Premiership Rugby Round 2 - Now Things Get Interesting

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Round 2

Friday 27 September
Bristol v Gloucester, Ashton Gate, Bristol, Kick-off: 7.45pm BST

Saturday 28 September
Harlequins v Newcastle, Der Schtup, London, Kick-off: 3pm BST
Saracens v Sale, StoneX Stadium, London, Kick-off: 3.05pm BST
The Northampton Saints v Exeter, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, Kick-off: 5.30pm BST

Sunday 29 September
Leicester v Bath, Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester, Kick-off: 3pm BST

Really enjoyed it as a neutral, some of the handling was fantastic.

As I said before, this match was fun. Great start to the weekend. Especially as I was home alone with the dog watching the game together....

Interesting to hear Skivington on Fasogabon. I'll be watching with interest....

Geordie wrote:Interesting to hear Skivington on Fasogabon.  I'll be watching with interest....

what did he say?

Bristol vs Gloucester highlights are worth a look.

Rugby Fan wrote:Bristol vs Gloucester highlights are worth a look.

There were a lot of highlights......

Christian Wade declared last week he was after the Premiership try record held by Chris Ashton. Ashton has (jokingly but also a bit seriously) said he hopes he doesn't get it. He's also said if Wade gets into 90s he's coming out of retirement!

Worth listening to rugby union weekly podcast this coming week, Ashton be sweating.

doctor_grey wrote:

Geordie wrote:Interesting to hear Skivington on Fasogabon.  I'll be watching with interest....

what did he say?

That he was an intelligent lad and they've really pushed him hard in training with regards to fitness etc...and he's flying.
He's also one of the last off the training pitch he's just soaking up everything he can.

Geordie wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

Geordie wrote:Interesting to hear Skivington on Fasogabon.  I'll be watching with interest....

what did he say?

That he was an intelligent lad and they've really pushed him hard in training with regards to fitness etc...and he's flying.  
He's also one of the last off the training pitch he's just soaking up everything he can.

Sounds great.  Does read a little like coach-speak, but hopefully he comes good.  Barring injury this should be an important season for him and a few other younger guys who play in the front row to really show their potential. Fasogabon played most of the second half if I remember right (big 'if' there) and looked pretty good.

Falcons all over Quins and take the early lead. Quins have one chance and draw level though, the lineout again proving a weapon for them with a lovely dummy maul move.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Falcons all over Quins and take the early lead. Quins have one chance and draw level though, the lineout again proving a weapon for them with a lovely dummy maul move.

Was nice whilst it lasted! Wasn't expecting much from the game, but at least we're giving it a go...

Geordie wrote:Do people rate Fasogabon as a real potential or is he just big?

I'm still not sold over say Fordjour or Sela...

Handled Carre very well this half, despite giving giving away about 1000kgs to him.

He has been solid and Carre is being forced to step out and and around to try and attack him.

Cumbrian wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Falcons all over Quins and take the early lead. Quins have one chance and draw level though, the lineout again proving a weapon for them with a lovely dummy maul move.

Was nice whilst it lasted!  Wasn't expecting much from the game, but at least we're giving it a go...

Discipline is hurting Falcons. Quins aren't breaking them down particularly well in attack but at the lineout Quins are fantastic and on the back of some good kicks from Smith into Falcons territory they are fashioning scores.

Falcons blew a couple of half chances to get a second score early on and are paying for it.

Cleaves' run was special, the optional tackling didn't help though.

If we don't score next is probably going to be a cricket score (probably will be even if we do).

FFS. Defence is just a joke.

Just moronic, he is lucky it isn't a red.

Cumbrian wrote:Cleaves' run was special, the optional tackling didn't help though.

If we don't score next is probably going to be a cricket score (probably will be even if we do).

I say Quins aren't really breaking Falcons down away from the lineout and then they cut loose.

Cleeves off injured causes a reshuffle for Quins. The Quins scrum is creaking as well.

I haven't actually seen us win a lineout, it is ridiculous. It was the same against Gloucester. You just can't compete with the set piece being so poor.

Good score for us, Redshaw putting himself into the shop window...

The young Falcons 9 has brought a whole new load of momentum to them.

At least the week you can see some kind of hope. We actually looked dangerous in attacking positions at times. It is being driven by the young players too, which is encouraging.

The inconsistency there is maddening, for the head contact.  Hutchinson has been yellowed for Northampton, but in an almost carbon copy incident in the Quins vs Falcons game they waved it away a hit by Lewies when Newcastle were attacking the Quins 22.  

I know that everything is subjective, but it often feels like we're on the raw end of decisions because people expect us to lose anyway.

Cumbrian wrote:At least the week you can see some kind of hope.  We actually looked dangerous in attacking positions at times.  It is being driven by the young players too, which is encouraging.

Sammy Arnold at 12 is a cracking signing for Falcons, adding exactly what you need. Physicality, leadership and tenacity. Was my man of the match.

A lot of works ons but also a lot of positives for Falcons.

Cumbrian wrote:The inconsistency there is maddening, for the head contact.  Hutchinson has been yellowed for Northampton, but in an almost carbon copy incident in the Quins vs Falcons game they waved it away a hit by Lewies when Newcastle were attacking the Quins 22.  

I know that everything is subjective, but it often feels like we're on the raw end of decisions because people expect us to lose anyway.

Nah, Woodburn was nowhere near as low as the example from the Falcons game. Hutchinson was a lucky boy it wasn't red really, officials seem keen to find mitigation (makes the Kata red card from last weekend look baffling but hey ho). I actually agreed with the play on for the one in the Falcons game, that was a good commonsense decision. The tackler couldn't get any lower and was trying to make a legal tackle. The degree of force was low as well.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:The inconsistency there is maddening, for the head contact.  Hutchinson has been yellowed for Northampton, but in an almost carbon copy incident in the Quins vs Falcons game they waved it away a hit by Lewies when Newcastle were attacking the Quins 22.  

I know that everything is subjective, but it often feels like we're on the raw end of decisions because people expect us to lose anyway.

Nah, Woodburn was nowhere near as low as the example from the Falcons game. Hutchinson was a lucky boy it wasn't red really, officials seem keen to find mitigation (makes the Kata red card from last weekend look baffling but hey ho). I actually agreed with the play on for the one in the Falcons game, that was a good commonsense decision. The tackler couldn't get any lower and was trying to make a legal tackle. The degree of force was low as well.

The Quins one felt like that in the stadium - Lewies was low and legal, and the ball carrier dropped significantly coming into the tackle. I thought a card would have been very harsh but I could have accepted a penalty.

However, the inconsistency is baffling, because in a similar situation in the Bris-Glos game, a yellow card was handed out because (and I quote) “the tackler could have got lower” when the tackler in question was a) short and b) in an otherwise legal position.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:The inconsistency there is maddening, for the head contact.  Hutchinson has been yellowed for Northampton, but in an almost carbon copy incident in the Quins vs Falcons game they waved it away a hit by Lewies when Newcastle were attacking the Quins 22.  

I know that everything is subjective, but it often feels like we're on the raw end of decisions because people expect us to lose anyway.

Nah, Woodburn was nowhere near as low as the example from the Falcons game. Hutchinson was a lucky boy it wasn't red really, officials seem keen to find mitigation (makes the Kata red card from last weekend look baffling but hey ho). I actually agreed with the play on for the one in the Falcons game, that was a good commonsense decision. The tackler couldn't get any lower and was trying to make a legal tackle. The degree of force was low as well.

Poorfur wrote:The Quins one felt like that in the stadium - Lewies was low and legal, and the ball carrier dropped significantly coming into the tackle. I thought a card would have been very harsh but I could have accepted a penalty.

However, the inconsistency is baffling, because in a similar situation in the Bris-Glos game, a yellow card was handed out because (and I quote) “the tackler could have got lower” when the tackler in question was a) short and b) in an otherwise legal position.

When I saw that my first thought was that is not a card - mitigation (for lack of a better word) was exactly as you explained.  And I'm still not sure if that was head on head, as we needed a different camera angle which didn't seem to exist.  I think the yellow was because it was a compromise  choice.  I thought a simple pen, max., was the right call there.  

Didn't see any of the game, heard mixed reviews.

Redshaw needs to start over Obatoyinbo at 15 next few games. Start the young 9.

It's going to take time but from what ive read we've improved even on last week so thats progress. We'll get the win soon

Geordie wrote:Didn't see any of the game, heard mixed reviews.

Redshaw needs to start over Obatoyinbo at 15 next few games. Start the young 9.

It's going to take time but from what ive read we've improved even on last week so thats progress. We'll get the win soon  

The young 9 looked very bright, whether he'd be as good if he started I don't know. Against tired opposition he'll have a bit more time and space (similar to Danny Care at international level who generally looked better off the bench). That being said he's got a good boot on him for the box kick.

Redshaw looks a bit raw. If Louie Johnson can do a job at 15 then his massive boot could be a real asset as Falcons did lose the territory kicking battle a few times which hurt them.

The centre combination is developing nicely for Falcons and with those wingers likely to get increasingly involved the backline has some real potential. Gordon is a find at 7 and deploying the reserve props as a bit of a bomb squad seems to work for you as well.

Brilliant defence from Leicester, but Bath are looking threatening.

Leicester very lucky there, they were offside on the line at least twice.

What a kick from Shillcock, the perfect pressure reliever. Would be the perfect sucker punch here.

He's dropped it over the line! It was such a good play too.

Unforgivable for a winger that...

Cumbrian wrote:He's dropped it over the line!  It was such a good play too.

Unforgivable for a winger that...

He looked gutted and so he should be. How Bath haven't picked up a card yet I don't know. TMO seems to have clocked off having insisted on the yellow card. He did emerge briefly to try and rule out the Tigers try, is Smales from Bath? (Joking before anyone kicks off).

Both sides playing good rugby and it's end to end. Only two tries so far is a surprise.

Mixed feelings seeing Pepper playing so well for Bath...how good can he eventually be...

Tigers were good in the first half, they've not been so in the second half. So many errors and Russell's awful kicking keeping us in the game. Surely they give the tee to Bailey.

Russell opts to end the game with Bath having won a scrum in the Tigers 22. Truly odd there was a TBP on offer there, a set piece move certainly worth a go.