Bath vs Saints Fri 19:45

[Banquo]

Lawes at 6 makes room for Pato and Ribbans in the row, so I can certainly get behind that. Don't think the balance is quite right with Gibson at 7 though, would prefer Ludlam there instead.

Its fine for saints in the AP, as I said above

[Puja]

Lawes packed down on the side of the scrum. Itoje was the one tasked with the flanker role around the pitch.

Puja

I thought we rather saw the locks and blindside roll mixed up, or at least it simple depended on who was where

me too, I was going to be picky and ask what lead Puja to that statement.

I know this statement invites derision, but Eddie did say it, so I'm believing him.

It sounds stupid when I write it out.

Seriously, Eddie said that Lawes was just packing on the side of the scrum because Itoje was the more powerful scrummager and that Itoje had been picked as the flanker.

ETA. Source:

Puja

[Banquo]

I thought we rather saw the locks and blindside roll mixed up, or at least it simple depended on who was where

me too, I was going to be picky and ask what lead Puja to that statement.

I know this statement invites derision, but Eddie did say it, so I'm believing him.

It sounds stupid when I write it out.

Seriously, Eddie said that Lawes was just packing on the side of the scrum because Itoje was the more powerful scrummager and that Itoje had been picked as the flanker.

Puja

ah, so paraphrasing young Ed. Their stats are remarkably similar for those games, if that means owt.

[Puja]

me too, I was going to be picky and ask what lead Puja to that statement.

I know this statement invites derision, but Eddie did say it, so I'm believing him.

It sounds stupid when I write it out.

Seriously, Eddie said that Lawes was just packing on the side of the scrum because Itoje was the more powerful scrummager and that Itoje had been picked as the flanker.

Puja

ah, so paraphrasing young Ed. Their stats are remarkably similar for those games, if that means owt.

Almos like they're actually two locks and no-one was actually manning the 6 jersey properly?

Puja

[Digby]

No degradation to previous standard of service

[Scrumhead]

It's hard to say on the Lawes at 6 thing. After all he did play very well, while pretty much playing 6, for England recently. But I share your reservations.

People said Itoje suffered from the role, even though he didn't really do the role anyway. I just thought he was playing lock, but not playing particularly well. Or did he suffer due to doing a share of Lawes's work?

Lawes packed down on the side of the scrum. Itoje was the one tasked with the flanker role around the pitch.

Puja

I thought we rather saw the locks and blindside roll mixed up, or at least it simple depended on who was where

Lock is more of a ham roll. Blindside is cheese or egg depending on who is in it.

Props are sausage rolls.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh god. You're going to set Banquo off.

[Digby]

Ah, a Kaiser roll, just saying

[16th man]

Lovely bit of rugby.

[16th man]

It's looking a bit like that whipping from Sarries might have been what Saints needed. They've been almost unrecognisable from last season since.

[twitchy]

Two really costly injuries for bath which I think will swing it.

[Raggs]

Wunderhill looking very much an Eddie sort of player so far.

[16th man]

Feeling quite happy with Ribbans at lock in my FR team.

[Raggs]

Hmm, wonder if Sam Underhill is a bit puffed actually, missing a few tackles now.

I've had Ribban sat in my fantasy side for ages, just waiting for that start. Bloody glad now I started him too!

[bitts]

feeling ambivalent about having Ribbans on the bench for mine....

[Raggs]

Roko had better get another Sarries like finish. Beginning to think about firing him, Joseph, Tapui and Clark just don't give the ball enough.

What happened to Underhill?

[Stom]

Thank feck he's walked off there. Didn't look great.

[16th man]

Got a hip / knee to the head making yet another tackle.

Bath seem to have cocked up with not stating it's a HIA, so not being able to switch another guy on. That or they've been told they can't. This really, really needs sorting out. Of course teams are going to mess about with the HIA rules, if there is a risk of having to play a man down becuase it might be deemed an injury sub instead.

[16th man]

I know we need to be careful saying this sort of thing on here, but Mallinder has been pretty good tonight, following up a good game last week.

Imagine what Saints might have achieved if the rest of the squad had managed to play this sort of rugby whilst they had Picamoles.

[Timbo]

Allinson is truly crap. Bath completely unable to change tempo. I'm sure they're tired after their efforts of the last few weeks, but even the 2 games they've won have been slowed down a lot. They seem to have the personnel so it's a bit weird.

[bitts]

feeling ambivalent about having Ribbans on the bench for mine....

FFS - just seen i made a last minute switch -swapping out Ribbans for Rhodes.

I'm an idiot.

[Adam_P]

Much better, where has this been for the last 2 seasons (and the Sarries game)? Coincided completely with Burrell's upturn in form, another very good performance from him today.

[TheNomad]

Awful performance by Bath

Allinson and their front five were terrible. Made it impossible for anyone else.

Joseph looked poor as well. They just never got going.

Ribbans looks like a really good player.

[Timbo]

feeling ambivalent about having Ribbans on the bench for mine....

FFS - just seen i made a last minute switch -swapping out Ribbans for Rhodes.

I'm an idiot.

I swapped him out for Dennis at the last minute.

[Adam_P]

Ribbans has proven to be a fantastic find, his carrying tonight was awesome.