Alex Shaw's premiership XV

[Timbo]

Ashton isn’t great under a high ball, but was pretty amazing at Sarries. Don’t think it’s a pre-requisite, more that you chase hard and consistently for 80 minutes.

Over the whole season Lewington has been decent- 9 try’s in the league and at least a couple I can remember in Europe. He had a slump mid season, but started well and looks sharp currently.

[Mellsblue]

Yep. Started like a train and then hit some troubles. When your starting back 3 is off the quality Sarries possess, he was bound to struggle for game time outside of international windows. Another pre-season and a run of games during the RWC might lead to more game time. That said, it’s difficult to see who of Williams, Maitland and Goode he can usurp.

[Raggs]

Also by signing him it means none of their
opposition can have him.

[Mellsblue]

Not sure about that. It’s not like they have huge depth - Lozowski was forced on to the wing for a few weeks - and they lose Williams and Maitland during the international windows.

[Puja]

Ashton isn’t great under a high ball, but was pretty amazing at Sarries. Don’t think it’s a pre-requisite, more that you chase hard and consistently for 80 minutes.

Over the whole season Lewington has been decent- 9 try’s in the league and at least a couple I can remember in Europe. He had a slump mid season, but started well and looks sharp currently.

Ashton's actually pretty good under a high ball. He wasn't when he moved to Sarries and when he played his first flurry of England games, but he worked hard on it and I'd even call it a strength now.

I think Lewington may do better next year - I think a lot of Sarries signings take a season to acclimatise - but I was expecting more from him. He did get 9 tries, but I think that includes two hat tricks at either end of the season, which are impressive themselves, but do leave a big barren spell in the middle as you said.

Puja

[Timbo]

Ashton isn’t great under a high ball, but was pretty amazing at Sarries. Don’t think it’s a pre-requisite, more that you chase hard and consistently for 80 minutes.

Over the whole season Lewington has been decent- 9 try’s in the league and at least a couple I can remember in Europe. He had a slump mid season, but started well and looks sharp currently.

Ashton's actually pretty good under a high ball. He wasn't when he moved to Sarries and when he played his first flurry of England games, but he worked hard on it and I'd even call it a strength now.

I think Lewington may do better next year - I think a lot of Sarries signings take a season to acclimatise - but I was expecting more from him. He did get 9 tries, but I think that includes two hat tricks at either end of the season, which are impressive themselves, but do leave a big barren spell in the middle as you said.

Puja

I think Ashton is a brilliant kick chaser, and very rarely makes any sloppy technical mistakes- like dropping one cold under no pressure- but cant recall him actually getting in the air above people too often.

[Timbo]

Not sure about that. It’s not like they have huge depth - Lozowski was forced on to the wing for a few weeks - and they lose Williams and Maitland during the international windows.

There must have also been some doubt as to exactly how effective Strettle would be this season. Incredible athlete to be playing as he is at 35. Not many players in the back 3 at his age performing in European semi-finals nowadays.

[Digby]

That said, it’s difficult to see who of Williams, Maitland and Goode he can usurp.

Is this one of those moments where we all nod sagely and then all say it's Maitland he'll usurp?

[Mellsblue]

That said, it’s difficult to see who of Williams, Maitland and Goode he can usurp.

Is this one of those moments where we all nod sagely and then all say it's Maitland he'll usurp?

If he does usurp one it will be Maitland, I just don't see him being a better player than Maitland anytime soon.
That said, when I win the euromillions I will be paying over the odds (in the form property investments) to have Goode lead Bedford into the Champions Cup from the flyhalf berth. So, there’s a 1 in 75,000,000 chance it could be Goode.

[Digby]

That said, it’s difficult to see who of Williams, Maitland and Goode he can usurp.

Is this one of those moments where we all nod sagely and then all say it's Maitland he'll usurp?

If he does usurp one it will be Maitland, I just don't see him being a better player than Maitland anytime soon.
That said, when I win the euromillions I will be paying over the odds (in the form property investments) to have Goode lead Bedford into the Champions Cup from the flyhalf berth. So, there’s a 1 in 75,000,000 chance it could be Goode.

I was a big fan of Maitland back when he played in NZ, but in grown up rugby over here he looks lost

[p/d]

That said, it’s difficult to see who of Williams, Maitland and Goode he can usurp.

Is this one of those moments where we all nod sagely and then all say it's Maitland he'll usurp?

If he does usurp one it will be Maitland, I just don't see him being a better player than Maitland anytime soon.
That said, when I win the euromillions I will be paying over the odds (in the form property investments) to have Goode lead Bedford into the Champions Cup from the flyhalf berth. So, there’s a 1 in 75,000,000 chance it could be Goode.

Indeed. Daly is just lucky Marccelo is off and Strettle knocking playing rugby on the head.

[morepork]

Is this one of those moments where we all nod sagely and then all say it's Maitland he'll usurp?

If he does usurp one it will be Maitland, I just don't see him being a better player than Maitland anytime soon.
That said, when I win the euromillions I will be paying over the odds (in the form property investments) to have Goode lead Bedford into the Champions Cup from the flyhalf berth. So, there’s a 1 in 75,000,000 chance it could be Goode.

I was a big fan of Maitland back when he played in NZ, but in grown up rugby over here he looks lost

I’ll bite.

Caleb Ralph with flash boots.