Comments on: Aviva Premiership Team of the Week – Round 21

By: Jacob Bassford

Jacob Bassford — Thu, 03 May 2018 05:23:53 +0000

I’d expect Mako, Cole and Marler to all be rested. The problem is where Eddie Jones will just show horn the stalwarts in come Autumn Internationals.

By: Jacob Bassford

Jacob Bassford — Thu, 03 May 2018 05:22:32 +0000

He’s been injured quite a bit and hasn’t played too much rugby this season, Harlequins are in a bad place due to their over reliance on homegrown coaches. I expect Rowmtree and Evans to stay but the rest I could definitely see going

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 02 May 2018 17:44:00 +0000

Collier can’t even get in the Quins first team Jacob, and look where they are.

By: jake

jake — Wed, 02 May 2018 15:10:31 +0000

With Obano, Genge, Hepburn and Mako avaiable on the other side, there are some great prop pairings for EJ to choose from this summer. Though great players in their own rights, I can’t help but feel that the likes of Marler and Cole are too one-dimensional.

By: Jacob Bassford

Jacob Bassford — Wed, 02 May 2018 14:38:53 +0000

Don’t forget Nick Schonert, Will Collier and Paul Hill who can also do the jobs at tighthead…

By: jake

jake — Wed, 02 May 2018 13:25:33 +0000

Even so an attack implies violence or malice; I would class Tuilagi v Ashton as an ‘attack’.
The high ball is a very tough area of the game to referee I will agree with that. Until recently there were far too many players being taken in the air and I think changes to laws have resulted in the number of these sorts of incidences coming down.
To protect players on the ground, I think its a bit more of a grey area. During the action of jumping, leading with the non-takeoff leg will aid in gaining momentum and penalising players for doing this would just be nonsensical. IMO that action differs from leading with an outstretched leg, studs up, attempting to prevent other players from playing the ball.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 02 May 2018 13:09:34 +0000

I don’t think I am Jake. He really went for him and when he realised he was hurt simply threw him away. Not acceptable in my book. I also think something urgent needs to be done about players flying head high with forward momentum and catching people who have no chance of taking evasive action in the head with their boots. It is causing too many injuries and the penalty ALWAYS goes against the player with his feet on the floor even if the jumper is being completely reckless about his own safety and that of his opponent.

By: jake

jake — Wed, 02 May 2018 07:50:50 +0000

Good to see both Cooper-Wooley and Williams putting their hand up for the England No.3 jersey. Cole is still a very decent option for Eddie to have, but it can’t be denied that the other 2 offer a more well rounded set of skills.

By: jake

jake — Wed, 02 May 2018 07:46:11 +0000

“Attacked”? I think you’re being a bit over the top.

By: Jacob Bassford

Jacob Bassford — Tue, 01 May 2018 14:37:20 +0000

Oh yikes forgot about that one Andy, can’t change now sorry…

By: Leon

Leon — Tue, 01 May 2018 13:00:33 +0000

Jamie George: His lineout work was ruthlessly efficient with only two lineouts lost.

Two lost is quite high really ruthlessly efficient would be none lost

By: andy

andy — Tue, 01 May 2018 11:47:10 +0000

Not sure that you should have a player who shouldn´t have been on the pitch in your team Jacob. Elliott Stook picked up Woodward, who could easily have been badly injured in an entirely accidental collision and was lying dazed and defenceless on the floor, like a sack of spuds and threw him completely without care for his safety to the ground. This occurred after the whistle and right in front of Wayne Barnes, who didn´t even warn him. If the game has got to the point where injured players can be attacked without penalty while on the ground, it is a sorry state of affairs.