Exeter v Wasps Sun 3pm

[Mellsblue]

Every time I watch him play, I'm really quite glad Francis decided to play for Wales.

[Timbo]

Being serious though, I think Hughes is always pretty wildly inconsistent. I'm just trying to get on board with him given it seems we'll have him at 8 for a good while.

Personally I think Hughes has been very consistent for a long while now. Statistically he's always one of the best pound-for-pound forwards in the league.

[Banquo]

fair call on Slade, nice balanced game.

[Mikey Brown]

Being serious though, I think Hughes is always pretty wildly inconsistent. I'm just trying to get on board with him given it seems we'll have him at 8 for a good while.

Personally I think Hughes has been very consistent for a long while now. Statistically he's always one of the best pound-for-pound forwards in the league.

I know it's slightly harsh as he is a primary carrier and one players look to for some impact, but does he ever go a full game without losing the ball in contact or getting in a poor position in contact, or some other pretty basic error?

Often it seems like he just gets caught not paying attention.

[Mikey Brown]

Jesus. That was me trying to get on board with him.

[Banquo]

Being serious though, I think Hughes is always pretty wildly inconsistent. I'm just trying to get on board with him given it seems we'll have him at 8 for a good while.

Personally I think Hughes has been very consistent for a long while now. Statistically he's always one of the best pound-for-pound forwards in the league.

I know it's slightly harsh as he is a primary carrier and one players look to for some impact, but does he ever go a full game without losing the ball in contact or getting in a poor position in contact, or some other pretty basic error?

I do think there is something about his demeanour or reaction to events that leads him to being unduly picked upon (and also the mercenary for hire piece); whilst stats aren't everything, over a period they are informative. Wonder what his turnover numbers are.

(and getting caught not paying attention was what I was referring to, rather than being castled by Slade)

Think we all have a tendency to look for things that confirm our bias- even me .

[kk67]

Now Wasps have lost Symons to a potentially bad one by the looks. This season has been beyond brutal so far.

I wonder if its sides feeling their opportunity to compete at the breakdown is ever decreasing, so feel they have to hit harder and harder, or just going through so many phases at high line speed, fatigue causes bad technique. Or its just coincidence!

Do you really think 'less chance to compete'..?. I thought the breakdown is generally looking more tidy. It's a helluva lot easier to identify players going off their feet, so they aren't doing it. There's still plenty of jackling.

Does seem a fairly compelling argument: high continuity>fatigue>injury. Which is a shame as that's my favourite type of rugby. I demand to see statistical analysis.

[Digby]

Every time I watch him play, I'm really quite glad Francis decided to play for Wales.

He wouldn't have made an England squad had he stayed available. Though I still think he's excellent in the maul

[Banquo]

Now Wasps have lost Symons to a potentially bad one by the looks. This season has been beyond brutal so far.

I wonder if its sides feeling their opportunity to compete at the breakdown is ever decreasing, so feel they have to hit harder and harder, or just going through so many phases at high line speed, fatigue causes bad technique. Or its just coincidence!

Do you really think 'less chance to compete'..?. I thought the breakdown is generally looking more tidy. It's a helluva lot easier to identify players going off their feet, so they aren't doing it. There's still plenty of jackling.

Does seem a fairly compelling argument: high continuity>fatigue>injury. Which is a shame as that's my favourite type of rugby. I demand to see statistical analysis.

Its likely more perception on 'less chance to compete' (though the policing, esp rolling away has become more acute, and the no kicking through stuff etc etc are impacting) and coaching shortcut, ....but less players are going into the breakdown, so you get better defensive lines, alongside more phases.....and so on. It looks tidy because the numbers aren't there; I'd prefer a messier breakdown with more numbers....then again, I'd like to force old style rucking with players having to bind on each other rather than scatter rucking, so I'm just old fashioned. But it wouldn't half create space and quick ball.

[Banquo]

Now Wasps have lost Symons to a potentially bad one by the looks. This season has been beyond brutal so far.

I wonder if its sides feeling their opportunity to compete at the breakdown is ever decreasing, so feel they have to hit harder and harder, or just going through so many phases at high line speed, fatigue causes bad technique. Or its just coincidence!

Do you really think 'less chance to compete'..?. I thought the breakdown is generally looking more tidy. It's a helluva lot easier to identify players going off their feet, so they aren't doing it. There's still plenty of jackling.

Does seem a fairly compelling argument: high continuity>fatigue>injury. Which is a shame as that's my favourite type of rugby. I demand to see statistical analysis.

Exeter went 30 ish phases with their first possession, That's all I'm giving you!

[Timbo]

Personally I think Hughes has been very consistent for a long while now. Statistically he's always one of the best pound-for-pound forwards in the league.

I know it's slightly harsh as he is a primary carrier and one players look to for some impact, but does he ever go a full game without losing the ball in contact or getting in a poor position in contact, or some other pretty basic error?

I do think there is something about his demeanour or reaction to events that leads him to being unduly picked upon (and also the mercenary for hire piece); whilst stats aren't everything, over a period they are informative. Wonder what his turnover numbers are.

(and getting caught not paying attention was what I was referring to, rather than being castled by Slade)

Think we all have a tendency to look for things that confirm our bias- even me .

I think it's easy to conflate a players weaknesses at international level with what we see at club level. I rarely see a Wasps game where Hughes doesn't play well. Even today he was pretty decent.

[Oakboy]

Think we all have a tendency to look for things that confirm our bias- even me .

I'm going to print that and frame it!

[Banquo]

I know it's slightly harsh as he is a primary carrier and one players look to for some impact, but does he ever go a full game without losing the ball in contact or getting in a poor position in contact, or some other pretty basic error?

I do think there is something about his demeanour or reaction to events that leads him to being unduly picked upon (and also the mercenary for hire piece); whilst stats aren't everything, over a period they are informative. Wonder what his turnover numbers are.

(and getting caught not paying attention was what I was referring to, rather than being castled by Slade)

Think we all have a tendency to look for things that confirm our bias- even me .

I think it's easy to conflate a players weaknesses at international level with what we see at club level. I rarely see a Wasps game where Hughes doesn't play well. Even today he was pretty decent.

also true. I saw a comment from someone re Mike Brown....outstanding AP 15 or similar. And thats true, but doesnt always translate. I feel the same about Nowell tbh, although I admire him greatly as an AP player.

(edit, though I have misread what you said, which was about weakness at intl level v club; different end of the telescope, same concept )

[Banquo]

Think we all have a tendency to look for things that confirm our bias- even me .

I'm going to print that and frame it!

Honestly, you try and be conciliatory and nice, and where does it get you.

Slade was good today, despite me looking for flaws . Mind, it helped having bosh whitten inside, and a pack punching holes.

[Oakboy]

I thought Slade's passing was really slick. He had a great game but I thought Armand was MoM.

[fivepointer]

Hughes was OK, Launchbury easily Wasps best player though, but the overall team effort was pretty substandard.

Exe looked very good at times and controlled the game. Slade went well, Armand yet again impressive and I liked the contributions of Skinner and Woodburn.

[Banquo]

I thought Slade's passing was really slick. He had a great game but I thought Armand was MoM.

fair call too; Slade had the showier game, but Armand is a dynamo.

I still think Slade would be a fab 12 or 10 ....but maybe, like with 12T, wider suits him in terms of decision making.

[Banquo]

Hughes was OK, Launchbury easily Wasps best player though, but the overall team effort was pretty substandard.

Exe looked very good at times and controlled the game. Slade went well, Armand yet again impressive and I liked the contributions of Skinner and Woodburn.

Nowell too; I still struggle with Woodburn, capable of brilliance, capable of the opposite in the same play!

[Oakboy]

White got a load of in-favour hype in the ST but he looks fairly ordinary to me. I think Baxter is splendid but why not push one of his English youngsters at 9?

[kk67]

Exeter went 30 ish phases with their first possession, That's all I'm giving you!

Nice.
I watched Ospreys run 28 phases to no effect. It was interesting to watch. They'll get their act together eventually.

[Mikey Brown]

Armand would certainly seem like a good bet also if England are looking for a player that can cover 6/7/8 to good effect from the bench, which seems like it might be a good idea.

[kk67]

[
It looks tidy because the numbers aren't there; I'd prefer a messier breakdown with more numbers....then again, I'd like to force old style rucking with players having to bind on each other rather than scatter rucking, so I'm just old fashioned. But it wouldn't half create space and quick ball.

Not easy to judge a mess.

[Banquo]

[
It looks tidy because the numbers aren't there; I'd prefer a messier breakdown with more numbers....then again, I'd like to force old style rucking with players having to bind on each other rather than scatter rucking, so I'm just old fashioned. But it wouldn't half create space and quick ball.

Not easy to judge a mess.

true, but the game's not all about the ref, and I didnt say 'a mess' I said messier; besides, my proposed reversion would soon tidy it up. Today's situation is like reffing RL in some cases.

[Timbo]

Armand would certainly seem like a good bet also if England are looking for a player that can cover 6/7/8 to good effect from the bench, which seems like it might be a good idea.

Or if we need someone to start. You can nearly always see a reason why Eddie doesn't fancy a certain player, but don't get it with Armand. He seems to tick pretty much every box for an EJ backrower.

[Puja]

Every time I watch him play, I'm really quite glad Francis decided to play for Wales.

Given that decision's the only reason he's got some nifty British Lions kit, I'd imagine so's he. I really thought he'd kick on into a good player, but it does look like this is as high as he goes.

White got a load of in-favour hype in the ST but he looks fairly ordinary to me. I think Baxter is splendid but why not push one of his English youngsters at 9?

I've actually been impressed with White (especially since I picked him for the Jerome Schuster) - much better than I expected. Thought Townsend was disappointing today - he would pick up the ball and then have a noticeable pause for thought before making a decision. It killed Exeter's attack cause Wasps could just rush up on the poor sod getting the ball. Not entirely sure why he's taking game-time away from Maunder right now.

It's good to finally see Watson play fullback.

No-one else seems to have spotted this, so I'll say that I appreciated that one.

Puja