NPR

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:07 pm Any idea who stuck that rocket under Smith’s arse

Exeter look absolutely flaccid, though Quins have been a joy to watch

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:29 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:07 pm Any idea who stuck that rocket under Smith’s arse

Exeter look absolutely flaccid, though Quins have been a joy to watch

It takes a special skillset to make Smith look ordinary. England have those skills.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:34 pm
If the call is made he can join Will Fraser, Jack Clifford and Tom Rees on the 'promising young 7s with careers cut unfairly short through injury' bench.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:06 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:34 pm
If the call is made he can join Will Fraser, Jack Clifford and Tom Rees on the 'promising young 7s with careers cut unfairly short through injury' bench.

You can also add that Wasps flanker who Eddiot broke in 2016.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:42 pm Am I reading too much into this or can I sense Smith has decided to demonstrate/has been asked to demonstrate how he can implement England’s gameplan? Seems to have been more attacking kicks than he usually uses and the drop goal attempt etc

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 8:42 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:42 pm Am I reading too much into this or can I sense Smith has decided to demonstrate/has been asked to demonstrate how he can implement England’s gameplan? Seems to have been more attacking kicks than he usually uses and the drop goal attempt etc

No, he's been using those kicks for a few years now - think I mentioned in the last 12 months about how silly it was that some coach had taken credit for him using chip kicks more when he was actually over-using them about 3 years ago. Although the two deliberate touchfinders during the duels were "new" I guess.

Nice that his first league start in 5 months gets a response from the team. Quins were a bit fortunate with the ref here and there but that's a hell of a display and sorely needed. Great to see Chisholm back, Kenningham put in his best display since his injury against Exeter and while Exeter can feel a bit sore about some of the decisions they can fuck off given how we were robbed blind down at Sandy Park.

That non-penalty-try decision was a weird one, wasn't it? Illegal, a penalty, and clearly denied a try - but deemed just a matter of timing and not cynical so not a penalty try. Erm, run that one past me again... glad it didn't matter at all.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:06 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:34 pm
If the call is made he can join Will Fraser, Jack Clifford and Tom Rees on the 'promising young 7s with careers cut unfairly short through injury' bench.

You can also add that Wasps flanker who Eddiot broke in 2016.

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 1:31 pm I tend to think that for the most part the pathway coaches know what they were doing.

Barbeary played centre as a schoolboy. Cool, but I remember him playing Under 18 for England and he was genuinely the best player on the pitch as a forward.

England age grade teams over the past decade have had players looking genuinely promising at 12. Johnny Williams, Ojomoh, Redpath, Butler, Cokanasiga off the top of my head. None of them were really squad filler in those teams, they were players people talked of with potential. For whatever reason none of them kicked on (for England at least). You go through fallow periods in positions (like at 9 too). It happens, and I really don't think it's because pathway coaches are mindlessly funnelling talent into the pack.

geordie_6 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 9:27 pm

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 1:31 pm I tend to think that for the most part the pathway coaches know what they were doing.

Barbeary played centre as a schoolboy. Cool, but I remember him playing Under 18 for England and he was genuinely the best player on the pitch as a forward.

England age grade teams over the past decade have had players looking genuinely promising at 12. Johnny Williams, Ojomoh, Redpath, Butler, Cokanasiga off the top of my head. None of them were really squad filler in those teams, they were players people talked of with potential. For whatever reason none of them kicked on (for England at least). You go through fallow periods in positions (like at 9 too). It happens, and I really don't think it's because pathway coaches are mindlessly funnelling talent into the pack.

Did Ojomoh pick up an injury or just drop down the pecking order at Barf? He seemed to vanish.

geordie_6 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 9:27 pm

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 1:31 pm I tend to think that for the most part the pathway coaches know what they were doing.

Barbeary played centre as a schoolboy. Cool, but I remember him playing Under 18 for England and he was genuinely the best player on the pitch as a forward.

England age grade teams over the past decade have had players looking genuinely promising at 12. Johnny Williams, Ojomoh, Redpath, Butler, Cokanasiga off the top of my head. None of them were really squad filler in those teams, they were players people talked of with potential. For whatever reason none of them kicked on (for England at least). You go through fallow periods in positions (like at 9 too). It happens, and I really don't think it's because pathway coaches are mindlessly funnelling talent into the pack.

Did Ojomoh pick up an injury or just drop down the pecking order at Barf? He seemed to vanish.

SaintK wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:12 am Barbeary badly injured his leg on Bath debut yesterday, Rugby Paper saying out for the rest of the season!!!

Oxbow wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:49 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:12 am Barbeary badly injured his leg on Bath debut yesterday, Rugby Paper saying out for the rest of the season!!!

Poor lad. I haven't really seen enough of him to comment, but is there the possibility that he's just one of those players who are made of biscuits?

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 3:43 pm That’s a *ahem* dubious interpretation of ‘nothing compelling’ right there. Game on

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 3:44 pm This cunt of a TMO is never good news for Saracens. She is utter shite.

Lobby wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 3:50 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 3:43 pm That’s a *ahem* dubious interpretation of ‘nothing compelling’ right there. Game on

TBF most refs and TMOs seem to be ignoring all but the most egregious forward passes atm.

Lobby wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 3:50 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 3:43 pm That’s a *ahem* dubious interpretation of ‘nothing compelling’ right there. Game on

TBF most refs and TMOs seem to be ignoring all but the most egregious forward passes atm.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:10 pm Aled Davies is a poor player, this distribution is criminal

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:31 pm Well that was really fucking stupid, didn’t even tackle him

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:35 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:10 pm Aled Davies is a poor player, this distribution is criminal

Bracken jr. is going well for the U20s, might as well get him in now. At worst he'd be on par with Davies and getting valuable experience.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:47 pm Sarries got everything they deserved out of that game.......nothing...