Glaws v Bris, Friday night

[Scrumhead]

If only England had chased after Polledri.

Wouldn’t have mattered. He was always going to choose Italy.

Why? I don’t believe that’s the case at all. We showed no interest and Italy did. Our loss.

I like that whole Gloucester backrow. Ackermann Jnr has stepped up quite a bit this year, looks noticeably bigger and more powerful. Ludlow is a cracking workhorse 7. And all 3 are around 22/23 years old.

For some reason, Ludlow is very underrated. I thought he was very good again tonight.

[Mellsblue]

If only England had chased after Polledri.

Wouldn’t have mattered. He was always going to choose Italy.

Why? I don’t believe that’s the case at all. We showed no interest and Italy did. Our loss.

From what I’ve heard and read he’s pretty attached to his Italian heritage and he obviously played for the Italy u20 and felt some allegiance. If you’re saying that had he stayed in the academy system and been in and around Eng age grade he might have chosen England then you might be right. If you were saying the had Eddie Jones called after his breakthrough at Glos I think you’d be wrong.

[fivepointer]

Polledri is a loss but he wanted to play for the country of his parents. Cant blame him for that. He is a terrific player, but i felt Ludlow was almost as impressive.
Overall Bris did well up until h/t but couldnt really cope in the 2nd half. They shouldnt be too dismayed. They will improve but already have the look of a side who could comfortably stay up. Injuries might tell over a long season, but for now, they should be reasonably content.

[Scrumhead]

Wouldn’t have mattered. He was always going to choose Italy.

Why? I don’t believe that’s the case at all. We showed no interest and Italy did. Our loss.

From what I’ve heard and read he’s pretty attached to his Italian heritage and he obviously played for the Italy u20 and felt some allegiance. If you’re saying that had he stayed in the academy system and been in and around Eng age grade he might have chosen England then you might be right. If you were saying the had Eddie Jones called after his breakthrough at Glos I think you’d be wrong.

Possibly, but I also read an interview with him when he joined Gloucester talking about still being EQ, which suggests it wasn't cut and dried. Obviously we're both speculating, but either way, it would have been nice to put his commitment to Italy to the test. Prior to the 6 Nations last year, he'd had been making a real impression and had Eddie called him in to a training camp, it might have made him think twice or at least postpone his decision. As it is, I wish him all the best with Italy. He's a cracking player and IMO, he and Seb Negri have the potential to become the best 6 and 7 combination Italy have ever had.

Polledri is a loss but he wanted to play for the country of his parents. Cant blame him for that. He is a terrific player, but i felt Ludlow was almost as impressive.
Overall Bris did well up until h/t but couldnt really cope in the 2nd half. They shouldnt be too dismayed. They will improve but already have the look of a side who could comfortably stay up. Injuries might tell over a long season, but for now, they should be reasonably content.

Whenever it comes to discussing young, English flankers, Ludlow rarely gets mentioned as a future England contender and I don't really know why? It's bizarre considering Lewis Ludlam almost always does (perhaps he's one of those that gets better by not playing)?

Ludlow is potentially more of a 6.5 than and out-and-out 7. He's maybe not as good at the breakdown than Underhill or the Currys but I'd argue he is a better carrier/link player, he's fairly quick and isn't lacking in physicality or aggression. I'm always impressed when I watch him.

[Beasties]

First time I've really properly seen Polledri play. I can see what the fuss is about now. Quite a player.

[Digby]

If he gave the obvious foul he wouldn't have shouted though. Terrible decision.

The Serena Williams defence

[Mellsblue]

Also, I'm not sure Cips is any worse a kicker than Barrett

wouldn’t be in a team that is confident enough to think (know) they will win regardless of a few missed pens and cons.

I stand corrected.

[TheNomad]

Also, I'm not sure Cips is any worse a kicker than Barrett

Interesting timing of comment given the result this morning!

[Mikey Brown]

Aye. Barrett is a fucking atrocious kicker. I’m not sure why anyone pretends otherwise, but it doesn’t usually matter because he’s fantastic elsewhere. The ABs team know this though, it’s their decision to select somebody better at kicking if they want.

[Mellsblue]

If only they had a Farrell to play at 12 and take over the kicking duties.

[Stom]

Aye. Barrett is a fucking atrocious kicker. I’m not sure why anyone pretends otherwise, but it doesn’t usually matter because he’s fantastic elsewhere. The ABs team know this though, it’s their decision to select somebody better at kicking if they want.

It's not just that. I was watching the matches with Aus this morning and good god, some of the players on both sides can't defend to save their lives!!!

O'Gara said that we're a lot better defenders up north and I completely agree with him. But we've got to find a way to get those skill levels in attack up to standard. Which starts with youth coaching.

If our players could trust their handling, the unit would be incredible.

[morepork]

If only they had a Farrell to play at 12 and take over the kicking duties.

Then Ioane would grow fat and lazy with all the extra time on his hands.

[Mellsblue]

If only they had a Farrell to play at 12 and take over the kicking duties.

Then Ioane would grow fat and lazy with all the extra time on his hands.

Eating popcorn whilst watching Farrell single-handedly test match animaling you to yet another win will do that to you.

[Mikey Brown]

I assumed he meant that Ioane would have so much time on the ball and space to run into that he’d barely have to break a sweat as he scores a hat-trick every game. All the post-match celebrations would take a toll on his waist line though.

[Mellsblue]

That makes more sense.

[Digby]

Besides, Farrell looks better than Crotty, even before Crotty is one tackle away from dementia

[jimKRFC]

Good first half. Not a lot to add about the 2nd, if we'd not messed up the re-start i think it might be been a bit closer.

People there were saying that Lam/Reihana was down on the side telling the players to run it out rather than try and be pragmatic. I think (with no real evidence) that they used the first three games to test players and systems. Looking the fixtures i don't think we'd expect to get much from them, so we've started the reserve 9's (Uren & Randell), Sheedy got to start at Sarries, so the coaches have a good idea of them at this level.

I'd expect more focus on the next block of 3 (Quins (H), Saints (H) and Worcester (A)) before the Euro break. If we can get two wins and some bonus points out of those we'd be on track.

[Mellsblue]

First time I've really properly seen Polledri play. I can see what the fuss is about now. Quite a player.

......

[Timbo]

According to ESPN, the Glos backrow as a unit made; 45 carries for 220metres, 4 clean breaks, 18 defenders beaten, 13 passes and 5 offloads. 44 tackles with only 1 missed.

Case to say they could be best backrow in the Prem.

[Scrumhead]

Yep. And that’s all before Jack Kriel’s even played.

Morgan’s not a bad player to have on the bench either.

[Tigersman]

Very good back row.

But going to wait till they play Sarries or Exeter before calling them the best backrow.

[Gloskarlos]

Think we have the potential to be the best back row or certainly up there. I don't think we have the best yet.

Ludlow was fantastic all of last season too, was touted for club captain this season, gives everything, tackles more than virtually everyone else in the premiership and this season has been linking far more. All very exciting.

[Gloskarlos]

Oh and to put the Polledri for England thing to bed, He qualified for Italy via the U-20's in 2014. The Italian U-20 side at that time were the qualifying team for International recognition. Jones couldn't have done anything about it even if he wanted to (and joined us in 2015 AFTER Jake had made his bed anyway)

[Raggs]

Tackles aren't necessarily that exciting for me, getting yourself to pillar a lot doesn't necessarily mean you're playing well. If you're a fit young flanker, try and let some prop stand at pillar. If he's tackling, he's also not jackaling (especially with current laws). Now those may not be the case of course, but pure tackle count doesn't necessarily mean very much.

[Mikey Brown]

You referring to Ludlow? I don’t get the impression he’s just mopping up around the fringes, he seems to really get about and throw himself into tackles.