Sale vs Wasps

[Puja]

While that was a nice finish, I'll give him no marks for powering though Will Cliff and McGinty (and only just making the line), especially since he made bog all metres against anyone else and twice got stopped absolutely dead by TCurry.

Puja

I feel hughes gets short shrift on here. He has been in great form all season (I have watched all of wasps games in full, he was a complete menace against exe) and made some silly(costly) errors early in this game but then came back strong.

Being tackled by curry shouldn't be something to be ashamed of?

I will admit a bias against him - I've not forgiven him for his lazy attitude in some of his early England games and don't like the way he arrogantly wanders into contact upright and ball in one hand. He has been impressive this season so far though.

But that game was a stinker and running over a non-tackling fly-half shouldn't erase that.

Puja

[Renniks]

I made that comment 30 minutes into the game - at which point Hughes had been yellow carded, knocked it on 2 or 3 times, and made next to no meters running with the ball…
He then went off for a HIA, which may explain some of it

The second half, he was much better… stopping two tries by some very smart defence on the line, carrying more effectively, a huge hit for pressure before the 4th try, and then finishing the 4th try in the fashion we expect from him

He has been great in the other games this season, and, I actually think the second half of yesterday's game showed more of the fire from him that I want! If he can apply himself as a part of the team, and protect the ball better, I think I'd be more than happy for him to be picked…

Equally, I'd prefer that a Simmonds or Mercer style player was able to play at 8 for us…

[twitchy]

Equally, I'd prefer that a Simmonds or Mercer style player was able to play at 8 for us…

Completely fair enough with your earlier points. On this one specifically. I would say he is that style of player. It's just for england he was employed as a billy substitute because of his stature when he is more of a runner.

I would also say that both simmonds and mercer play behind packs which dominate and create opportunities which england won't at test level. I'm not saying they shouldn't play but that is a factor which should be considered.

[Timbo]

Anyone else think that Wasps have quietly built themselves an absolutely enormous pack? Not that they were small before, but their two new props plus Stuart are all huge, Rowlands (who’s massive) playing more, Shields is a unit, and at some point McIntyre and Cooper-Woolley will be fit again.

Thought they bullied Sale at times yesterday. Second half of the season, when a few of their new boys have settled in they could be even more dangerous than previous years. Think their recruitment has left them a bit stronger tbh.

[twitchy]

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 51131.html

"As Sale struggle for form, Steve Diamond continues to look out of touch with the modern game"

[Beasties]

Anyone else think that Wasps have quietly built themselves an absolutely enormous pack? Not that they were small before, but their two new props plus Stuart are all huge, Rowlands (who’s massive) playing more, Shields is a unit, and at some point McIntyre and Cooper-Woolley will be fit again.

Thought they bullied Sale at times yesterday. Second half of the season, when a few of their new boys have settled in they could be even more dangerous than previous years. Think their recruitment has left them a bit stronger tbh.

It's all very well increasing the size of the players but it needs to go hand in hand with quality forward coaching. Missing out on Danny Wilson on the eve of the season could prove to be a stumbling block here. I'd high hopes that Wasps tight play was finally gonna move substantially upwards with his signing. Sarries and Exeter are still streets ahead. Size will help of course. Re Will Stuart, I think he'll prove to be the best prop at the club within weeks if he hasn't done already.

[Raggs]

Missing out on Wilson will have hurt, really disappointed, but that's a risk with such highly rated coaches! Glad we didn't rush out to replace, hope we target another high quality forwards and defence coach.

[Timbo]

Yeah, I’m not suggesting size is everything, how you use it is important too...

Wasps’ scrum has definitely improved though, and with quality front row coming off the bench it’s now a weapon for 80 mins. That’s definitely not something you could have said over the last couple of seasons.

[Peej]

Saying Hughes only had to go through the 9 and 10 to get to the line is fair, but at the same time Strauss didn't manage it at the other end of the pitch when Sale had all those 5m scrums. Hughes was quick enough to exploit a gap and get away from a back down and into the space to give himself a mismatch, which he then converted. Fair play, after an horrendous start and a couple of absolute brain farts in the second half.

[Raggs]

Saying Hughes only had to go through the 9 and 10 to get to the line is fair, but at the same time Strauss didn't manage it at the other end of the pitch when Sale had all those 5m scrums. Hughes was quick enough to exploit a gap and get away from a back down and into the space to give himself a mismatch, which he then converted. Fair play, after an horrendous start and a couple of absolute brain farts in the second half.

He also had to get away from whoever was playing openside.

Yeah, I’m not suggesting size is everything, how you use it is important too...

Wasps’ scrum has definitely improved though, and with quality front row coming off the bench it’s now a weapon for 80 mins. That’s definitely not something you could have said over the last couple of seasons.

ZZ was targeted for a few seasons, so I'm loathe to class him as 4th choice, but by rankings of who would typically be expected to start ahead of him so far this season, that's exactly what he is. Stuart being serious rotated with Brookes is a huge commendation for his abilities. In the u20s he was dominant, he's impressed in the championship, and done well for Wasps. Remember an article on the academy a couple of years ago pointing out his stamina was enormous, and you can see it in his play, always offering to carry, and usually effective.

[Peej]

Aye, I meant back row and appear to have typed something completely different