RugbyRebels

Wasps just not accurate and clinical enough to make the difference at this level. That combined with an odd persistence with picking non specialist 15s has ended Wasps season a few weeks early.

Another game from Gopperth that makes me less worried about him leaving.

Peej wrote:Wasps just not accurate and clinical enough to make the difference at this level. That combined with an odd persistence with picking non specialist 15s has ended Wasps season a few weeks early.

Another game from Gopperth that makes me less worried about him leaving.

I was going to say that wasps did well to get that close without a full back, but it seemed cruel. But I thought Umaga was poor, irrespective that he was out of position....he just seemed to not be concentrating. Gopperth at least tried, but he is definitely past his best, unsurprisingly.

Leinster comfortable even with furlong off.

twitchy wrote:Leinster comfortable even with furlong off.

great teamwork

Banquo wrote:

twitchy wrote:Leinster comfortable even with furlong off.

great teamwork

Toulouse can't match their intensity. Impressive display by Leinster.

Yep, leinster are top quality.

FKAS wrote:

Banquo wrote:

twitchy wrote:Leinster comfortable even with furlong off.

great teamwork

Toulouse can't match their intensity. Impressive display by Leinster.

smarter fitter and brilliantly organised and tasked.

Leinster different class. That was a mighty impressive performance.

fivepointer wrote:Leinster different class. That was a mighty impressive performance.

The Leinster scrum was getting munched but they more than made up for it by dominating in the loose. Van der Flier and Doris are an outstanding pair of flankers who can run all day.

Spiffy wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Leinster different class. That was a mighty impressive performance.

The Leinster scrum was getting munched but they more than made up for it by dominating in the loose. Van der Flier and Doris are an outstanding pair of flankers who can run all day.

The Leinster scrum had a pretty rough time against Tigers as well, were somewhat fortunate that the ref let them off a few. Might have soared some blushes in the review. They will be playing another big French pack in the final so you'd have thought they'll be doing a lot of work on that area in the coming weeks.

fivepointer wrote:Wasps really lacked the necessary accuracy. A lot of poor passes and spills, which given the very good conditions, was a disappointing effort. They just werent quite on it.

Sounds like it. I just read that Kpoku got MOTM. Was he any good?

Scrumhead wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Wasps really lacked the necessary accuracy. A lot of poor passes and spills, which given the very good conditions, was a disappointing effort. They just werent quite on it.

Sounds like it. I just read that Kpoku got MOTM. Was he any good?

To be fair, he was pretty good. Quite Itoje-esque.

Scrumhead wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Wasps really lacked the necessary accuracy. A lot of poor passes and spills, which given the very good conditions, was a disappointing effort. They just werent quite on it.

Sounds like it. I just read that Kpoku got MOTM. Was he any good?

Yeesh, that's a weird decision. He was good, but not great - made some high profile carries, but also made some very dumb errors. I would've said Tuisova myself; he was an absolute beast, especially in defence.

Puja

sarries woeful going forward mostly. 9 isnt all that tbh

Banquo wrote:sarries woeful going forward mostly. 9 isnt all that tbh

9 looks great until he produces a howler… which he did on numerous occasions. Sarries looked really disjointed, which is totally out of character. Lozowski is class and Farrell managed to piss off the ref again.

Well that was frustrating for Wasps. Comfortable in the first half, Lyon were their own worst enemy as alluded to. Second half, roles reversed and Wasps would’ve won it it if they’d just kept playing rather than fekking everything up whenever they had the ball. Fekitoa is just a ref’s review waiting to happen, another day he’d have been offski. But his spilling of the ball near the Lyon line seemed to be the catalyst for a downward spiral for Wasps and an upward spiral for Lyon. I’d have hooked him for Spink, (who’s a coming force) before then but it’s history now. I’ve been too scared to mention Alo for Eng but now Puja’s mentioned it I feel relieved. He’s not quite good enough but is unrecognisable nonetheless and deserves recognition for that. If there’s a forum vote for most improved player of the season he’d get my vote.

Yeah, Alo has come on a lot this year. I wouldn’t be against giving him a run out in the Barbarians game and if the top 4 doesn’t change, he’ll surely be in the mix.

Not sure what happens next season though? With Koch and Ryan arriving, he’s presumably shunted down to 3rd choice which would be a poor reward for a good season.

Mellsblue wrote:

Banquo wrote:sarries woeful going forward mostly. 9 isnt all that tbh

9 looks great until he produces a howler… which he did on numerous occasions. Sarries looked really disjointed, which is totally out of character. Lozowski is class and Farrell managed to piss off the ref again.

yep, he also managed to get himself involved in too many rucks as a clearer, tho in his defence the Sarries ball carriers were getting themselves isolated and not staying on their feet long enough...Toulon were attacking the breakdown quite heavily and Sarries didn't use their heads, as it were.

Sarries were unusually disjointed, but got to say that Toulon really impressed me. They look a really hard team to play against and I wouldn’t be totally surprised if they came from nowhere to win the top14 this season. Probably the most impressive French team I’ve seen this season.

Timbo wrote:Sarries were unusually disjointed, but got to say that Toulon really impressed me. They look a really hard team to play against and I wouldn’t be totally surprised if they came from nowhere to win the top14 this season. Probably the most impressive French team I’ve seen this season.

yep, they bashed sarries at lineout and breakdown. Eztebeth was immense, as was Ollivon. Parisse can still play a bit, even if a bit overhyped by the commentators.

Scrumhead wrote:Yeah, Alo has come on a lot this year. I wouldn’t be against giving him a run out in the Barbarians game and if the top 4 doesn’t change, he’ll surely be in the mix.

Not sure what happens next season though? With Koch and Ryan arriving, he’s presumably shunted down to 3rd choice which would be a poor reward for a good season.

Certainly agree with him getting a run against the BaaBaas. As for Koch and Ryan, Koch will barely play in the first half of the season, so plenty of time there, and even after there will be injuries etc.

Barbeary will probably get a slot against the BaaBaas too, but if Tom Willis doesn't I can see him lining up on the other side.

Peej wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Yeah, Alo has come on a lot this year. I wouldn’t be against giving him a run out in the Barbarians game and if the top 4 doesn’t change, he’ll surely be in the mix.

Not sure what happens next season though? With Koch and Ryan arriving, he’s presumably shunted down to 3rd choice which would be a poor reward for a good season.

Certainly agree with him getting a run against the BaaBaas. As for Koch and Ryan, Koch will barely play in the first half of the season, so plenty of time there, and even after there will be injuries etc.

Barbeary will probably get a slot against the BaaBaas too, but if Tom Willis doesn't I can see him lining up on the other side.

Maybe controversial, but I'd still like Barbeary to be having a bash at hooker, even though that ship has probably sailed.

Banquo wrote:

Peej wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Yeah, Alo has come on a lot this year. I wouldn’t be against giving him a run out in the Barbarians game and if the top 4 doesn’t change, he’ll surely be in the mix.

Not sure what happens next season though? With Koch and Ryan arriving, he’s presumably shunted down to 3rd choice which would be a poor reward for a good season.

Certainly agree with him getting a run against the BaaBaas. As for Koch and Ryan, Koch will barely play in the first half of the season, so plenty of time there, and even after there will be injuries etc.

Barbeary will probably get a slot against the BaaBaas too, but if Tom Willis doesn't I can see him lining up on the other side.

Maybe controversial, but I'd still like Barbeary to be having a bash at hooker, even though that ship has probably sailed.

I’ve said so a couple of times on here, but to my eye he looks too heavy right now. Don’t feel like he’s moving quite as well as he did when he first broke through.

Timbo wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Peej wrote:
Certainly agree with him getting a run against the BaaBaas. As for Koch and Ryan, Koch will barely play in the first half of the season, so plenty of time there, and even after there will be injuries etc.

Barbeary will probably get a slot against the BaaBaas too, but if Tom Willis doesn't I can see him lining up on the other side.

Maybe controversial, but I'd still like Barbeary to be having a bash at hooker, even though that ship has probably sailed.

I’ve said so a couple of times on here, but to my eye he looks too heavy right now. Don’t feel like he’s moving quite as well as he did when he first broke through.

Same. He looked and moved like a front row against Lyon. Maybe he's carrying an injury?

Puja

He's not good on plastic pitches by all accounts, and that was his second in two weeks.