Prem Round 6

Friday
Sale v London Irish

Saturday
Exeter v Wasps - Cancelled
Gloucester v Bristol
Saint's v Falcons
Saracens v Bath

Sunday
Quins v Leicester

Newcastle Falcons team to face Northampton Saints (Saturday, 3pm, cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens)

15 Tom Penny (co-captain),
14 Adam Radwan,
13 Ben Stevenson,
12 Pete Lucock,
11 Mateo Carreras,
10 Brett Connon,
9 Sam Stuart;

1 Adam Brocklebank,
2 George McGuigan (co-captain),
3 Richard Palframan,
4 Matthew Dalton,
5 Sebastian de Chaves,
6 Sean Robinson,
7 Connor Collett,
8 Freddie Lockwood.

Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 George Merrick, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Michael Young, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 George Wacokecoke.

Not available for selection: Callum Chick, Sam Clark, Trevor Davison, Nathan Earle, Carl Fearns, Gary Graham, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Josh Peters, Greg Peterson, Oliver Spencer, Philip van der Walt, Will Welch.

Referee: Jack Makepeace

Great game for Radwan to catch the eye of Jones here.

Alex Sanderson and Ming the Merciless - have you noticed how you never see them together?

Just turned on Sale-LI and noticed Jonny Hill finally cut off his mullet. About blydi time.

Strange Falcons line-up.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Strange Falcons line-up.

Scored a load of tries and only 1 point down coming towards the end of the game though.

That was SQUEAKY to say the least.

Well done Falcons, two great comebacks. A good job neither 10 had their kicking boots on.

A stupid decision to go for the scrum with a penalty under the posts at 78+ minutes, scrums are a lottery. It was an easy three points and with Falcons to return the ball from the restart with 20 seconds left on the clock after the kick. One ruck/maul and out into touch. What happens, Falcons get a penalty and regain possession.

Imagine what we've had done with a stronger line-up!

I don't think you'll see a better individual try over Carreras this season....amazing.

If it weren't for Arundell I'd agree whole heartedly. Great try.

Quins hard done by a bit there - that try came from a pen after a pass that was clearly well forwards - all the officials asleep and/or blind ...

Yeah was forward from Wiese. Not sure they can go back to check unless it leads direct to a suspected try though?

Probably not after a pen had been awarded ... but I've heard TMOs chime in for forward passes this year even when I don't think they're supposed to unless it's in the build up to a try. But they shouldn't have needed the TMO as it was blatantly forwards and should have been picked up on field.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Yeah was forward from Wiese. Not sure they can go back to check unless it leads direct to a suspected try though?

That's right. It didn't directly lead to a try so there's no going back to check. Definitely forward.

Smith was very lucky with that tackle on Youngs from that break. I think he was just in the legal side but he was so upright it was inches away from a red.

Really physical game so far. Good watch.

Watson may also have been lucky they didn't look more closely at his 2nd high tackle - only saw a brief replay but it may have been direct head contact.

Dallaglio just keeps annoying me. Learn the laws please!

Heaf wrote:Watson may also have been lucky they didn't look more closely at his 2nd high tackle - only saw a brief replay but it may have been direct head contact.

It was an untidy tackle. Looked head on chest, TMO reviewed it and advised it was penalty only, I assume because Watson is falling backwards and pulling Green over as opposed to trying to make meaningful contact.

Tigers winning the game at the breakdown, Matt Scott has been struggling so far this season but has really turned up today. Wonderful performance from 12.

Fair enough - didn't get a proper look at it. Tigers looking the stronger team for sure, Quins struggling to make an impact.

You miss Dombrandt massively.

As far as I can see Leicester have been pinged for three high shots (two from one player) and the ref doesn't even seem to have spoken to them about it.

Losing Green isn't going to help Quins come back ...

Cumbrian wrote:As far as I can see Leicester have been pinged for three high shots (two from one player) and the ref doesn't even seem to have spoken to them about it.

I thought Watson might have had a warning for two on the trot but they were all pretty minor ones.

I think the ref has been pretty good and generally let things flow. A couple I wanted to go Tigers way didn't but Quins fans will be saying the same.

Not sure why Tigers didn't just take the 3 points there?

Anyone see what looked to upright tackle on Weise?

Think it was just before Tugers were pinged (harshly) for going of their feet.

It seems these tackles (ones committed by Tigers players too) aren't being reffed as harshly again.

Think you could tell the ref is one of the more inexperienced. Lots of decisions marginal but thought he got a little caught up in small things rather than the bigger picture overall. Only his second season to be fair.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Think you could tell the ref is one of the more inexperienced. Lots of decisions marginal but thought he got a little caught up in small things rather than the bigger picture overall. Only his second season to be fair.

I thought Leal looked better than some of the more experienced refs we've seen this season. He looked good on the whistle last season as well. Hopefully one that gets more games moving forward. I like Hamish Smales as well, he's under used.

Generally the game flowed pretty well. He allowed both teams to compete at the breakdown and was consistent which is generally the best you can hope for.

There was a couple of upright tackles that looked a bit close but the TMO more than likely checked them in the background.

Tigers a bit loose at the end there but they knew the game was won and I don't think Borthwick would have been happy with the inefficient rolling maul though he was clearly wanting them to kick to touch. Tigers haven't got many games bar the one PRC game now with two cancelled games and a bye week on the horizon so was good practice to go for another lineout.

The thing you could say is he let a lot of things go that perhaps after the 2nd or 3rd time other refs would pick up as a warning. That will perhaps favour more cynical teams. He'll pick that up though.

TBP on the road at the Stoop is a big result for Tigers after the Sarries humping and (more bruising IMO) Sale loss at home.

I haven't seen the game yet but it sounds like Tigers were dominant up front, especially at the breakdown. That's what a first choice back row and Montoya on top form can do!

It sounds like Potter had a very good game at 13 too which is great to hear. He has the attributes to do well there as he's good in contact and positionally. After a brilliant season last year he had a couple of off games early this one. Potter on form is huge for Tigers though as he's usually just so consistent in attack and defence.

With Boyd leaving, which I endorsed, I expected Saints to not shut off periodically during games regularly as they have done for the past 4 years. These are not catch-your-breath moments, these are virtual mental shut-offs which are so mind-boggling.  No disrespect to Falcons, but Saints should never have been behind.  The difference is that Newcastle took their opportunities which were presented to them and Saints slept through that.  Only came alive in the first and third quarter.  Boyd had a leash which was too long, Dowson, whom I like, must have a shorter one.  

So bizarre:   Saints most of the time can be such a pleasure to watch.  The rest of the time they make me want to gouge someone's eyes out (not mine though, I might be nuts, but I ain't stupid).

doctor_grey wrote:Only came alive in the first and third quarter.

Tended to be an issue with Saints last season as well, tendency to punch themselves out and then struggle to regain impetus. I'm not sure whether the game plan, conditioning or use of the bench needs to change. Possibly all three but it's a slightly odd potential problem that is holding Saints back.

Falcons do look an improved side this season, Walder is definitely doing something right. They just need to get over this injury crisis and they might start picking up a few more wins.

The shutting off has been a problem during the Boyd years and to me, watching most games, is they were not coached to react to other teams upping their energy and effort.  Just keep doing the same thing, which we know is the definition of nuts.  

It is not a conditioning issue at the end of matches, because that doesn't explain when they lose focus in the middle of a game and then ramp back up as they did against Wasps the other day.  Again, another reason I am glad Boyd is in retirement.  He did some nice things for Saints, but now the other parts need to be fixed.  Hopefully Dows is the right guy.  If not, lets not wait too long to make a decision.

When did Sam Wainwright last play for Sarries?

mikey_dragon wrote:When did Sam Wainwright last play for Sarries?

05/10 replacement in a Prem Cup game.

The Prem Cup... and now he's been selected for Wales. I know it is a position we're short in but it is questionable selection.

mikey_dragon wrote:The Prem Cup... and now he's been selected for Wales. I know it is a position we're short in but it is questionable selection.

His last first team league game was 7 minutes against London Irish on November 7th, 2021.

His last first team game was against Brive, for 29 minutes, on April 8th, 2022.

He's played 84 first team minutes for Saracens in the last three full seasons and this one.

On his way to more Wales than Saracens minutes surely? I think he did alright for Wales, but still.

This is terrible from Eddie Jones.
'The referees are under so much pressure now.They’ve got a failed referee in the grandstand – that’s the TMO! They are usually blokes that have not been able to cut the mustard, and they are telling the one on the field who cuts the mustard what to do."

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/19/saracens-lacking-safety-certificate-to-admit-10000-or-more-fans-to-stadium

Sounds like Saracens don't qualify to be in the prem.

No 7&1/2 wrote:This is terrible from Eddie Jones.
'The referees are under so much pressure now.They’ve got a failed referee in the grandstand – that’s the TMO! They are usually blokes that have not been able to cut the mustard, and they are telling the one on the field who cuts the mustard what to do."

Yes but he will get away with saying it....

He's been saying it for years, it was all fine on here up to now.

mikey_dragon wrote:He's been saying it for years, it was all fine on here up to now.

Was it? In what respect?

Exeter pipped. Sarries unbeaten, they certainly have a good outfit even after losing a few of their stars.

Surprised at how one note Sale have been. Really crying out for Ford back ASAP.

I didn’t think Quins had that shape of game in them - but they’ve adapted to the players they have available and got the rewards for it. Huge defensive effort and smart play at the rucks, and it told in Sale’s frustration and penalty count.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:He's been saying it for years, it was all fine on here up to now.

Was it? In what respect?

They've got a fantastic pack, even if they aren't at a level when they were 'creative' with the old accounts.

Their bacxk five would give most international teams a game.

04. Tizard
05. Itoje
06. McFarland
07. Earl
08. Vunipola

I think they'll be one of the few English sides to do anything in Europe this year.

There’s a very good chance that three of those Sarries will feature for England in the AIs; I could see Tizard coming straight in because he complements Itoje so well

Cumbrian wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:He's been saying it for years, it was all fine on here up to now.

Was it? In what respect?

They've got a fantastic pack, even if they aren't at a level when they were 'creative' with the old accounts.

Their bacxk five would give most international teams a game.

04. Tizard
05. Itoje
06. McFarland
07. Earl
08. Vunipola

I think they'll be one of the few English sides to do anything in Europe this year.

Missing Isiekwe there as well Cumbrian!

McFarland has been a brilliant bit of recruitment and development by their coaching staff. He is looking like some player. On his current deal the value must be incredible the value there must be incredible given where he signed from, the level he is now performing.

I've just seen who is due to line up on the wing for the Barbarians in the coming weeks. Hope anyone planning to take their kids now reconsiders.

Don't know how many here listen to the BBC Rugby Union podcast but it's always good, usually hosted by Chris Jones/Sara Orchard with Monye(hmmm) and Danny Care. Anyway, this week was interesting with Care being quite open about his dislike of the Saracens players whooping and hollering after every scrum decision, penalty etc goes their way. He was saying how irritating it is and how most of the teams hate it and doesn't think Sarries players will be thought of a decent blokes in hindsight come their retirement. Quite a strong statement I thought for a player who's still playing to make.
I know Itoje is a particular culprit - Care didn't mention any names - but implication was a few more as well. Itoje is a bit over the top at times and should he ever get club or country captaincy something he'll have to reign in.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I've just seen who is due to line up on the wing for the Barbarians in the coming weeks. Hope anyone planning to take their kids now reconsiders.

Who?