Saracens V Wasps Sat 3pm

[fivepointer]

Saracens: Williams; Maitland, Lozowski, Barritt (capt), Lewington; Goode, Wigglesworth; Lamositele, George, Koch, Itoje, Skelton, Rhodes, Clark, Wray.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Adams-Hale, Figallo, Isiekwe, Day, Earl, Spencer, Tompkins.

Wasps: Le Roux; Neal, Daly (capt), Le Bourgeois, Campagnaro; Sopoaga, Hampson; B Harris, A Harris, Brookes, Rowlands, Myall, Shields, Carr, Hughes.

Replacements: Oghre, Zhvania, Daniels, Matthews, Morris, Porter, Searle, de Jongh.

[Mellsblue]

I fear for Wasps.

[Puja]

Shame Lozowski's not kept on the wing - he looked mustard against Leicester.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Daly at 13 with Campagnaro at 11 suggests a real determination to not play wing or is that a reach?

Lozowski on the wing is interesting in a similar way to Daly there, can do a bit of the fullbacky stuff but get to pick and choose when to get involved.

[Raggs]

Who's Daniels????

[fivepointer]

I fear for Wasps.

Me too. They are in a sorry state and are seriously stretched. They've got a guy from Nottingham covering TH on the bench and have 3 OC's in their backline.

Saracens should be far too strong.

[Raggs]

Another OC on the bench just in case...

Ludicrously stretched.

[Mellsblue]

And Charlie Matthews on the bench. Things must be bad!!!

[Peej]

It's unbelievable. Our 4th choice hooker, 4th and 3rd choice locks, 3rd choice scrummie, and Campagnaro on the wing (presumably because he hasn't had enough time to learn the plays.) Just when some guys come back, we lose a whole other load. You think it couldn't possibly get any worse, and then it does.

I'd have played de Jong and put Daly on the wing myself.

Think Wasps are going to get stuffed, and Sarries will clear 50

[Oakboy]

Rhodes v Shields could be tasty.

[CONVEX HULL]

Shame Lozowski's not kept on the wing - he looked mustard against Leicester.

Puja

He's looked mustard at 13 for Saracens.

[Puja]

Shame Lozowski's not kept on the wing - he looked mustard against Leicester.

Puja

He's looked mustard at 13 for Saracens.

He's looked good there, definitely, and I do rate him as a centre, but he looked to the manner born on the wing. May just've been a good game (and gods knows we aren't the strongest oppo anymore).

Puja

[CONVEX HULL]

Shame Lozowski's not kept on the wing - he looked mustard against Leicester.

Puja

He's looked mustard at 13 for Saracens.

He's looked good there, definitely, and I do rate him as a centre, but he looked to the manner born on the wing. May just've been a good game (and gods knows we aren't the strongest oppo anymore).

Puja

I am pretty sure that most Saracens supporters wouldn't want him at 12.

[Peej]

Is he not the long term answer at 12 as Barritt begins to be phased out?

[CONVEX HULL]

Is he not the long term answer at 12 as Barritt begins to be phased out?

It would have been Taylor & Tomkins, but Taylor has been dreadfully unlucky with injuries.

[Peej]

I'm not sure Tomkins has progressed much recently, he seems to have plateaud a bit in his development. Loz would seem to offer the second playmaker and defensive solidity at 12 to really be a success - though for the time being he's equally good at 13 of course

[Timbo]

I think Tompkins has really kicked on this season. Finally nailed down a regular spot in the first choice 23.

[fivepointer]

Tompkins should have been a regular starter in the Prem for the last couple of seasons. Cant help feeling he's been loyal to Saracens to his detriment.

[Scrumhead]

Agreed on Tompkins’ improvement. He always had good feet, but he looks to be a lot more physically robust.

I also think Wasps may be in for a tough day ...

[Renniks]

Hughes' technique when the ball is being driven over the line is really quite something

Other players should be studying what and how he does what he does!

Also…
Itoje's tackle on Campagnaro was brilliant - why supporting players then try and jackal the ball when you can see he hasn't been able to roll away is super frustrating

[Oakboy]

Is Campagnaro worth his wages?

[Scrumhead]

Lewington’s move to Sarries has been a bit of a let down so far. I thought he’d be lethal with the front foot ball they generate, but whenever I’ve seen them play with him in the side, he’s almost entirely ignored. Taking today’s game as an example, Maitland seemed much more involved.

Obviously there is a tactical element to consider, but it seems crazy to have a winger with his pace and footwork so redundant.

[Peej]

How much of that is him not going looking for the ball?

Campagnaro looked very rusty, Daly was all over the shop, and Sopoaga was fairly average. But that was probably close to the Wasps' pack best 40 minutes of the season in the first half, and that shorn of 3/4s of their regular starters. Neal also looks a good find, really physical and always looking to take people on.

Frustrating that really poor skills led to opportunities going begging. Sarries are lightyears ahead in terms of efficiency.

[fivepointer]

Thought Wasps competed pretty well for 50 odd minutes. Saracens werent exactly in top gear but they do manage to win games when below their best. George was excellent.

[Scrumhead]

How much of that is him not going looking for the ball?

Campagnaro looked very rusty, Daly was all over the shop, and Sopoaga was fairly average. But that was probably close to the Wasps' pack best 40 minutes of the season in the first half, and that shorn of 3/4s of their regular starters. Neal also looks a good find, really physical and always looking to take people on.

Frustrating that really poor skills led to opportunities going begging. Sarries are lightyears ahead in terms of efficiency.

Yeah - I agree with all of that.

The part I don’t really get re. Lewington is that he was always looking for the ball at LI. I guess it’s possible that he’s lacking the confidence to do so in a new team where he’s not one of the main men.