NPR

Flood’s managed to end the sin bin period by taking too long and then puts in a horrific kick

10's that take their time should be banned from goal kicking

Get the sense Newcastle’s backs didn’t fancy that. Haven’t played for a couple of years but can relate

Almost certain Bristol spotted that Newcastle too readily commit to the maul, they should have had someone at the back of that lineout to help out with Hughes.

Tackle on Orlando looked high to me.

Whether you think the ref is right or wrong, you do as you’re told. Two tries coughed up by VD Walt now

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:12 pm Whether you think the ref is right or wrong, you do as you’re told. Two tries coughed up by VD Walt now

Called use it 3 or 4 times, with plenty of time between each one, just stupidity not to use it.

Raggs wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:13 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:12 pm Whether you think the ref is right or wrong, you do as you’re told. Two tries coughed up by VD Walt now

Called use it 3 or 4 times, with plenty of time between each one, just stupidity not to use it.

Completely. Not quite sure what he expected to happen. I think Flatman is right that he shouldn’t have called ‘use it’, but as you say he did say it four times.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:14 pm

Raggs wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:13 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:12 pm Whether you think the ref is right or wrong, you do as you’re told. Two tries coughed up by VD Walt now

Called use it 3 or 4 times, with plenty of time between each one, just stupidity not to use it.

Completely. Not quite sure what he expected to happen. I think Flatman is right that he shouldn’t have called ‘use it’, but as you say he did say it four times.

It wasn't moving forwards for a while, needs to call it. Then, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter if you start moving forwards, because the other team have heard the call.

Such a shame that was struck off, try of the season potential otherwise.

32 man U20 EPS announced today. Hopefully they will get to play a game at some point between now and the JWC (if that happens). Some decent 10s in there with Atkinson and O. Bailey. Assume Fin Baxter retained by Quins as he's the notable omission. In the usual famous relative front, we have JJ's little brother and the offspring of Zinzan Brooke and Stuart Lancaster. Few other sons of club players in there too.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... -announced

Forwards
Ben Bamber (Bristol Bears)
Harvey Beaton (Saracens)
Phil Brantingham (Newcastle Falcons)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby)
Luke Green (London Irish)
Alex Groves (Bristol Bears)
Lewis Holsey (Worcester Warriors)
Ethan Hunt (Gloucester Rugby)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby)
Marcus Rhodes (London Irish)
Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby)
Sam Riley (Harlequins)
Ethan Staddon (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby)

Backs
Charlie Atkinson (Wasps)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester Warriors)
Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby)
Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Dan Lancaster (Leeds Tykes)
Tommy Mathews (Northampton Saints)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Fin Smith (Worcester Warriors)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

4 Players: Bath, Gloucester, London Irish.
3 Players: Bristol, Leicester, Worcester, Sale.
2 Players: Harlequins, Northampton.
1 Player: Saracens, Newcastle, Wasps, Leeds.
0 Players: Exeter

When did we stop caring about headshots when a player is falling? Ben Kay excusing Umaga taking a shoulder to the head because "he's already on the way down" is infuriating. He was already being tackled he didn't need some thick twat trying to smash him into next year and clocking him directly in the head!

This sport is fucking stupid.

Scrappy, error-strewn half of rugby, but pretty happy with the narrow half time lead and the dog we're showing in defence.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:31 pm When did we stop caring about headshots when a player is falling? Ben Kay excusing Umaga taking a shoulder to the head because "he's already on the way down" is infuriating. He was already being tackled he didn't need some thick twat trying to smash him into next year and clocking him directly in the head!

This sport is fucking stupid.

Yeah that was bizarre both from the officials and Kay. To not even give a pen is just completely counter to the framework as I understand it; player height changes can mitigate against the type of sanction, but a sanction is still due.

Umaga's kicks to touch have been fantastic. Blackett clearly encourages both him and Atkinson to go for it, and forgives them if they miss touch here and there in the process.

Underwhelming half of rugby

Impressive

Sopoaga wanted none of that, piss weak attempt at a cover tackle to let Capstick in.

I suspect there was a forward pass somewhere in all of that, but loved the ambition.

Umaga's little blind inside ball was delightful.

Best not mention the conversion, but that was a good try for Sopoaga.

Have to say I think Tempest is having a pretty good game here

‘Wide arms in the tackle’ come on Austin he knows exactly what he’s doing and it isn’t tackling

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:22 pm Have to say I think Tempest is having a pretty good game here

Just not calling turnovers for squeeze balls that I'd have an issue with, you don't have to be on the ball if they're in the squeeze ball position. But then so many refs don't call it, that I'm not surprised. It does seem like players are having to once again hold onto the ball and survive clearouts for longer before getting the call.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:22 pm Have to say I think Tempest is having a pretty good game here

Yeah I'm not his biggest fan, but I think he's getting most things right and judging well when to review things with the TMO.

Someone from Exeter surely must be going to the bin soon? Racking up a lot of penalties.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:29 pm Someone from Exeter surely must be going to the bin soon? Racking up a lot of penalties.

Called it.

Wasps should really try passing it, bit of a brick wall in the middle

Umaga's had a good game but he's made a handful of silly mistakes. Would be good if he could cut those out.

Exeter have been fortunate not to have more people in the bin, glad that a weakened team has coughed up a bonus point win for wasps. Was worried Exeter were simply too dominant.

That'll do nicely.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:31 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:29 pm Someone from Exeter surely must be going to the bin soon? Racking up a lot of penalties.

Called it.

Wasps should really try passing it, bit of a brick wall in the middle

Yeah, we're definitely guilty of getting a bit macho about it. I think there are genuine concerns about ball security and how many players you've committed to that area being unavailable to clear out in any successive phases, but at some point you have to move away from what's not working.

Sopoaga is one of the worst 1v1 tacklers I've seen for many a year.

I can't tell if Sopoaga's positioning is genuinely that poor or if he simply doesn't want to make those tackles and just puts in a token effort.

Player kicks the ball forward in the ruck, play on. Break happens, ball gets knocked on, player on the floor grabs it...

Not the best reffing there

Sopoaga just isn’t very brave, is he

Daft thing with Sops is sometimes he really does put in some powerful tackles. Just don't get it, maybe he lacks the confidence and just freezes when he knows it's a one on one with no backup.

He's massively muscular and clearly has spent a very long time building his upper body in the gym. Can't grow a spine with weights, I suppose.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:46 pm He's massively muscular and clearly has spent a very long time building his upper body in the gym. Can't grow a spine with weights, I suppose.

I wish/hope that Atkinson can go to 15. It'll make it easier to keep him and Umaga, he's fearless in defence, and we still have the extra playmaker who can run.

Odogwu made a lot of ground he shouldn't have there.

Nice try from McIntyre off the back of it to round off the afternoon.

Talking of strength, I'd not really noticed it before this season but Bassett really does give it everything.

Good bonus point win for Wasps
I called this one for Chiefs, had no idea thay had rested so many players!!

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:49 pm Talking of strength, I'd not really noticed it before this season but Bassett really does give it everything.

Absolutely. He'll probably never trouble an international selector's thoughts, but he's bloody good for us and has been for a while. Consistent scorer, but also makes tons of ground and puts himself about in most aspects of play.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:49 pm Talking of strength, I'd not really noticed it before this season but Bassett really does give it everything.

Remember when Rokodugi was smashing everyone and due an England call up? That was when Bassett first made a huge impression on me, he was obviously fast etc, but he absolutely sprinted full whack into Roko to stop him dead. Insanely physical and fearless. Real wiry strength about him.

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 3:51 pm Good bonus point win for Wasps
I called this one for Chiefs, had no idea thay had rested so many players!!

1. Hepburn A.
2. Yeandle J. (C)
3. Street M.
4. Witty W.
5. Armand D.
6. Ewers D.
7. Capstick R.
8. Simmonds S.
9. Hidalgo-Clyne S.
10. Simmonds J.
11. Whitten I.
12. Devoto O.
13. Hendrickson T.
14. Woodburn O.
15. O'Flaherty T.


Have they rested loads of players? Looks a fairly close approximation to a first XV to me. Skinner, Slade, Gray and Hogg missing.