2017/18 Aviva Premiership Round Three

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Friday, 15th September

Northampton vs Bath 19:45 (BT Sport)
Worcester vs Exeter 19:45
Sale vs London Irish 20:00

Saturday, 16th September

Leicester vs Gloucester 15:00 (BT Sport)
Newcastle vs Saracens 17:00 (BT Sport) <-- This one's in Philadelphia

Sunday, 17th September

Wasps vs Harlequins 15:00 (BT Sport)

Pundits extrapolating from first round results ended up with egg on their faces, most notably the premature Northampton obituaries, and Gloucester revival claims. The third round will give us a bit more perspective on what trajectory teams are really on.

If Saints only managed to get themselves fired up for last week's match, then Bath will expose them. Still, it's Franklin Gardens, and Northampton will feel a win will get their season well underway. Worcester look vulnerable but caused Wasps more problems than expected. However, Exeter looked back in gear last week, and you'd think will have too much for the Warriors. Sale against London Irish looks tasty, as the Sharks have started poorly, and another home loss would start alarm bells ringing.

Leicester are one of three winless teams, so will be keen to show they aren't misfiring, while Gloucester will be smarting after reverting back to type last week. Saracens haven't lost to Newcastle since 2009, and will be favourites in the US. Still, the Falcons are no mugs this season but might have preferred a genuine home fixture. Wasps are top of the table, and take on Quins at home, which ought to make them favourites. Quins derailed Gloucester last week, though, so shouldn't be over-awed.

TightHEAD wrote:Yet another Ref playing to the home crowd!

You'd never see that at the rec

Glos playing like we did in the last two games

Tigers playing well without being totally dominant. Gloucester will feel slightly peeved with the ref I feel, they've had very little. Tigers lineout looking shaky again, scrum going well.

nathan wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Yet another Ref playing to the home crowd!

You'd never see that at the rec

or the shed

Lol at Genges boxers

nathan wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Yet another Ref playing to the home crowd!

You'd never see that at the rec

No, not like the midlands lot.

Agree that the ref's been kind to Tigers but Ackerman himself could be the ref and Gloucester would still get tonked playing like this.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Tigers playing well without being totally dominant. Gloucester will feel slightly peeved with the ref I feel, they've had very little. Tigers lineout looking shaky again, scrum going well.

They can't be peeved at the pens they are giving away. They need to play for a bit more territory

TightHEAD wrote:

nathan wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Yet another Ref playing to the home crowd!

You'd never see that at the rec

No, not like the midlands lot.

Last night a bath player only had to lay a finger on a Saints shoulder and the crowd wanted blood .

Are they not entertained?

Thackeray to come on in the second half

TightHEAD wrote:Last night a bath player only had to lay a finger on a Saints shoulder and the crowd wanted blood for t

You do moan alot

nathan wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Tigers playing well without being totally dominant. Gloucester will feel slightly peeved with the ref I feel, they've had very little. Tigers lineout looking shaky again, scrum going well.

They can't be peeved at the pens they are giving away. They need to play for a bit more territory

to be fair some pens have been debatable e.g. holding on versus tackler not releasing ...

I was looking at Woodward before the season as a potential England player, because of the hype. Must admit I have seen nowt to justify it so far in the games I've seen.

nathan wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Last night a bath player only had to lay a finger on a Saints shoulder and the crowd wanted blood for t

You do moan alot

I'm watching Tigers v Glaws. My two most hated teams on the planet, of course I'm in a moaning mood.

Glos to get a roasting and come out with far more grunt up front

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:Agree that the ref's been kind to Tigers but Ackerman himself could be the ref and Gloucester would still get tonked playing like this.

If you lose pretty much every physical collision you generally end up losing the 50/50s. Happened to Tigers last weekend.

Toomua and Smith have bossed the centre of the park. Smith is smashing the Glaws backline for fun and is making Scott look very average.

Tigers would be clear if we could sort the lineout. Need to step out so there's a big gap and make it obvious to the ref when Glaws are closing the gap.

It's the most of the 50/50's that are going Tigers way, perhaps even the 40/60's. Nothing massively controversial, I'd just be a tad annoyed if it was my team.

Tigers decent value for their lead, they look good on the counter especially.

Well that wasn't predictable.

Pffffft

Have to say though, they should be on a warning by now

Hmmmmm, that went the wrong way. Clearly didn't release

How's that a penalty to Glaws? Never a hint of a release on TV from the tackler. Glaws getting the rub so far this half.

Genge is some player, he is like a fitter, faster Mako Vunipola (perhaps slightly less power). He will be a frightening prospect in a couple of years time.

Lol, massively forward

I am going to shut my face about Woodward now...

Ref evening it up now then

Ah, Slater constantly looking for a scrap. I do miss him.

What the Frak was that tait

Tigers looking much lighter in defence now Toomua is off. Tait isn't offering the same physicality or organisational skills.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers looking much lighter in defence now Toomua is off. Tait isn't offering the same physicality or organisational skills.

Why on earth did he kick the ball away too. We had 3 players next to him

I do miss slater

I am amazed that he hasn't given a yellow card for that.

How is that not a yellow

Even the player gave himself a yellow card!

That's a stone wall yellow card and he knows. That's terrible officiating.

Austin makes a good point though, where was the Tigers playing asking? Who was there asking the ref how many penalties that is now?

Major let-off

I think he's lost his cards, number of pens should be a warning by now

Bloody hell! It must be frustrating being a Gloucester supporter, they guff it up in the red zone time and time again.

Smith has played well today

15 penalties

Keys gave Gloucester another final warning around the time of the deliberate knock on. He must've forgotten already.

Mike Williams man of the match? Had to be Smith surely?

No not the corner!

Lol. No release again

Twice in two weeks Bateman has ruined good attacking chances by taking the ball in on his own unnecessarily and getting turned over.

Maxwell-House truly is an abysmal referee. I appreciate the need to bring young refs through, but he is consistently awful. I have yet to see him have a good game and he needs to be jettisoned from the Jeff.

Which also sums up Glaws. We're clearly religious fanatics and practice self-flagellation. It's so frustrating to watch!

He was useless, how a team can give away 17 penalties and not have someone in the bin. Then there was the knock on on their own line, then the not releasing and the ref giving it the other way

Oh and there's the talking out the side of his mouth :p

Absolutely. Thorley's slap down was as clear a yellow as you'll see. He was woeful for both sides. He misses so much, but is pedantic in equal measures.

HongKongCherry wrote:
Which also sums up Glaws. We're clearly religious fanatics and practice self-flagellation. It's so frustrating to watch!

You did win the second half. Had Burns not needed replacing so soon before kick off you might have had more fluency to your game. Ackermann tweaked things well at half time so you'd think as he exerts his influence on the team more as the season progresses Glaws will become more consistent.

I'm hoping for similar with Tigers. O'Connor has plenty of work to do before he can feel safe in his job, we are not looking like a top four side just yet.