Aviva Premiership - Round 12

First topic message reminder :

Fri 12th
19:45 Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers BT Sport


Sat 13th
14:30 Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs
15:00 Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins
15:00 Northampton Saints v London Irish
15:00 Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby


Sun 14th
16:00 Saracens v Wasps BT Sport

GeordieFalcon wrote:I'll happily keep McGuigan thanks

He's getting a lot of game time for you guys and if he sorted his throwing he'd be your starting hooker. I'm surprised he isn't staying, as long as you retain AP status.

Leicester have so far coming in

JPP (Goneva replacement by looks of it).
Toomua (maybe JDV replacement)
And looks like McGuigan is signed (Leo replacement?)

Rumoured to be in talks with Rory Scholes

Backs look pretty much sorted (bar the odd squad signing).

Need to invest in Forwards now.

A 8 and a Prop who is experienced and maybe another 7 (Owen in the academy).

I hope JPP and Toomua fixes some things JPP adds another hard agressive backs runner, Toomua is a player who has the tactical kicking game of a 10, extremely solid defender and very good vision.

McGuigan will be eying first team hooker if he goes to Tigers. His scrummaging and handling is well ahead of Youngs, it's his throwing that lets him down, ironically much like Youngs.

Personally I think he'd be much better off staying but I wouldn't be gutted if he left.

I think our Locks will prob help his lineout throwing compared to Falcons.

They are use to wonky throwing

Will be happy he is not off to Ireland though.

Haha, yea probably. He was born in Sheffield I think so he's very much English.

Robinson has improved our line out no end believe it or not.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:McGuigan will be eying first team hooker if he goes to Tigers. His scrummaging and handling is well ahead of Youngs, it's his throwing that lets him down, ironically much like Youngs.

Personally I think he'd be much better off staying but I wouldn't be gutted if he left.

If he's not aiming for first choice then there's no point him coming. He's a big aggressive unit but he needs to improve his fitness, his throwing and his handling isn't that good compared to former England under 20 centre Youngs or Thacker. I'd take or leave him. Now if we could get our hands on Wilson for the back row now that I'd be happier with.

Welly I can only see us signing an 8 if both Pearce and Crane go and as both are rumoured to be off to Sale I don't think that's likely.

Honestly for me would rather McCaffrey covered 6 more than 8 though.

If we keep Pearce then yeh I would be fine, but we need a athletic ball carrier in the back row.

HOPEFULLY Fonua will become that fitness depending.

McGuigans handling is much better than Youngs Sam, trust me. Youngs is not good in that are at all, I can't believe he used to be centre. It's as if his bulking up has inhibited his movement in some way.

McGuigan has got a fantastic offload, probably the best at the club. His breakdown work is also top notch. Youngs is perhaps the better carrier when on form, he can be like a little cannonball at times, his main asset imo.

I'm really torn as to who I want to win the Worcester vs. Bath match. I would love to see Bath dragged into the relegation scrap and go down, but I can't see it happening, they have too many good players to come back in. Worcester currently look our best bet of not finishing 12th, albeit Falcons aren't out of the woods by any stretch.

I can see the relegation battle going on into R20 and beyond and may come down to a final day shootout. It's certainly a lot more interesting than having a team cut adrift at the bottom, but it's doing nothing for my blood pressure in all honesty.

From what I have heard about Toomua from the Aussie med staff, he should fit right in at Leicester.  He is a tough guy, first and foremost.  Very good straight ahead runner and strong defender.  He distribution is average, but he generally doesn't make bad passes, preferring to eat the ball and take the hit than take a bad risk.  Generally sees the field well and knows where to attack.  Slots in at 10 when needed, but he is much better at IC, his natural position.    According to my mates you will really like him at Tigers, but he can be edgy, and he is 50% half-crazy.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I'm really torn as to who I want to win the Worcester vs. Bath match.  I would love to see Bath dragged into the relegation scrap and go down, but I can't see it happening, they have too many good players to come back in.  Worcester currently look our best bet of not finishing 12th, albeit Falcons aren't out of the woods by any stretch.  

I can see the relegation battle going on into R20 and beyond and may come down to a final day shootout.  It's certainly a lot more interesting than having a team cut adrift at the bottom, but it's doing nothing for my blood pressure in all honesty.

Mate, we have many 'people' who have been working on the Bath relegation plan, known only to insiders as the Bath Impending Transfer to the CHampionship process.  Now, everyone must hold to the plan and do their part.  Have no worries, just like a standard defence, just come up together.

Bath have to win for me Ozzy, they're never going to get relegated so much better for Wuss to lose.

Agree with Sgt - can't see Bath going down - especially now they've been let off the points deduction they should have got for fiddling the salary cap ...

Heaf wrote:Agree with Sgt - can't see Bath going down - especially now they've been let off the points deduction they should have got for fiddling the salary cap ...

Merde. Mierda. Merda.  
Was that officially announced somewhere?

Come on Irish stick to your end of the deal.

Irish getting smashed by all accounts??

Irish never in the game. Running rugby by Saints, pretty decent and confident display.

Burrell looking like he's getting back towards his best. So much better as a 13 alongside Mallinder than a 12 with Pisi.

Wasps to win tomorrow?

Its a tough call, but it comes down to the packs ability to gain parity and perhaps if the backrow can gain ascendancy. Hughes was off the pace in his last game having returned from injury.

Obviously the pitch plays narrow, however the plastic gives a fair footing and the weather looks set good.

Come on you Wasps!

Our away form is shocking. We look like two completely different teams home and away at the moment. Worcester losing at home to Bath is a huge result for us. Massive game against Exeter at the MadStad next weekend now.

I heard somewhere that Ojo got injured today so now we have no wingers left to go along with all the other injuries woes ... definitely not our season.  Not sure if Saints have just started to get better (which would be typical just as we get them) or if LI were just poor again - which wouldn't be surprising given all the missing players.

Jackson playing for Wales today. Is that a bit of a blow for Wasps as he was supposed to be starting for them tomorrow?

Sale beat Exeter. Just seen that on the beeb. Sale are gathering momentum at the minute. That's successive wins over top four sides.

But Wuss are still picking up LBPs (admittedly many courtesy of some shockingly poor officiating, but they all count unfortunately) and we aren't ... I'll be massively annoyed if we go down by just a few points after all the gifts they've had.

Heaf, if we go down, it will be because we haven't been good enough, no other reason.

The positive for us is that at home we are 3 from 3, whereas Worcester cannot buy a win at the moment, home or away. Next weeks game is a tough one, as Exeter will be coming really fired up after losing two on the bounce, but it's really a must win game now. We simply after keep winning at home, and go to Sixways and turn Worcester over if we are to survive.

I agree mostly with what you say Ozzy but I don't agree with the general concept that teams are entirely in control of their own destiny and whilst yes if we play better we can avoid getting put in that position, I don't think you can ignore outside influences as I've seen teams lose matches based on officiating errors through no fault of their own.

Saints are just starting to get better but no denying that LI were poor. Lost 14 points during the early sin bin, and it didn't help for a couple of penalties that Geraghty can't kick outside 30. Saints maul just had no opposition other than committing offenses.

Our maul defence earlier in the season was pretty good so not sure if we've got worse or it's due to the players we're missing ...

Report I've had from someone who was at the game is that we were in the contest until Aulika got sin binned (correctly), we then shipped 14 points during the sin bin period and completely fell apart. Saints apparently were good, but after the Aulika yellow were terrible and didn't really make it difficult for them at all.

How far in was that?

12 minutes haha.

oh ...

Scottrf wrote:Saints are just starting to get better but no denying that LI were poor. Lost 14 points during the early sin bin, and it didn't help for a couple of penalties that Geraghty can't kick outside 30. Saints maul just had no opposition other than committing offenses.

Seems like a pretty comprehensive win. Was this on BT Sport? Or do I have to wait for the Premiership web site to see the match?

None of today's games were on BT Sport AFAIK

Thanks - the one good solid win in a long, long time. And not televised. Figures.

I won't miss not seeing it 

Heaf wrote:But Wuss are still picking up LBPs (admittedly many courtesy of some shockingly poor officiating, but they all count unfortunately) and we aren't ... I'll be massively annoyed if we go down by just a few points after all the gifts they've had.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12331/10166506/dean-ryan-slams-refereeing-system-after-worcester-loss-to-bath

Let's hope he does make these reports public. Might be a nice trip down memory lane to see Tigers top a table

Oh Quins

Our season is falling apart quickly now. We desperately need this team to find some confidence and control soon to dig themselves out of this rut. Otherwise it's all on the England boys and a Welsh man to save us!

yappysnap wrote:Oh Quins

Our season is falling apart quickly now. We desperately need this team to find some confidence and control soon to dig themselves out of this rut. Otherwise it's all on the England boys and a Welsh man to save us!

Be interesting to see the game next Friday. Given that neither of us can seemingly take control of a game this could be a free scoring mess.

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:

Heaf wrote:But Wuss are still picking up LBPs (admittedly many courtesy of some shockingly poor officiating, but they all count unfortunately) and we aren't ... I'll be massively annoyed if we go down by just a few points after all the gifts they've had.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12331/10166506/dean-ryan-slams-refereeing-system-after-worcester-loss-to-bath

Let's hope he does make these reports public. Might be a nice trip down memory lane to see Tigers top a table

I would absolutely want to see the reports, or at least the statistical analysis, made public. I think being a Rugby referee is a very difficult task, probably more difficult than in any other major sport.

But if teams are disproportionately penalised, and the nature of the penalties are not clear and evident, then it could make a person wonder. If indeed Dean Ryan is correct when he said Bath committed a deliberate knock-on in front of the posts, then some sort of penalty, potentially a penalty try, should have been offered. But who can say until we see highlights?

formerly known as Sam wrote:Jackson playing for Wales today. Is that a bit of a blow for Wasps as he was supposed to be starting for them tomorrow?

Sale beat Exeter. Just seen that on the beeb. Sale are gathering momentum at the minute. That's successive wins over top four sides.

Yes bit of a blow Sam (playing for Scotland)but Jimmy Gopperth will come in with Alex Loz on the bench. Jimmy has been on form recently. It would be ironic if Loz comes on to kick the winning points as he's off to Sorries at the end of the season!

doctor_grey wrote:From what I have heard about Toomua from the Aussie med staff, he should fit right in at Leicester.  He is a tough guy, first and foremost.  Very good straight ahead runner and strong defender.  He distribution is average, but he generally doesn't make bad passes, preferring to eat the ball and take the hit than take a bad risk.  Generally sees the field well and knows where to attack.  Slots in at 10 when needed, but he is much better at IC, his natural position.    According to my mates you will really like him at Tigers, but he can be edgy, and he is 50% half-crazy.

Does that make him a quarter crazy?

I'm very disappointed about McGuigan. But we had a better replacement for Barrow so hopefully Dean has the same for McGuigan.

Now for the biggest game of the day...come on you Wasps!

Daly nearly butchers but Wasps SCORE!

5 zip......

Wasps are over again but I think its forward.......

Its given.

12 Zip after five minutes.......

3rd try!!!!!!!

19 ZIPPPPPP

Itoje and George aren't there to shore things up.

24-10 after 28 minutes....Wasps have a bonus point atleast.......