NPR

Not sure why I’m watching the Wasps v Wuss kickfest in the rain. Quins v Tigers any better?

Ooh, good to hear the ref say “no pre-binding” on Tigers’ 5m tap penalty. Unfair practice, imo, and should be treated as a flying wedge. Just do a proper maul, turning and presenting old school!

Niegs wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 2:37 pm Not sure why I’m watching the Wasps v Wuss kickfest in the rain. Quins v Tigers any better?

Can't imagine the weather is much better there, it's not that far away is it?

Robson still playing brilliantly, and at least Wasps are winning the kicking game with some very nice touches, actually playing to the conditions.

Who's the other co-commentator for the Wasps Wuss game? He's clearly a Wuss man, I just wish he wouldn't make it so obvious.

Sun out for the second half hopefully results in a bit more excitement.

A little notification just popped up to say Christian Day is the co-comm. Surely it's not the ex-Saints lock? Dunno why he'd be so pro-Worcester.

Lazy play by quins forwards, 2 men up and they seem to think they dont need to conmit to the breakdown

That last play was a case in point

Rare moment in this... Earle sent off for deliberate knock-on but then TMO picks up Genge making head contact in a clearout earlier in the sequence of events. Genge carded for that* and Earle back on.

* I’m a vocal person about dangerous clearouts and commend protecting the head, so fair call. But as Goode said, this happens all the time. Kay had jsut been talking about subjectivity so which gives? Flow of the game vs calling to the letter of the law.

In this situation, I think both can be fixed if refs better managed the breakdown and players had clear parameters to adjust to. From memory, the Quins tackler hadn’t yet rolled away, teammate reaches over the breakdown and gets cleared out by Genge. He’d have never been able to get a steal but everyone’s allowed those moments to cynically slow the game down, so attackers fly in to smash them off and get quick ball. Sort that shit out and we get very few ‘harsh’ calls that can swing matches.

Tiggers down by 2 players, Quins lose that period 3-0, really really poor game management

Embarassing to see how much we've let Worcester into the game given how dominant (except on the scoreboard) we were in the first half.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 3:18 pm Tiggers down by 2 players, Quins lose that period 3-0, really really poor game management

Seen a lot of that recently, teams really failing to make a numerical advantage pay, even on a couple of occasions when they've been two men to the good.

Lang is so poundshop

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 3:11 pm Sun out for the second half hopefully results in a bit more excitement.

A little notification just popped up to say Christian Day is the co-comm. Surely it's not the ex-Saints lock? Dunno why he'd be so pro-Worcester.

Odd. Perhaps it was just a couple of poor comments favouring Wuss in a row that made me think that.

Morris is gone here. Went upright into the tackle and gets Lawrence's jaw with his shoulder.

Wasps have picked up a bit now, helped in no small part by a dominant scrum and Worcester finally pick up a yellow for endlessly infringing.

Leicester just playing smart rugby, nothing fancy, recogising that Quins forwards are seagulling so they are attacking the breakdown and slowing Quins ball down. Fast ball Quins will murder them, slow ball Quins struggle

Wasps just about see out the game. We'll take the win and the set piece performance, but otherwise a second half to forget that very much undermines any of the good work done in the first.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:11 pm Wasps just about see out the game. We'll take the win and the set piece performance, but otherwise a second half to forget that very much undermines any of the good work done in the first.

I’d be interested to know how many touches of the ball the outside backs saw in the second half. Seemed like it was endless forward pods and to the corner/mauls.

Are Quins gonna do it again this week?

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:19 pm Are Quins gonna do it again this week?

That was some try to get close! Smith’s kicking not on otherwise it’d be drawn.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:19 pm Are Quins gonna do it again this week?

Nope

Niegs wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:18 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:11 pm Wasps just about see out the game. We'll take the win and the set piece performance, but otherwise a second half to forget that very much undermines any of the good work done in the first.

I’d be interested to know how many touches of the ball the outside backs saw in the second half. Seemed like it was endless forward pods and to the corner/mauls.

Once we went down to 14 it made sense to keep it tighter.

During the rest of the game there were penty of knock ons when we tried going wider, so I can understand a reluctance to try it too much.

Raggs wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 3:23 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 3:11 pm Sun out for the second half hopefully results in a bit more excitement.

A little notification just popped up to say Christian Day is the co-comm. Surely it's not the ex-Saints lock? Dunno why he'd be so pro-Worcester.

Odd. Perhaps it was just a couple of poor comments favouring Wuss in a row that made me think that.

I've only heard Day commentate on a couple of Saints games but he's been very even-handed in those.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:36 pm

Niegs wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:18 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 4:11 pm Wasps just about see out the game. We'll take the win and the set piece performance, but otherwise a second half to forget that very much undermines any of the good work done in the first.

I’d be interested to know how many touches of the ball the outside backs saw in the second half. Seemed like it was endless forward pods and to the corner/mauls.

Once we went down to 14 it made sense to keep it tighter.

During the rest of the game there were penty of knock ons when we tried going wider, so I can understand a reluctance to try it too much.

All the dropped balls had me wondering, do pros not ever rub their hands in some kind of product to help with grip? Back in my (Canadian) football days, we'd use the stuff the trainer sprayed on your ankle before taping them.

It's too ball full gloves are banned as they have football receiver gloves that are so sticky (but does not transfer like a product might) we used to easily catch with one hand.

Quins were pretty shite, the pack's getting beaten up a lot these last few weeks. Only really had a chance once Tigers took important players off to rest them for the final.

Not sure why there's any doubt over Genge smashing someone directly in the head in a cleanout being a yellow. Or why he was allowed to score the first try having dropped to one knee in contact and then getting back up to score. But it would've been a sporting travesty if we'd stolen that one. Lang was piss poor, Green got a huge amount of ball but got bullied a lot, Lawday was anonymous, Kenningham couldn't get near their ball.

BT can fuck off with giving Goode and Kay the mics for a Leicester game, the one-eyed pricks. With Kay it's mostly a case of him trying to be professional but not being able to help himself; Goode was fucking gloating at times in comms, the fat wastrel.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 6:49 pm

BT can fuck off with giving Goode and Kay the mics for a Leicester game, the one-eyed pricks. With Kay it's mostly a case of him trying to be professional but not being able to help himself; Goode was fucking gloating at times in comms, the fat wastrel.

Agreed, but I'd add that Ugo Monye commentating on a Quins game is the worst combination by some distance followed by Ugo Monye commentating on any other team.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 7:57 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 6:49 pm

BT can fuck off with giving Goode and Kay the mics for a Leicester game, the one-eyed pricks. With Kay it's mostly a case of him trying to be professional but not being able to help himself; Goode was fucking gloating at times in comms, the fat wastrel.

Agreed, but I'd add that Ugo Monye commentating on a Quins game is the worst combination by some distance followed by Ugo Monye commentating on any other team.

Ugo is a terrible commentator but he - like Flatman or Ojo - is just a bundle of enthusiasm for whoever is playing. He never pretends he's not a Quin but won't do what the tigers mob do.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 7:57 pm [quote=JM2K6 post_id=107338 time=<a href="tel:1621104562">1621104562</a> user_id=369]


BT can fuck off with giving Goode and Kay the mics for a Leicester game, the one-eyed pricks. With Kay it's mostly a case of him trying to be professional but not being able to help himself; Goode was fucking gloating at times in comms, the fat wastrel.

Agreed, but I'd add that Ugo Monye commentating on a Quins game is the worst combination by some distance followed by Ugo Monye commentating on any other team.
[/quote]

You can add Dayglo on Wasps to this list.

Kyle Eastmond retires from professional rugby.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/57143061

Seemed to be a bit of an injury magnet for Wasps and Leicester, but for a season or so he was part of a hugely exciting backline at Bath that looked like it would be challenging for a few honours - Eastmond outside Ford and inside JJ, but able to interchange. All went wrong when (1) Mike Ford promised the earth contract-wise which he couldn't make good on, which also contributed to Ollie Devoto leaving and (ii) the Burgess ructions, in some part with Eastmond missing out on an England WC spot to his out-of-position clubmate. And, of course, (iii) when his chief sponsor Mike Ford was the shown the door.

Weird watching rugby on a Monday evening. Falcons v Saints is very scrappy so far.

inactionman wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 11:09 am Kyle Eastmond retires from professional rugby.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/57143061

Seemed to be a bit of an injury magnet for Wasps and Leicester, but for a season or so he was part of a hugely exciting backline at Bath that looked like it would be challenging for a few honours - Eastmond outside Ford and inside JJ, but able to interchange. All went wrong when (1) Mike Ford promised the earth contract-wise which he couldn't make good on, which also contributed to Ollie Devoto leaving and (ii) the Burgess ructions, in some part with Eastmond missing out on an England WC spot to his out-of-position clubmate. And, of course, (iii) when his chief sponsor Mike Ford was the shown the door.

Bans as well as injuries. Missed more weeks than many do across their career for some bad high tackles.

Ominous couple of minutes for Glaws. Cut to shreds all to easily by Bristol even if the actual finish of the try isn't quite there.

Fair fuck's to Gloucester, they're desperate and a man down, but Bristol cannot get the ball down over the line.

Terrible game at Kingston Park, heavy rain not helping, 3-3 at half time. Saints defending for about 90% of the half and defending well, but a spectacle it is not.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 7:13 pm Fair fuck's to Gloucester, they're desperate and a man down, but Bristol cannot get the ball down over the line.

Bristol should be 45 points up

And another one chalked off! BT reckon that's 7 now.

Bristol utterly terrible in their execution, it smacks of arrogance and is why they wont win the premiership.

Fuck me second rows should not be allowed to do that, that was filthy

I'm fine with that decision in the Falcons/Saints match, but only if every player in front of the catcher gets penalised for not actively moving out of the way in future. If not that's complete BS

Saint wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 8:19 pm I'm fine with that decision in the Falcons/Saints match, but only if every player in front of the catcher gets penalised for not actively moving out of the way in future. If not that's complete BS

He said that wasn't the issue though, it was the fact that the saints player then ran behind him, basically an obstruction call.

EDIT - I do think it was harsh though.

Raggs wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 8:27 pm

Saint wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 8:19 pm I'm fine with that decision in the Falcons/Saints match, but only if every player in front of the catcher gets penalised for not actively moving out of the way in future. If not that's complete BS

He said that wasn't the issue though, it was the fact that the saints player then ran behind him, basically an obstruction call.

EDIT - I do think it was harsh though.

It's a BS call. That kind of thing happens 20-30 times per match. Not to mention that I don't even think you could argue it even impacted things either.

Bristol eventually handy winners against 14 man Gloucester. So many tries left out there, though. Their accuracy needs to pick up.