Saints vs Bristol, Sat 15.00

[FKAS]

That was an enjoyable Saturday afternoon, defence optional romp. I wonder where Dingwall is in the England pecking order at the moment. Think he’s stepped up a gear this season.

Eddie talks to him a lot, as does gregor. I am a tad biased, but he has an excellent skill set, defends really well- covering up for Hutchinson- and has done well at both 12 and 13, not easy. He was due to start for England in the Baabaa Covid game.

I also like Freeman (brizz 1st try aside)- he should be competing w Steward if he stays fit, Coles, and Ribbans.

Freeman could end up replacing Malins on the right wing more than challenging Steward. Eddie's had him in training squads before and seems to like him. He'd offer more pace but as much kick chase and high ball security as Malins, Freeman knows his way to the try line as well. If he wants to challenge Steward he probably needs to move to a club where he's going to play fullback as that isn't happening with Furbank at Saints and Hendy coming through only makes that a more crowded area.

[Banquo]

That was an enjoyable Saturday afternoon, defence optional romp. I wonder where Dingwall is in the England pecking order at the moment. Think he’s stepped up a gear this season.

Eddie talks to him a lot, as does gregor. I am a tad biased, but he has an excellent skill set, defends really well- covering up for Hutchinson- and has done well at both 12 and 13, not easy. He was due to start for England in the Baabaa Covid game.

I also like Freeman (brizz 1st try aside)- he should be competing w Steward if he stays fit, Coles, and Ribbans.

Freeman could end up replacing Malins on the right wing more than challenging Steward. Eddie's had him in training squads before and seems to like him. He'd offer more pace but as much kick chase and high ball security as Malins, Freeman knows his way to the try line as well. If he wants to challenge Steward he probably needs to move to a club where he's going to play fullback as that isn't happening with Furbank at Saints and Hendy coming through only makes that a more crowded area.

Saints see him as more 15 than wing. Furbank is not immovable. I think he has a better future at 15 too.

[FKAS]

No one is immovable but at the same time Furbank is a staple of the side. There is also not a queue of wingers that are going to force the issue and make Saints select Freeman or Furbank at 15. Honestly at this point I see him going the same way as Anthony Watson and being able to play both but not playing 15 regularly enough to play there internationally. I think he could be a great wing option for England though, particularly with Smith liking a crossfield kick and the Eddie kick chase game.

[Banquo]

No one is immovable but at the same time Furbank is a staple of the side. There is also not a queue of wingers that are going to force the issue and make Saints select Freeman or Furbank at 15. Honestly at this point I see him going the same way as Anthony Watson and being able to play both but not playing 15 regularly enough to play there internationally. I think he could be a great wing option for England though, particularly with Smith liking a crossfield kick and the Eddie kick chase game.

we disagree then. I think he has a point of difference at 15 and is a very different player to Watson. Either way he's a big talent, plays with his head up and excellent skill set, and a bit of gas, which is a pre-requisite at 15 for me.

[FKAS]

No one is immovable but at the same time Furbank is a staple of the side. There is also not a queue of wingers that are going to force the issue and make Saints select Freeman or Furbank at 15. Honestly at this point I see him going the same way as Anthony Watson and being able to play both but not playing 15 regularly enough to play there internationally. I think he could be a great wing option for England though, particularly with Smith liking a crossfield kick and the Eddie kick chase game.

we disagree then. I think he has a point of difference at 15 and is a very different player to Watson. Either way he's a big talent, plays with his head up and excellent skill set, and a bit of gas, which is a pre-requisite at 15 for me.

Hugely different player compared to Watson I was referring only to the position aspect.

[Banquo]

No one is immovable but at the same time Furbank is a staple of the side. There is also not a queue of wingers that are going to force the issue and make Saints select Freeman or Furbank at 15. Honestly at this point I see him going the same way as Anthony Watson and being able to play both but not playing 15 regularly enough to play there internationally. I think he could be a great wing option for England though, particularly with Smith liking a crossfield kick and the Eddie kick chase game.

we disagree then. I think he has a point of difference at 15 and is a very different player to Watson. Either way he's a big talent, plays with his head up and excellent skill set, and a bit of gas, which is a pre-requisite at 15 for me.

Hugely different player compared to Watson I was referring only to the position aspect.

Also quite a good joke based on previous Watson chats on here.

[jimKRFC]

Not a lot to say about Bristols performance (as it was garbage) and I've really disengaged from rugby at the moment...

But having seen these:



No wrap, no dip, shoulder with force to jaw & only a penalty?? He also did the same to Vui as well

https://gifyu.com/image/SpfKw

How the hell did Biggar stay on the pitch?

[Mellsblue]

I can also assume Radradra’s (incredibly impressive) beard is deemed to offer so much protection that any hit to it is automatically deemed passive and likely to be downgraded to negligible on review.

[jimKRFC]

I can also assume Radradra’s (incredibly impressive) beard is deemed to offer so much protection that any hit to it is automatically deemed passive and likely to be downgraded to negligible on review.

I've seen comments that Biggar hit the ball and rode up - but Siva did that (twice) and got 6 weeks of ban... Watching the last shot Biggar just got straight over the ball (which is at chest height). It's frustrating as Fitz (& Siva) were rightly binned & redded for the same thing.

Same thing happened against Sarries and these "debatable calls (knock on, head shot & collapsing a maul 1m out) are things that 1) Bris have been done for & 2) cost a struggling side wins. Sarries with 14 men for 30 mins and Bris win it. Also Malins pass for Earles winning score - more forward than Joe Joyces...

[Puja]

I can also assume Radradra’s (incredibly impressive) beard is deemed to offer so much protection that any hit to it is automatically deemed passive and likely to be downgraded to negligible on review.

I've seen comments that Biggar hit the ball and rode up - but Siva did that (twice) and got 6 weeks of ban... Watching the last shot Biggar just got straight over the ball (which is at chest height). It's frustrating as Fitz (& Siva) were rightly binned & redded for the same thing.

Same thing happened against Sarries and these "debatable calls (knock on, head shot & collapsing a maul 1m out) are things that 1) Bris have been done for & 2) cost a struggling side wins. Sarries with 14 men for 30 mins and Bris win it. Also Malins pass for Earles winning score - more forward than Joe Joyces...

You're definitely not wrong about Biggar - stonewall red. It's always the way when you're struggling though - luck's never on your side and the bounce of the ball always seems to go against you.

Puja

[Adam_P]

If there was significant force through Radradra's jaw should he not have gone off for a HIA?

[Puja]

If there was significant force through Radradra's jaw should he not have gone off for a HIA?

I mean, yes, but there should be about 2-3x as many HIAs in a professional game of rugby as there actually are, because the sport is shit at understanding the concept that you need to do a Head Injury Assessment if you want to assess any situation where the head may have been injured.

Puja

[jimKRFC]

Harding tackle for comparison:

Certainly more contact with the ball, and it's the inside of elbow to jaw not shoulder. Yet this was worse apparently..

[Puja]

Harding tackle for comparison:

Certainly more contact with the ball, and it's the inside of elbow to jaw not shoulder. Yet this was worse apparently..

I mean, they both look like straight reds to me and to the framework (and should've resulted in both Radradra and Dingwall going off for HIAs).

Puja