Saints vs Sale

[Mellsblue]

Wonder boy is getting Bedforded.

[Mellsblue]

Manny ‘GR Finishing School’ Iyogun giving wonder boy a tuning.

What what what?

Yeah thought it was Tarek Haffar on the bench. He's another young prop that could be an absolute monster in the next couple of years. Very mobile.

Team sheet at the top of the thread has AOP at 18 but I’ve only watched him once, and that was live, so could be wrong.
Edit: watched him a couple of times for u20, I think.

[Mellsblue]

Litchfield is on to finish the job. Beeeeedfoooord.

[Mellsblue]

What what what?

Yeah thought it was Tarek Haffar on the bench. He's another young prop that could be an absolute monster in the next couple of years. Very mobile.

Team sheet at the top of the thread has AOP at 18 but I’ve only watched him once, and that was live, so could be wrong.
Edit: watched him a couple of times for u20, I think.

Ah, I see. The Saints prop is Haffar. Just assumed it was Iyogun. The price you pay for having a bottle of red with a late lunch…

[fivepointer]

Much better 2nd half with Saints finally rousing themselves. Bench made a difference and Mitchell found his groove. Freeman with some strong interventions.

Haffar did well, A O-F less so. Such is the life of a fledgeling front rower.

[Mellsblue]

Haffar did well, A O-F less so.

Who?!?!?

Freeman was superb carrying the ball.

[Oakboy]

Haffar did well, A O-F less so.

Who?!?!?

Freeman was superb carrying the ball.

Freeman has to be in our 23. I'd start him at 14 with Lawrence/Slade at 12/13 but I'd expect Freeman to demand the 13 shirt before long. Roebuck must be close to the 23 shirt.

[Adam_P]

Just finished watching that, slightly delayed. Dreadful first half - not sure what Saints plan was, but it wasn't to play the same rugby that has seen us win this season. Endless kicking, mostly aimless with little or no chase.

Thankfully woke up in the second half and started playing. The likes of Langdon, Lawes and Haffar making a big impact off the bench.

Mixed bag debut from Odendaal - a few handling errors in the first half, but some decent defensive contributions in the second.

I'm really not sold on Munga - every time he's played for us he's been bang average or absent.

[Banquo]

Fair play, very decent second half. Freeman remains very good, often defending at centre with Hutchinson on the wing; Furbank in great nick too. Fin Smith grows in every game. Roebuck showed up well, bar one odd thing. Pearson grew into the game I thought and subs made a difference. Great win for Saints- should have trusted their normal game plan 1st half. coles has a great engine.

[Adam_P]

According to Dowson we excuted the game plan to script - so the first half must have been a planned attempt to tire their pack out running back and forth. Can't say it didn't do the job, but god it was dull.

[FKAS]

According to Dowson we excuted the game plan to script - so the first half must have been a planned attempt to tire their pack out running back and forth. Can't say it didn't do the job, but god it was dull.

Sort of game plan Borthwick used at Leicester more than a few times. If you fancy your fitness to be better then stack the bench and look to hit the opposition in the second half with an increase in tempo and physicality. Kick the leather off the ball in the first and try to force the opposition to run it.

I didn't think Saints would go full kick it in the first half but the bench very much looked like they were going to target the second half.

[Mikey Brown]

Was Freeman one of the players we ever heard about work-ons or anything particular Borthwick thought he was lacking? The move to 13 was a bit of a curveball but if he's able to switch between the two then great.

[Banquo]

According to Dowson we excuted the game plan to script - so the first half must have been a planned attempt to tire their pack out running back and forth. Can't say it didn't do the job, but god it was dull.

I`m sure it was the plan, and cant argue with the eventual outcome, but as with Borewicks and others rugby by stats ball in the airfest it can both bite you in the ass and lead to a mass turn off. Any fool can win by reverse baz ball as Bob Dwyer nearly said. Im pretty much all about the winning, but ....at all costs? 1st half was extreme.

Controversially think limiting bench use would improve the game.

[Oakboy]

According to Dowson we excuted the game plan to script - so the first half must have been a planned attempt to tire their pack out running back and forth. Can't say it didn't do the job, but god it was dull.

I`m sure it was the plan, and cant argue with the eventual outcome, but as with Borewicks and others rugby by stats ball in the airfest it can both bite you in the ass and lead to a mass turn off. Any fool can win by reverse baz ball as Bob Dwyer nearly said. Im pretty much all about the winning, but ....at all costs? 1st half was extreme.

Controversially think limiting bench use would improve the game.

I think your last point is less controversial than you suggest. Several pundits have mentioned it - largely on the lines of no space developing because the fatties are no longer breathing out of their arses at 60 minutes.

[Banquo]

According to Dowson we excuted the game plan to script - so the first half must have been a planned attempt to tire their pack out running back and forth. Can't say it didn't do the job, but god it was dull.

I`m sure it was the plan, and cant argue with the eventual outcome, but as with Borewicks and others rugby by stats ball in the airfest it can both bite you in the ass and lead to a mass turn off. Any fool can win by reverse baz ball as Bob Dwyer nearly said. Im pretty much all about the winning, but ....at all costs? 1st half was extreme.

Controversially think limiting bench use would improve the game.

I think your last point is less controversial than you suggest. Several pundits have mentioned it - largely on the lines of no space developing because the fatties are no longer breathing out of their arses at 60 minutes.

Saffers would find it controversial;). I don’t blame them for using the current laws to their benefit tbf

[Epaminondas Pules]

Much better 2nd half with Saints finally rousing themselves. Bench made a difference and Mitchell found his groove. Freeman with some strong interventions.

Haffar did well, A O-F less so. Such is the life of a fledgeling front rower.

Thought A O-F was hard done by on a couple of the scrum penalties, one vs Walker and one vs Haffar. Both props went together on each. Should’ve reset both IMO.

The yellow was just instinct and happens to anyone.

[Banquo]

Much better 2nd half with Saints finally rousing themselves. Bench made a difference and Mitchell found his groove. Freeman with some strong interventions.

Haffar did well, A O-F less so. Such is the life of a fledgeling front rower.

Thought A O-F was hard done by on a couple of the scrum penalties, one vs Walker and one vs Haffar. Both props went together on each. Should’ve reset both IMO.

The yellow was just instinct and happens to anyone.

Scrum reffing was random/difficult as it wasn’t stable all game- and yes, 99% of players would have tackled Furbank.

[FKAS]

Was nice to see a ref actually ping a player for not being behind the line 5m out from a quick tap.

[Slater582]

Manny ‘GR Finishing School’ Iyogun giving wonder boy a tuning.

What what what?

Yeah thought it was Tarek Haffar on the bench. He's another young prop that could be an absolute monster in the next couple of years. Very mobile.

Haffar has been praised as a real prospect by a few journalists. Even compared to a young Ox Nché in the Times.

[FKAS]

What what what?

Yeah thought it was Tarek Haffar on the bench. He's another young prop that could be an absolute monster in the next couple of years. Very mobile.

Haffar has been praised as a real prospect by a few journalists. Even compared to a young Ox Nché in the Times.

We can but hope.

[Spiffy]

Fair play, very decent second half. Freeman remains very good, often defending at centre with Hutchinson on the wing; Furbank in great nick too. Fin Smith grows in every game. Roebuck showed up well, bar one odd thing. Pearson grew into the game I thought and subs made a difference. Great win for Saints- should have trusted their normal game plan 1st half. coles has a great engine.

Furbank is the forgotten man of English rugby. He looks a far better payer than he did when he got his England games. He's smart, fast and has developed a surprising bit of power that was not previously evident.

[FKAS]

Fair play, very decent second half. Freeman remains very good, often defending at centre with Hutchinson on the wing; Furbank in great nick too. Fin Smith grows in every game. Roebuck showed up well, bar one odd thing. Pearson grew into the game I thought and subs made a difference. Great win for Saints- should have trusted their normal game plan 1st half. coles has a great engine.

Furbank is the forgotten man of English rugby. He looks a far better payer than he did when he got his England games. He's smart, fast and has developed a surprising bit of power that was not previously evident.

The problem for Furbank is, who are you dropping to make room for him in the England 23?

[p/d]

Steward

[Oakboy]

Steward

Yep.

[FKAS]

Hmm brave replacing the rock solid fullback that was the consensus requirement a season or so back for the guy who's looked flakey under the high ball at international level.