Season 7 Homepage VII

First topic message reminder :

Pooly do you actually read what is posted ??? I Actually say it's not a red but point out why they may have upheld it. As "most" people who watch the game know concussion Is a hot topic and the RFU has to show it's being tough on it and by virtue of this they are going to be a bit reactionary to people who cause it.

As I point out if he has not been knocked out there would not have been a red. Hughes had no need to run in and it was careless.

Please take the trouble to read posts carefully.

That article is nearly 2 years old.....

Dickinson was actually playing well then but he dropped right off. Wrong according to me and the England setup and Saints management.

More than happy to agree to disagree.

Good article from a quality player http://en.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/story/260927.html

Clermont haven't been great this season compared to other years so agree with you that Saints can get a win. I thought Sarries stood a chance at Racing, but am pretty sure Wyles is being started at no12 and against Roberts might not work out that well.

Want Bath to beat Leinster, not sure if they quite have the front five to do it, but with the backline they have they always stand a chance. Wasps game could be a very high scorer, but can't see us winning that.

Always amazed at how much Leinster get away with during 80 minutes - don't think they are that good any more, but just play a referee better than any other team.

Bath did well, thought they were going to nick it at the end!

Irish teams in general play the ref better than the English teams I find.

Saints pack getting smashed, different class so far.

Clermont lording it over saints. Too many missed first up tackles. Not a great clermont side on paper

I know you don't rate him but Bonaire is such a fantastic player In my opinion

Scrum & physicality is on a different level. Clermont no mugs at home, Saints not good enough by a long stretch so far.

I like Bonnaire a lot, just don't think he was ever in top couple in world

Whoever suggested a Saints win look a bit silly now

Bendy on fire!

dammit_chris wrote:Always amazed at how much Leinster get away with during 80 minutes - don't think they are that good any more, but just play a referee better than any other team.

Bath did well, thought they were going to nick it at the end!

Great to see bath lose a close game. Prefer them to lose that way.!i
Support any English team in Europe apart from bath and Newcastle. 2 sides I would
Love to see disappear

When Clermont turn up like that not many teams can compete, way too much power. Trouble is they have power from 1-15, world class throughout and internationals on the bench - English clubs can't afford to compete there.

Mat, you suffering a bit from small neighbour syndrome with your chums at the Rec? I quite like them now as playing a nice style of rugby with some great English talent.

Quite like Bath & Gloucester, no fan of Tigers, very arrogant fans.

Always hated bath its in the blood. Always had no respect for Falcons as they were a nothing club that bought the first prem title. Always a terrible pitch and poor atmosphere. New pitch means it's a better spectacle there now but not liked them for that long its not going to change lol. Always think they take up a space a proper rugby club like Bristol could have. I have a similar view on Worcester:

Ideal world I would have a decent London Welsh and bristol in the league as they are pedigree clubs.

I'm not a fan of Saints fans, they are more and more like football fans there - though that may also be something to do with having a few of my best mates being Saints fans and Wasps losing 14/15 games against them since they came back up.

A
Lot of big name players have not turned up today for saints.hartley is not in decent form which is a concern as he is crucial to England and one of our most important players

Fofana is a natural player he picks lines and space others don't see. A pleasure to watch

Be great if Bristol fail again.

Waller what a special. Silly play. That will be a ban

Not sure what has happened with Hartley this year, he started off in great form - I get the impression that he's taken a step back in terms of aggression and physicality because he is worried about getting into more trouble.

Bristol should be in the premiership, used to be one of my favourite away days for games. Massive rugby area and would be nice for another club in the region to have a better pack than Gloucester

Biggest rugby playing area in England and a producer of players

No club has right to be in AP. Bristol have poor EQ also, fingers crossed that Worcester make it.

Horwill dropped from Reds. Talk of him being binned completely by the end of the week http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_41361,00.html

Horwill is banned for the next game anyway,

Sarries play really smart knock out rugby, hope they can do it

Brits is back. What a welcome bonus

What a kick Bosch!

Missed his 1st throw lol

Visiting family over Easter so probably predict late tonight or tomorrow morning if that's ok?

Really impressive from Wasps in second half, amazed the ref didn't yellow Williams, could have made a massive difference. Too powerful in the first half that cost us in the end. Impressed with Simpson, Goode and Daly - Guy Thompson had a great game as well.

Quite a few fringe players put their hands up to make the RWC squad this weekend - if Daly doesn't get a look in then Lancaster needs firing, even the French were singing his praises!

Slade was very good again, Kvesvic is looking the form English backrow player and won't mention Simpson!

Compare them to form of Twelvetrees, Burrell and Care and they've got to be putting pressure on. Not sure who Kvesvic would replace in the backrow mix but he's the only guy who is a specialist breakdown player - can't see Lancaster not picking Robshaw, Wood, BV, Haskell or Morgan though.

You just have mentioned Simpson, stop it!!!

Lol sorry, had been expecting a post from you saying how well he played yesterday...

Wonder how much of a difference Hughes would have made yesterday - Thompson gave a great performance, but Hughes' power was really needed. Dai Young has slammed the officials over the yellow card that wasn't given to Williams.

Does anyone have White, the Exeter no7 on here at all?

I would never say that Chris as I don't rate him in the slightest and I didn't see the game so can't comment.

anonmattyt wrote:Europe or bust for me !!

Bust it is then Matthew......

Lucky that you can't get sacked on here

Bit of a squad tinkering for the summer, have these available if anyone has any deals.

HK Rob Webber (England - Saxons Squad)
PR Trevor Nyakane (South Africa) (1)
PR Adam Jones (Wales) (3)
LK Sam Twomey (England)
LK/BS Mitch Lees (Australia)
OS/BS/N8 Julien Bonnaire (France)
BS/OS Magnus Lund (England)
BS/OS Chris Robshaw (England - Full Squad)
N8/BS/OS Sam Jones (England)
N8 CJ Stander (South Africa)
SH Mike Phillips (Wales)
SH Cobus Reinach (South Africa)
FH Rhys Priestland (Wales)
FH Nick Evans (New Zealand)
CE Regan King (New Zealand)
WG/CE Vereniki Goneva (Fiji)
WG Napaloni Nalaga (Fiji)
SH/WG Nikola Matawalu (Fiji)
FH/CE/FB James Hook (Wales)
HK Scott Spurling (England) - 01/06/1993 *
HK Rhys Marshall (New Zealand) - 12/10/1992 *
SH Rhodri Williams (Wales) - 05/05/1993 *

I'm in for Simpson!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11518411/.html

Hopefully they'll be given a shot, they'd certainly provide good cover at least.

I do have to say Simpson was quite good Sunday. But only looked better (same for the whole wasps side!) when Goode came onto the field!

But daly looked much better, despite one or two odd moments in defence

I really like Daly (unlike Simpson) but he does have defensive issues in the 13 channel which would only be highlighted at higher levels.

I know Chris says he has no issues but I see them every game, he'd be worth a shot as a sub perhaps?

Agree with Young on Simpson and Daly:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/england-rugby-chiefs-urged-pick-5468753

Will be interesting to see who makes the training squad, read today that it goes from 50 down to 32 - not sure I agree with picking the overseas players though.

The Mirror? Lol

I'm not being funny but a DOR is hardly going to say they're not good enough.

Can't really argue that they aren't among the top 5 in form English backs in the AP - I know I'm a Wasps fan, but Daly has been unreal at times for us this year. The number of tries he sets up and breaks he makes.

I'd pick him the England squad, as if Joseph gets injured we've got a ready made replacement who plays the same style and has a kicking game to throw in. Wade's the other they should really look at - think Watson is top class, but he's much more suited to fb as opposed to wing as his game against Leinster showed.

Daly has been great Chris, totally agree. His defence is a worry at AP level though imo

No more than Burrells, Josephs etc. He can get booshed off tackles, but has the speed to deal with it and recover. He coped very well against Basteraud at the weekend.

A lot of the issues Wasps have had is that we aren't the best defensively outwide so whoever plays 13 is often covering more than he should be. The new defence coach has changed that and Downey has been fantastic for us with his organising at no12.

Wouldn't start him for England, but like you said could be a very good bench option - he's one of those players that can scare defences, sometimes takes a few too many risks and forces the game a bit, which is probably why Lancaster doesn't get him more involved (either that or he's still sulking that he scored for the BaaBaas against us a season or two ago!).

There's nothing wrong with Joseph's defence.

I like Daly a lot but he has big defensive issues.

I've got to play Pooly two weeks in a row away! Might have to set up a home away from home for the mighty Chiefs!