Gallagher Premiership 2020/21

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That's not a high tackle. Heyes initial contact is the chest. If you're going to review it, review it properly. It's a legal tackle.

How did the assistant miss that the LI player knocks the ball out of JVP's hands and into touch before the Joseph break. It was right in front of him FFS. Lineout Tigers.

Anyway, Tigers blow what should have been a straightforward win and only get 4 instead of 5 points. LI manage to snatch 2 league points with a TBP at the death. Probably a fair result as LI were the better side in the first half but didn't really show up in the second. Hassell-Collins is looking like a really classy player, shame Parton went off.

That's close to the strongest squad Quins can put out at the moment, allowing for bans and injuries - and barring additional bans or injuries is pretty much what I'd expect us to put out for the semi final. Tapuai is leaving but has earned the 12 shirt on the back of his recent performances off the bench.

Bristol v Irish has been called off due to positive tests in the Irish squad.

Shame. Was looking forward to the game.

Saints side for the trip to Bath:

15 Tommy Freeman
14 Tom Collins
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 James Grayson
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Nick Auterac
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Coles
5 Alex Moon
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam (capt)
8 Tom Wood

Replacements:
16 James Fish
17 Alex Waller
18 Ehren Painter
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Ollie Newman
21 Connor Tupai
22 Matt Proctor
23 Josh Gillespie

Not available due to injury:
Owen Franks (foot), George Furbank (calf), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (achilles), Teimana Harrison (calf), Nick Isiekwe (pectoral), and Ollie Sleightholme (concussion).

Looks like Saints are giving some players an early holiday. It will be interesting to see if Lawes and Ludlam can show the same form as last week. That is a very mobile tight 5, looks like a running game again for Saints and Ollie Newman to probably get his first cap.

Woods seems to have move position for the back end of the season, he looks to have bulked up a bit and is now looking like a proper eight, he is not playing that bad either.

Unfortunately, Mitchell is having one of those games which will not help his England chances. Lawes, on the other hand, is really in game shape....

Leicester get away with a knock on for that try surely even though its checked.

Quite a score at Exeter.

Ref is a Sale fanboy. Exeter fans are booing everything.

She is the worst TMO in the game.

There is more mitigation with this tackle than the last one

So because faf is a midget anyone tackling him will get red card?

That's the logic the TMO just used! She is awful.

Ouch. Clear red for Skinner. Looks like Sale are getting the benefit of the home tie. Sanderson has gone great up there.

Not a clear red at all. Lots of mitigation with that tackle yellow card

Nope.

Leicesters scrum has been great again. Both starting and now finishing props. Really set store for the performance.

Yes, yellow card. Look up the protocols.

You are mistaken.

Chiefs back in the lead

Real turnaround by Exeter. Guess never rule them out. Thats a kick in the teeth ahead of the semi.

Worst TMO ever, how can you knock it on running backwards!!!!!

She doesn't deserve to be in this job

Sale just blew their season.

Could be repercussions for both sides. Sale have got some injuries, especially MacGinty. Meanwhile Exeter will probably lose Skinner to a ban, and Ewers' yellow might be reviewed.

Rugby Fan wrote:Could be repercussions for both sides. Sale have got some injuries, especially MacGinty. Meanwhile Exeter will probably lose Skinner to a ban, and Ewers' yellow might be reviewed.

I see Tuilagi was subbed at 57 mins. Hope that wasn't driven by injury

No 7&1/2 wrote:Leicesters scrum has been great again. Both starting and now finishing props. Really set store for the performance.

Replacement props aged 20 and 22. Impressive to see them go through Wasps front row like that. Heyes we know is real quality in the making but young Whitcombe is quickly developing in a similar style. Looking forward to seeing him develop, seems to have convinced Borthwick as we good have used a more experienced option on the bench but he got the nod instead. With Chessum at 20, Henderson at 21 and Martin at 20 all playing as well and looking decent the future of the Tigers pack looks good.

Martin man of the match with 5 carries for 41 metres,18 tackles with 1 missed,3 defenders beaten. That's not bad for someone who is there in mainly to graft he's not one of the nominated carriers. Some of those tackles were meaty.

Think Tigers missed Reffell today, no natural jackler in the pack makes life tough against Wasps who score tries if they get a hint of momentum. Nice to outscore them at their own ground though.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57469497

Former Gloucester centre Jack Adams has sadly passed away at the age of 34 after a short battle with cancer.

Horrible news, no age at all. RIP.

king_carlos wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57469497

Former Gloucester centre Jack Adams has sadly passed away at the age of 34 after a short battle with cancer.

Horrible news, no age at all. RIP.

Awful news. Didn’t realise it was so young. I’ve seen a few teams offer their sympathy, but didn’t really take in how young he was.

Dave Ewers has been cited. If Gray is still injured, bans for Ewers and Skinner would leave Exeter very short of locks and heavy blind side flankers, especially if Kirsten is stll recovering from the head knock he took.

Rugby Fan wrote:Dave Ewers has been cited. If Gray is still injured, bans for Ewers and Skinner would leave Exeter very short of locks and heavy blind side flankers, especially if Kirsten is stll recovering from the head knock he took.

I predicted that Exeter v Sale would be a two-round war of attrition, and it's playing to form so far.

Rugby Fan wrote:Dave Ewers has been cited. If Gray is still injured, bans for Ewers and Skinner would leave Exeter very short of locks and heavy blind side flankers, especially if Kirsten is stll recovering from the head knock he took.

Are Kirsten and Vermulen both fit? If so those two plus Hill and Armand can do the job. Might not be quite as good but it'll still be extremely physical. The bench will have Capstick and Witty, again not quite the same quality but still physical and can play to the Chiefs game plan.

Picking him in his side for the Telegraph, Greenwood said: "Rowlands is absolute granite. Second most number of minutes in the second row. Hits rucks, tackles like an ox, handles well, great lineout man, stepped up with injury to Joe Launchbury. Rowlands is a class act and Wales are lucky to have him."

mikey_dragon wrote:Picking him in his side for the Telegraph, Greenwood said: "Rowlands is absolute granite. Second most number of minutes in the second row. Hits rucks, tackles like an ox, handles well, great lineout man, stepped up with injury to Joe Launchbury. Rowlands is a class act and Wales are lucky to have him."

Played very well Vs Tigers in the last game of the season. Scored a nice try as well, worth looking up the highlights for that one Mikey. I'm sure Rowlands will be showing it to people I don't think he scores many and not from more than close range. He should do well at the Dragons next season, with Launchbury's tendency to get injured I'm sure Wasps would rather be keeping him than losing him.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Picking him in his side for the Telegraph, Greenwood said: "Rowlands is absolute granite. Second most number of minutes in the second row. Hits rucks, tackles like an ox, handles well, great lineout man, stepped up with injury to Joe Launchbury. Rowlands is a class act and Wales are lucky to have him."

Played very well Vs Tigers in the last game of the season. Scored a nice try as well, worth looking up the highlights for that one Mikey. I'm sure Rowlands will be showing it to people I don't think he scores many and not from more than close range. He should do well at the Dragons next season, with Launchbury's tendency to get injured I'm sure Wasps would rather be keeping him than losing him.

Greenwood is saying what I was thinking, when I watched a lot of Prem at the end of last season. Wasps were playing well and Rowlands was doing everything. I'm surprised he hasn't had more inclusion in the Wales team, he seems to play how Pivac wants us to play. Hopefully we see more of him and WillGriff John now that they're at a Welsh Region.

mikey_dragon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Picking him in his side for the Telegraph, Greenwood said: "Rowlands is absolute granite. Second most number of minutes in the second row. Hits rucks, tackles like an ox, handles well, great lineout man, stepped up with injury to Joe Launchbury. Rowlands is a class act and Wales are lucky to have him."

Played very well Vs Tigers in the last game of the season. Scored a nice try as well, worth looking up the highlights for that one Mikey. I'm sure Rowlands will be showing it to people I don't think he scores many and not from more than close range. He should do well at the Dragons next season, with Launchbury's tendency to get injured I'm sure Wasps would rather be keeping him than losing him.

Greenwood is saying what I was thinking, when I watched a lot of Prem at the end of last season. Wasps were playing well and Rowlands was doing everything. I'm surprised he hasn't had more inclusion in the Wales team, he seems to play how Pivac wants us to play. Hopefully we see more of him and WillGriff John now that they're at a Welsh Region.

Wasps were pretty flakey towards the end of the season. Given some of their injuries and their temperamental half back combination that wasn't hugely surprising. Rowlands provided the stabilising lock type role pretty well. Nothing he could do to stop the Wasps scrum retreating at a rate of knots but his work in the tight was something Wasps definitely needed. I'm not sure he's more than a very good club player but he's developed quite a bit in the last two years so there's nothing to say he can't step up again. A couple of years back it would have been more average club player, he's been a bit of a late bloomer.

Not sure if we're talking about the same season, or I got confused given the situation... but Wasps were in great form and battered Bristol in the play-off before just getting pipped by Exeter. Rowlands, Young, and those back-row brothers always had a great game. Surprising that McIntyre is being let go. If he's a TH then his replacement Scholtz isn't a great improvement.

McIntyre is a loosehead. He's a quality player but has struggled with injuries in recent years and Wasps had 4 strong LHs this year so something was going to give.

Rumours that McIntyre will return home to Sale. I'd take him at Tigers any day.

mikey_dragon wrote:Not sure if we're talking about the same season, or I got confused given the situation... but Wasps were in great form and battered Bristol in the play-off before just getting pipped by Exeter. Rowlands, Young, and those back-row brothers always had a great game. Surprising that McIntyre is being let go. If he's a TH then his replacement Scholtz isn't a great improvement.

To be fair, he wasn't in great shape when he came to us but with some conditioning he has improved a fair bit & had it not have been for the signing of WGJ I think most fans would have liked to keep him.

Scholtz was a bit overweight, I don't doubt that he could improve. He's quite the rock in the scrum. I wouldn't have minded him at Dragons either, if he worked on his conditioning.

Skinner and Ewers both get 4 weeks.

You'd be annoyed as a Sale fan with the refs decision on Ewers.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Skinner and Ewers both get 4 weeks.

You'd be annoyed as a Sale fan with the refs decision on Ewers.

Would it have made much difference? Even if Sale had won with 5 points and Exeter got none, Exeter would still have finished ahead in the table on wins. It's probably more important that both players will now miss the semi-final.

Would they not have swapped places?

No 7&1/2 wrote:Would they not have swapped places?

Yes, Sale needed to get 5 match day points & deny Exeter any points to leap frog them.

Poorfour wrote:...Even if Sale had won with 5 points and Exeter got none, Exeter would still have finished ahead in the table on wins...

They would have swapped places if Sale had claimed all five, and they were in that position at one point in the match. There was a lot of talk beforehand about whether Sale would go for it with their team selection, because it seemed like such a big ask at Sandy Park. As it turns out, the game came at heavy cost for both sides, which is likely to be good news for Quins or Bristol.

Well both sides probably losing two important players

Skinner and Ewers for Exeter, though if Gray is fit, that will ease that burden.


Hard to see McGinty or VDM making it back, both looked nasty injuries.


Exeter probably get the better out of that deal but it may cost them more if they make the final.

Rugby Fan wrote:

Poorfour wrote:...Even if Sale had won with 5 points and Exeter got none, Exeter would still have finished ahead in the table on wins...

They would have swapped places if Sale had claimed all five, and they were in that position at one point in the match. There was a lot of talk beforehand about whether Sale would go for it with their team selection, because it seemed like such a big ask at Sandy Park. As it turns out, the game came at heavy cost for both sides, which is likely to be good news for Quins or Bristol.

That game has the potential to be a hum dinger!!

mikey_dragon wrote:Not sure if we're talking about the same season, or I got confused given the situation... but Wasps were in great form and battered Bristol in the play-off before just getting pipped by Exeter. Rowlands, Young, and those back-row brothers always had a great game. Surprising that McIntyre is being let go. If he's a TH then his replacement Scholtz isn't a great improvement.

Ah ok you're talking last season and I'm talking this season.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Skinner and Ewers both get 4 weeks.

You'd be annoyed as a Sale fan with the refs decision on Ewers.

Is there a week that goes by that Dickson doesn't annoy someone's fans with another feckless display?

From the Guardian:
While Baxter has no issue with the aim of improving player safety generally, he believes the balance is in danger of swinging too far. “I am very disappointed,” said Baxter, upset that Ewers and Skinner will also be sidelined if Chiefs reach the Twickenham final on 26 June. “If I am honest, I am struggling with the whole process and everything about it a little bit. There is a huge amount of inconsistency and a lack of empathy for the players involved in the incidents.

“I definitely think it is getting to the stage that current players need to have a lot more input around making the laws and how they are refereed and cited. I’m not saying there isn’t a need to look at head contact, of course there is. But there are two sides to every process and it isn’t feeling like that at the moment.”

Ewers had never previously received a card of any colour for foul play in his lengthy career but the disciplinary panel still ruled there were no mitigating factors involved in his collision with Simon Hammersley and upgraded his yellow card to a four-match ban. “There is a huge amount of inconsistency in the process,” said Baxter.

“I think there really needs to be a move by the players playing the game to take a hold of this. I get a growing feeling among the players I talk to - not only at this club - that is something that is not far off happening. If you ask a lot of the players who are playing now, I don’t think they would agree with what is currently happening.”

Hopley confirmed the RPA were discussing the subject internally and Baxter believes the entire game faces an increasing dilemma. “Yes we have to look after the guys who are potentially being high tackled but we also have to look after the guys where the high tackle might only be occurring because there is not a lot they can do,” said the Chiefs’ DOR. “Everyone has got a responsibility to tackle lower and safely...but rugby is an incredibly dynamic game with a lot of moving parts.”

The best chance of a solution, in Baxter’s opinion, is to consult the players. “Some would say they want these law changes because they say it protects them and protects their careers and their futures. Great, but they need to come out and say that. Or, if they actually believe the game is changing to a game they don’t like and don’t want they should say that. Their opinion needs to be heard.

“They are the most educated group of players we have ever had in the history of rugby union. So if some of them turn around and say: ‘I’m not sure if I like the way the game is going’ they are not doing that from a position of ignorance. No one could claim that.”

formerly known as Sam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Skinner and Ewers both get 4 weeks.

You'd be annoyed as a Sale fan with the refs decision on Ewers.

Is there a week that goes by that Dickson doesn't annoy someone's fans with another feckless display?

Apparently he was right according to Baxter! He's not a favourite ref of mine.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Skinner and Ewers both get 4 weeks.

You'd be annoyed as a Sale fan with the refs decision on Ewers.

Is there a week that goes by that Dickson doesn't annoy someone's fans with another feckless display?

Apparently he was right according to Baxter! He's not a favourite ref of mine.

Worst ref in the league. As both players chose to appeal Baxter is unlikely to come out and agree.

At the time, Ewers seemed a clearer red than Skinner, so it did look inconsistent, though not in the way Baxter might want to hear.

There seem to be different views on the current spate of red cards. For some, it's a sign that players just aren't adapting to the new environment very quickly, and we just have to persevere until they do.

However, there have been some incidents, where the tackler appears to have done everything we want to see, including going low, and trying to his wrap arms, which have still had bad outcomes. While often, this means a red is mitigated down to a yellow, it raises the question of why someone is penalized at all, if they are doing what World Rugby is trying to encourage.

When officiating is tweaked to change behaviour, then a penalized player ought to come away from an incident with a clear idea of what they should have done differently. Not tackling in the air, and not tip tackling have been successes on that score.

It's not clear this is happening with high shots, and Baxter's comments raise the question of what clubs are actually doing to coach players. If an individual doesn't make a tackle, because he judges he can't get in a legal position, then it will probably count against him in the post match review.

In short, a player's incentives are often in conflict, and we probably need to resolve that. Perhaps that's through players having more input into how this area should be officiated, as Baxter wants, or maybe regulators need to sit with clubs and coaches to get their interests aligned.

Did I say that I predict Bristol will be ahead of Quins by a couple of scores early in the 1st half? I am sure you all missed that prediction.....

Quin's are rubbish