Prem Round 4

First topic message reminder :

Friday
Falcons v Bristol – 19.45

Sat – All 15.00 Pm
L. Irish v Bath
Sale v Exeter
Saracens v Leicester
Gloucester v Worcester - Postponed

Sun
Quins v Saints – 15.00

What a game this is. some of the attacking play has been amazing.

Sarries seem to be being given a lot of leeway at the breakdown. The ruck before that last try had a Tigers player on the ball and neck roll to get him off. Tigers can feel a bit aggrieved at that one - but their line out is killing them anyway,

Theo McFarland's hands are unbelievable. I wonder if more forwards should play basketball as part of their training regime...

And a pretty shocking call there, as well. Cokanasiga made the wrong choice, but he clearly had his knees down

Can’t fault that try, though.
I actually thought Tizard was Kruis for a moment there…

Poorfour wrote:And a pretty shocking call there, as well. Cokanasiga made the wrong choice, but he clearly had his knees down

He did, but you could argue that a maul had been formed before that (both players were wrestling for the ball). I wouldn't have been surprised by either call.

I'm glad to see this from Saracens and Leicester, I was worried that the game in England would regress back to a stodgy ten man kick fest, but it seems like the teams still really want to play.

Poorfour wrote:Sarries seem to be being given a lot of leeway at the breakdown. The ruck before that last try had a Tigers player on the ball and neck roll to get him off. Tigers can feel a bit aggrieved at that one - but their line out is killing them anyway,

Yeah, decisions aren't going Tigers way but Sarries look inventive and clinical in our 22 whilst Tigers are wasteful in attack.

Sarries attack looks really sharp

London Irish, when they get going, are a lot of fun to watch. They look even better because they are playing Bath....

Gotta love giving Bath a beating after the years of plundering our best players ...

Brilliant finish from Steward, will be interesting to see what happens if Leicester get the next score.

Tigers are definitely making it hard for themselves with their inability to retain the ball

Heaf wrote:Gotta love giving Bath a beating after the years of plundering our best players ...

Oh dear - Bath coming back - surely we can't lose a 30 point lead

Leicester looking beat now, could get ugly if Sarries score again quickly.

Tigers leaking pens all over the place now

Nice finish by Daley

That was insane delivery from McFarland.

hmmm - did that actually go forwards?

for the scrum before the pen I meant ...

Christ, Sarries play like this for the rest of the season and nobody will touch them.

Tigers can't live with it and are giving up pens all over the place

I feel a bit better about Quins’ result against Sarries in Round 2 now….

Bloody hell, fifty points up. That is a statement.

Well I don't think many expected that .... meanwhile Irish after going 30 points clear end up at 47 - 38 versus Bath.  Sounds like Dickson put in his usual shambolic display.

That's an utter beat down for Tigers and some statement from Sarries.

As good a year as it was for Tigers, I wouldn't be surprised if they missed out on the top 4 this season.

Agree, and there was a huge gap between the teams. And when Tigers ran out of gas as the game drifted towards garbaage time, Saracens started scoring for fun.

Geordie wrote:Why is it understandable?

Just a joke from a smoggy.

Saracens attacking play this year has been outstanding. Really wish McCall were English.

Salakaia-Loto getting pats on the back from a very upright tackle that's about 3 inches away from a red card in the 3rd minute. I do not get why players take the risk.

Flipping eck. This game may have a few points scored.

Open goal missed by Saints ...

On the Tigers offy I got some flack for saying prior to the season starting that I felt Sarries could be immense at times this season. A few seemed to feel that Koch and Barrington moving on would hamper their front row. Koch would be a loss to any side but Riccioni is a massive talent whilst Judge and Bello are shrewd TH signings. Tizard meanwhile was a brilliant signing that fits their pack perfectly. It also allows McFarland, and when fit Isiekwe, to play 6. McCall's game plans work brilliantly with that extra lineout option at blindside.

I could also see them naturally improving as younger players overtake some of the older ones, less experienced players develop. McFarland for instance has a very high ceiling and has been improving very quick. I think van Zyl and de Haas should overtake Davies at 9 - no disrespect meant but he was a clear weaker spot last season. The young back three talent should push ahead of Maitland and Malins should usurp Goode soon. Dom Morris is another to look out for, a terrific centre.

The bulk of that Sarries side, especially the backs, are so settled. As long as Billy and Earl stay fit their back row with Isiekwe or McFarland at 6 is a match for any in Europe. Then even without them you can put Christie or Wray at 6 and still be better than most back rows in the Jeff.

1.Mako 2.George 3.Riccioni 4.Itoje 5.Tizard 6.Isiekwe 7.Earl 8.Billy
9.van Zyl 10.Farrell 11.Daly 12.Tompkins 13.Lozowski 14.Segun/Lewington 15.Malins

16.Woolstencroft 17. 18.Bello 19.McFarland 20.Christie/Wray 21.de Haas 22.Goode 23.Morris

That sort of first choice side looks absolutely gun to me. Still not near the days of their full bench of strong internationals but an absolutely terrific squad nonetheless.

That is rubbish defending.

From a Tigers perspective it was a rubbish performance failing to take advantage of Sarries pen count in the first half then falling apart as pressure mounted.

Our full strength XV last season was packed with carriers. Genge, Montoya, Liebenberg, Wiese, Kelly, Porter, Nadolo. All those guys were consistently strong carriers. Only Liebenberg was present here before having to come off and it showed.

Having an strong international fly-half available for a full preseason and through the AIs last season was massive for the early season run. Ford getting dropped was a huge boost for Tigers. Pollard won't have the same availability. Burns is a good player but not in the same class. I was very happy with Gopperth's signing but he has had a few bad games for Tigers already albeit in depleted midfields.

My predicted table had Tigers at 3, so missing out on a home playoff, which thus far feels accurate. We should still be strong at home but the combination of losing Ford and Genge, then other unavailability means things are shakier away. Especially in away games such as this where there was significant rotation with a long season ahead.

The pack desperately need Montoya and Wiese back for their carrying. The backline need two of Kelly, Porter and Scott back for their defensive solidity and go forward in the midfield.

One of the few upsides was Martin once again looking good in a defeated side during the second half. He's been really impressive so far this season. If England want to continue with a Lawes type player at blindside (which seems pretty certain as all of Eddie, Proudfoot and Cockers like the tactic!) then Martin seems an ideal backup.

Saints have a bad case of the dropsies this afternoon ...

Although you feel they'll click at some point ...

There you go - pretty soft final phase from Quins letting them through the middle

Good defence there from Quins ... but Saints probably should have finished that

Yeah Northampton have been their own worst enemies.

Saints are still in this if they can sort out their fumbling - they're making plenty of breaks but not finishing them off.

Saints definitely look dangerous, but I think Quins have been applying so.much pressure that they've lost some composure.

Quins need to get back on the right side of Foley, though it would be nice if he'd allow a similar level of advantage on both sides.

Monye really shouldn't be having to teach Dallaglio the laws.

Dayglo is talking a load off soft tangly bits ...

Oh wow, Dayglo talking rubbish, what a shock...

Quins asserting control again - Saints have a bit of hill to climb now

Basecamp 1 ...

Oooo - fumbled again ...

Saints need to convert this chance after blowing two previous ones ...

oof ... close one

That's a great finish.