappy game from both sides with Tigers putting in the better defensive and kicking display.

I'll take it though that's for sure.

Good day to be an English Newcastle fan.

king_carlos wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

king_carlos wrote:C'mon Tigers!

Just as the whistle goes for England to win, Tigers secure the TBP through Charlie clare.

It's not been pretty and Gloucester haven't played well but Tigers need to start winning and it's looking like a 5 point win to start the season.

Not been pretty? We scored from our own 22. I had dual screens with both games on but the Tigers/Glaws games held my attention more. Wasn't a polished performance from either side but I thought Glaws looked dangerous when we weren't on top of them, our defence just bullied them.

The van wyk try was lovely of course - Wigglesworth showing his good decision making. I thought Taute's pass to Potter with the lovely grubber for Wigglesworth's try was a good touch as well. Jordy Reid's half break and off load in the build up to Simpson's try was a good bit of attacking play for Gloucester.

Outside of that I felt it was a scrappy game from both sides with Tigers putting in the better defensive and kicking display.

I'll take it though that's for sure.

I'll take that display (and scoreline every week). Things can certainly be polished but we lost some of the limited pre season due to the Covid outbreak. Think that showed in the lineout though when Glaws took Slater off any lineout defence they had pretty much went with him.

What I really like is the new look to the pack. No shoehorning a lock into 6 the South African lads are all big mobile units. Allows Reffell to concentrate on his game as well. Weise looks like he's the 8 we've been missing for some time. An animal in attack and defence and Liebenburg is similar. Brink when he came on is massive and looks to be another monster. Got to love more physicality in the forward pack, sets the tone for the young lads to emulate.

Cumbrian wrote:Good day to be an English Newcastle fan.

That's a rarity...

Both clearly the better teams on the day and Falcons came close to getting a TBP ...

Cumbrian wrote:Good day to be an English Newcastle fan.

And to be an English Tigers fan. Can we freeze the table now please?

Priestland is absolute Poopie, how is he still at Bath. I would rather loss with an academy player at 10.

Someones got the table upside down.

Well done Newcastle!

TightHEAD wrote:Priestland is absolute Poopie, how is he still at Bath.  I would rather loss with an academy player at 10.

It was an odd performance from Bath it seemed that they didn't really have a defined game plan. They seemed to flit between the power game which was fairly conservative that got them moving up the table after lockdown which didn't work because they were missing too many ball carriers and Falcons defence was to good. Then they would start throwing it around the backline which would either working fantastically or lead to an error. Any error seemed to lead back to the failing power game. Not sure what was going on.

Should have been simple for Bath, win set piece ball. Run Cockansiga or Matavesi through the 10/12 channel on a flat pass. From the inevitable territory gain move the ball wide to the finishers. Connon and Flood aren't the best defenders going. I was surprised that Falcons didn't go for the bonus point at the end to be honest and the scoreline could have been a lot worse had Connon not been so useless off the tee.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Priestland is absolute Poopie, how is he still at Bath.  I would rather loss with an academy player at 10.

It was an odd performance from Bath it seemed that they didn't really have a defined game plan. They seemed to flit between the power game which was fairly conservative that got them moving up the table after lockdown which didn't work because they were missing too many ball carriers and Falcons defence was to good. Then they would start throwing it around the backline which would either working fantastically or lead to an error. Any error seemed to lead back to the failing power game. Not sure what was going on.

Should have been simple for Bath, win set piece ball. Run Cockansiga or Matavesi through the 10/12 channel on a flat pass. From the inevitable territory gain move the ball wide to the finishers. Connon and Flood aren't the best defenders going. I was surprised that Falcons didn't go for the bonus point at the end to be honest and the scoreline could have been a lot worse had Connon not been so useless off the tee.

Notable from the press conferences that both coaches talked up impact of organisation in this game, Bath their lack of and Newcastle that theyd known it was their only real chance to compete. Shows it is still a real team sport.

Not sure saying the players had a hangover form last season is the best choice of words, but you do have to question whats gone on at Bath. The non existent pre season is only really going to hit sides that have had a radical overhaul of playing staff. Whilst it was a bit of a scratch side in terms of the England chaps missing they dont really have an excuse for forgetting how to play in 3 weeks.

Tigers conversely look like they are actually playing a team for the first time in years, you'd think they had a top class coach in charge and players who wanted to be there or something.


Wasps Bristol should be a corker today, pity its falling on an international weekend but theres so many of those this year cant really be avoided.

Barbeary making an eye catching contribution again.

With the players they were missing, Bristol did really well and perhaps unlucky not to sneak the win.

Watching the first half of the Bristol Vs Wasps game and then decided to go out for a walk with the family. First half was so bad didn't bother recording the second which seems to have been an error.

Second half was much more interesting.

I also noticed that Wasps seemed to be using an old Saracens trick with Young and Willis (Sr), seeming to play left and right and staying on one side of the pitch each. By not being involved in breakdowns happening on teh other's side of the pitch enabled them to be much more quickly involved in those on their side.

LondonTiger wrote:Second half was much more interesting.

I also noticed that Wasps seemed to be using an old Saracens trick with Young and Willis (Sr), seeming to play left and right and staying on one side of the pitch each. By not being involved in breakdowns happening on teh other's side of the pitch enabled them to be much more quickly involved in those on their side.

The McCaw, Read and Kaino back row used to do similar for the ABs. Read and Kaino would stand pretty wide on each side with McCaw trusted to fill in everything in between.

If you have two players as dangerous at the breakdown as Young and Willis then it makes a lot of sense.

Barbeary is a huge talent. Hopefully he starts getting game time at hooker soon to nail his basics. Taylor and Cruse are very solid hookers for him to work past.

Team for Sale Friday @ KP

Same team up...Adam Radwan v Simon Hammersley on the wing...now that could be fun!!!
But this could be a long day at the office. (I did say that against Bath aswell mind)

15 Tom Penny
14 Adam Radwan
13 Luther Burrell
12 Toby Flood
11 Ben Stevenson
10 Brett Connon
9 Michael Young (captain)

1 Trevor Davison
2 George McGuigan
3 Logovi’i Mulipola
4 Greg Peterson
5 Marco Fuser
6 Sean Robinson
7 Connor Collett
8 Gary Graham

Replacements
16 Jamie Blamire
17 Adam Brocklebank
18 Mark Tampin
19 Darren Barry
20 Josh Basham
21 Sam Stuart
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Pete Lucock

Sale fro trip to Falcons

15. Luke James,
14. Denny Solomona,
13. Sam James,
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg,
11. Simon Hammersley,
10. AJ MacGinty,
9. Faf De Klerk;

1. Valerey Morozov,
2. Akker van der Merwe,
3. Coenie Oosthuizen,
4. Cobus Wiese,
5. James Phillips,
6. Jean-Luc du Preez
7. Ben Curry (captain),
8. Daniel du Preez

Replacements: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19. Matt Postlethwaite, 20. Sam Dugdale 21. Will Cliff, 22. Rob du Preez, 23. Marland Yarde.

That's a BIG backrow. Plenty of impact on the bench as well. Hopeful of another result this weekend.

London Irish:
15 Tom Homer, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben Meehan, 1 Allan Dell, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 George Nott, 5 Andrei Mahu, 6 Seán O’Brien, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 Matt Rogerson (c)

Replacement
16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Theo Brophy Clews, 23 Tom Parton

that's a strong LI team though. Hopefully we can turn the screw up front and build from there though.

We're still missing Coleman who was a big influence before the lock-down break

GLOUCESTER: 15. Jason Woodward 14. Ollie Thorley 13. Billy Twelvetrees (c) 12. Mark Atkinson 11. Tom Seabrook 10. Lloyd Evans 9. Joe Simpson 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin 2. Jack Singleton 3. Jack Stanley 4. Ed Slater 5. Matt Garvey 6. Freddie Clarke 7. Jordy Reid 8. Ruan Ackermann

Replacements: 16. James Hanson 17. Jamal Ford-Robinson 18. Ciaran Knight 19. Alex Craig 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Will Flinn 22. Henry Trinder 23. Kyle Moyle

WASPS: 15. Lima Sopoaga, 14. Zach Kibirige, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. Sam Wolstenhome; 1. Ben Harris, 2. Tom Cruse, 3. Kieran Brookes, 4. Tim Cardall, 5. James Gaskell, 6. Alfie Barbeary, 7. Thomas Young (c), Tom Willis.

Subs: Tommy Taylor, Tom West, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Levi Douglas, Ben Morris, Ben Vellacott, Charlie Atkinson, Paolo Odogwu.

Last week's man-of-the-match Jack Willis is absent due to his involvement with England while fellow back rower Brad Shields is ruled out with an ankle injury. His replacement that day Tom Willis, who scored the late match-winning try, starts at number eight.

Jacob Umaga's absence after failing head injury protocols prompts a reshuffle in the backline that sees Jimmy Gopperth move infield to fly-half and Michael Le Bourgeois brought in at inside centre.

There's rotation elsewhere too as Sam Wolstenhome makes his first Premiership start with Ben Vellacott switching to the bench, while Ben Harris and Tom Cruse are in the front row with Tommy Taylor and Tom West on the bench. Simon McIntyre, who started against Bristol, is left out of the 23-man squad.

Academy back Charlie Atkinson is selected in a matchday squad for the first time since he was knocked unconscious by Owen Farrell's red card tackle for Saracens back in September.

Heaf wrote:We're still missing Coleman who was a big influence before the lock-down break

Yeah we're missing Lavanini, would have been fun to see them facing off.

Well its not pretty but at least we're nore physical again...finally...

If we play like this all season at least its an improvement on the dire we've watched for years.

And i know ive championed him for years and he taught Itoje a lesson in lock play the other year.but how good is Sean Robinson. Playing 6/8 tonight...sheer class

Dammit...

Huge call not to take the kick there

Wwooohohhohohohooo get in you falcons!!!!!!

Great result for Falcons as they nick it at the death.

2 from 2, you would have got decent odds on that!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well its not pretty but at least we're nore physical again...finally...

If we play like this all season at least its an improvement on the dire we've watched for years.

I'm sorry but this game wasn't exactly entertainment. Good to see Falcons back to being a tough side. Looks like they'll be no walkovers in the Prem this season (touch wood, fingers crossed before Tigers game tomorrow). 

Great result for Falcons now two from two. Sale cannot be happy with that. Flacons pulled them into an arm wrestle and had the players to make that work, that's normally Sale's gambit with their physical team. Falcons look so very coherent, particularly in defence and with the experience at 9 and 12 the tactical decision making is good.

Yeah its not entertaining but at the moment i can hack that lol.

We have a few leaders showing up..Robinson,  Mcguigan,  Graham. They're quality players...and the supporting cast are following them like Collett, Davison etc.

Ive been very critical for a long time but Ive always said i dont care if we lose as long as we are physical and aggressive...and actually have a go at teams. Thats all i want.

Well im seeing more of it in these two games. Fingers crossed thats a chamge in the tactics.  

Lets see how we go.. we'll need to bring in our backs eventually though...in an offensive manner.

Where did Falcons find their locks? Good team, maybe a little old though.

Fuser is the italian international...and Peterson is a USA international. Was at Leicester but did nothing and was at Glasgow whos fans said he was pretty good.

He is certainly delivering for us. He was very impressive last seaaon...but that was the championship. We'll see if he can continue on.

Sean Robinson wa playing 6/8 tonight..hes brilliant. A local lad through the academy. One of the best locks in the league...

Dean likes his experienced players...but i wouldnt say it was old. Plus we have a raft of hugely talented academy kids waiting to come in.

Maybe Dean is finally ready to start trusting them

Both locks were good finds. Wish Dragons would have bought them. I suppose Falcons could look to strengthen next year by targeting George Kruis...

We have the lowest salary budget in the league. No way we could afford Kruis.

But we have a couple of crackers coming through the academy in the lock area so we should be ok there

I presume Robinson will return to the row when Wilson and or Welch return GF? What I like about the Falcons pack is there isn't much in the way of stand out performance it's a real cohesive unit. That's worth more than big individual performances.

We're discussing that on the forum Sam.

You cant really fault the second rows in there now.

Its not a given Welch will get back in. He'll tackle all day but we have others who can do that and offer more in attack.(Gary Graham offers so mich more)

Collett has also played very well...finally after being here a couple of years and barely been seen.

And then there is also De Walt the big south african number 8. He will have to come in...hes looks some player.

Its going to be interesting...as we have Hardie, Guy Graham (Gary Grahams yoinger brother),  rob farrar, a 21 year old  6'3 version of mark wilson coming through...and Marshall the Scotland u20 number 8.

We wont get carried away though...this is the Falcons.

But so far im happy. Tactics look clear and we finally have aome aggression and physicality........for the moment.

And the lineout is,working a treat.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well its not pretty but at least we're nore physical again...finally...

If we play like this all season at least its an improvement on the dire we've watched for years.

While it was pretty dire, not the worst Newcastle/Sale game I have ever seen. Think there was a 9-6 match a few years ago that was even more turgid.

But 2 wins from 2 is a great start.

STOP THE COUNT?

GF, plenty of firepower to come back into the backrow then. Collett has done a decent job so far but like we've found with Reffell at Tigers the young lads that like to play like old school opensides need rotating in order to keep them fresh. The breakdown is so brutal now.

I suppose the leadership aspect might come into it as well as at some point you won't be able to just use physicality to stay in control of the game. 

With minor European games you can always blood the youngsters there and concentrate the senior players on the league. That'll keep your development line running.

Shocking call there in the Quins game, never a forward pass. Ref didn't even look at it. TMO was wrong.

Odd calls last night too, tackled players in the air wasn't even looked at!

Have the Refs had a meeting in the week and decided to let games flow more?

Quins are ripping Saints apart.

More holes than Trumps defence case.

Hello boys and girls. First off, apologies for being away; a combination of personal things and work maxed out my time and it was difficult to stay up with a lot of interests, including this great forum. However, amdist Covid world, we are all either at work or at home with nothing outside of regular Touch Rugby sessions (with a group tested regularly and doing nothing else outside their families).

I am currently watching Saints stink up the Gardens against Quins and this provided the impetus to re-engage with you guys. Even worse, here at my club in New Jersey, we now have a gent who is a sale supporter (who beat saints last weekend, and another from just north of the DMZ (Harborough where my old man lives) who is a Leicester supporter. What is the world coming to?

In the meantime, how on earth is Chris Boyd still with Saints? They appear to have only one plan for attack, a frantic offloading game which has been worked out by everyone from every Premiership club down to the Daventry U8s. Their talent is decent, but they always find ways to give up easy tries on defense and make basic offloading errors when on attack. I could go on, but that would be like engaging in self-flagellation (not flatulation, which Saints do provide). And this is a direct continuation of their poor form starting about last December. One would would expect the long Covid break plus the recent short premiership break would enable a reassessment of how to adapt the style of play to the talent. But, alas, no. And we are doomed to the bottom of the ladder. The really look clueless. It's now 17-37 as I write this with 28 minutes to go for Quins to add to the embarassment............

GeordieFalcon wrote:We're discussing that on the forum Sam.

You cant really fault the second rows in there now.

Its not a given Welch will get back in. He'll tackle all day but we have others who can do that and offer more in attack.(Gary Graham offers so mich more)

Collett has also played very well...finally after being here a couple of years and barely been seen.

And then there is also De Walt the big south african number 8. He will have to come in...hes looks some player.

Its going to be interesting...as we have Hardie, Guy Graham (Gary Grahams yoinger brother),  rob farrar, a 21 year old  6'3 version of mark wilson coming through...and Marshall the Scotland u20 number 8.

We wont get carried away though...this is the Falcons.

But so far im happy. Tactics look clear and we finally have aome aggression and physicality........for the moment.

And the lineout is,working a treat.

It's an impressive start by Falcons for sure. Especially with Hardie, Wilson and PvdW (sorry I can't resist the abbreviation) unavailable, which I'd have guessed was your starting back row before the season started.

Fuser and Peterson have exceeded expectations I must say. On his performances thus far I'm a bit surprised that Farrar is out of the Italy set-up. Robinson meanwhile seems to have taken back the Calum Green role of quietly  making Falcons lineout work very well.

I'll be watching McGuigan with interest this season. I always thought he had the talent to be an England player with solid set-piece and being very good over the ball. He just drifted in and out of games too often to really assert himself though.