Gallagher Premiership 2020/21

First topic message reminder :

The new season starts next weekend. What are people's hopes and expectations?

doctor_grey wrote:At this moment I really need to re-assess Falcons as a team.  They are raising hell with my SuperBru predictions......

That's a very good win for Bristol. Exeter have misfired and there's no crowd of course but wins away at Sandy Park are no mean feat.

Harry Randall with another very good performance and MOM.

When did Exeter last lose 2 games in a row in the prem?

GeordieFalcon wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:At this moment I really need to re-assess Falcons as a team.  They are raising hell with my SuperBru predictions......

I had them to win by 3 so that last try was annoying - apart from denying Glaws a LBP of course.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Sinckler should be cited. That's an appalling example to set.

Sam Simmonds outstanding. Running down Randall is no mean feat.

What happened? I got home a little while ago and haven't watched any Rugby today.

doctor_grey wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Sinckler should be cited. That's an appalling example to set.

Sam Simmonds outstanding. Running down Randall is no mean feat.

What happened?  I got home a little while ago and haven't watched any Rugby today.

Cowan-Dickie made a no arms tackle on Sinckler.

Sinckler screamed "are you f***ing kidding at me" which was heard on TV as if it had come from the commentators. Dickson warned Sinckler for it at the next stop in play. If Sinks was directing it at Dickson it's a clear red card.

LCD did try and wrap his arms but missed as he went to low in the tackle. The obscenity was screamed at a volume that it was clearly audible on TV on a par with those commentating on the game. Dickson warned him that any other screaming would result in a red but if that's aimed at the ref then it's straight red and a few games on the naughty step as Hartley found out. 

Dickson bottled sending off his former teammate in my eyes.

It's looking likely the French clubs will pull out of the European games due to the French government banning cross border elite sport due to cornavirus.

I'd love the Premiership to use the free weekend to try to play some of the games that have been cancelled. I'd so much rather risk Tigers losing 2 points in the table by losing to Falcons if it means the game actually getting played.

Cumbrian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Is Will Rowlands okay?

He's invincible isn't he?  

He’s super.

Thanks for filling me in about Sinckler, gents. He really did that? Blydi hell, players should know not to mouth off at the ref, especially some of the extra special words. In fact, are you f**king kidding me???????

it is also a basic Rugby intelligence test. I have to go watch the replay.....

GeordieFalcon wrote:When did Exeter last lose 2 games in a row in the prem?

Through sept / early oct they lost 3 in a row, 2 were absolute thumping's.

Gooseberry wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:When did Exeter last lose 2 games in a row in the prem?

Through sept / early oct they lost 3 in a row,  2 were absolute thumping's.

That involved heavily changed sides if I remember correct though?

They also rested Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Hill and Gray from the tight five last weekend to be fair.

Just watched the Sinckler episode. I agree with Dallaglio's comments regarding the tackle that Cowan-Dickie went too low despite having his arms out. He couldn't wrap since he was in a poor position and went so low. So the net effect was more like a shoulder charge on Sinckler's shins or ankles. Only Cowan-Dickie knows if this was deliberate or not. But I certainly understand why Sinckler was peeved. And he made his comments after the ref, Karl Dickson, immediately afterward loudly called the attempt was OK. Not sure whether a simple pen or a yellow would have been appropriate, and could go either way.

I do think Sinckler's comments, which were very loud, were directed at the ref. And that has to be punished, even though he was on the receiving end of a bad tackle attempt, which could cause injury.

On the tackle, Exeter make a lot of those tackles. Harry Williams is the player I'm most surprised isn't penalised more but LCD makes a few as well. If a defender is diving at a players ankles like a door wedge with their body angle down towards the floor then there isn't an attempt to wrap regardless of whether their arms out (like the LCD tackle) or their arms aren't (as is often the case for Williams).

I'd be surprised if Sinckler isn't cited and cop a decent ban. If it's adjudged to be directed at Dickson then it should cop a ban the same as Hartley did. Though Hartley's was worse IMO as he called Barnes a "cheat".

Sinckler has apologised on Twiiter, which is probably a wise thing to have done.

I don't think he will get cited and that is likely to be the end of it.

king_carlos wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:When did Exeter last lose 2 games in a row in the prem?

Through sept / early oct they lost 3 in a row,  2 were absolute thumping's.

That involved heavily changed sides if I remember correct though?

They also rested Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Hill and Gray from the tight five last weekend to be fair.

Sure, all the games this season autumn/winter have been a bit bit mix and match. Everyones having to rotate players to some extent. That run of 3 defeats was during the extended test window, although Saracens and Wasps were equally if not more heavily hit by callups.

The point remains though that losing two in a row isn't that big a deal in any season, let alone one as bitty as this. They came very close to losing two in a row at the start of this campaign too. The European Cup is much more unforgiving of defeats at any stage, but at least teams tend to only have injuries to deal with. Just part and parcel of what the Premiership is.

Previous seasons they've benefitted to some extent by being relatively low in test call ups given they are a top side. Still arguably underrepresented but you can see some of that effects of that and their fixture pileup hitting this season with enforced rotations.

As great as it is to see some different names at the top of the table I don't think its a great coincidence that those two teams are both pretty light on tests call ups and didn't go far in Europe or the playoffs last season. Things may look different when/if the playoffs come around but its certainly healthy for the league that upset results are possible and teams that have had relegations in recent seasons can rebuild to challenge the top.

BigGee wrote:Sinckler has apologised on Twiiter, which is probably a wise thing to have done.

I don't think he will get cited and that is likely to be the end of it.

Dylan Hartley has an opinion on that I'm sure.

Some extremely weak defending from Quins to allow a first LI try from Curtis Rona.

Quins are showing some nice shape when they have the ball though it must be said.

That Quins shape paying off finally after a lot of visits to the 22. Smith with a nice finish.

Smith has looked good with the ball in this first quarter.

Good to see Parton getting a game, was always a big fan of him in a position that England are relatively weak in. Still only 22 as well.

Should have been a try - I've seen plenty of tries awarded when a player slides over with the ball grounded by his chest. Plus where does this 'in control' keep coming from - I don't remember seeing it mentioned in the laws? He never lost contact with the ball so it was a try IMO.

I think there needs to be a law change so that restarts after an injury stoppage should be an uncontested scrum ....

I'd expect the experienced LI bench to make an impact in a tight game like this.

Marchant has impressed all game. I really hope he gets more minutes in the Six Nations.

That last try all came from a completely wrong call from the AR calling a clear knock back from Quins as a knock-on against Irish when they were attacking in the Quins half - the officials are killing them with their poor calls.

Tuisue and Rogerson complement each other really well in the LI back row. Tuisue carrying hard and Rogerson filling in the tight work.

That's a deserved try for Tuisue after a good game.

Albert always seems to have a good game ...

Been a lot of good games this weekend, this hasn't disappointed either.

Heaf wrote:Should have been a try - I've seen plenty of tries awarded when a player slides over with the ball grounded by his chest. Plus where does this 'in control' keep coming from - I don't remember seeing it mentioned in the laws? He never lost contact with the ball so it was a try IMO.

https://youtu.be/1MaNTsgXHro

Surely a yellow for Smith there. In the circumstances it's arguably the right call for Smith to kill it with only 3 minutes left and 7 points int the game but it's completely cynical.

Smith got away with one there!

Great kick from Jackson.

Plenty of attacking rugby and some points where the ball has been in play for ages ... happy with LI's performance given the lack of game/training time.

The officials however

Foley has ignored the TMO twice - both wrong ...

Good result for Irish especially given their lack of game time and training centre being shut for 2 weeks but really think they should have won that but for some poor decisions by the officials ... 3 points a good haul but 5 would have been better.

Looks like Ben Kay was also right about the foot in touch for one of Quins' tries ...

Cumbrian wrote:Good to see Parton getting a game, was always a big fan of him in a position that England are relatively weak in.     Still only 22 as well.

Agreed & deserved mom.
Together with Freddie Steward & Josh Hodge things are looking good.

Sinckler now cited for his little outburst. Seems that they are looking at a minimum 2 weeks and no idea if it may impact on his 6N.

lostinwales wrote:Sinckler now cited for his little outburst. Seems that they are looking at a minimum 2 weeks and no idea if it may impact on his 6N.

If it was directed at the ref, as seemed pretty clear to be honest, then it should cop a ban.

It's not in the same ball park as Hartley calling the ref a "f***ing cheat", which got him an 11 week ban, but it's still unacceptable in a sport that's supposed to take respecting the officials very seriously.

Players, coaches and fans bleating at and about refs at all levels has increased a lot in recent years. The match threads on the Tigers offy these days is basically just a weekly demonstration of how little many rugby fans know about the rules of rugby.

Still dont think Hartley was directing it at Barnes however it's pretty clear that sinckler was and will pick up a ban.

Yeah will be a shorter ban than Hartleys was, but that precedent does show that they will cite these cases. Sinklers ban likely will just give him a rest prior to the 6 nations (if that goes ahead at all) , it wasnt as serious and offense, he doesnt have Hartleys record, and he will say all the right things rather than try to fight it.

FWIW I do agree Hartley was hard done by one that, it always seemed more logical that the words were directed at the player not the ref.

Gooseberry wrote:
FWIW I do agree Hartley was hard done by one that, it always seemed more logical that the words were directed at the player not the ref.

I think he said after the event that the words were aimed at To. Youngs who was bettering him at scrum time and in Hartley's opinion not legally. Problem was he clearly looks at Barnes as he's saying it which is why Barnes felt it was directed at him. As soon as Barnes thinks it's directed at him Hartley as to go. Dickson bottled it at the weekend and Sinckler should have been given the same treatment.

I agree any ban will finish before the scheduled start of the 6N.

With the suspension of the Euro games & any ban starting at ‘meaningful matches’
Doesn’t that put Sinks in danger of missing the start of 6Ns?

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:With the suspension of the Euro games & any ban starting at ‘meaningful matches’
Doesn’t that put Sinks in danger of missing the start of 6Ns?

Presumably it would do, yes.

Technically England could release him to Quins on the 31st January so that would be week 1 of any ban if he does get one. Given it's a 2 week minimum ban he would miss the Scotland game on the 6th February.

Even a 4 week ban, seems unlikely, would leave him available for the Wales away game on the 27th February.

king_carlos wrote:

lostinwales wrote:Sinckler now cited for his little outburst. Seems that they are looking at a minimum 2 weeks and no idea if it may impact on his 6N.

If it was directed at the ref, as seemed pretty clear to be honest, then it should cop a ban.

It's not in the same ball park as Hartley calling the ref a "f***ing cheat", which got him an 11 week ban, but it's still unacceptable in a sport that's supposed to take respecting the officials very seriously.

Players, coaches and fans bleating at and about refs at all levels has increased a lot in recent years. The match threads on the Tigers offy these days is basically just a weekly demonstration of how little many rugby fans know about the rules of rugby.

For the record I have never ever used a bad word when playing Rugby. Just the same as I have never been offside in my life.........

It's all those effing bast*rds around me.....

Similar to Hartley, Sinckler does appear to be a loose cannon at times and is never too far away from trouble. That said, a comment of 'are you fu**ing serious' is hardly the worst thing in the world. It isn't abusive.

And I can't blame him for being frustrated after an utterly inept performance from the referee, Karl Dickson, who was often reluctant to take any sort of decision whatsoever, unless his touch judge or tmo intervened.

Doesn't matter what you think of the ref's performance you can't be screaming foul language at him. Doesn't matter if what you say isn't that bad. He's got no priors as far as I'm aware so could be something like four or six weeks halved for previous good behaviour, show of regret, mitigation and bringing good quality biscuits to the hearing.

Players shouldn't be screaming anything, expletive or not, at the ref. In a few years the game has crept from rugby doesn't want any back chat to scream about every decision.

So there was talk of having no relegation this year, does that mean Sarries spend 2 seasons in the championship?