Team for the Barbarians game

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Banquo
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Banquo »

Smith, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Marchant all done themselves favours.
Banquo
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Banquo »

and Curry, quietly effective.

edit oops
Scrumhead
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Scrumhead »

Definitely. It felt a bit pointless, but all of those you mentioned there have really taken the opportunity.
Banquo
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Banquo »

Scrumhead wrote:Definitely. It felt a bit pointless, but all of those you mentioned there have really taken the opportunity.
I guess hardly a vintage Baa Baas team, but enough of a test to make their performances meaningful.
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Scrumhead »

Perhaps not the best BaaBaas side I’ve seen on paper, but considering all of the caps in our starting XV were Timmy Harrison’s, I think we were certainly second favourites, so to win was very pleasing indeed.
Mikey Brown
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Mikey Brown »

The hope of a Horwill conversion attempt was pretty much all I watched this game for, but actually quite enjoyed that in the end.

Hate to be parroting Barnes right now but yeah, get Dombrandt in.
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Mellsblue
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Mellsblue »

Mikey Brown wrote:The hope of a Horwill conversion attempt was pretty much all I watched this game for,
And Marler’s post match ‘interview’.
Mikey Brown
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Mikey Brown »

Fuck. Why did I turn it off.
fivepointer
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by fivepointer »

I didnt expect us to win, or even come close on the scoreboard. Good effort to get a win against a Baabaas side not lacking in quality. The players highlighted before the game as ones to watch generally delivered. Dombrandt and Curry up front, the half backs and Marchant all had very strong games.
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Puja
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Puja »

I don't understand why, when Tom Curry is such an important player for us, we're not even interested in glancing at Ben. I'd say the only difference in quality between them is Tom's international experience.

Given how many problems we've had with our back row, it's incredible to have Curry, Dombrandt, and Harrison completely unwanted.

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Puja
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Puja »

Also, it's jarring just how terrible the Sky presentation, punditry and commentary is after an entire season of BT Sport. I'll never complain about LBND again.*

Puja

*may, or may not, be a lie.
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Puja
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Puja »

Mikey Brown wrote:Fuck. Why did I turn it off.
If you have it recorded, it's worth a watch. Just watching it and it's f*cking hilarious. One part cracking wise, one part talking about boozing, one part trying to corrall his three kids who are thrilled being able to see themselves on the monitor and are dancing around and grabbing his shirt.

Oh, and now his daughter has just acquired him a full packet of jaffa cakes, which he's now eating on camera so he doesn't have to do analysis. Marler may actually be the perfect Barbarians player.

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Scrumhead
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Scrumhead »

Puja wrote:I don't understand why, when Tom Curry is such an important player for us, we're not even interested in glancing at Ben. I'd say the only difference in quality between them is Tom's international experience.

Given how many problems we've had with our back row, it's incredible to have Curry, Dombrandt, and Harrison completely unwanted.

Puja
I don’t think Ben Curry and Dombrandt are ‘unwanted’. Not ‘completely’ anyway. Harrison possibly is more in the ‘unwanted’ category though IMO.

I assume that Underhill is simply preferred as an alternative to Tom Curry, rather than Ben who would be more of a ‘like-for-like’ replacement (in terms of playing style - not just appearance). He should definitely be in he wider squad though.

Dombrandt has only just broken through. I’m a huge fan, but I probably wouldn’t have him in my wider training squad for the RWC. I just think it’s too soon for him.

Harrison is a bit unlucky. His chance came before he was really ready and the emergence of numerous back row options over the last few years have pushed him down the pecking order. The fact that he’s a sort of 7.5 doesn’t really help him at test level either. He’s not had much attention, but I thought he was pretty good today too.
Banquo
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Re: Team for the Barbarians game

Post by Banquo »

Scrumhead wrote:
Puja wrote:I don't understand why, when Tom Curry is such an important player for us, we're not even interested in glancing at Ben. I'd say the only difference in quality between them is Tom's international experience.

Given how many problems we've had with our back row, it's incredible to have Curry, Dombrandt, and Harrison completely unwanted.

Puja
I don’t think Ben Curry and Dombrandt are ‘unwanted’. Not ‘completely’ anyway. Harrison possibly is more in the ‘unwanted’ category though IMO.

I assume that Underhill is simply preferred as an alternative to Tom Curry, rather than Ben who would be more of a ‘like-for-like’ replacement (in terms of playing style - not just appearance). He should definitely be in he wider squad though.

Dombrandt has only just broken through. I’m a huge fan, but I probably wouldn’t have him in my wider training squad for the RWC. I just think it’s too soon for him.

Harrison is a bit unlucky. His chance came before he was really ready and the emergence of numerous back row options over the last few years have pushed him down the pecking order. The fact that he’s a sort of 7.5 doesn’t really help him at test level either. He’s not had much attention, but I thought he was pretty good today too.
This.
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