Wasps vs Saracens Sunday 3 pm

[Peej]

He wasn't held though so could've kept moving.

On his knees? Is that legal? Genuine Q. He looks to take 3 steps on his knees before diving for the line after being felled.

My understanding is that if you're brought to ground and held, then you have to release the ball, otherwise you can keep on moving, however you want to. That's what I've always thought, at least, and I'm happy to be corrected if wrong!

[Digby]

I think the other clubs do behave more, but only as they have less money to abuse he system with and not down to higher levels of integrity. There remains too a concern that Sarries book some of their well known Saffer player salaries completely off books, i.e. they get paid in SA by the Saffer owner of Sarries for work supposedly unconnected to them being Sarries players, again this situation likely isn't unique to Sarries.

Maybe the more interesting question for Sarries is at what point do they expect to break even or perhaps make a profit? The AP clubs are not happy with the lack of growth in income at national, European or global levels, some of that is attributed to the 2015 RWC failure, some to the delayed inception of the European Cup, and some to anything but themselves, and this is an interesting area as BT Sport and Sky Sports are both said to be less than impressed with the return on their rugby investment so it's not obvious in advance where future revenue growth will come from. Once upon a time the internet was a near constant answer as to where future growth would come from, but that not only hasn't happened there doesn't seem to be a mechanism or demand to make it happen. All we've additionally heard recently is AP rugby will be broadcast in China, where I'm assuming it'll be of even less interest than rugby union is in the North West of England in the home of league fans who heartily dislike union. Right now revenues seem at best flat, and wages are only going up, so how long does the Sarries model last?

[Raggs]

You have to be making an effort to return to your feet, he seemed to be driving along with his feet, rather than straight up crawling, would have been harsh to deny it. First viewing I was shouting he was tackled, replay showed me it was fine.

[Mikey Brown]

No problem with the Spencer try as he wasnt held.
Tough on Wasps to lose Launchbury before the game and their 2 centres during it. They are getting seriously stretched with injuries.
Credit Saracens with a high quality performance, though. They did look a cut above and seem to be back to their best.
I thought Farrell was excellent apart from some untypically poor place kicking.

Billy was top notch, (and has shed some pounds) as was Goode- he's a top club player, prancing or otherwise. Faz was very good after his yellow, one botched kick aside.....before he got binned, his passing was ropy, as was his place kicking, and he was doing his usual headless chicken act.

Good match, Wasps did well to compete for an hour.

[Banquo]

No problem with the Spencer try as he wasnt held.
Tough on Wasps to lose Launchbury before the game and their 2 centres during it. They are getting seriously stretched with injuries.
Credit Saracens with a high quality performance, though. They did look a cut above and seem to be back to their best.
I thought Farrell was excellent apart from some untypically poor place kicking.

Billy was top notch, (and has shed some pounds) as was Goode- he's a top club player, prancing or otherwise. Faz was very good after his yellow, one botched kick aside.....before he got binned, his passing was ropy, as was his place kicking, and he was doing his usual headless chicken act.

Good match, Wasps did well to compete for an hour.

pfft. the pass to Wyles was good, though what you'd expect from an international 10, the three previous had been very inaccurate. Have you become a fanboy?

[morepork]

That is Trump-level thin skin. Leave Owen alone, nasty kiwis, with all your fancy passing off both hands.

[Mellsblue]

Cheats.

[morepork]

Who? Sawacens? 'kin oath.

[Mikey Brown]

Billy was top notch, (and has shed some pounds) as was Goode- he's a top club player, prancing or otherwise. Faz was very good after his yellow, one botched kick aside.....before he got binned, his passing was ropy, as was his place kicking, and he was doing his usual headless chicken act.

Good match, Wasps did well to compete for an hour.

pfft. the pass to Wyles was good, though what you'd expect from an international 10, the three previous had been very inaccurate. Have you become a fanboy?

No. I just saw that pop up, thought it curious, and thought I’d throw it in here.

If you don’t know (can’t tell), he’s that guy Puja posts a lot of bits from who does some (comparatively to most) very in-depth analysis of particular moments. He seems to know his shit and must at least watch a lot of rugby.

I think Farrell does do some really great stuff, quite regularly even, but I’m still surprised how often people tout his consistency (in any facet except goalkicking).

[Mellsblue]

Who? Sawacens? 'kin oath.

Whoever is passing off both hands.

[Digby]

I did enjoy the delay on the pass to Wyles

[Mellsblue]

I did enjoy the delay on the pass to Wyles

‘Twas good but Wade sold himself so cheaply it was the only option. That said, he is playing well.

[Raggs]

Dead ball area is a coach, not 100% sure what level, but I think reasonably high.

[Banquo]

pfft. the pass to Wyles was good, though what you'd expect from an international 10, the three previous had been very inaccurate. Have you become a fanboy?

No. I just saw that pop up, thought it curious, and thought I’d throw it in here.

If you don’t know (can’t tell), he’s that guy Puja posts a lot of bits from who does some (comparatively to most) very in-depth analysis of particular moments. He seems to know his shit and must at least watch a lot of rugby.

I think Farrell does do some really great stuff, quite regularly even, but I’m still surprised how often people tout his consistency (in any facet except goalkicking).

Yep, he does, and indeed I said he'd played well post yellow card; he is now a competent all round 10 at club level, but really is not consistent in passing or tackling- his decision making is very good generally however. I still struggle to understand the praise heaped upon him, but he is certainly a miles better player than 6 years ago.

I'd not heard of that guy before, but had a quick look at his twitter feed, and it's interesting. Fair bit of time on his hands ...but Raggs has noted, he's a coach, and if he's a pro coach, probably has that time.

[Timbo]

I wasn’t aware of his twitter presence, but i’m sure Deadballarea used to be a semi regular poster on this message board.

[Digby]

The one I'd like to know about is the Goode try where Farrell runs off to the right, and then seeing no space runs back to the left. Was the whole thing deliberate, or did he not look to the right before setting off that way? Then when heading to the left did he know there must be space there or was it just head down and panic? It worked out brilliantly, and he's in the right area to take a risk, but I've no idea if he nearly badly put his team on the back foot or if he really is reading the game that well.

And on one of the most accurate passers I'm not sure what's meant by that, at test level he wouldn't be on a par with Sexton, he might be more akin to Biggar (who does have an accurate pass on the rare instances he doesn't kick the ball away). He doesn't look as accurate as Ford, so is the thinking he might be less flamboyant but more accurate than Barrett and Russell?

[Oakboy]

Punditry is convinced by Farrell. He has leadership, judgement, feistiness and good all-round FH skills according to most.

Jones, apparently, rates him as a more than adequate IC to the extent that he keeps him there with Ford at 10.

Saracens pick Farrell at 10 if Barritt is available and they keep him at 10 with Lozowski at 12 on some other occasions. Rarely, now, does Farrell play at 12 for his club (that I have noticed lately, anyway).

It is going to be fascinating to see what Jones does in the 6N.

[Digby]

Almost nothing Eddie has done so far has been fascinating. It's been highly competent albeit limited too, but not much more

[Digby]

He wasn't held though so could've kept moving.

On his knees? Is that legal? Genuine Q. He looks to take 3 steps on his knees before diving for the line after being felled.

My understanding is that if you're brought to ground and held, then you have to release the ball, otherwise you can keep on moving, however you want to. That's what I've always thought, at least, and I'm happy to be corrected if wrong!

Despite the actuality of the game rugby is supposed to be a game for players on their feet, so no you can't crawl with the ball. You could reason some crawling was immaterial with nobody trying to remove the ball from the crawling player, but the go to example then is if a player drops the ball forward over the the try line before doting down would you award a try or a knock on?

[Mellsblue]

I wasn’t aware of his twitter presence, but i’m sure Deadballarea used to be a semi regular poster on this message board.

EMB taught him everything he knows..