Prem Rugby Cup Final Tues 7.45

[fivepointer]

London Irish: Arundell; Cinti, Joseph, Van Rensburg, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, White; Gigena, Willemse, M van der Merwe; Munga, Simmons, Rogerson (capt.), Gonzalez; Tuisue

Replacements: Cornish, Goodrick-Clarke, Parker, Mafi, Donnell, Englefield, Rona, Loader

Worcester Warriors: Shillcock; Humphreys, Venter, Beck, D van der Merwe; Smith, Simpson; Waller, Annett, Judge; Batley, G Kitchener, Hatherell, Kvesic; Hill (capt.)

Replacements: Miller, Sutherland, McCallum, A Kitchener, Lewis, Chudley, Lawrence, Hearle

[Puja]

Both sides decided that they want a trophy and busting out the 1st XV then. London Irish do have a few guest stars from the youth team, but when those are Arundell, Joseph, and Munga, it's not much of a downgrade.

No real effect on the league - Worcester have a bye-weekthis weekend and Irish might be giving an easier game to Bath, which won't really shake up anything interesting.

Puja

[Peej]

Well, it could be for Wasps if Irish jeopardise 8th place by trying to play two games in 6 days with the same side!

[Raggs]

6 days turnaround is no worse than the prem gives at times.

[Scrumhead]

Is it not a 5 day turnaround? I thought Irish were playing on Saturday?

[Puja]

I guess it's not as big of a gamble, because a) they didn't have a game last weekend so they're not as stretched, b) Irish have some belting young players to give them depth, and c) it is only Bath.

Puja

[Danno]

I guess it's not as big of a gamble, because a) they didn't have a game last weekend so they're not as stretched, b) Irish have some belting young players to give them depth, and c) it is only Bath.

Puja

Even as a Leicester fan it must hurt a bit to say that if you Back to the Future your brain a little

[Puja]

I guess it's not as big of a gamble, because a) they didn't have a game last weekend so they're not as stretched, b) Irish have some belting young players to give them depth, and c) it is only Bath.

Puja

Even as a Leicester fan it must hurt a bit to say that if you Back to the Future your brain a little

I'm a Leicester fan who lives near Bath, playing rugby for a side that should feed Bath but instead helped provide Arundell for their traditional feeder side Irish. Everything is wrong with the world.

Puja

[Peej]

I guess it's not as big of a gamble, because a) they didn't have a game last weekend so they're not as stretched, b) Irish have some belting young players to give them depth, and c) it is only Bath.

Puja

They are indeed playing Saturday, and with a Tuesday night game I suppose that means three days prep. But it's the last really meaningful game of the season, so I can see why they are going hard at it.

[Banquo]

well obvs Arundell and Joseph will get crocked now

[Banquo]

I guess it's not as big of a gamble, because a) they didn't have a game last weekend so they're not as stretched, b) Irish have some belting young players to give them depth, and c) it is only Bath.

Puja

Even as a Leicester fan it must hurt a bit to say that if you Back to the Future your brain a little

I'm a Leicester fan who lives near Bath, playing rugby for a side that should feed Bath but instead helped provide Arundell for their traditional feeder side Irish. Everything is wrong with the world.

Puja

Been in the LI academy since he was 14....

[Scrumhead]

Good, entertaining game so far.

Some nice moments from Arundell and Joseph, but so far, the best young English talent on display is Fin Smith who is having a great game.

Eddie is there and Smith might be playing his way into the England squad for the Barbarians game?

[twitchy]

OL back.

[FKAS]

Every time I watch Fin Smith I think it's a case of when he plays for England and not if. He just seems to have such a well rounded game already and so much composure. Not the finished article yet but at his age that's not expected.

Barnes needs to bin the next Wuss dissent it's getting ridiculous. 4 times he's marched them back now.

[FKAS]

Hatherall has been excellent for Wuss, again. Deserved that try there. Extra time is not what LI will have wanted with a game at the weekend as well.

[Peej]

LI have absolutely waste this. Cannot believe Worcester are even close to winning a trophy

[FKAS]

Player of the match for Hatherall, richly deserved. Shillcock was classy at 15 for Wuss as well, good to see him back from injury.

LI were wasteful, Jackson fatigued and his kicking went to pot. Van Rensburg was again the highlight for them, what a bargain signing he's been. Really don't know how LI only managed to score one try.

[Puja]

Van Rensburg was again the highlight for them, what a bargain signing he's been.

He's like a bargain Esterhuizen isn't he? Big carrier, solid in the tackle, great at the breakdown.

Thought Hill had a phenomenal game. Hadn't seen him play 8 before today and he looked natural. Good time to impress with Eddie in the crowd.

Arundell had the first game I've seen from him where he's shown his age. The last 5 minutes before he went off was back-to-back mistakes - trying to force a counter and running sideways to get smashed, then eschewing a 2-on-1 to try and fail to round Lawrence on the outside, before trying to force another counter on his own line and very nearly getting buried. He is so good, but today was a big lesson in pragmatism and making sure that he doesn't go just because the crowd wants him to, and in managing his emotions and not backing up a mistake with another mistake. I'm certain that both Kidney's and Eddie's staff and psychology teams will work through it with him and he'll come away a better player.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Credit to Wuss for getting over the line. Their discipline was terrible, their scrum under all sorts of pressure and they offered little in attack in the 2nd half. It was a fighting rearguard action and does indicate a growing resilience in the side. Thought their back row were excellent. Hatherell is a real grafter and Hill is just so damn consistent.
Arundell did try to force a few things. He's still learning. Joseph showed up quite well and i thought Lawrence looked full of vim when he came on.

[Scrumhead]

Every time I watch Fin Smith I think it's a case of when he plays for England and not if. He just seems to have such a well rounded game already and so much composure. Not the finished article yet but at his age that's not expected.

Barnes needs to bin the next Wuss dissent it's getting ridiculous. 4 times he's marched them back now.

Fin Smith is in a similar-ish situation to Marcus Smith when he was catapulted in to the Quins first team in his teens. Plenty of tough games behind a beaten pack and learning a lot of hard lessons about game management is moulding him in to a very well-rounded young 10.

It’s easy to forget now with Quins doing well, but I was still a STH when Marcus Smith made his debut and we were absolutely rubbish at that point in time.

As I said in my previous post, Eddie might have come away thinking that Fin Smith is worth a run out in the Barbarians game.

[FKAS]

Van Rensburg was again the highlight for them, what a bargain signing he's been.

He's like a bargain Esterhuizen isn't he? Big carrier, solid in the tackle, great at the breakdown.

Thought Hill had a phenomenal game. Hadn't seen him play 8 before today and he looked natural. Good time to impress with Eddie in the crowd.

Yeah and I bet he earns a fraction of Big Andre's alleged salary (not that he isn't worth the big bucks). Van Rensburg has a decent kicking game as well, if he was EQ he'd be a definite selection for the national team but as it stands he won't be near the SA squad.

The Hatherall, Kvesic, Hill backrow combination worked well didn't it. You're right Hill is coming on at 8 and Eddie does like his backrows physical and able to jump in the lineout. Hill was a brief experiment in the second row last summer as Eddie seemed to be looking for 6/lock options. Chessum seems to have the Lawes understudy role nailed down now. Number 8 as a position is still open for England, the way Hill had enough pace to stop Hassell-Collins chasing him down for the intercept try was pretty impressive as well.

[FKAS]

Every time I watch Fin Smith I think it's a case of when he plays for England and not if. He just seems to have such a well rounded game already and so much composure. Not the finished article yet but at his age that's not expected.

Barnes needs to bin the next Wuss dissent it's getting ridiculous. 4 times he's marched them back now.

Fin Smith is in a similar-ish situation to Marcus Smith when he was catapulted in to the Quins first team in his teens. Plenty of tough games behind a beaten pack and learning a lot of hard lessons about game management is moulding him in to a very well-rounded young 10.

It’s easy to forget now with Quins doing well, but I was still a STH when Marcus Smith made his debut and we were absolutely rubbish at that point in time.

As I said in my previous post, Eddie might have come away thinking that Fin Smith is worth a run out in the Barbarians game.

Very true. If I was Eddie I'd definitely be checking the old family tree as well. If the kid needs an early cap to ward off interest from elsewhere then so be it. He looks the most likely to contest the 10 shirt with Marcus going to the world cup after next.

[Puja]

Every time I watch Fin Smith I think it's a case of when he plays for England and not if. He just seems to have such a well rounded game already and so much composure. Not the finished article yet but at his age that's not expected.

Barnes needs to bin the next Wuss dissent it's getting ridiculous. 4 times he's marched them back now.

Fin Smith is in a similar-ish situation to Marcus Smith when he was catapulted in to the Quins first team in his teens. Plenty of tough games behind a beaten pack and learning a lot of hard lessons about game management is moulding him in to a very well-rounded young 10.

It’s easy to forget now with Quins doing well, but I was still a STH when Marcus Smith made his debut and we were absolutely rubbish at that point in time.

As I said in my previous post, Eddie might have come away thinking that Fin Smith is worth a run out in the Barbarians game.

Very true. If I was Eddie I'd definitely be checking the old family tree as well. If the kid needs an early cap to ward off interest from elsewhere then so be it. He looks the most likely to contest the 10 shirt with Marcus going to the world cup after next.

I believe the Scots have more than half an eye on him. Wouldn't surprise me if he was in their squad for the summer and was given a run-out in the A game vs Chile to tie him in.

Puja

[NorthWestRugby]

Every time I watch Fin Smith I think it's a case of when he plays for England and not if. He just seems to have such a well rounded game already and so much composure. Not the finished article yet but at his age that's not expected.

Barnes needs to bin the next Wuss dissent it's getting ridiculous. 4 times he's marched them back now.

Fin Smith is in a similar-ish situation to Marcus Smith when he was catapulted in to the Quins first team in his teens. Plenty of tough games behind a beaten pack and learning a lot of hard lessons about game management is moulding him in to a very well-rounded young 10.

It’s easy to forget now with Quins doing well, but I was still a STH when Marcus Smith made his debut and we were absolutely rubbish at that point in time.

As I said in my previous post, Eddie might have come away thinking that Fin Smith is worth a run out in the Barbarians game.

Very true. If I was Eddie I'd definitely be checking the old family tree as well. If the kid needs an early cap to ward off interest from elsewhere then so be it. He looks the most likely to contest the 10 shirt with Marcus going to the world cup after next.

His grandfather played for Scotland and the lions