Northampton vs Racing - Friday night

[Beasties]

Good finish by Ludlum that though it might get ruled off. Yep harshly ruled off, the Racing scrummy has milked that.

Mitchell has been about the only Saints player who's had a good game.

Dingwaall battled gamely and made some dents. Racing were ominous in how they dealt with Saints. Hope Freeman recovers quickly, one of those strange injure yourself moments.

[FKAS]

Good finish by Ludlum that though it might get ruled off. Yep harshly ruled off, the Racing scrummy has milked that.

Mitchell has been about the only Saints player who's had a good game.

Dingwaall battled gamely and made some dents. Racing were ominous in how they dealt with Saints. Hope Freeman recovers quickly, one of those strange injure yourself moments.

Dingwall looked good in attack but made errors for two line breaks that directly led to tries. It's one of those games where you hope he goes away and learns there's no shame in ending up second best to Vakatawa and Fickou mind, two absolutely quality operators.

Freeman looks like a special player in the making though I still think he'll end up a winger that covers 15 at club level. Those innocuous injuries are often the worst, hope that's not the case but it didn't look good.

[Puja]

If Machenaud continued his line unimpeded by Sleightholme, he still would have been no where near tackling Ludlam. He just chose to run into Sleightholme. Its a shit call, this ref has been awful all game.

I'm with you on that - shocking decision. Obstruction should only be given if it's had an impact on the game.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Ludlam's try should have stood.
Ref allowed far too many hands on the floor at the breakdown.
Saints were mostly hopeless. They can veer from being irresistible to awful, sometimes during the same game.

[Banquo]

Good finish by Ludlum that though it might get ruled off. Yep harshly ruled off, the Racing scrummy has milked that.

Mitchell has been about the only Saints player who's had a good game.

Dingwaall battled gamely and made some dents. Racing were ominous in how they dealt with Saints. Hope Freeman recovers quickly, one of those strange injure yourself moments.

Dingwall looked good in attack but made errors for two line breaks that directly led to tries. It's one of those games where you hope he goes away and learns there's no shame in ending up second best to Vakatawa and Fickou mind, two absolutely quality operators.

Freeman looks like a special player in the making though I still think he'll end up a winger that covers 15 at club level. Those innocuous injuries are often the worst, hope that's not the case but it didn't look good.

Why do you think that? I think he looks better at 15 and its where he's still played most of his rugby- opportunity may be the issue if Furbank stays in form. As you say, hopefully not a bad one- already had one knee op.

[FKAS]

Dingwaall battled gamely and made some dents. Racing were ominous in how they dealt with Saints. Hope Freeman recovers quickly, one of those strange injure yourself moments.

Dingwall looked good in attack but made errors for two line breaks that directly led to tries. It's one of those games where you hope he goes away and learns there's no shame in ending up second best to Vakatawa and Fickou mind, two absolutely quality operators.

Freeman looks like a special player in the making though I still think he'll end up a winger that covers 15 at club level. Those innocuous injuries are often the worst, hope that's not the case but it didn't look good.

Why do you think that? I think he looks better at 15 and its where he's still played most of his rugby- opportunity may be the issue if Furbank stays in form. As you say, hopefully not a bad one- already had one knee op.

I just think he seems a good finisher for someone his size already, very good swerve. If he works on coming off his wing to link into attacks he could become a bit of a try machine. The fullback skills he have would put him in good stead for wing at international level.

At international level we tend towards fullbacks that can link play and I haven't seen the passing game from him yet, similar to why Watson gets deployed on the wing internationally. Mind you that could change once Eddie goes.

[Banquo]

Dingwall looked good in attack but made errors for two line breaks that directly led to tries. It's one of those games where you hope he goes away and learns there's no shame in ending up second best to Vakatawa and Fickou mind, two absolutely quality operators.

Freeman looks like a special player in the making though I still think he'll end up a winger that covers 15 at club level. Those innocuous injuries are often the worst, hope that's not the case but it didn't look good.

Why do you think that? I think he looks better at 15 and its where he's still played most of his rugby- opportunity may be the issue if Furbank stays in form. As you say, hopefully not a bad one- already had one knee op.

I just think he seems a good finisher for someone his size already, very good swerve. If he works on coming off his wing to link into attacks he could become a bit of a try machine. The fullback skills he have would put him in good stead for wing at international level.

At international level we tend towards fullbacks that can link play and I haven't seen the passing game from him yet, similar to why Watson gets deployed on the wing internationally. Mind you that could change once Eddie goes.

His link play is excellent from what I've seen of him at 15, and in launching counters from 14. Its pretty hard to show that consistently from the wing, unless your system allows for it. I've not seen much link play from Steward, but you've seen more of him than me- though what are you defining as 'link play from a 15'...we may be talking about different things?

[FKAS]

Why do you think that? I think he looks better at 15 and its where he's still played most of his rugby- opportunity may be the issue if Furbank stays in form. As you say, hopefully not a bad one- already had one knee op.

I just think he seems a good finisher for someone his size already, very good swerve. If he works on coming off his wing to link into attacks he could become a bit of a try machine. The fullback skills he have would put him in good stead for wing at international level.

At international level we tend towards fullbacks that can link play and I haven't seen the passing game from him yet, similar to why Watson gets deployed on the wing internationally. Mind you that could change once Eddie goes.

His link play is excellent from what I've seen of him at 15, and in launching counters from 14. Its pretty hard to show that consistently from the wing, unless your system allows for it. I've not seen much link play from Steward, but you've seen more of him than me- though what are you defining as 'link play from a 15'...we may be talking about different things?

Steward played 10 for quite a lot of his early rugby career it wasn't until he got a bit older that he played centre (which is where he played BUCS for Loughborough) and then fullback when he joined the Tigers academy. Tigers use him as a secondary playmaker quite a lot with the centres often running off the flyhalf.

I think Eddie likes his fullback to be able to pull off the big passes to put his wingers into space so he can use them out the back. Steward has those 15m passes in this locker, I've not seen them from Freeman yet, emphasis on yet. Freeman tends to go himself which when you finish like he does isn't always a bad thing but at international level might be harder to make stick.

I think we saw the advantage of a bit more power coming onto the ball from the back three in the AIs. Freeman has got similar but with more speed, get him coming off the wing looking for work and Smith playing close to the line and the Steward/Freeman combination with a pace merchant (of which we have many) could cause a lot of problems for England's opposition. Just might need to get more experience into Steward/Freeman first, give it a try next summer. Would certainly give us solid skills at the back in a kicking duel as well, also helps bit he and Steward can kick a long way.

[twitchy]

I was looking up the top 14 table to see how good Montpellier were for today's exe game (3rd).

How are racing 8th? There really is a chasm between the english and french teams isn't there.

[Banquo]

I just think he seems a good finisher for someone his size already, very good swerve. If he works on coming off his wing to link into attacks he could become a bit of a try machine. The fullback skills he have would put him in good stead for wing at international level.

At international level we tend towards fullbacks that can link play and I haven't seen the passing game from him yet, similar to why Watson gets deployed on the wing internationally. Mind you that could change once Eddie goes.

His link play is excellent from what I've seen of him at 15, and in launching counters from 14. Its pretty hard to show that consistently from the wing, unless your system allows for it. I've not seen much link play from Steward, but you've seen more of him than me- though what are you defining as 'link play from a 15'...we may be talking about different things?

Steward played 10 for quite a lot of his early rugby career it wasn't until he got a bit older that he played centre (which is where he played BUCS for Loughborough) and then fullback when he joined the Tigers academy. Tigers use him as a secondary playmaker quite a lot with the centres often running off the flyhalf.

I think Eddie likes his fullback to be able to pull off the big passes to put his wingers into space so he can use them out the back. Steward has those 15m passes in this locker, I've not seen them from Freeman yet, emphasis on yet. Freeman tends to go himself which when you finish like he does isn't always a bad thing but at international level might be harder to make stick.

I think we saw the advantage of a bit more power coming onto the ball from the back three in the AIs. Freeman has got similar but with more speed, get him coming off the wing looking for work and Smith playing close to the line and the Steward/Freeman combination with a pace merchant (of which we have many) could cause a lot of problems for England's opposition. Just might need to get more experience into Steward/Freeman first, give it a try next summer. Would certainly give us solid skills at the back in a kicking duel as well, also helps bit he and Steward can kick a long way.

Interesting on Steward, must confess I've not noticed his playmaking or linking skills- will watch properly next time!
Not sure I agree on your analysis on Freeman- the thing that made him stand out for me is his all round game. And frankly, I see it long term as a scrap between him and Steward for the 15 shirt.

[FKAS]

I wouldn't be talking about Freeman as a potential international if he didn't have good all round skills. I liked the solidarity we had Vs SA with both Malins and Steward at the back. Malins isn't the quickest though and you're not going to move Steward to the wing. I think Freeman offers the solidarity of Malins but with additional pace and physicality (which we could certainly use with Eddie's insistence on trying to squeeze Farrell and Slade into the midfield). We'd lose out on some creativity with Freeman over Malins but that's not a concern considering the other options in the squad. Freeman knows his way to the tryline as well.

There's a few good young 15s in England currently Steward, Malins, Freeman, Furbank, Parton and Hodge. I think Hodge and Freeman could be more wingers internationally given their speed, and finishing abilities though, add the skillset into the back three and we start to remove the nerves every time there's a high ball.

[Banquo]

I wouldn't be talking about Freeman as a potential international if he didn't have good all round skills. I liked the solidarity we had Vs SA with both Malins and Steward at the back. Malins isn't the quickest though and you're not going to move Steward to the wing. I think Freeman offers the solidarity of Malins but with additional pace and physicality (which we could certainly use with Eddie's insistence on trying to squeeze Farrell and Slade into the midfield). We'd lose out on some creativity with Freeman over Malins but that's not a concern considering the other options in the squad. Freeman knows his way to the tryline as well.

There's a few good young 15s in England currently Steward, Malins, Freeman, Furbank, Parton and Hodge. I think Hodge and Freeman could be more wingers internationally given their speed, and finishing abilities though, add the skillset into the back three and we start to remove the nerves every time there's a high ball.

Fair enough, though I prefer specialists at wing and 15. Freeman's pace, physicality and all round abilities imo make him a better bet at 15 for me.

[Oakboy]

Are we reaching the stage when props will be the only specialists or is fiddling with positional selection pure Jonesism?

[Banquo]

Are we reaching the stage when props will be the only specialists or is fiddling with positional selection pure Jonesism?

No.

[FKAS]

Are we reaching the stage when props will be the only specialists or is fiddling with positional selection pure Jonesism?

Backs covering multiple positions is not something new. In the amateur and early professional days it was even more rife. Austin Healey played 9, 10, wing and 15 at the top level for years for instance.