Aviva Premiership Round Twelve

I agree with most of those predictions except Sarries v Irish - is that an (understandable) case of heart ruling the head Ozzy? 

I think we're hoping for a repeat of last year

Possibly stub, but our record against Saracens in recent times is actually pertty good. i remember when we went there last year I said on here I had a feeling we'd nick it and got laughed out of town. Not as convinced this year, with our 5th choice hooker starting and our 4th choice tighthead covering hooker from the bench, but I still fancy us, as I always do!!!

COME ON YOU IRISH!!!

Lovely team try by Saints. Newcastle doing well but Saints still on fire.

Nice try

Get in....cracking try.

Nice break from Wilson, great thinking by Catterick, well finished by the winger.

If Falcons can maintain their squad for next season it could be very interesting. They seem to be developing nicely.

Important scrum.

Ah man...those Saints are good.

Yeah. At the moment they're really on fire.

Wilson doing well off the back of a scrum under pressure.

Good game of rugby tonight. Ref has done a good job at setting the tone at the breakdown early and now both sides are getting decent ball to play with and we get to watch two teams looking to attack.

Wilson is a class player Hammer. I would defo consider him for the Saxons. Mr consistent.

It's just nice to see us giving it a go now. They're working hard in training and now we are seeing signs of the progress on the pitch.

Need a few players especially a LH but I'm happy at the moment.

Especially if Catterick can keep nailing those kicks.

We're doing alright aren't we! Suffering a bit from loose kicking.  Taity was right on the commentary though, it's a dilema when you kick to Saints, their maul (and pack in general) are such a potent weapon.  Reckon we will do well to leave with a BP, but will be satisfied if the lads keep fighting like they are.

The saints are showing their quality.

But we're still battling that's the main thing.

Might be in for a bit of a shoeing in this half. Oh well, FAAAALLLLCCCOOOOONS!

Imagine if Falcons could sign a LH Hayman type signing next season.

 Can't see Falcons stopping the TBP now though.

You know its just great to see us playing like this.

Welly..

Could we borrow Ayerza for a bit?

GeordieFalcon wrote:You know its just great to see us playing like this.

Agreed marra.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Welly..  

Could we borrow Ayerza for a bit?

 No..... Naughty bad Falcon that is not how it works.........

 We shall be taking from you next season.......Sinoti.

Try bonus point!

You can try Welly....Sinoti is going nowhere
We are no longer a feeder club for anyone.

GeordieFalcon wrote:You can try Welly....Sinoti is going nowhere
We are no longer a feeder club for anyone.

 Fine we will just take Harris then.

Welly wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:You can try Welly....Sinoti is going nowhere
We are no longer a feeder club for anyone.

 Fine we will just take Harris then.

Why? Who are Bath going to take from you?

Feel free to try....but you will not be successful....

Score anyone?

Cumbrian wrote:

Welly wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:You can try Welly....Sinoti is going nowhere
We are no longer a feeder club for anyone.

 Fine we will just take Harris then.

Why?  Who are Bath going to take from you?

 Depends if they get a new coach called Niki Goneva Snr or Blaine Scully snr.

 

Nice to see us not giving up and really playing some attacking rugby.

It's a breath of fresh air to us falcons fans.

It was 39-31 yappy.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Nice to see us not giving up and really playing some attacking rugby.

It's a breath of fresh air to us falcons fans.

Great match. Second half was very well played. A lot of fun to watch.

Sounds quality, great to hear that falcons are coming out if their shells and really getting into the opposition.

I fear the Quins game may be a write off. I'm sure we'll win it but I think we'll try too hard and end up shooting ourselves in the foot somewhat.

Sides are up for Sunday.

Leicester Tigers: Tait; Scully, Goneva, Allen, Benjamin; Williams, B. Youngs (c); Ayerza, T Youngs, Balmain; Kitchener, Parling; Gibson, Salvi, Crane.

Replacements: Ghiraldini, Rizzo, Pasquali, De Chaves, Barbieri, Harrison, Burns, Bai.

Bath: Watson; Agulla, Burgess, Eastmond, Banahan; Ford, Cook; James, Webber, Wilson; Hooper (c), Attwood; Garvey, Louw, Fearns

Replacements: Batty, Auterac, Thomas, Day, Houston, Young, Devoto, Joseph

Interesting to see no Cole or Croft in the side. Hopefully this was pre planned in their return for them to have a break rather than a reaction to injuries flaring back up. A big challenge for Balmain opposite James however.

As all season that Bath side looks very strong though with formidable forwards and dangerous backs. Allen/Goneva up against Eastmond/Burgess is going to be very interesting to watch.

Good to see Scully back in the side as well.

The commentary team, were talking about a possible move for Brookes to Saints next year, we need a bit of cover for Denman,

With Ma'afu off to France I'd have thought the Saints would be after another tight head. Brookes would fit into their game plan though possibly not their work ethic in defence.

Theres been lots of talk about Brookes leaving us...AGAIN.

If he did then I would be very disappointed after we brought him back and fixed him again...only for him to leave us. I think that would bring a lot of negativity from the Falcon fans.

On the other hand...most of the players and youngsters coming through are really buying in to what Dean is doing now...and can see the performances on the pitch. More importantly they can see you don't need to go to another club to get international recognition...especially the way we are playing.

Players like Mark Wilson should be looking for Saxons recognition this season...he's immense. And possibly McGuigan with the Irish Wolfhounds...he's and impressive young hooker at 21.

Has Topsy Ojo lost a yard of pace...he seem to have a big gap there but was almost pedestrian.

Yep he's not as quick as he used to be ...

On a separate subject thought LI should have had a penalty in front of the posts when Vunipola dropped the scrum right in front of the ref.

Yeah your probably right about the penalty Heaf.

Been impressed with Tompkins in the centre for Sarries and Lewington for London Irish. He's electric on the wing...shame he's not getting any real chances.

Lewington has been one of the better players this season for us ...

Twice now I've seen Mako clearly drop the scrum - 1st one reset, 2nd one penalty to Sarries - bizarre.

I don't rate Mako at all im afraid. Shouldn't be in the England squad.

Unfortunately it was masked a bit by a poor ref letting him get away with it.

Jeez, how many times am I going to see the ref blamed when frankly a team was completely outclassed.

You'll be hearing plenty from me tomorrow if Bath win. Infact I might just write out a rant or two tonight for easy copy and pasting tomorrow.

Can't believe Burgess wasn't binned for that outrageous rugby league style shoulder barge.

Wtf is the referee watching? Every scrum their loose head has spun so far around he's almost pushing towards his own try line.

Bath defence is offiside so often it's a miracle Ben ever gets a pass off.

Did you just see that? Craig just openly gave the referee a wee sack of gold on his way down the tunnel.

There we go. Moral victory sorted so whatever happens happens.

LondonTiger wrote:Jeez, how many times am I going to see the ref blamed when frankly a team was completely outclassed.

Which games are you referring to?

Hurray...well done ref. First decision in donkeys that they haven't just gone straight to the TMO. And he got it right aswell.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Jeez, how many times am I going to see the ref blamed when frankly a team was completely outclassed.

Which games are you referring to?

most likely the London Irish one. It does seem to be a common theme on here that they are always hard done by.

Always the Irish fans as well .