Aviva Premiership - Round 21

First topic message reminder :

Fri 2nd May 14

19:45 Bath Rugby  v   Northampton Saints Recreation Ground BT Sport

Sat 3rd May 14

15:00 Gloucester Rugby  v   London Irish Kingsholm
15:00 London Wasps  v   Newcastle Falcons Adams Park
15:00 Saracens  v   Worcester Warriors Allianz Park
15:15 Sale Sharks  v   Leicester Tigers AJ Bell Stadium BT Sport

Sun 4th May 14

14:00 Exeter Chiefs  v   Harlequins Sandy Park BT Sport



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Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Tries For	Tries Against	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Points
1	Saracens	20	18	0	2	558	302	58	32	8	0	80
2	Northampton Saints	20	15	1	4	511	318	60	28	6	3	71
3	Bath Rugby	20	14	1	5	460	350	46	36	4	2	64
4	Leicester Tigers	20	13	2	5	469	381	49	34	5	3	64
5	Harlequins	20	13	0	7	388	320	38	30	3	3	58
6	Sale Sharks	20	12	0	8	390	335	41	31	3	5	56
7	London Wasps	20	8	0	12	394	421	40	40	3	9	44
8	Exeter Chiefs	20	8	0	12	374	437	35	46	2	6	40
9	Gloucester Rugby	20	7	0	13	375	481	37	53	2	7	37
10	London Irish	20	6	0	14	344	438	33	42	1	6	31
11	Newcastle Falcons	20	3	0	17	230	477	17	53	1	7	20
12	Worcester Warriors	20	1	0	19	277	510	25	54	1	7	12

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Much as I inherently dislike The Fezzeds' business model, they've created a fine team what with Ashton playing now like he used to with the Saints and out of Andy Farrell's claustrophobic clutches for most of the season and their adventure especially in the HC semi they should be worthy league champions imo.

If you must and have to go for a preferred playoff winner, I'd still like Saints to win it. Just for rugby's sake.

Agree, mate. Whether one like Saracens or not, they should be properly recognised because play extremely well as a team, not a collection of separate parts.

And, yeah, I would like Saints to win it all too..............
Thanks.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Much as I inherently dislike The Fezzeds' business model, they've created a fine team what with Ashton playing now like he used to with the Saints and out of Andy Farrell's claustrophobic clutches for most of the season and their adventure especially in the HC semi they should be worthy league champions imo.

If you must and have to go for a preferred playoff winner, I'd still like Saints to win it. Just for rugby's sake.

Think it's a bit contradictory that you dislike the playoff system yet would not want the team that is likely to top the table to win the title.

You talk about Andy Farrell's claustrophobic clutches - were England like that during the 6 nations?

If Sarries don't win it I would prefer Saints to win the title simply because they haven't won it before. Mallinder doesn't seem like a bad bloke either.

Plus Tigers practically win it every year/have been in the final numerous competitive times - give someone else a chance!

Not confident for the Saints game at all. Feel we have been found out of late by both Leicester and Saracens and have no doubt Ford senior and his cronies will have been watching closely. Still really looking forward to this round of games, in reference to Scrumpy's weather thread we have a crap forecast for this weekend with the Bath Saints, Sale Tigers & Chiefs Quins games on so I just need to make the Mrs fall out with me and I should be good to watch all three .

For what it's worth - Bath, Irish, Wasps, Saracens, Tigers & Quins to win.

By reading on here it looks like I'm in a minority when it comes to Saracens in that I have no issues with them. I don't necessarily agree with some of their gimmicks and marketing idea's but I could probably say the same about most teams (including the one I support).

Of course I want's Saints to win the AP this year but if they don't then I would be more than happy for Saracens to do the double - would be a great achievement and one the players and coaching staff deserve. Would also be a fitting send off for Borthwick, great club player that he has been.

Bringing in Kevin Sorrel has helped Sarries immensely. Their attacking game plan has taken off since he replaced Farrell. The recruitment they put together last summer was perfect for their squad this season. They have the best defence coach in the league in Gustard as well which basically won them the Clermont game. If they play like that for the rest of the season the not even Toulon can touch them.

London Irish team to face Gloucester Rugby:

15.Tom Homer; 14. Marland Yarde*; 13. Fergus Mulchrone; 12. Eamonn Sheridan; 11. Andrew Fenby; 10. Ian Humphreys; 9. Tomás O’Leary* (Captain); 1. Matt Parr; 2. Jimmy Stevens; 3. Leo Halavatau; 4. Ian Gough*; 5. Nic Rouse; 6. Kieran Low*; 7. Jebb Sinclair*; 8. Chris Hala’ufia*

Replacements: 16. Mike Mayhew; 17. Tom Smallbone; 18. Jamie Hagan*; 19. Bryn Evans*; 20. Gerard Ellis; 21. Alex Lewington; 22. Myles Dorrian; 23. Darren Allinson

Bit of a scratch team to be honest. None of that pack are likely to be starters next season, and in some cases will be 3rd/4th choice in their positions.

Why does this happen on a Friday afternoon? The high school just called and asked if I could have a look at a kid who hurt himself. I am not on staff, but someone must have said I was home doing nothing at all, waiting for the great and glorious Saints to play later. Going over and will be back for kickoff. I am uncomfortable about this match. Christian Day who will not be playing is such a big part of the pack and lineout.

Does Dayglo know that the refs are meant to tap them on the back.

Probably not. Good to see Ford standing up to the defensive pressure Saints are putting on him (as he tends to do). Hopefully they'll start trusting him more with it. Never seen defence as a problem for him, not a smasher but solid.

"The scoreboard doesn't tell how close this game is" ??? It's 3-3 Lawrence.

HammerofThunor wrote:"The scoreboard doesn't tell how close this game is" ??? It's 3-3 Lawrence.

he does make me laugh sometimes!

Lovely catch by Watson for cross kick

Lawes seems to be doing pretty well, at least at the breakdown and maul defence.

surely attwood came around the side?

Not really studied too carefully but this Carley (?) fella seems alright. Also Hooper really comes across a total knob (especially for a captain).

i can see Northampton aren't going to make this season easy for the Tigers. Unless Northampton are doing it on purpose so they don't face us at Franklins Gardens. hehe

Lovely little pass from Myler for the try.

well, i was going to say both these 10's shouldn't be going down to New Zealand based in their crap kicking. well the proved me wrong.

So Bath say they didn't have a hooker, then they are told there down to 14 men. Then they decide they do have a hooker.

They had the cheek to moan the other week.

Catt in at hooker. Everyone looking confused when Bath was going to go down to 14.

HammerofThunor wrote:Catt in at hooker. Everyone looking confused when Bath was going to go down to 14.

Thats because Bath originally said they didn't have anyone to play hooker, as soon as they realised they would be down to 14 they changed there mind.

oh and well done to Wayne Barnes for knowing the laws.

Incredibly stupid by Lawes. Well deserved yellow.

Moronic yellow card for Lawes. Head down and a guess the ball might go over the lifted jumper. Probably the only penalty he'd conceded all night an he had been playing well. Just so stupid.

i can see this game boiling over and Bath getting someone binned.

Gav's still got his orange glean.

nathan wrote:Gav's still got his orange glean.

Well it is his natural colour

Ford....why? Drop goal wasn't on!

Nice kick Ford.

Nathan,
Bath changed their mind as they didn't realise the laws punished a team who had lost two players to serious injuries. The difference in Gloucester was that they deliberately cheated and thankfully justice was done and they lost. What it shows is someone has the balls to play a position they quite clearly hasn't before and are not remotely comfortable doing.

How is that a yellow card? Penalty. Maybe. A yellow card, is very harsh.

formerly known as Sam wrote:How is that a yellow card? Penalty. Maybe. A yellow card, is very harsh.

I disagree, It looked like he dropped the player too and he was above the horizontal.

I actually think the ref has had a good game.

Agreed Sam, the problem you get with this horizontal rule is its very easy when you are being tackled to throw one leg up. If both legs are raised above and its dangerous then fair enough. That decision was ridiculous and I disagree with the pundits that the ref has been good. Bath scrum was so dominant and didn't get the decisions it should, plus the constant infringement yet no warning.

Dirty Lawes strikes again. Always targeting 10s.

Nah, he had a great game. That last potential winning penalty at the end was an example of how good he was.

beshocked wrote:Dirty Lawes strikes again. Always targeting 10s.

Your opinion is about a year out of date.

beshocked wrote:Dirty Lawes strikes again. Always targeting 10s.

Stop taking Poopie. Rightly not penalised.

The ref made a huge error in the decision at the end. Ford took the shot at goal as the ref had indicated a penalty advantage to Bath, to then go back on that is wrong. If he was going to check the video he should of not said advantage and let the game play and once stopped then go back.

It's gamesmanship. Lawes is a very much a player who enjoys trying to rough up 10s. Good player but I do question some of his tactics.

Student-A1 wrote:The ref made a huge error in the decision at the end. Ford took the shot at goal as the ref had indicated a penalty advantage to Bath, to then go back on that is wrong. If he was going to check the video he should of not said advantage and let the game play and once stopped then go back.

Bath fan i take it as you disagree with anything that went against Bath?

beshocked wrote:It's gamesmanship. Lawes is a very much a player who enjoys trying to rough up 10s. Good player but I do question some of his tactics.

Rough them up? all he does is goes for a big hit which isn't hard when you compare his size to most 10's. He sometimes gets his timing wrong which is where most of his yellows come from.

It's not the first time Lawes has tried to mangle 10s. Done it to guys like Hodgson,Flood and Farrell.

beshocked wrote:It's not the first time Lawes has tried to mangle 10s. Done it to guys like Hodgson,Flood and Farrell.

So if Burger goes for a bit hit, you don't call trying to mangle someone.

Nathan, nope. So not only have your comments been wrong but you are in that. But I understand the game. Your blinkered views on Lawes would point to who you support.
Plus I have not disagreed with everything that went to Bath, just the lack on pens from a dominant scrum and the yellow. I don't disagree that Lawes didn't commit a foul but the way the ref called pen advantage to influence the Bath play then change his mind was INCORRECT.

True but he's not known as dirty a player as Lawes but yes he does smash people and on occasion he does some stupid tackles himself. When he does idiotic stuff like Lawes I criticise him like some stupid tackles vs Bath.

Student-A1 wrote:Nathan, nope. So not only have your comments been wrong but you are in that. But I understand the game. Your blinkered views on Lawes would point to who you support.
Plus I have not disagreed with everything that went to Bath, just the lack on pens from a dominant scrum and the yellow. I don't disagree that Lawes didn't commit a foul but the way the ref called pen advantage to influence the Bath play then change his mind was INCORRECT.

lol, your so wrong!

I'm a Tigers fan so i'm as far away as a fan of the Saints as you can get.

The ref didn't call the pen, the touch judge did for foul play and so the ref checked it like he had done numerous times before. What was the ref supposed to do?

The problem student a 1 has is that play was stopped meaning Bath had no chance for a last attack.

beshocked wrote:True but he's not known as dirty a player as Lawes but yes he does smash people and on occasion he does some stupid tackles himself.  When he does idiotic stuff like Lawes I criticise him like some stupid tackles vs Bath.

Why? I don't think Lawes has ever tackled someone to injure them. He just tries to put in a big tackle and he sometimes gets his timing wrong, thats more of a technique than being dirty.

It was not the Ref that called the penalty but his assistant who then asked for it to be checked by the TMO who with the Ref said no penalty. From what I saw the Ref didn't get too much wrong & managed the game fairly well.