Aviva Round 13

First topic message reminder :

Friday
19.45 - Worcester vs Bath (BT Sport)
Worcester looking much harder to beat now and with Bath on 3 losses in a row they have a lot of work to do if they want to win away.

Saturday
15.00 - Leicester vs London Irish
Good news for Leicester is LI do not look like they are going to get many wins in the 2nd half of the season at home or away, so this would be a good time for Leicester to stop the rot.

15.00 - Saints vs Gloucester (BT Sport)
Gloucester riding high and Saints fallen off the horse. Saints have a lot to put right at home and have to do so against a side full of belief.

15.00 - Sale vs Quins
Sale have started to show the tough nut teams have come to expect. Quins will have to make sure their forwards dominate the collision and keep Sale on the back foot if they are to win.

15.00 - Newcastle vs Exeter
Newcastle enjoying 3 wins in a row and at home, however they face a team with 7 wins in a row and are the champs. Newcastle have a lot of work to do if they want to get it to 4 wins.

Sunday
15.00 - Wasps vs Saracens (BT Sport)
Saracens been looking ordinary by their standards but have got 2 wins on the trot, Wasps are at home and enjoying a winning run that only Exeter can look down on, should be a cracker to watch.

TMO going to decide the Sale v Quins game...50/50 call tbh..

Decision goes Sale's way.

Not a bad performance from Quins, but Marler's thuggery cost us the match. Idiot.

Can't help but feel that's the storyline BT Sport were after in the televised match.

Ref did pretty well all game but a couple of awful decisions at the end to hand the game to Northampton - first the non penalty (and possible YC) in front of the posts for Horne's deliberate and cynical knock-on, then a very dubious penalty try at the end. Looked like he wanted to give the try all along, then when the double movement became evident came up with another reason to award it.

Gloucester should have been more clinical on a few occasions and should have cleared their lines in the last 5mins but must feel very aggrieved after those decisions. Still should have put the game away earlier.

SAINTS: Piece of cake.

Marler's idiocy gave us the game there to be honest. Far too many missed tackles and charged down kicks. Lucky to get the 4 points, though felt the ref was generous with Roberts ripping the ball which led to quins 2nd try. Having said that kudos to the ref for overruling the TMO on the in touch decision and not accepting the TMO's opinion to overrule his own, so it all evens out really.

Victory so sweet today. Still a lot of errors but so many areas were better. Good work rate, good atmosphere.

Scottrf wrote:Victory so sweet today. Still a lot of errors but so many areas were better. Good work rate, good atmosphere.

Agree, a lot of silly, basic errors.

By the way, not sure if you saw Foden's face when Tuala failed to pass him the ball on the outside during a run deep into Gloucester territory at about the 77 minute mark. The try was likely there. Could have been a real big mistake.

Didn't notice his face but did notice that Tuala didn't look to the wing. We had a number of breaks actually that just needed an offload. Just happy to see us fighting.

I saw the same thing, Tuala not looking at the wing. I went back and looked at the play again, and for a moment there was Foden, clearly not happy.

I also agree about the offloading. Sometimes they forced it for no good reason, other times they never looked for the open man. A little spit and vinegar never hurt anyone.

How's your blood pressure Nathan??

Good to get 2 points away at Sale, but that game was ours for the taking if Marler hadn't been such a twonk

mid_gen wrote:Joe Marler probably just got himself banned for the 6N.

No arguments either....totally out of line. Shoulder to the head at a ruck.

Player is totally responsible for their actions. Marler has again chosen to let the side down, both Quins and England.

Idiot.

Wasps are looking very under powered versus a very muscular Sarries. The expectation has to be the fast open possession Wasps style versus the greater power positional play of Sarries - and I fully expect that this will be the case - however the side that can deliver the unexpected might provide the edge to deliver the win.
Conditions look perfect for a fantastic game. As to the result? Well the realist in me believes Sarries forward domination will win the day, but there is no denying I would love Wasps; Cips, Wade et al to play them off the park......fun fun fun!

yappysnap wrote:How's your blood pressure Nathan??

Good to get 2 points away at Sale, but that game was ours for the taking if Marler hadn't been such a twonk

LOL, returned to normal now.

I'm just getting really annoyed at sub standard refs. I don't mean against or for any particular team, just the general standard.

I give this as an example and Irish were on the end of silly decisions too. But the penalty near the end that was taken quickly, it was 5 meters from the bloody mark. That's basic reffing.

nathan wrote:This ref is absolutely diabolical, why is he not playing any advantages?

I thought Dickson was the best ref we have had at WR this season.

Was at Welford Rd today. Thought Dickson was very good too. Didn't seem to get much wrong from my vantage point.

kingelderfield wrote:

mid_gen wrote:Joe Marler probably just got himself banned for the 6N.

No arguments either....totally out of line. Shoulder to the head at a ruck.

Player is totally responsible for their actions. Marler has again chosen to let the side down, both Quins and England.

Idiot.

Didn't watch the match earlier.  But checked the incident now.  Really bad and senseless from Marler.  I wonder if he could benefit from a shoulder charge to his head to knock some sense into him.  

I also wonder if any of the Quins players know him well enough to be able to read when he is frustrated or not.  If he was complaining to the referee about an incident which drew blood, no one thought to have a chat with him to make sure he was physically OK, calm enough, and doesn't do anything stupid?

Margin_Walker wrote:Was at Welford Rd today. Thought Dickson was very good too. Didn't seem to get much wrong from my vantage point.

Just seen the highlights - disappointed he couldn't spot a blatant obstruction for May's break which led to their first try - Tigers player a yard on the wrong side of a ruck grabs Reid who is standing off the ruck to make the hole for May to run through. Was in a kickable position too so a potential 10 point turnaround.

Falcons 3-0 Exeter

That'll do I reckon, let's call full time.

Wade cost 15 points in the first 18 mins. Flew out the line twice and got a pass floated over his head and then butchered a simple 2on1 with a forward pass!

Looks like Falcons are giving Chiefs a hard time ...

Falcons 15-3 Exeter

A moment of magic from Sinoti and an intercept from Goneva. Looking good on the counter but Exeter are so strong in the contact and making yards each time. Looks like we've lost Flood, Graham having a stormer.

Not sure what was going on on flashscore as it showed 10-3, 13-5 then 15-3 ...

Heaf wrote:Not sure what was going on on flashscore as it showed 10-3, 13-5 then 15-3 ...

Probably in shock Heaf.

18-3

We've lost Graham.

Now 18-3 - wow

Bad miss by Farrell there

But Sarries looking strong

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Falcons 3-0 Exeter

That'll do I reckon, let's call full time.

Think you'll be pleased they didn't

YC to Sarries and PT to Wasps -followed quickly by another YC - all change

And another try

25-3 to Falcons at HT - not many would have predicted that ...

Wow what a first half by us insane defence!!

Our problem recently has been our performances in the second half!

Heaf wrote:25-3 to Falcons at HT - not many would have predicted that ...

Never in doubt Heaf

Played really well tbh, not allowed them in the game at all. The Sinoti try was a thing of beauty.

Look forward to seeing the highlights

Meanwhile Sarries after being in control are starting the 2nd half with 13 men having conceded 2 quick tries. All started to go wrong when WB gave a pen for ball being ripped when off feet - wasn't sure about that tbh. Will be interesting to see if the returnees can last 80 mins as they looked really strong until that pen changed everything.

anyone know why Wade wears a scrum cap?

just seen the score for falcons, great 1st half so far

nathan wrote:anyone know why Wade wears a scrum cap?

To keep his ears warm?

Heaf wrote:

nathan wrote:anyone know why Wade wears a scrum cap?

To keep his ears warm?

hehe

or maybe it reduces drag when he goes supersonic ...

nathan wrote:anyone know why Wade wears a scrum cap?

He suffered a perforated eardrum, and has been advised to keep it protected. He doesn't like the cap much, as he gets too hot.

Some of the pens for high tackles these days looks a bit harsh

Heaf wrote:Some of the pens for high tackles these days looks a bit harsh

couldn't agree more, it's another one of those areas where ref's pick and choose which laws to apply.

Backs against the wall this half.

I thought a legitimate turnover from Vickers was pinged, would have gave us another 3pts And a huge boost.

Still 25-8 can see Exeter coming close.

Seems to be fashionable to play 3 locks these days.....Falcons play 3 hookers!

More than 2 converted tries ahead still though so looking good for the win ...

We've lost every 50/50 call this half...I'm getting worried.

25-13

You'll be fine ..