Newcastle v Leicester Fri 7.45

[Tigersman]

Guy Thompson has always been a workhorse, but he can only do so much.

BOC and Thompson won that game in the end.

[Mikey Brown]

Hey Puja who's this Guy?

Scrap that. Turns out he's only as tall as George Ford. Not interested anymore.

[Mikey Brown]

And he's far too posh. You know what. Fuck Guy Thompson. What a dickhead.

[twitchy]

Great game in the end well done tigers.

[Tigersman]

<Murphy selections really make no sense.
Tigers looked so much better with BOC/Evans (Evans injured ATM) and Thompson together as a unit so play them together instead of thick as muck Williams and the most meh player Fitzgerald.

olowofela stepped up IMO used his speed and back himself more.

[Puja]

Fitzgerald is stealing a living with a terrible workrate (and isn't a flanker), Williams is a guaranteed yellow card and in no way an openside, and Thompson is a good honest player who could be great in better company but will be nothing more than average in this.

Two out of three predictions isn't bad. I could not believe Fitzgerald's failure to get off the side of the scrum when Takalua scored his first try. Actually, I could, because it's Mike Fitzgerald, but I was still screaming at my television.

We won, which I think was the best thing to say about that game. Still, only 6 points off European qualification, so that's still on.

Puja

[twitchy]

It really could have gone either way.

[Banquo]

Enjoyable as a neutral; Newcastle should have nicked it at the end really.

Thompson was very good, he usually is.

[fivepointer]

Priceless win for Tigers, who actually looked pretty good in the opening half an hour. Falcons only themselves to blame for failing to convert pressure at the end. They are really up against it now.
Thompson rightly singled out for his fine display, but Hammersley was simply excellent as well.

[twitchy]

Hammersley was simply excellent as well.

There was some stat that the commentators mentioned? The most metres made in the prem?

[Banquo]

Priceless win for Tigers, who actually looked pretty good in the opening half an hour. Falcons only themselves to blame for failing to convert pressure at the end. They are really up against it now.
Thompson rightly singled out for his fine display, but Hammersley was simply excellent as well.

Hammersley was excellent.....is he international quality, guess don't know til/if he gets a go.

[Timbo]

Wasn’t it Hammersley who missed the tackle on May for his try? Doubt there would be much forgiveness if Daly, Brown or Watson missed that tackle in an England shirt.

[Banquo]

Wasn’t it Hammersley who missed the tackle on May for his try? Doubt there would be much forgiveness if Daly, Brown or Watson missed that tackle in an England shirt.

That's him out of the equation then. I'm sure all of the above have missed the odd tackle at 15, and he's a tad better than Daly and indeed Watson under the high ball. No idea if his running ability will translate internationally though, and that's a big thing.

[Timbo]

Wasn’t it Hammersley who missed the tackle on May for his try? Doubt there would be much forgiveness if Daly, Brown or Watson missed that tackle in an England shirt.

That's him out of the equation then. I'm sure all of the above have missed the odd tackle at 15, and he's a tad better than Daly and indeed Watson under the high ball. No idea if his running ability will translate internationally though, and that's a big thing.

I didn’t say he’s out of the equation, although personally I don’t think he’s anything special. Just trying to bring some balance to this particular performance of his.

On the subject of England fullback, re-watching some of the 6N’s and Daly was largely brilliant in attack. If he’s to be moved back to the wing because of his high ball issues, then we need to find ways of involving him ball in hand more, because he does provide us with a completely different dimension.

[Banquo]

Wasn’t it Hammersley who missed the tackle on May for his try? Doubt there would be much forgiveness if Daly, Brown or Watson missed that tackle in an England shirt.

That's him out of the equation then. I'm sure all of the above have missed the odd tackle at 15, and he's a tad better than Daly and indeed Watson under the high ball. No idea if his running ability will translate internationally though, and that's a big thing.

I didn’t say he’s out of the equation, although personally I don’t think he’s anything special. Just trying to bring some balance to this particular performance of his.

On the subject of England fullback, re-watching some of the 6N’s and Daly was largely brilliant in attack. If he’s to be moved back to the wing because of his high ball issues, then we need to find ways of involving him ball in hand more, because he does provide us with a completely different dimension.

Balance by one missed tackle as an example? I merely posed the question as to whether he's good enough internationally given we have a bit of a hole there if Watson doesnt get back to his best. Not sure why you'd want to immediately put him down, but hey. I was impressed with his kicking, countering, positioning and linking, and its not as if its a one off, he's consistent, in a struggling team. (most metres in the GP this season by some distance- 15's always win this in fairness)

Daly is imo a world class wing, but a ropy intl full back positionally at present- he'd get run rugged by New Zealand imo; we did involve him a lot ball in hand as a wing, in much the same way as he was used at 15, though latterly he has run better lines from 15 (earlier in his 15 days he'd just pop up as a third centre which is easier to defend than a player arriving a bit later in the channel and on different lines). My personal view is that you can make more use of say a blindside wing popping up throughout the backline than a 15. I think he is better suited to that roving wing role than 15, especially give his ongoing issues under the high ball, which it would be foolish to ignore, as the opposition wont.

[Mikey Brown]

Agree with all of that.

I could see Hammersley looking a bit like Goode at international level.

[Banquo]

Agree with all of that.

I could see Hammersley looking a bit like Goode at international level.

That was my thought tbh, though he's a different style of runner- can't really tell how effective his running would be at next level. Goode looks a terrific player at club level, but we know he isn't a rock as last line of defence when run at, and his pace and evasion weren't effective either for England.

[Digby]

Wasn’t it Hammersley who missed the tackle on May for his try? Doubt there would be much forgiveness if Daly, Brown or Watson missed that tackle in an England shirt.

That's him out of the equation then. I'm sure all of the above have missed the odd tackle at 15, and he's a tad better than Daly and indeed Watson under the high ball. No idea if his running ability will translate internationally though, and that's a big thing.

I didn’t say he’s out of the equation, although personally I don’t think he’s anything special. Just trying to bring some balance to this particular performance of his.

On the subject of England fullback, re-watching some of the 6N’s and Daly was largely brilliant in attack. If he’s to be moved back to the wing because of his high ball issues, then we need to find ways of involving him ball in hand more, because he does provide us with a completely different dimension.

It's not just Daly was excellent in attack he's the go to man when ball is kicked to us or turned over in certain areas with Youngs looking for Daly not Farrell, and we just cannot replicate that if Daly goes wide.

Daly is a concern under the highball but as of today all our options have tradeoffs and I'd stick with Daly, it also makes it easier to get May and Cockanasiga into the side. Watson is wildcard not knowing how he'll come back or how he'd do at fullback, to please WT I'll note it'd be helpful if he played some club rugby at 15

[loudnconfident]

[deleted]

It's not just Daly was excellent in attack he's the go to man when ball is kicked to us or turned over in certain areas with Youngs looking for Daly not Farrell, and we just cannot replicate that if Daly goes wide.

Daly is a concern under the highball but as of today all our options have tradeoffs and I'd stick with Daly, it also makes it easier to get May and Cockanasiga into the side. Watson is wildcard not knowing how he'll come back or how he'd do at fullback, to please WT I'll note it'd be helpful if he played some club rugby at 15

Daly at FB is truly exciting - if we are in control of the game. When things get iffy his lack of experience shows up. I'd rather have a safe FB and/or one that plays there regularly, at top level, and with success.

[Scrumhead]

I think Hammersley is a good player, but I don’t think he’d cut the mustard at test level. As others have said, I could see him being a bit like Goode, but I don’t think he’s quite as good (no pun intended).

[Banquo]

I think Hammersley is a good player, but I don’t think he’d cut the mustard at test level. As others have said, I could see him being a bit like Goode, but I don’t think he’s quite as good (no pun intended).

That also might have been said about Mark Wilson . Thought it was worth asking the question about someone who is the leading yard maker in the prem....in the worst side , but you and the other naysayers may well be right!

[Mikey Brown]

It’s just so hard to tell what that stat means without watching all the performances. For example I generally make a huge number of yards and get a lot of assists, but we all know I’m utter garbage and can’t pass.

[Tigersman]

Difference is Wilson is in a position where being just a work horse is a key asset.

International level for a full back especially is a lot quicker than at club level.

[Stom]

I think Hammersley is a good player, but I don’t think he’d cut the mustard at test level. As others have said, I could see him being a bit like Goode, but I don’t think he’s quite as good (no pun intended).

That also might have been said about Mark Wilson . Thought it was worth asking the question about someone who is the leading yard maker in the prem....in the worst side , but you and the other naysayers may well be right!

I'd want to take a look at him, though. He was v good last season, too.

[Banquo]

Difference is Wilson is in a position where being just a work horse is a key asset.

International level for a full back especially is a lot quicker than at club level.

Thanks for letting me know

Hence my points (x3) about whether his running was good enough. And Wilson is more than 'just a workhorse'. Only asking a question really- the answer from RR is 'no'