Weekend games

[fivepointer]

A few reflections....

Quins v Ulster - Havent seen it but that was a poor result for Quins. Obviously they had one eye on the Prem game next week and need every point they can get, but losing badly at home like that isnt a good look.
Connacht v Glos - Another narrow defeat, something of a tend developing for Glos this season. Very poor to lose control so badly in the last 10 minutes. An opportunity lost.
Saracens v Munster - The touchline bundle did Saracens a favour and they played with far more drive afterwards. That was a good win against a very strong defensive effort from Munster. Amazingly o'Mahoney didnt start the game, a fact the commentators stressed just about every 2 minutes in case we missed it. Great set up by Billy for the Maitland try.
Leinster v Saints - Predictably a seriously under strength Saints side were given the run around. Very tough for such an inexperienced side to have to deal with such high quality opposition.
Exeter v Sale - Comfortable home win. Sale never really in it and, in truth, offering very little. Exe good value with S Simmonds looking very good. Slade contributed some very classy moments.
Clermont v Bath - Another under strength side going up against one of Europe's best. Bath did well to get a try BP but were a long way second best.
Stade v Bristol - Nice win for Bris. They showed real character in coming back at the end to score the decisive try. Thacker really is a gem of a player.

What else stood out for you?

[Oakboy]

You summed it up pretty well, 5p. I lost interest in the Quins game at HT. They seem to have no core of character, Sinckler aside.

Saracens were good value, considering the likes of Itoje and Barritt were missing. One fundamentally obvious factor was watching how much better Daley is as a winger rather than FB. Jones had got that seriously wrong.

That takes me on to Exeter where a fully fit Nowell is pushing for a starting wing place no matter who else is around. A less than fully fit Nowell should never have had a sniff of a squad place.

Both Simmonds have to be in the mix. Harry Williams and Johnny Hill are there or thereabouts. I think Hill punches above his weight unlike Bugner (sorry, Kruis). Vermeulen is one hell of a signing. Exeter having Armand on the bench and Kvesic not in the 23 indicates depth of squad strength.

I saw a few minutes of Gloucester and none of Wasps. Disappointing.

[Banquo]

You summed it up pretty well, 5p. I lost interest in the Quins game at HT. They seem to have no core of character, Sinckler aside.

Saracens were good value, considering the likes of Itoje and Barritt were missing. One fundamentally obvious factor was watching how much better Daley is as a winger rather than FB. Jones had got that seriously wrong.

That takes me on to Exeter where a fully fit Nowell is pushing for a starting wing place no matter who else is around. A less than fully fit Nowell should never have had a sniff of a squad place.

Both Simmonds have to be in the mix. Harry Williams and Johnny Hill are there or thereabouts. I think Hill punches above his weight unlike Bugner (sorry, Kruis). Vermeulen is one hell of a signing. Exeter having Armand on the bench and Kvesic not in the 23 indicates depth of squad strength.

I saw a few minutes of Gloucester and none of Wasps. Disappointing.

I thought the opposite of Hill when carrying tbh. I think Chiefs would benefit having Kvesic starting as well.

[jngf]

You summed it up pretty well, 5p. I lost interest in the Quins game at HT. They seem to have no core of character, Sinckler aside.

Saracens were good value, considering the likes of Itoje and Barritt were missing. One fundamentally obvious factor was watching how much better Daley is as a winger rather than FB. Jones had got that seriously wrong.

That takes me on to Exeter where a fully fit Nowell is pushing for a starting wing place no matter who else is around. A less than fully fit Nowell should never have had a sniff of a squad place.

Both Simmonds have to be in the mix. Harry Williams and Johnny Hill are there or thereabouts. I think Hill punches above his weight unlike Bugner (sorry, Kruis). Vermeulen is one hell of a signing. Exeter having Armand on the bench and Kvesic not in the 23 indicates depth of squad strength.

I saw a few minutes of Gloucester and none of Wasps. Disappointing.

I thought the opposite of Hill when carrying tbh. I think Chiefs would benefit having Kvesic starting as well.

How about Exeter playing Kvesic back at 8 with Sam Simmonds at 7 ?

[Banquo]

You summed it up pretty well, 5p. I lost interest in the Quins game at HT. They seem to have no core of character, Sinckler aside.

Saracens were good value, considering the likes of Itoje and Barritt were missing. One fundamentally obvious factor was watching how much better Daley is as a winger rather than FB. Jones had got that seriously wrong.

That takes me on to Exeter where a fully fit Nowell is pushing for a starting wing place no matter who else is around. A less than fully fit Nowell should never have had a sniff of a squad place.

Both Simmonds have to be in the mix. Harry Williams and Johnny Hill are there or thereabouts. I think Hill punches above his weight unlike Bugner (sorry, Kruis). Vermeulen is one hell of a signing. Exeter having Armand on the bench and Kvesic not in the 23 indicates depth of squad strength.

I saw a few minutes of Gloucester and none of Wasps. Disappointing.

I thought the opposite of Hill when carrying tbh. I think Chiefs would benefit having Kvesic starting as well.

How about Exeter playing Kvesic back at 8 with Sam Simmonds at 7 ?

You say tomato...Simmonds likely better off the base of the scrum, then they can do their thing in the loose. But playing them both doesn't fit Chiefs general plan.

[Timbo]

Might be issue with the lineout if they went Simmonds, Kvesic and Ewers all together.

From the games I saw and from an aspiring EQP point of view; Simmonds brothers, Thorley and Isiekwe were standouts for me. Dombrandt generally did well in a beaten pack.

[Banquo]

Might be issue with the lineout if they went Simmonds, Kvesic and Ewers all together.

From the games I saw and from an aspiring EQP point of view; Simmonds brothers, Thorley and Isiekwe were standouts for me. Dombrandt generally did well in a beaten pack.

Simmonds did a spot of jumping iirc.

[Digby]

Has it already been discussed as to whether Cipriani possibly meant that kick low across his own 22?



Was it genius, a total accident, or lunacy that happened to work well?

[Puja]

Has it already been discussed as to whether Cipriani possibly meant that kick low across his own 22?



Was it genius, a total accident, or lunacy that happened to work well?

I'd not seen that. First glance, it looks like a scuff, but on closer viewing, it does appear that he changes his angle and it's deliberately aimed as a cross-field grubber.

If it's the first, then it's an atrocious miscue. If it's the second, then it's utter lunacy - the bounce of a rugby ball always hates you and there was no guarantee that it wouldn't pop up or kick on, or that a Connacht player wouldn't charge up onto it. He got the best possible result out of that bounce of the ball and is very, very lucky to have got away with it.

ETA. On a further viewing with multiple pauses, it's not as bad of a gamble as I thought. The 13 and winger are backing off ready for the downfield kick and there is space there. The ball only bounces twice before it meets the Glaws player and it is hit with sufficient force to mean that it's likely to bounce vaguely predictably, although there is very much the chance that it bounces up into 13's arms. It's a calculated risk, rather than a bananas one as I first picked it. Still wouldn't say it's a wonderful thing to do in your own 22 though.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

He’s done an interview with The Times since then. He said he did mean it. He saw a NRL player called Cronk do it whilst he was playing in Aus and had practised it ever since. Supposedly, he’s done it once before in a match but it didn’t really hit the headlines as this one did.

[Tigersman]

Honestly I think he didn't intend for it to bounce.
Compared to Cronk's kick
https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/dann ... cht/622650

[Digby]

If it went lower than expected then no he can't have meant that bounce. The boy has vision though, and a willingness to play