RugbyRebels

You'd question Umaga over other young English fly halves, and the absence of at least one of the Currys is a weird one

Yeah I feel like Umaga is doing well but definitely not the best 10 this season. Jimmy Gopperth by his side has helped and he’d have a reasonable shout at 12, especially ahead of specialist 13 Sam James.

Digby wrote:they've made worse attempts

It is quite refreshingly sane, isn't it? I'd say TCurry for Earl, Faf for Spencer, Simmonds for Umaga, and Gopperth for James and you're probably spot on.

I've just realised that's a Best XV made by pundits without Farrell in it. How has that happened? Normally, they find some excuse to crowbar him in with a, "He wasn't at his best, but his leadership was invaluable," comment.

Puja

Puja wrote: I've just realised that's a Best XV made by pundits without Farrell in it. How has that happened? Normally, they find some excuse to crowbar him in with a, "He wasn't at his best, but his leadership was invaluable," comment.

Puja

They’ve made him DoR.

Puja wrote:

Digby wrote:they've made worse attempts

It is quite refreshingly sane, isn't it? I'd say TCurry for Earl, Faf for Spencer, Simmonds for Umaga, and Gopperth for James and you're probably spot on.

I've just realised that's a Best XV made by pundits without Farrell in it. How has that happened? Normally, they find some excuse to crowbar him in with a, "He wasn't at his best, but his leadership was invaluable," comment.

Puja

There's a weird lack of Sarries player, when thy've actually played rather well in actual games. And I'm not sure if I haven't seen Cips play well this season, but that time back before lockdown seems so many years ago...

But yep, all the decisions have merit. I'd even make some of the same calls myself, though I'd probably go with

Oabano
Thacker
Koch
de jäger
Hill
Polledri
Cowan
Willis
Randall
Simmonds
Hassell-Collins
van Rensburg
Radradra
McConnochie
Goode

There are a number of players I feel bad about leaving out, van der Merwe has been outstanding other than his lineout (which is some slight issue) so too LCD, Stuart on the tighthead, Isiekwe has put in a good shift whenever I've seen him, Ted Hill, Robson and Mitchell at 9 I've liked but Randall just made me smile more, Lawrence in the centres and actually both Barritt and Taylor in the centres who're hard done by the glamour moments afforded by Radradra, Piutau at 15 is just brilliant but Goode has done such a job and at 10 so he gets the nod, and Kibirige has worked so hard on the flank but I've perhaps been drawn by the glamour moments of OHC and McConnochie

De Jager played well but only got in what 4 or 5 matches?

16th man wrote:De Jager played well but only got in what 4 or 5 matches?

Several of the players I've picked I couldn't make a case they've played well in every game, I've not seen most of the games. So I've gone with referencing what I've seen and can remember, which is not a lot from very little.

Digby wrote:

Puja wrote:

Digby wrote:they've made worse attempts

It is quite refreshingly sane, isn't it? I'd say TCurry for Earl, Faf for Spencer, Simmonds for Umaga, and Gopperth for James and you're probably spot on.

I've just realised that's a Best XV made by pundits without Farrell in it. How has that happened? Normally, they find some excuse to crowbar him in with a, "He wasn't at his best, but his leadership was invaluable," comment.

Puja

There's a weird lack of Sarries player, when thy've actually played rather well in actual games. And I'm not sure if I haven't seen Cips play well this season, but that time back before lockdown seems so many years ago...

But yep, all the decisions have merit. I'd even make some of the same calls myself, though I'd probably go with

Oabano
Thacker
Koch
de jäger
Hill
Polledri
Cowan
Willis
Randall
Simmonds
Hassell-Collins
van Rensburg
Radradra
McConnochie
Goode

There are a number of players I feel bad about leaving out, van der Merwe has been outstanding other than his lineout (which is some slight issue) so too LCD, Stuart on the tighthead, Isiekwe has put in a good shift whenever I've seen him, Ted Hill, Robson and Mitchell at 9 I've liked but Randall just made me smile more, Lawrence in the centres and actually both Barritt and Taylor in the centres who're hard done by the glamour moments afforded by Radradra, Piutau at 15 is just brilliant but Goode has done such a job and at 10 so he gets the nod, and Kibirige has worked so hard on the flank but I've perhaps been drawn by the glamour moments of OHC and McConnochie

Not sure how anyone could leave Itoje out.

Banquo wrote:

Digby wrote:

Puja wrote:
It is quite refreshingly sane, isn't it? I'd say TCurry for Earl, Faf for Spencer, Simmonds for Umaga, and Gopperth for James and you're probably spot on.

I've just realised that's a Best XV made by pundits without Farrell in it. How has that happened? Normally, they find some excuse to crowbar him in with a, "He wasn't at his best, but his leadership was invaluable," comment.

Puja

There's a weird lack of Sarries player, when thy've actually played rather well in actual games. And I'm not sure if I haven't seen Cips play well this season, but that time back before lockdown seems so many years ago...

But yep, all the decisions have merit. I'd even make some of the same calls myself, though I'd probably go with

Oabano
Thacker
Koch
de jäger
Hill
Polledri
Cowan
Willis
Randall
Simmonds
Hassell-Collins
van Rensburg
Radradra
McConnochie
Goode

There are a number of players I feel bad about leaving out, van der Merwe has been outstanding other than his lineout (which is some slight issue) so too LCD, Stuart on the tighthead, Isiekwe has put in a good shift whenever I've seen him, Ted Hill, Robson and Mitchell at 9 I've liked but Randall just made me smile more, Lawrence in the centres and actually both Barritt and Taylor in the centres who're hard done by the glamour moments afforded by Radradra, Piutau at 15 is just brilliant but Goode has done such a job and at 10 so he gets the nod, and Kibirige has worked so hard on the flank but I've perhaps been drawn by the glamour moments of OHC and McConnochie

Not sure how anyone could leave Itoje out.

His mark was adjusted for claiming he was so stupid he didn't realise he and Sarries were cheating. Also his best games that I easily recalled came in Europe, not that he'd be a bad selection in any side

Digby wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Digby wrote:
There's a weird lack of Sarries player, when thy've actually played rather well in actual games. And I'm not sure if I haven't seen Cips play well this season, but that time back before lockdown seems so many years ago...

But yep, all the decisions have merit. I'd even make some of the same calls myself, though I'd probably go with

Oabano
Thacker
Koch
de jäger
Hill
Polledri
Cowan
Willis
Randall
Simmonds
Hassell-Collins
van Rensburg
Radradra
McConnochie
Goode

There are a number of players I feel bad about leaving out, van der Merwe has been outstanding other than his lineout (which is some slight issue) so too LCD, Stuart on the tighthead, Isiekwe has put in a good shift whenever I've seen him, Ted Hill, Robson and Mitchell at 9 I've liked but Randall just made me smile more, Lawrence in the centres and actually both Barritt and Taylor in the centres who're hard done by the glamour moments afforded by Radradra, Piutau at 15 is just brilliant but Goode has done such a job and at 10 so he gets the nod, and Kibirige has worked so hard on the flank but I've perhaps been drawn by the glamour moments of OHC and McConnochie

Not sure how anyone could leave Itoje out.

His mark was adjusted for claiming he was so stupid he didn't realise he and Sarries were cheating. Also his best games that I easily recalled came in Europe, not that he'd be a bad selection in any side

Been outstanding every game I’ve seen him in. Does Goode avoid censure?

Banquo wrote:

Digby wrote:

Banquo wrote: Not sure how anyone could leave Itoje out.

His mark was adjusted for claiming he was so stupid he didn't realise he and Sarries were cheating. Also his best games that I easily recalled came in Europe, not that he'd be a bad selection in any side

Been outstanding every game I’ve seen him in. Does Goode avoid censure?

I didn't hear Goode try to claim he was thick as mince and thus couldn't be expected to know the pope is catholic. Itoje might simply be paying a price for having the bigger profile in that, heavy lies the crown and all that

Digby wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Digby wrote:
His mark was adjusted for claiming he was so stupid he didn't realise he and Sarries were cheating. Also his best games that I easily recalled came in Europe, not that he'd be a bad selection in any side

Been outstanding every game I’ve seen him in. Does Goode avoid censure?

I didn't hear Goode try to claim he was thick as mince and thus couldn't be expected to know the pope is catholic. Itoje might simply be paying a price for having the bigger profile in that, heavy lies the crown and all that

I didn’t read whatever you saw. Quite an odd basis for non selection.

Banquo wrote:

Digby wrote:

Banquo wrote: Been outstanding every game I’ve seen him in. Does Goode avoid censure?

I didn't hear Goode try to claim he was thick as mince and thus couldn't be expected to know the pope is catholic. Itoje might simply be paying a price for having the bigger profile in that, heavy lies the crown and all that

I didn’t read whatever you saw. Quite an odd basis for non selection.

I didn't give it a moment's thought until responding to your post with an aside that might have some flippancy about it. I just picked out two locks I did enjoy watching in selecting a XV, I also liked Isiekwe this season and I'd had in mind to mention Itoje but forgot what was in my mind. If I was ordered to have Itoje in that side I wouldn't complain, equally I'm perfectly happy with Hill and de Jager based on the games I saw (and what I recall from that).

Digby wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Digby wrote:
I didn't hear Goode try to claim he was thick as mince and thus couldn't be expected to know the pope is catholic. Itoje might simply be paying a price for having the bigger profile in that, heavy lies the crown and all that

I didn’t read whatever you saw. Quite an odd basis for non selection.

I didn't give it a moment's thought until responding to your post with an aside that might have some flippancy about it. I just picked out two locks I did enjoy watching in selecting a XV, I also liked Isiekwe this season and I'd had in mind to mention Itoje but forgot what was in my mind. If I was ordered to have Itoje in that side I wouldn't complain, equally I'm perfectly happy with Hill and de Jager based on the games I saw (and what I recall from that).

Well that’s not been a waste of time at all then.

Itoje and Willis are probably two of the most influential players in the league in terms of how they are at the centre of their respective teams' success. Though not completely infallible, obviously. And arguably Wasps' biggest result since the restart (save the SF) came when J Willis wasn't playing.

So yeah, on the subject of time wasting....

5th - Nizam Car
4th - POC vs Bath
3rd - Robson
2nd - POC vs Saints
1st - Smith

Banquo wrote:

Digby wrote:

Banquo wrote: I didn’t read whatever you saw. Quite an odd basis for non selection.

I didn't give it a moment's thought until responding to your post with an aside that might have some flippancy about it. I just picked out two locks I did enjoy watching in selecting a XV, I also liked Isiekwe this season and I'd had in mind to mention Itoje but forgot what was in my mind. If I was ordered to have Itoje in that side I wouldn't complain, equally I'm perfectly happy with Hill and de Jager based on the games I saw (and what I recall from that).

Well that’s not been a waste of time at all then.

No degradation to previous standard of service