RugbyRebels

Bristol Bears team news
Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane (47 apps), 14. Jack Bates (47 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (35 apps), 12. James Williams (46 apps), 11. Noah Heward (21 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (15 apps), 9. Harry Randall (136 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (52 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (29 apps), 3. George Kloska (52 apps), 4. James Dun (44 apps), 5. Jamie Hodgson (3 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (140 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (83 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (5 apps).

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker (124 apps), 17. Yann Thomas (119 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (7 apps), 19, Steele Barker (debut), 20. Jake Heenan (115 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (37 apps), 22. Harry Byrne (debut), Kalaveti Ravouvou (17 apps).

Unavailable: Sam Grahamslaw, Max Lahiff, Lovejoy Chawatama, Tom Doughty, Joe Batley, Joe Owen, Josh Caulfield, George Taylor, Santiago Grondona, Kofi Cripps, Sam Wolstenholme, AJ MacGinty, Gabriel Ibitoye, Siva Naulago, Max Malins.

Saracens team news
1 Rhys Carre
2 Jamie George
3 Marco Riccioni
4 Maro Itoje (c)
5 Harry Wilson
6 Juan Martin Gonzalez
7 Ben Earl
8 Tom Willis
9 Ivan van Zyl
10 Fergus Burke
11 Lucio Cinti
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Alex Lozowski
14 Rotimi Segun
15 Elliot Daly

Replacements:

16 Kapeli Pifeleti
17 Phil Brantingham
18 Alec Clarey
19 Olamide Sodeke
20 Nathan Michelow
21 Gareth Simpson
22 Olly Hartley
23 Angus Hall

Harry Byrne on the bench and in line for his debut after his loan move from Leinster.

Sodeke in line for his Prem debut!

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2025 7:30 pm Sodeke in line for his Prem debut!

It’s nearly puzzling

Ba dum tish

Is tom Willis a shoe in at 8 for ingerland?

He should be…

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2025 6:57 pm He should be…

I forgot earl was the incumbent


6 Ccs
7 earl/curry/ bath fella
8 Tom Willis

Looks about right to me

As a munster supporter I think we'll do well to beat sarries next week

Need to deal with the rush defence

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2025 7:17 pm

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2025 6:57 pm He should be…

I forgot earl was the incumbent


6 Ccs
7 earl/curry/ bath fella
8 Tom Willis

Looks about right to me

It Chessum is back fit and firing (rumours he might be back in the squad for next week's game) then I'd probably have him at 6 and deploy CCS as an impact sub. The England bench was hopelessly short on impact in the AIs and CCS would help on that department.

4. Itoje
5. Martin
6. Chessum
7. Underhill/TCurry/whomever is in form
8. Willis

19. CCS
20. Earl

That would work. Chessum can move into lock if required. Just freshen up the backrow with impact.

I do like it in theory, but wonder what the negative impact of your replacement lock having run around at flanker for an hour might be too.

If we’re not interested in Ted Hill then Chessum getting some more time at 6 probably makes sense though. He was great vs Ireland but I don’t know how consistently we’d get that sort of performance.

Willis’s stats again looked insane and both finishes were fantastic in different ways.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sun Jan 05, 2025 3:49 pm I do like it in theory, but wonder what the negative impact of your replacement lock having run around at flanker for an hour might be too.

If we’re not interested in Ted Hill then Chessum getting some more time at 6 probably makes sense though. He was great vs Ireland but I don’t know how consistently we’d get that sort of performance.

Willis’s stats again looked insane and both finishes were fantastic in different ways.

Isn't Ted Hill injured again?

Chessum started the season brilliantly, his injury a massive blow. Whether he comes back in the same form would be a question.

Martin, Itoje and Chessum are all capable of going the full 80 and regularly do so. Having two fresh backrows charging around in the loose would help ease their workload as well.

Willis scored 2 tries that underlined what he can offer. One from close range when he blasted through defenders, the other out wide when he ran around them.
If he isnt in the England team in Dublin something is very seriously amiss.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 06, 2025 5:40 pm Willis scored 2 tries that underlined what he can offer. One from close range when he blasted through defenders, the other out wide when he ran around them.
If he isnt in the England team in Dublin something is very seriously amiss.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... gm24gy8v4o

He scored two tries, gaining 44 metres and beating five defenders from 12 carries, while also making 23 tackles and securing two turnovers.

He has beaten more defenders than any other player in the Premiership. He is the only forward in the top 10. He is seventh on metres made, without racking up the 'easy' kick receipt yardage. Again, he is the only forward in the top 10.

He is Saracens' leading tackler, third overall in the league, and equal sixth in the division for turnovers.

I still think about that cameo he had vs Wales before the world cup and what the point of that even was? I feel like he did everything he could really do in 20 minutes off the bench, but Borthwick clearly had no intention of bringing him in. Has there been any word on what he's missing so far? Kick chase not up to standard?

He should have played in the autumn.

Failure to cap him now would be utterly bizarre and inexcusable.

Doesn’t yell and whoop enough when a scrum penalty is won.

His cameo v Wales was enough to confirm what we all knew. We should be going into the 6n with him as our established 8.

Willis is a classic example of HC blindness. SB already has good back row players in the mix without Willis. The ability to recognise that others could be better is an essential part of judgement in his job requirements. The team and unit ceilings should rule. England are losing matches and must raise standards. If that means dropping good players for better ones, even if two steps back lead to three forward, so be it. Ruthlessness sometimes trumps loyalty.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 9:23 am Willis is a classic example of HC blindness. SB already has good back row players in the mix without Willis. The ability to recognise that others could be better is an essential part of judgement in his job requirements. The team and unit ceilings should rule. England are losing matches and must raise standards. If that means dropping good players for better ones, even if two steps back lead to three forward, so be it. Ruthlessness sometimes trumps loyalty.

The AI squad selection was horrendously negative. I can only assume the aim was to maintain a settled squad to help with the new defence coach. It failed badly and an injection of new form players is definitely required if we want to achieve anything during the 6N.

As with Seb Atkinson, Willis needs to be farking brilliant (and I reckon he will be) if he ever gets called up!

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 10:04 am As with Seb Atkinson, Willis needs to be farking brilliant (and I reckon he will be) if he ever gets called up!

My fear for both would be that they get picked in isolation in the same game plan and defence system. Just changing the 8 or 12 shirt occupants could lead to 'hiding to nothing' problems. 'That didn't work. It must be the new bloke,' type thing!

That is why, in the case of the back row, I'd have none of Curry x 2, Underhill, Earl or Dombrandt in the 6N starting 23. I accept that SB will not agree.

I'd also suggest that if Atkinson starts it should be with neither Lawrence nor Slade.

I think that it is time for overhaul rather than trickle changes. Having said that, I'd start with the coaching crew and as that won't happen, I am not optimistic for any of the first three matches.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:41 pm

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 10:04 am As with Seb Atkinson, Willis needs to be farking brilliant (and I reckon he will be) if he ever gets called up!

My fear for both would be that they get picked in isolation in the same game plan and defence system. Just changing the 8 or 12 shirt occupants could lead to 'hiding to nothing' problems. 'That didn't work. It must be the new bloke,' type thing!

That is why, in the case of the back row, I'd have none of Curry x 2, Underhill, Earl or Dombrandt in the 6N starting 23. I accept that SB will not agree.

I'd also suggest that if Atkinson starts it should be with neither Lawrence nor Slade.

I think that it is time for overhaul rather than trickle changes. Having said that, I'd start with the coaching crew and as that won't happen, I am not optimistic for any of the first three matches.

Who would you have at 13 outside Atkinson?

Puja

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:41 pm

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 10:04 am As with Seb Atkinson, Willis needs to be farking brilliant (and I reckon he will be) if he ever gets called up!

My fear for both would be that they get picked in isolation in the same game plan and defence system. Just changing the 8 or 12 shirt occupants could lead to 'hiding to nothing' problems. 'That didn't work. It must be the new bloke,' type thing!

That is why, in the case of the back row, I'd have none of Curry x 2, Underhill, Earl or Dombrandt in the 6N starting 23. I accept that SB will not agree.

I'd also suggest that if Atkinson starts it should be with neither Lawrence nor Slade.

I think that it is time for overhaul rather than trickle changes. Having said that, I'd start with the coaching crew and as that won't happen, I am not optimistic for any of the first three matches.

Lawrence is the perfect foil outside Atkinson. It would be very similar to how Bath set up to play.

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 1:09 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:41 pm

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 10:04 am As with Seb Atkinson, Willis needs to be farking brilliant (and I reckon he will be) if he ever gets called up!

My fear for both would be that they get picked in isolation in the same game plan and defence system. Just changing the 8 or 12 shirt occupants could lead to 'hiding to nothing' problems. 'That didn't work. It must be the new bloke,' type thing!

That is why, in the case of the back row, I'd have none of Curry x 2, Underhill, Earl or Dombrandt in the 6N starting 23. I accept that SB will not agree.

I'd also suggest that if Atkinson starts it should be with neither Lawrence nor Slade.

I think that it is time for overhaul rather than trickle changes. Having said that, I'd start with the coaching crew and as that won't happen, I am not optimistic for any of the first three matches.

Who would you have at 13 outside Atkinson?

Puja

If IFW is fit, Freeman.

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 2:32 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:41 pm

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 10:04 am As with Seb Atkinson, Willis needs to be farking brilliant (and I reckon he will be) if he ever gets called up!

My fear for both would be that they get picked in isolation in the same game plan and defence system. Just changing the 8 or 12 shirt occupants could lead to 'hiding to nothing' problems. 'That didn't work. It must be the new bloke,' type thing!

That is why, in the case of the back row, I'd have none of Curry x 2, Underhill, Earl or Dombrandt in the 6N starting 23. I accept that SB will not agree.

I'd also suggest that if Atkinson starts it should be with neither Lawrence nor Slade.

I think that it is time for overhaul rather than trickle changes. Having said that, I'd start with the coaching crew and as that won't happen, I am not optimistic for any of the first three matches.

Lawrence is the perfect foil outside Atkinson. It would be very similar to how Bath set up to play.

If I was thinking like that, I'd try Dingwall and Freeman first. If it has to be one change, I'd retain Slade ahead of Lawrence.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 4:11 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 2:32 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:41 pm

My fear for both would be that they get picked in isolation in the same game plan and defence system. Just changing the 8 or 12 shirt occupants could lead to 'hiding to nothing' problems. 'That didn't work. It must be the new bloke,' type thing!

That is why, in the case of the back row, I'd have none of Curry x 2, Underhill, Earl or Dombrandt in the 6N starting 23. I accept that SB will not agree.

I'd also suggest that if Atkinson starts it should be with neither Lawrence nor Slade.

I think that it is time for overhaul rather than trickle changes. Having said that, I'd start with the coaching crew and as that won't happen, I am not optimistic for any of the first three matches.

Lawrence is the perfect foil outside Atkinson. It would be very similar to how Bath set up to play.

If I was thinking like that, I'd try Dingwall and Freeman first. If it has to be one change, I'd retain Slade ahead of Lawrence.

One start at 13 this season for Freeman. He had a couple of runs at different points of last season but has otherwise no experience there.