Gallagher Premiership Round 11

Bored at work so thought I would put a post up as it has been a few weeks since the last.

Northampton Saints Vs Exeter - Friday 28th 19.35 BT SPORT

Northampton were impressive away against Worcester away last week, started to see some nice play from them. Exeter quite convincingly beat Saracens to return top of the table and will have taken a lot of encouragement from that result. Could be a tight game but still think Exeter too used to winning and I believe it is an away win, but closer than the beginning of the season would have suggested, losing bonus point to Saints.

Gloucester Vs Sale Sharks - Saturday 29th 15.00

Gloucester been putting in some very strong performances, and have lost only 1 at home in the Premiership this season. Sale are away and have improved but still not looking at their best but still dangerous and have a good defence with only the top 3 conceded more points. For me Gloucester will have to have the foot off the peddle for Sale to win, however a losing bonus point is plausible.

Saracens Vs Worcester - Saturday 29th 15.00

Saracens will be hurting after the loss last week and will be looking to show their stuff again. Worcester will not be thanking Exeter for last week and will be hoping Saracens don't turn up, difficult to see past a home win with a try bonus point looking more likely than a losing bonus point.

Harlequins Vs Wasps - Saturday 29th 16.00 BT SPORT

Quins host Wasps with a lovely pattern of having a loss following a win and visa versa for the last 7 premiership games, so this should be a win as who am I to argue with the gods? Wasps have not look convincing in their last 5 outings in the premiership and will be desperate to turn the tide of will be falling into the dangerously tight midfield. Unless Wasps show better form I think this will be a tight win for Quins.

Bath Vs Leicester - Sunday 30th 15.00 BT SPORT

Bath played well on the road last week and will be hoping to continue that at home on Sunday, they certainly looked a better team than a few weeks ago. Leicester are another team desperate to start recording more wins they got a good win over Quins last week. however doubts still remain of their defence and Bath will be ready to exploit any gaps. I suspect a tight home win.

Bristol Vs Newcastle - Sunday 30th 15.00

Both teams threatening to fall away from the pack and desperately need some good results to drag themselves out of the relegation zone. Newcastle are not looking like last year's team at all so far and Bristol must be seeing this as a chance to gain some very valuable points. Newcastle must be seeing the game the same. Very difficult to say could go either way, going to go against my own Superbru prediction and go 3 point Bristol win.

BUY TICKETS
BATH RUGBY
VS
LEICESTER TIGERS
30 December 2018 15:00 at Recreation Ground

Team news | Tigers at Bath this Sunday
28 December 2018 12:00
Graham Kitchener returns to the Leicester Tigers line-up for the trip to the Recreation Ground
Graham Kitchener returns to the Leicester Tigers line-up for the trip to the Recreation Ground
Brendon O’Connor and Graham Kitchener return to the Leicester Tigers forward pack for Sunday’s trip to face Bath Rugby at The Recreation Ground.

Back-rower O’Connor and lock Kitchener replace Guy Thompson and Will Spencer who took knocks in the bonus-point win over Harlequins last weekend.

In the only other change to the starting line-up, Jake Kerr starts at hooker, with Australia international Tatafu Polota-Nau reverting to the bench.

Will Evans is in included among the replacements after missing the last two games.

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “Guy has broken a bone in his hand, which will keep him out for a few weeks, and Will Spencer has a bang on his knee.

“Adam Thompstone has an issue with his knee, so he’ll be out for a few weeks if not longer depending how the scan goes.

“We did a lot of good thing against Harlequins, but there are plenty of areas of our game we need to improve and that’s where we are at the minute. We need to keep trying to build on that performance.”

Leicester Tigers (v Bath Rugby, away, Sunday 3.00pm)

15 George Worth

14 Jonah Holmes

13 Manu Tuilagi

12 Matt Toomua

11 Jonny May

10 George Ford (c)

9 Ben Youngs

1 Ellis Genge

2 Jake Kerr

3 Dan Cole

4 Harry Wells

5 Graham Kitchener

6 Mike Fitzgerald

7 Brendon O'Connor

8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau

17 Campese Ma'afu

18 Joe Heyes

19 Mike Williams

20 Will Evans

21 Ben White

22 Gareth Owen

23 Jordan Olowofela

Bath Rugby: 15 James Wilson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Max Wright, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Will Chudley (cc); 1 Nathan Catt, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Matt Garvey (cc), 5 Elliott Stooke, 6 Tom Ellis, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Francois Louw

Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Zach Mercer, 21 Max Green, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Cooper Vuna

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

15 Joe Simmonds
14 Santiago Cordero
13 Ian Whitten
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Tom O’Flaherty
10 Gareth Steenson (capt)
9 Jack Maunder
1 Ben Moon
2 Elvis Taione
3 Harry Williams
4 Mitch Lees
5 Sam Skinner
6 Sean Lonsdale
7 Don Armand
8 Matt Kvesic

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Tomas Francis
19 Jonny Hill
20 Tom Lawday
21 Nic White
22 Henry Slade
23 Phil Dollman

A strong bench with 6 Internationals

Some interesting scorelines right now (especially Worcester up against Saracens)

Sarries back-up against Worcs. Predictable second half comeback, Sarries are a side that usually win even if they play poorly.

Sale are hammering Gloucs at the Shed though. Rob and Jean-Luc du Preez coming in has given them a boost for sure.

Great win by sale. Makes me hopeful for a possible top 6

Good win for Quins this weekend, the rollercoaster continues.

Steve Diamond's behaviour adds a real sour touch to a good win by Sale. He has gone from being honest and passionate to a complete tw@t.

Dave Ward likely to get a sizeable ban after his shenanigans yesterday.

Shame that those two issues with blight what was otherwise some surprise results and some good rugby. Sale going to Glaws and really turning Glaws over is pretty impressive given current form.

Diamond has always been aggressive to the point where he's sailing close to the edge. Over stepping the mark AGAIN is no real shock. Expect him to face a ban similar to Ward's.

Dimes does have history, however looking at the video muddies the water somewhat, the journalist not exactly helping matters. Doubt we have the full facts to be honest.
As a DOR however he should know better.

As the journo had previously written a scathing review of Diamond's management of Sale there was probably no love lost before the post match coming together.

Hmm. Tries being ruled put for laws that don't exist for bath. Jumping over a tackle.

I think I'd love diamond as forwards coach for England. Think he's one of the best coaches around.

Surely a hand in front of the line is offside? Otherwise why do refs keep shouting about it when teams are defending on the line?

No 7&1/2 wrote:Hmm. Tries being ruled put for laws that don't exist for bath. Jumping over a tackle.

Certainly does exist, under dangerous play. Someone died in 1899 doing that very thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Armit

Heaf wrote:Surely a hand in front of the line is offside? Otherwise why do refs keep shouting about it when teams are defending on the line?

At least half his hand was in front.

Having said that Bath have gone off their feet at every breakdown it's killing the game but JP isn't giving anything.

Blatant double movement for the Roberts try. Obvious knock on for the second try. What is the point of a TMO?

Bath are the better team, yet two massive man sausage ups by JP for both tries.

How on earth was Bath's second try given when the touch judge clearly saw and signalled the knock-on?

Nah. Not covered. No discussion of dangerous either purely was that a step or a jump. Wrong decision.

And missed tuilagi playing the ball on the floor a metre out. He ain't doing well.

You can't jump over a tackle - but that wasn't a tackle anyway ...

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Heaf wrote:Surely a hand in front of the line is offside? Otherwise why do refs keep shouting about it when teams are defending on the line?

At least half his hand was in front.

Having said that Bath have gone off their feet at every breakdown it's killing the game but JP isn't giving anything.

Blatant double movement for the Roberts try. Obvious knock on for the second try. What is the point of a TMO?

Doyle is woeful - always is ... TMO is hopeless too

No 7&1/2 wrote:Nah. Not covered. No discussion of dangerous either purely was that a step or a jump. Wrong decision.

Completely correct. About the only thing he has got right, though!

Heaf wrote:You can't jump over a tackle - but that wasn't a tackle anyway ...

Hard to be a tackle when the player jumps into hou like that.

Duty281 wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Nah. Not covered. No discussion of dangerous either purely was that a step or a jump. Wrong decision.

Completely correct. About the only thing he has got right, though!

Both feet clearly leave the floor and go over the player. The talk about "no arms" is complete rubbish because no tackle was attempted due to the aforementioned jump. Dayglo and Monye talking rubbish as per usual.

LondonTiger wrote:

Heaf wrote:You can't jump over a tackle - but that wasn't a tackle anyway ...

Hard to be a tackle when the player jumps into hou like that.

Hmmm not sure .... looked like he was leading with his shoulder and wouldn't have got anywhere near wrapping his arms but we can't be sure of course ...  either way I still think Doyle is a complete plank

And jumping is not covered at all in the laws.

I think it's deemed dangerous play although I believe there is no specific law re jumping over the tackle?

Tigers got to sort the backrow out. Those three are getting slaughtered by their Bath opposition. Need to get Evans on for Fitzgerald so we have another breakdown exponent to apply some pressure and get around the park.

We're not getting the rub from JP and quite frankly Bath are all over us. We don't change it up and this could be mullering.

There is no law. If it is deemed dangerous appears silly there was no discussion of that by Doyle? More likely he thinks there's a law as do many ex players etc yet there is not.

Heaf wrote:I think it's deemed dangerous play although I believe there is no specific law re jumping over the tackle?

It's filed under 'Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.'

I'm on a delay as watching the recording but just saw the knock-on for Bath's 2nd try - odd that the AR clearly told Doyle about it but he refused to check it ...

Just not actually written eh. Never mind continue in being incorrect.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Just not actually written eh. Never mind continue in being incorrect.

Amazingly law makers cannot write for every eventuality. You will continue in being incorrect, yes, whilst every qualified official knows that jumping over a tackle/opponent is illegal because it is a reckless action (otherwise players would be doing it every week!).

Well I think I'll have to agree with the laws and disagree with you.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Well I think I'll have to agree with the laws

Good, I'm glad you can see the referee was correct.

Nope he wasn't. Go and have a look through the dangerous play section of the laws by all means think it's 10.4. As you said they can't define them all they actually do for you. Anyway my festive spirit is just about alive even if my will to live is fading! All Doyle's incorrect decisions are about levelling out at the mo. I'm sure he's due a good 2nd half!

I have, as referenced before: 'Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others' - which jumping over an opponent clearly is.

If it were not illegal, we would see players doing it every week, especially wingers/fullbacks. But we don't, because it's illegal.

All dangerous/reckless play is not defined in the laws, because there are simply too many eventualities.

Tigers mauling has been shambolic. Bath must be rubbing their hands together at every lineout. There will be turnover ball to attack from after all.

Kalamafoni's break from the ruck was comical - Doyle a yard away and couldn't see he was nowhere close to being behind the back foot when he picked the ball up

Last comment on this duty as it's labouring the point. We actually do see players jumping into tackles every week. By wingers. In a good chunk of their scores near the touch line.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Last comment on this duty as it's labouring the point.  We actually do see players jumping into tackles every week. By wingers. In a good chunk of their scores near the touch line.

Those circumstances are clearly not the same.

Heaf wrote:Kalamafoni's break from the ruck was comical - Doyle a yard away and couldn't see he was nowhere close to being behind the back foot when he picked the ball up

I think Doyle was unsure because no Bath players were competing at the breakdown so as long as Kalamafoni isn't bound on he's entitled to pick and run. If he'd not thrown such a horrific offload the TMO may have e reviewed that after the try was scored.

Shoulder to the face, ball carrier goes down and knocks on as a result. "Stu anything wrong?" Reply "I've not seen anything". What a farce. What's the point of the fecking new interpretations and a TMO if they refuse to do anything.

7 point game and there's 12 points of incorrectly giving tries due to poor TMO work.

Lots of mistakes granted. Implying that the refs decusions swung it to bath bit wide of the mark.

Officiating was poor all around ...

No 7&1/2 wrote:Lots of mistakes granted. Implying that the refs decusions swung it to bath bit wide of the mark.

Bath should have had 50 points but they didn't because they were no where near clinical enough and Tigers were surprisingly good in defence.

Not down to the ref, down to the TMO. The ref makes decisions. The TMO is there to help him, by not giving JP the chance to review key decisions the TMO is not doing his job. Geordie was apparently very unhappy and has every right to be. Bath got two late Christmas presents.

You guys having a laugh, 2 of baths tries were clearly not tries.

Tho decisions Guinness premiership

https://twitter.com/lestranger_87/status/1079406474772840449?s=19

Clear knock on. Second one was Jamey Roberts clear double movement. The TJ even signals knock on.

They are so clear cut, they are not even debatable.