Quins v Gloucester

[p/d]

Hastings is really quite average

McGuigan stood out for Glaws.

Agreed. Anybody watching these players for the first time would have queried the apparent ranking of the two hookers.

I've never understood Hastings's rating.

Atkinson looks to have lost form badly at just the wrong time.

As a big fan of Seb I will throw in that 9-15 looked pretty inept for Glaws, due not in short to the defence of Quins.
That said not sure Atkinson made any glaring mistakes in a side devoid of attacking ideas.
They needed to mix it up a bit, maybe moving Carreras to 10 LRZ to 15 for May to come on.

That said Quins were great value and deserved the win. Forward passes and deliberate knock ins aside

[Puja]

Nah, only big 13s can be shunted into 13 and look as it they've always played there. Freeman to 12 any day now.

eh?

Come on. He was expecting you to bite harder than that!

I'm actually surprised that no-one has suggested JCokanasiga at 12, not even SCW.

Atkinson looks to have lost form badly at just the wrong time.

I was going to ask how the board's favourite guaranteed England starter had got on, as I didn't see all of the game. Was he just quiet or did he actively do something wrong?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Made a terrible pass with his first possession but otherwise didnt do anything outrageously bad. The odd good moment but it was difficult for any Glos player to shine and many experienced internationals didnt. Something of a miracle that they came out of the game with 2 pts.

[p/d]

Made a terrible pass with his first possession but otherwise didnt do anything outrageously bad. The odd good moment but it was difficult for any Glos player to shine and many experienced internationals didnt. Something of a miracle that they came out of the game with 2 pts.

And if it wasn’t for the Glaws replacement 9 achieving the near impossible by kicking out on the full they could have sneaked a win

[Banquo]

eh?

Come on. He was expecting you to bite harder than that!

I'm actually surprised that no-one has suggested JCokanasiga at 12, not even SCW.

Atkinson looks to have lost form badly at just the wrong time.

I was going to ask how the board's favourite guaranteed England starter had got on, as I didn't see all of the game. Was he just quiet or did he actively do something wrong?

Puja

Frankly I'd rather some carrying unit at 12 for England than some failed 10. Ideally you'd actually play a centre in the er...centre.

[Banquo]

back on thread- why spend money on TMO's when two tries were scored from massive forward passes?

[Oakboy]

back on thread- why spend money on TMO's when two tries were scored from massive forward passes?

Has something changed in the protocol? We heard the ref claiming it had to be 'clear and obvious' (to over-rule the on-field opinion???). Perhaps, the TMO can give a simple opinion if the on-field officials express doubt but if they did not . . . ?? I suppose there is something in that or there would be undue influence from crowd noise.

[p/d]

The cameraman provided us watchers clear cut evidence on the Quins one. Not sure what the ref was looking at.

As an aside I thought in general the camera work was awful during the game.

Have they let women takeover that now? (Ducks for cover)

[Banquo]

back on thread- why spend money on TMO's when two tries were scored from massive forward passes?

Has something changed in the protocol? We heard the ref claiming it had to be 'clear and obvious' (to over-rule the on-field opinion???). Perhaps, the TMO can give a simple opinion if the on-field officials express doubt but if they did not . . . ?? I suppose there is something in that or there would be undue influence from crowd noise.

two were clear and obvious.

[Mellsblue]

The cameraman provided us watchers clear cut evidence on the Quins one. Not sure what the ref was looking at.

As an aside I thought in general the camera work was awful during the game.

Have they let women takeover that now? (Ducks for cover)

Someone’s feeling brave!

What did you think of the pre match entertainment, you old curmudgeon?

[FKAS]

The cameraman provided us watchers clear cut evidence on the Quins one. Not sure what the ref was looking at.

As an aside I thought in general the camera work was awful during the game.

Have they let women takeover that now? (Ducks for cover)

My mate's sister was working on the cameras for BT Sports Rugby for years, I think he said she'd recently moved to a new job so perhaps it's a case of needing to get the women back on the cameras.

[FKAS]

Come on. He was expecting you to bite harder than that!

I'm actually surprised that no-one has suggested JCokanasiga at 12, not even SCW.

Atkinson looks to have lost form badly at just the wrong time.

I was going to ask how the board's favourite guaranteed England starter had got on, as I didn't see all of the game. Was he just quiet or did he actively do something wrong?

Puja

Frankly I'd rather some carrying unit at 12 for England than some failed 10. Ideally you'd actually play a centre in the er...centre.

Hence the comment about moving big 13s into 12 with the expectation they'll slot right in. See Lawrence as an example.

[Banquo]

I'm actually surprised that no-one has suggested JCokanasiga at 12, not even SCW.



I was going to ask how the board's favourite guaranteed England starter had got on, as I didn't see all of the game. Was he just quiet or did he actively do something wrong?

Puja

Frankly I'd rather some carrying unit at 12 for England than some failed 10. Ideally you'd actually play a centre in the er...centre.

Hence the comment about moving big 13s into 12 with the expectation they'll slot right in. See Lawrence as an example.

except that's not what you said . quote Nah, only big 13s can be shunted into 13 and look as it they've always played there. Freeman to 12 any day now.'


Personally I don't expect players to swap easily, as I've said before time and time again; but with some players its worth a bit of time and investment. As a coach, I'd find it easier to convert (esp a carrying) a 13 to a 12 than the other way round, if their attributes were a rough fit. I also don't think Lawrence or Manu were that out of place at 12. Just to be clear, yet again, I think both centres should be able to pass, run and kick competently- who you play where depends on aptitude and experience, and when selecting the national side, how you may want to play and what sort of skills are available...for too long, many have been wedded to dual playmaker 10/12, despite having a paucity of the latter who also represent a running threat at the top level; if I had to choose between a playmaker with no running game, or a runner at 12, I'd always go with the latter (and then if there isn't a latter playing 12 regularly, then is there someone who could do that job with a bit of effort?)

[p/d]

The cameraman provided us watchers clear cut evidence on the Quins one. Not sure what the ref was looking at.

As an aside I thought in general the camera work was awful during the game.

Have they let women takeover that now? (Ducks for cover)

Someone’s feeling brave!

What did you think of the pre match entertainment, you old curmudgeon?

Sadly I missed it. Was it led by the ever inspiring Rita Ora?

[Epaminondas Pules]

eh?

Come on. He was expecting you to bite harder than that!

I'm actually surprised that no-one has suggested JCokanasiga at 12, not even SCW.

Atkinson looks to have lost form badly at just the wrong time.

I was going to ask how the board's favourite guaranteed England starter had got on, as I didn't see all of the game. Was he just quiet or did he actively do something wrong?

Puja

First pass aside he was good in what was a pretty turgid Gloucester backline. Not helped by a 9 passing worse than Youngsy, and then them getting Mercer into 9 to pass worse than Bergamasco!

But Atkinson showed really nice touches when he had the chance. Defended well. There was nothing wrong after the first pass which was awful. Just seemed to slip out of his hand.

[Puja]

Come on. He was expecting you to bite harder than that!

I'm actually surprised that no-one has suggested JCokanasiga at 12, not even SCW.

Atkinson looks to have lost form badly at just the wrong time.

I was going to ask how the board's favourite guaranteed England starter had got on, as I didn't see all of the game. Was he just quiet or did he actively do something wrong?

Puja

First pass aside he was good in what was a pretty turgid Gloucester backline. Not helped by a 9 passing worse than Youngsy, and then them getting Mercer into 9 to pass worse than Bergamasco!

But Atkinson showed really nice touches when he had the chance. Defended well. There was nothing wrong after the first pass which was awful. Just seemed to slip out of his hand.

Thanks for the summary. He's a young lad - he's allowed a howler of a pass every now and again, especially if he's trying something. I still think it's far too early for his name to be in more than the A-team though.

Puja

[Banquo]

I'm actually surprised that no-one has suggested JCokanasiga at 12, not even SCW.



I was going to ask how the board's favourite guaranteed England starter had got on, as I didn't see all of the game. Was he just quiet or did he actively do something wrong?

Puja

First pass aside he was good in what was a pretty turgid Gloucester backline. Not helped by a 9 passing worse than Youngsy, and then them getting Mercer into 9 to pass worse than Bergamasco!

But Atkinson showed really nice touches when he had the chance. Defended well. There was nothing wrong after the first pass which was awful. Just seemed to slip out of his hand.

Thanks for the summary. He's a young lad - he's allowed a howler of a pass every now and again, especially if he's trying something. I still think it's far too early for his name to be in more than the A-team though.

Puja

Can't judge him really in a pretty poor glaws back line- far less than the sum of its parts.

[Mellsblue]

The cameraman provided us watchers clear cut evidence on the Quins one. Not sure what the ref was looking at.

As an aside I thought in general the camera work was awful during the game.

Have they let women takeover that now? (Ducks for cover)

Someone’s feeling brave!

What did you think of the pre match entertainment, you old curmudgeon?

Sadly I missed it. Was it led by the ever inspiring Rita Ora?

No, sadly. Some bloke I’ve never heard of but I’m fairly certain I’m not the demographic they’re aiming at.