New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Mikey Brown]

So. Any big ups or downs in terms of England contenders after one round of the prem?

I only properly watched the Quins/Sale match and it was largely a pretty miserable game.

The much-hyped young props Baxter and AOF both did well I thought. Most of the Quins pack fairly average/underwhelming outside of that. Dombrandt barely touched the ball all game which was odd. Rodd played well. The Currys looked lively at points, though Tom Curry's return to the field (after a KO?) seemed questionable. Ford was good, though Sale never really looked like opening up much.

Anyanwu had a very solid game given the conditions, but that being notable is really just about the desperation/dearth at 12.

Smith came on and was pretty average, with some pretty shoddy GAME MANAGEMENT™ in the last few minutes.

I only saw 3 minute highlights from the other games. Any standouts or dropouts?

[FKAS]

Joe Heyes had a good game for Tigers. Good at scrum time, good work rate round the park, snared the Chiefs fullback with a good hit at the back of the ruck. Much more like the performances you'd hope to see from him if he's to get more caps.

JvP should be a feature in the AIs.

PBB and IFW should be great value for money in the Chiefs back three. Lots of likely entertainment with those two in tandem.

Ted Hill looked decent for Bath, previously he's looked good in flashes but then sometimes disappears in a game for spells. Seemed more at the heart of things Vs Saints.

[fivepointer]

Randall was excellent for Bristol. Genge very good. Batley and Dun were typically industrious.

Fisilau was good for Chiefs.

[jimKRFC]

Randall was excellent for Bristol. Genge very good. Batley and Dun were typically industrious.

Fisilau was good for Chiefs.

Sounded like Batley nicked a load of Newcs ball in the line out. Dun is becoming a really good player, lots of grunt and ball skills with it.

Williams and BJVR (eqp shortly) both did well to.

[Mellsblue]

Booj was solid in d and, as always, made everyone else around him look better in attack.
Has the answer to the 12 conundrum being staring us in the face all along.

[Which Tyler]

Highlights playlist (Not seeing anything at all on PRTV, except a bunch of disabled links)

[jimKRFC]

Highlights playlist (Not seeing anything at all on PRTV, except a bunch of disabled links)

Has it been said anywhere that the full matches won't be going on the site? They were usually up the next last season.

Also just announced is that Ellis has signed a new, long term, deal. Assume that's a 2 + 1 deal.

[Puja]

Mitchell apparently due to see a specialist over his neck injury. Bit worrying, as it was a neck injury that he made a miraculous recovery from for the 6N, wasn't it?

Puja

[FKAS]

Mitchell apparently due to see a specialist over his neck injury. Bit worrying, as it was a neck injury that he made a miraculous recovery from for the 6N, wasn't it?

Puja

Knee ligaments wasn't it? We all panicked he'd not play another game that tournament and then it turned out it wasn't as bad as feared.

[Puja]

Mitchell apparently due to see a specialist over his neck injury. Bit worrying, as it was a neck injury that he made a miraculous recovery from for the 6N, wasn't it?

Puja

Knee ligaments wasn't it? We all panicked he'd not play another game that tournament and then it turned out it wasn't as bad as feared.

Oh, that's reassuring that it's different. Clearly just my memory playing me up again.

Puja

[Danno]

Not feeling terribly reassured tbh Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Move aside Wimbush. Rigg for England 12.

[FKAS]

Move aside Wimbush. Rigg for England 12.

Got to ask why they didn't start him. Built like an 8 got them over the gain line.

[Scrumhead]

Rigg was highly rated at Coventry. I think he could take the opportunity to establish himself in the Chiefs side. Maybe not to the extent that he gets on the England radar but Baxter has an excellent record of unearthing rough diamonds and it’s not like we’re over supplied with hard carrying 12s.

[Which Tyler]

Couple of Bath players I want to suggest as leftfield EPS options for whenever that's chosen.
Guy Pepper and Will Butt have had absolutely storming starts to the season. When Redpath and Underhill return from their injuries, they're going to have real fights on their hands for the starting shirt!

In other speculation, There's a decent chance that Tyler Offiah might make his debut against Bristol this weekend. We're down 3 of our 4 specialist wingers, leaving us with Ruaridh McConnochie. Okay, Emmens and De Glanville are still around, and presumably Harris, but all 3 of those are more comfortable in the 15 shirt than 11/14.

[Puja]

Couple of Bath players I want to suggest as leftfield EPS options for whenever that's chosen.
Guy Pepper and Will Butt have had absolutely storming starts to the season. When Redpath and Underhill return from their injuries, they're going to have real fights on their hands for the starting shirt!

In other speculation, There's a decent chance that Tyler Offiah might make his debut against Bristol this weekend. We're down 3 of our 4 specialist wingers, leaving us with Ruaridh McConnochie. Okay, Emmens and De Glanville are still around, and presumably Harris, but all 3 of those are more comfortable in the 15 shirt than 11/14.

I'd not be uncomfortable with Will Butt being in the mix for the EPS. Hard to judge quality after just two games of the season, but he's certainly started like a rocket. Difficult to know if that's a burst of form or genuine quality that will persist though.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

I think the general consensus is that we all want to see more Butt.

He’s definitely an interesting option. Big, physical and skilful. A lot there to like.

[Which Tyler]

He's shown promise before, but this is a new level for him
If we had a settled IC, I'd say he needs to maintain this form through to the 6N camp before being considered.
But we don't.
We're frankly, a bit desperate

[Mikey Brown]

Move over Will Rigg!

[FKAS]

Butt was quietly effective at the weekend. Overshadowed a bit by Lawrence having a stormer maybe. Did a good job and looks right at home at Prem level, big unit as well.

Dan Kelly looks refreshed this season as well. Being used as a secondary playmaker by Tigers, getting the ball into the wingers hands or freeing up the 10. Been a while since he's had some consistent good form.

[Mellsblue]

According to The Times, Janse van Rensberg has been told by Saffa Believer that he will be in the EPS as soon as he sees out the residency period.

Also hints that Slightlyless Ballsout asked F Jones to rein in the more gung-ho aspects of his defence as they were believed to have led to 2/3 avoidable NZ tries and Jones did not like it at all. Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back if the rumour that he was offered the attack coach job before being told he was defence coach on arrival is true.

[Oakboy]

According to The Times, Janse van Rensberg has been told by Saffa Believer that he will be in the EPS as soon as he sees out the residency period.

Also hints that Slightlyless Ballsout asked F Jones to rein in the more gung-ho aspects of his defence as they were believed to have led to 2/3 avoidable NZ tries and Jones did not like it at all. Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back if the rumour that he was offered the attack coach job before being told he was defence coach on arrival is true.

It could be that Jones getting the hump and departing has done Scrotal Beauty a favour in the long-term. International experience etc. can be wonderful but only when applied within a total team-orientated pattern willingly. Any degree of reluctance/disagreement in the message starts disruption, I'd guess.

[twitchy]

According to The Times, Janse van Rensberg has been told by Saffa Believer that he will be in the EPS as soon as he sees out the residency period.

Also hints that Slightlyless Ballsout asked F Jones to rein in the more gung-ho aspects of his defence as they were believed to have led to 2/3 avoidable NZ tries and Jones did not like it at all. Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back if the rumour that he was offered the attack coach job before being told he was defence coach on arrival is true.

Pretty embarrassing. It was splashed all over the papers that it would take 15(?) games or something for the system to bed in properly and the head coach abandons it so quickly after a minor slip up away to NZ.

[FKAS]

According to The Times, Janse van Rensberg has been told by Saffa Believer that he will be in the EPS as soon as he sees out the residency period.

Also hints that Slightlyless Ballsout asked F Jones to rein in the more gung-ho aspects of his defence as they were believed to have led to 2/3 avoidable NZ tries and Jones did not like it at all. Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back if the rumour that he was offered the attack coach job before being told he was defence coach on arrival is true.

Pretty embarrassing. It was splashed all over the papers that it would take 15(?) games or something for the system to bed in properly and the head coach abandons it so quickly after a minor slip up away to NZ.

Abandons or wanted to tweak? There's a world of difference. Adjusting and finding improvements as you go should be pretty standard.

[twitchy]

According to The Times, Janse van Rensberg has been told by Saffa Believer that he will be in the EPS as soon as he sees out the residency period.

Also hints that Slightlyless Ballsout asked F Jones to rein in the more gung-ho aspects of his defence as they were believed to have led to 2/3 avoidable NZ tries and Jones did not like it at all. Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back if the rumour that he was offered the attack coach job before being told he was defence coach on arrival is true.

Pretty embarrassing. It was splashed all over the papers that it would take 15(?) games or something for the system to bed in properly and the head coach abandons it so quickly after a minor slip up away to NZ.

Abandons or wanted to tweak? There's a world of difference. Adjusting and finding improvements as you go should be pretty standard.

The situation we are in points to it being more than a tweak. The press went out of their way to prepare the public for this crazy new defensive style that we all had to buy in on and would have initial teething problems. It just sounds like SB got cold feet after a minor setback. Why employ the crazy blitz defence coaches if you don't want to play like that?

It just sounds like bad management from SB honestly.