Season 8 Homepage IV

by Guest Thu 04 Feb 2016, 5:51 pm

First topic message reminder :

Breaking News: Sale Sharks beat Harlequins in a thrilling game at HQ to complete a historic double

Season 8 Homepage IV - Page 16 Aviva-Premiership-Trophy-e1306508139154

2015/2016 - Sale Sharks
2014/2015 – London Wasps

2013/2014 – London Wasps
2012/2013 – Leicester Tigers
2011/2012 – Newcastle Falcons
2010/2011 - Newcastle Falcons
2009/2010 – Saracens
2008/2009 - London Irish

POS	Aviva Premiership	PLAYED	WON	DREW	LOST	P F	P A	P D	T F	T A	TBP	LBP	POINTS
1	Sale Sharks	22	19	2	1	595	514	81	60	38	7	1	88
2	Harlequins	22	15	2	5	590	526	64	56	39	4	5	73
3	Northampton Saints **	22	16	2	4	571	514	57	49	35	3	3	72
4	Saracens	22	11	3	8	561	529	32	50	36	3	8	61
5	Newcastle Falcons	22	12	1	9	553	530	23	43	42	1	8	59
6	London Irish	22	11	0	11	547	561	-14	39	41	2	10	56
7	Worcester Warriors	22	9	2	11	536	554	-18	42	46	1	11	52
8	Gloucester *	22	10	0	12	534	550	-16	43	42	0	12	51
9	Bath Rugby	22	7	3	12	534	551	-17	42	48	0	12	46
10	Leicester Tigers	22	7	1	14	520	554	-34	31	44	0	13	43
11	Exeter Chiefs **	22	4	2	16	518	577	-59	35	50	0	14	32
12	London Wasps	22	2	0	20	479	578	-99	26	55	0	14	22

Links

Fixture List
Released/Championship/National League/Academy Bidding
Foreign Transfers
Budgets
European Homepage
Anglo Welsh Homepage

Welcome to Season 8 of the Aviva Premiership fantasy rugby game. Below are the rules of the game which must be adhered to. If there are any situations that arise in the course of the game which are not covered by the rules, a final decision will be made by the RFU (SJE) as to how the situation will be resolved.

Senior Squads wrote:
The maximum squad size is 40 senior players. If a team has more than 40 players in their squad then they will be fined £1 million per player over the permitted amounts per day for the first seven days. If after 7 consecutive days a team still has more than the permitted number of players then the team will be fined £2 million per player per day, and fined 1 league point per player per day for the next seven days. If after this time a team still has more than the permitted number of players in their squad, the RFU (SJE) will remove players at its discretion to bring them back under the permitted numbers. There will be no right of appeal to players being removed.

Be aware that all tier one international matches which are played during the season will count in the game, and players selected in the match day 23's for those matches will not be eligible to play for their clubs on that weekend, therefore you must give due consideration to the make-up of your squad.

Academy Rules wrote:
Each team will be allowed to have an academy squad of 23 players. Players who are in the academy must be born on or after 1st September 1993.

Any player, who is at any Premiership club in real life, either in their senior, academy or AASE squads, can be bid for on the domestic bidding page. Players who are at your own club in real life and are coming through the academy system must be bid for if you want them in your own academy.

Transfers wrote:

Domestic (other AP Teams)
Each team has a budget to use in the purchase of players. Domestic transfers between AP clubs, regardless of nationality of player, should be negotiated between the respective managers, and then confirmed on the Domestic Transfer Confirmation Page.
Domestic (Championship and below)
Each team may during the season purchase no more than 5 players from the Championship or the National Leagues. Worcester Warriors & London Wasps will receive two additional bids to be used exclusively on academy age players. These players must be bid for on the National League Bidding page, and each bid will be considered by the RFU on its own merits before being accepted or rejected. No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.
Foreign
To make a foreign transfer (i.e. from any club outside of the AP, regardless of whether the player is English) a bid should be made on the Foreign Transfers Page, which will be considered by the RFU against the posted guidelines for purchase prices before being accepted or rejected. No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.

There will be a summer foreign transfer window, which will run as follows.
Player Draft
Worcester Warriors & London Wasps will participate in a player draft beginning the week of June 22nd. Both sides will be allowed to draft two players each. The draft picks will go as follows; 1. Worcester 2. Wasps 3. Wasps 4. Worcester.

Round Bidding
There will be two rounds of bidding. The first window will run the week starting June 29th and the second the week starting July 3rd. All sides will be allowed to sign one player each during the window. These bids are not protected if you do not have the funds in place to bid during the window you will lose the bid.

Open Bidding
From July 13th the foreign market will be open to all bids similar to previous seasons. Due to the world cup the window will remain open till the end of September.

Player Releases wrote:
Managers may choose to release players from their clubs, for which they will be offered compensation

Compensation will be paid as follows

£2 million – current international (must have played international rugby in the previous 12 months)
£1.5 million – former international
£1m – top flight experience
£0.5m – other

All released players will be deemed to have joined a Championship side and can be bid for on the National League Bidding page.

Retirements wrote:
There will be no compensation for retiring players. Should a player who retires decide to come out of retirement and play again, then he will automatically go back to the club who he was playing for in the game when he retired.

Fixtures wrote:
There will be 22 Aviva Premiership games per season, plus the play offs. There will also be European Rugby Champions Cup, European Rugby Challenge Cup and Anglo Welsh Cup matches. These games will take place once a week. A match thread will be put up every Monday. Home teams must be named by midnight on Tuesday. Away teams must be named by midnight on Wednesday. Failure to meet these deadlines is punishable by the addition of three match points to the oppositions final score, unless both sides fail to do so. Both teams must provide tactics by midnight on Thursday. Predictions will be open from 00:01 hours on Friday and remain open until 20:00 hours on Sunday. Managers will pm the scores that they think will happen from these games (apart from games in which they are involved). An average of all predictions will be taken, and then 0.5 points added to each teams score for each prediction that had them as the winner, and that will then be the final score.

Managers are asked to provide detail as to why they have predicted a result. To be considered a descriptive prediction this must be a full 3 lines long when entered into the text box.

Teams wrote:
When naming your team, not only should you put the starting XV and replacements, but also tactics that your team will employ. Results will be affected by the tactics described.

In addition, each team must have the following:-

For domestic competition at least 8 England qualified players in your match day 23, and at least 4 of those must be in your starting XV.

For European competition at least 8 England qualified players in your match day 23, and at least 6 of those must be in your starting XV.

At least 2 props and 1 hooker on the bench.

All players must be eligible (not injured or banned).

Failure to comply with these rules will result in a 1 league point deduction.

If you fail to submit a team for a match, then the other team will be automatically awarded a 30-0 bonus point win. If both teams fail to submit a team, then it will be scored as a 0-0 draw.

Injuries and Suspensions wrote:
Injuries in this game do NOT reflect real life, they will be generated by me.

Players banned in real life will be ineligible for selection in this game for the duration of the ban.

Inclusion of injured/banned players will result in them being replaced by players on the bench, and the bench not having eight players, which may result in punishment if it concerns the front-row.

Punishment for fielding an ineligible player will be loss of one match point.

Financial Rewards wrote:
There will be no rewards for the result of an individual match, instead the managers will receive cash for predicting.

£2m for descriptive predictions
£0.25m for scores on the doors predictions
Bonuses will be awarded on a scaled basis i.e. 2m for 5 games, 1.6m for 4 games and so on
If you fail to predict without first advising me that you are unable to do so that week, you will be fined £1m for a first offence, £2m for a second offence, £3m for a third offence etc upto a maximum of £5m per fine.

AP finishing positions.

Champions: 8m
Runners Up: 6m
Playoff Semi Finalist Losers: 5m
5th: 4m
6th: 3.5m
7th: 3m
8th: 2.5m
9th: 2m
10th: 1.5m
11th: 1m
12th: 0.5m

Heineken Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £2 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £3 million each
Runners Up - £4 million
Champions - £5 million

Amlin Challenge Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £1 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £2 million each
Runners Up - £3 million
Champions - £4 million

Anglo-Welsh Cup

Losing Semi Finalist - £1 million each
Runners Up - £2 million
Champions - £3 million

If your budgets falls below minus £10 million for any reason, the administrators (SJE) will step in and players from within your squad will be released for the relevant financial compensation (foreign transfer value) in order to bring your budget back above minus £10 million.

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:29 am

Hopefully Falcons go down as Irish a proper club with pedigree . We do need northern clubs so ideally no go down
But need Bristol in league as they are a heavyweight and have history.

Interestingly this year

Cips 63% ( 90+% in last 3 games where he has been unplayable )
Farrel 71%

Gopperth best kicker percentage wise over all who have attempted more than a few shots.

George ford not even listed.
Not one player at 80% who has kicked consistently.

http://www.ukrugbystats.co.uk/AVIVA-PREMIERSHIP-STATS-2015-16

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:30 am

Personally think Falcons will
Win as a better side
Than irish

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:39 am

Why do we
Have such low kicking percentage stats in Prem?

Last week on Toulon game they said Carter was 95% for
Year which can't be true

by ChequeredJersey Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:51 am

anonmattyt wrote:Why do we
Have such low kicking percentage stats in Prem?

Last week on Toulon game they said Carter was 95% for
Year which can't be true

Worse weather? More kicking? Dunno

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 1:02 am

Weird CJ prem usually has good percentage kickers. Think its that pitches are better and so more hit and hope attempted ?

Also may well be that 3 points less important.

Look at sh int teams

Carter aside foley pollard and Sanchez as first choice all late 60 low 70 kickers in last year. May be goals less important

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 16 Apr 2016, 6:41 am

Could be a good thing for Wasos though as Cips in never going to play for England kicking at 60%. It's just not good enough at the top level.

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:15 pm

Rieko ioane dynamite ball in hand. Sharks
Picked on him with kicks where he is a bit ragged but give him the ball and he has it all power and great balance.

Whoever has him on here has a potential world beater.

by dammit_chris Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:26 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I wonder if Wasps will employ Daly as primary kicker with Cips so bad from the tee. You won't win close games with a 60% kicker, really interesting to see how they'll line up.

Cips and Daly dreadful in defence but could really click in attack, they'll be great to watch next season.

Huge game for us and Irish on Sunday, really worried.

Lol been a while since we've gone down the Daly is dreadful in defence line, probably why he's been appointed defence leader at Wasps who have one of the best defences in the AP. He's been getting a lot of plaudits for his defence this season, easily been the best no13 in the AP this year - you could throw in quite a few Wasps backs into an AP team of the season - Gopperth, Piautu, Daly and probably Halai as well.

by dammit_chris Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:33 pm

How are both Ioane's getting on? Have seen Rieko getting quite a few starts, but haven't seen as much from Akira, is he injured? Both have looked very good when I've seen then play. Sure Rieko is only 18 as well.

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:37 pm

England Fiji in the 7s on at the moment. Cracking first half

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:41 pm

dammit_chris wrote:How are both Ioane's getting on? Have seen Rieko getting quite a few starts, but haven't seen as much from Akira, is he injured? Both have looked very good when I've seen then play. Sure Rieko is only 18 as well.

Rieko a work in progress defensively but looks the real deal. Devestating runner.

Akira not injured and bench every week. Like a lot of big big men I think they are struggling to get him fit enough to last a game. Been involved a tiny bit in the 7s
But looks really unfit. Sure he will make it but a bit like vunipola and lots of these islanders they need to work on their fitness

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 16 Apr 2016, 1:19 pm

Akira having huge impact from bench and started last week or week before I think.

Both going to 7's so used sparingly

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 16 Apr 2016, 5:52 pm

Wade bags 6!!!

by Guest Sat 16 Apr 2016, 9:44 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Akira having huge impact from bench and started last week or week before I think.

Both going to 7's so used sparingly

Started 1 bench the rest. A good impact sub as big carrier against tired defences. Like his brother has so much work to on defending and general positioning. They are both athletes but are learning the game. Not helped by being part of a poor pack and by not being physically fit enough.

by dammit_chris Sat 16 Apr 2016, 10:05 pm

Wades been threatening to do that for a little while Pooly, he's looked so sharp when he's had the ball but we've been sending all attacks through Halai's wing. Scoring so many tries this season, such a great team to watch as they just attack from anywhere - really hope they get a trophy as would show attacking rugby is the way to go for clubs!

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Apr 2016, 4:56 am

anonmattyt wrote:
Sgt_Pooly wrote:Akira having huge impact from bench and started last week or week before I think.

Both going to 7's so used sparingly

Started 1 bench the rest. A good impact sub as big carrier against tired defences. Like his brother has so much work to on defending and general positioning. They are both athletes but are learning the game. Not helped by being part of a poor pack and by not being physically fit enough.

They're both set up for 7's this year so been given little time, interesting as they are both going to be huge talents.

On the other scale you have somebody like Ardie Savea who would be great in 7's but lacks that bit of quality to make a real impact in the 15's game at the top level, I surprised he didn't go tbh.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Apr 2016, 5:06 am

dammit_chris wrote:
Sgt_Pooly wrote:I wonder if Wasps will employ Daly as primary kicker with Cips so bad from the tee. You won't win close games with a 60% kicker, really interesting to see how they'll line up.

Cips and Daly dreadful in defence but could really click in attack, they'll be great to watch next season.

Huge game for us and Irish on Sunday, really worried.

Lol been a while since we've gone down the Daly is dreadful in defence line, probably why he's been appointed defence leader at Wasps who have one of the best defences in the AP. He's been getting a lot of plaudits for his defence this season, easily been the best no13 in the AP this year - you could throw in quite a few Wasps backs into an AP team of the season - Gopperth, Piautu, Daly and probably Halai as well.

Defensive leader Shocked

Daly is poor is defence but a real threat in attack, we've done this a hundred times lol. Similar with Wade really, although 6 tries is pretty impressive!

by Guest Sun 17 Apr 2016, 8:49 am

Sgt_Pooly wrote:
anonmattyt wrote:
Sgt_Pooly wrote:Akira having huge impact from bench and started last week or week before I think.

Both going to 7's so used sparingly

Started 1 bench the rest. A good impact sub as big carrier against tired defences. Like his brother has so much work to on defending and general positioning. They are both athletes but are learning the game. Not helped by being part of a poor pack and by not being physically fit enough.

They're both set up for 7's this year so been given little time, interesting as they are both going to be huge talents.

On the other scale you have somebody like Ardie Savea who would be great in 7's but lacks that bit of quality to make a real impact in the 15's game at the top level, I surprised he didn't go tbh.

Lol

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Apr 2016, 8:59 am

Great comeback Rolling Eyes

Ardie would be fantastic in 7's. He probably won't make an good Int unless he seriously improves his breakdown work but he'd be perfectly suited to 7's with his pace.

by dammit_chris Sun 17 Apr 2016, 10:38 am

Sgt_Pooly wrote:
dammit_chris wrote:
Sgt_Pooly wrote:I wonder if Wasps will employ Daly as primary kicker with Cips so bad from the tee. You won't win close games with a 60% kicker, really interesting to see how they'll line up.

Cips and Daly dreadful in defence but could really click in attack, they'll be great to watch next season.

Huge game for us and Irish on Sunday, really worried.

Lol been a while since we've gone down the Daly is dreadful in defence line, probably why he's been appointed defence leader at Wasps who have one of the best defences in the AP. He's been getting a lot of plaudits for his defence this season, easily been the best no13 in the AP this year - you could throw in quite a few Wasps backs into an AP team of the season - Gopperth, Piautu, Daly and probably Halai as well.

Defensive leader

Daly is poor is defence but a real threat in attack, we've done this a hundred times lol. Similar with Wade really, although 6 tries is pretty impressive!

Can honestly never work out if you are just looking to wind up with your comments, or just don't see the defensive patterns Wasps play. Wasps have him as defensive leader because he's a very good defender and communicator, he's been getting plaudits all season about his defensive abilities (Greenwood wrote a great article after he helped England train during 6Nations about this), he wouldn't be near the England setup if his defence was poor.

Similar with Wade, his defence has come on enormously the last 18 months, if you watch him properly you see how much better he is and that he has stopped rushing out of the line and is much, much cleverer - against Exeter he stopped so many 2 on 1s, 3 on 1s because of his positioning and getting people to run back inside. Harder to pick out on tv some times though. The Wasps defence coach has been excellent for us.

Same with comments people make on Ashton, he's not the strongest tackler but a lot of the criticism he gets is because of the Sarries defensive system, which gets them rushing up and he's often attacking the 13 channel and if it doesnt work he looks like he has very bad positioning or puts himself in positions where it is difficult to make a tackle on his opposite number. But 9 times out of 10 it works and stops opposition dead.

by dammit_chris Sun 17 Apr 2016, 10:44 am

See Sale have signed Mike Phillips! Some interesting signings they are making for next year.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Apr 2016, 11:33 am

I cannot agree at all that Daly or Wade are good defenders, seriously not looking to wind up. I can't believe you think they are.

Anyway, let's move on....

by dammit_chris Sun 17 Apr 2016, 11:59 am

Been to see all but one of Wasps home games this season, plus quite a few away games and both are massively improved. Look at Daly in all the big European games he's played this season, he's been up against some excellent players and coped in every game.

Not saying that they are great defenders by any stretch, but the constant comments of Daly being 'awful', 'bad', 'poor' etc in defence that we've had throughout the season are so off the mark it just comes across that you are looking for a reaction.

Looks like Teimana Harrison is set to make the England squad this summer from comments in the Rugby Paper, he's been playing some good rugby but not sure about him just yet.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Apr 2016, 12:14 pm

Daly and Wade are poor defenders but it doesn't matter end of the day Chris, it's only an opinion.

by dammit_chris Sun 17 Apr 2016, 12:34 pm

Ok if that is the case and you aren't trying to be a joker with this lol, why does Will Greenwood - widely regarded as one of the best rugby pundits, arguably the best centre England have had in the professional era by some distance - rate his defence so highly, after watching him train with England, watch countless games with all the analysis etc they have access to?

Honestly think if you went and watched Wasps play live a few times and watched the amount of work Daly does in defence it would chance your mind on him. Wade also as you get to see the defensive patterns etc.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Apr 2016, 1:39 pm

Ive seen plenty Chris. Greenwood only has an opinion, I've not seen him say his defence is great tbh.

Only thing ive seen from pundits is he struggles when people run straight at him but he has gas to make good covering tackles.

Wade got tortured a few weeks ago at our place.

It's an opinion, we've done this a million times, no need to go over it again.

by dammit_chris Sun 17 Apr 2016, 2:18 pm

Could always try not bringing it up Wink

Anyone see Thacker's try against Saints yesterday? That lad is a little bit good, be interesting to see how he develops as seems a bit small at the moment. Must be a shoe in for the Saxons tour, could have a very good side there with a strong pack -

1. Alex Waller 2. Harry Thacker 3. Jake Cooper Wooley 4. Dom Barrow 5. Charlie Ewels (Bath guy) 6. Luke Wallace 7. Will Fraser 8. Josh Beaumont

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Apr 2016, 2:29 pm

I'm not sure how it came up tbh.

Thacker is way too small for a hooker, he really under powers the Tigers scrum. Very good rugby player though, I wonder if he could play 7 to a good standard?

by Fluxy Mon 18 Apr 2016, 9:33 am

Threads and conditions are up for this weekend.

by dammit_chris Tue 19 Apr 2016, 11:07 am

Good article on Wade on the Telegraph - would love to see him get a chance with England at some point.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/04/18/christian-wade-hoping-to-end-the-season-on-a-high-with-england-o/

by Sgt_Pooly Tue 19 Apr 2016, 11:09 am

I just can't see it tbh, I don't think he has the all round game to step up.

by dammit_chris Tue 19 Apr 2016, 11:32 am

Do any of the wingers we have though? All have strengths and weaknesses and if we want to play a more expansive game and score tries there aren't many better. I don't think we have any wings, apart from Watson who have really put their hands up and nailed down a place.

by Sgt_Pooly Tue 19 Apr 2016, 4:30 pm

Although he has no form to speak of, I'd still go May.

11. May
14. ?
15. Watson

The ? is a list between Nowell, Ashton and Roko I think. If we get Ashton tracking, he's one of the best in the world, none of our wingers can do what he does. If want something a bit more solid it has to be Nowell, who's a good all rounder. Roko is in great form in an awful Bath team, he offers the physicality we don't have out wide.

Jones rates May highly and obviously fancies Ashton.

As much as I like Wade, he can be targeted and just has too many weaknesses for me.

by Sgt_Pooly Wed 20 Apr 2016, 11:43 am

Sale almost 20pts clear Shocked

I'm top 4 for the first time since tasking over Sarries, bottom of the league to top 4 in 3 season!

by prop_lyd Wed 20 Apr 2016, 1:07 pm

I'm on course for my best ever finish in this game!

by Guest Sat 23 Apr 2016, 1:17 am

Marler looking at a citing for that tonight.

Nothing in it but he goes with his shin to head. If spotlight not on him
It would be nowt but silly by him.

Now cameras everywhere that kind of thing will be gone but it's a part of rugby. You try and mess with other forwards by roughing be it leaving elbow in, standing on them getting up etc. It's niggle

by prop_lyd Sat 23 Apr 2016, 8:27 am

Sunwolves won?!?!

by Guest Sat 23 Apr 2016, 10:44 am

If barret could kick canes would
Have won that. He was superb ball in
Hand but missing 5 shots at goal Is a killer

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 23 Apr 2016, 3:35 pm

Barrett's kicking is normally top class, fantastic player.

Robson looking really good the last few months, has to tour with England in the summer. I did say he's have the Wasps 9 shirt at some point in the season Very Happy

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 23 Apr 2016, 4:34 pm

Haskell having a great game after a pretty average few weeks, guess the Jones kick up the ass has worked.

Cracking break from Wade, he's such a hard player to stop in full flow. If he could just sort his defence out he'd be a real option.

Itoje must have about 3 or 4 steals at the line out!

Mako and Fraser have been immense at the breakdown, really hard to play against when you have so many options to slow and turnover the ball.

by Guest Sat 23 Apr 2016, 4:56 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Barrett's kicking is normally top class, fantastic player.

Robson looking really good the last few months, has to tour with England in the summer. I did say he's have the Wasps 9 shirt at some point in the season

I am a massive barret fan but his goal kicking needs work. He is streaky and will sometimes nail 100 percent but he kicks such a flat trajectory that he struggles with wind.

I think he is streets ahead of cruden ( he kicks at goal unlike cruden so
Must be ab 10)

That said he is not finished product from
The tee. Superb Player
And excellent out of hand kicker:

by ChequeredJersey Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:00 pm

Saracens were in control for most of that match, great performances across their whole side really, though lucky not to get a card or two for cynical play! They are just so good at strangling an opponent even if they can't get their attack firing, definitely a side with an A and a B game these days

by dammit_chris Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:08 pm

Wasps really lacked a cynical edge today - Sarries were so, so, so good in that area - thought both Vunipolas and Itoje were just unplayable. Wasps defence was very good to keep the scores down, as pretty much dominated there.

Glad to see Launchbury getting back to his best, but Hughes just didnt make the impact he needs to in these games and Haskell just couldn't influence the game beyond his tackling - really wish we'd start Thomas Young with the form he's been in.

Sarrries are by far the best side in the AP, would thoroughly deserve the double if they could manage it.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:20 pm

I thought Haskell was good and Launchbury pretty anonymous if I'm honest. I had to check the team sheets to see if he was playing.

Itoje has completley leapfrogged Launchbury, crazy really as Launch was nailed on by many including myself.

by Guest Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:22 pm

dammit_chris wrote:Wasps really lacked a cynical edge today - Sarries were so, so, so good in that area - thought both Vunipolas and Itoje were just unplayable. Wasps defence was very good to keep the scores down, as pretty much dominated there.

Glad to see Launchbury getting back to his best, but Hughes just didnt make the impact he needs to in these games and Haskell just couldn't influence the game beyond his tackling - really wish we'd start Thomas Young with the form he's been in.

Sarrries are by far the best side in the AP, would thoroughly deserve the double if they could manage it.

Sarries have a consistent system and have several ways of playing. Wasps best chance was keeping it loose and limiting lineout as sarries dominate their.

Eddie Jones on 5 live Thursday said same thing.

Launch bury in form but sarries have class,

Hughes will learn. Step up to euro and int massive. People working him out. Sure he will learn. Basics the key. All super rugby players have the basics but lots of ap players shrivel on big stage:

Steve Waugh the legendary cricketer said " international sport is all about recreating basics under pressure
And that's the difference between a club player and international"

by dammit_chris Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:42 pm

Were the ratings from Telegraph. Haskell for me is awesome in defence, but isn't producing his international form for us, can't really beat him as a defensive player but isn't getting us that go forward we need when Hughes gets worked out by opposition - teams are just doubling up on him now and taking him out of the game.

4 Joe Launchbury 9 A classy and industrious performance. With all the talk of Itoje it is easy to forget how good he is.

5 Bradley Davies 6 Wasps probably missed Kearnan Myall at the lineout but that is not to say that Davies let them down. Always abrasive.

6 James Haskell 7 Not at his most influential. Made his tackles, though, and made one huge hit on Owen Farrell.

7 George Smith 9 Signing of this season and many other others. Never let his standards slip even if his side were not on the front foot enough for him to shine.

8 Nathan Hughes 6 Disappointing. Not that he was poor, of course, but up against Billy Vunipola he came off second best.

by ChequeredJersey Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:47 pm

sums it up, Matt thumbsup

that is the difference really

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:49 pm

Very odd ratings. Launchbury a 9 is almost laughable, was Itoje an 11???

No Wasps player deserved even an 8 imo. Wasps issue is if a team stops Hughes, they have very little else in terms of carrying. Sarries doubled up on Hughes today and there was little else happening for Wasps.

Daly showed why he's not an Int. Poor defensively, front up and positioningly. Robson was really good and Gooperth awful.

Wasps line out was dire. Davies offers a solid option but needs a good jumper besides him. Launchbury just doesn't add anything here and was completley outplayed by Itoje.

by ChequeredJersey Sat 23 Apr 2016, 6:50 pm

ratings in the telegraph won't reflect everyone's view though, Chris, the papers often have very disparate views to each other

I thought Haskell was good, Launchbury too. Both a 7 maybe. It was the sum of the parts (and lineout) than Sarries had their biggest edge today

by dammit_chris Sat 23 Apr 2016, 8:00 pm

Daly has been the best no13 in the AP this season in terms of form, to say he's not an international on that basis is absurd, particularly as he is an international...trouble with Wasps is if Hughes gets found out and marked out of the game we don't have the forwards who get us over the gainline and it causes us huge issues with allowing our backline to attack - he's really struggled in the last 5-6 games compared to earlier in the season, at same time we don't help him and use him enough as a decoy.

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