Comments on: Best of the Weekend: Sarries, Racing, Quins & Montpellier into finals

By: Peteyboyb

Peteyboyb — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:53:27 +0000

Yeah it’s pretty hard to defend that.

I know it was only a shin tap, but that’s still technically a “kick to the head”, plus it was way off the ball and totally deliberate. We all know that anything other than the most innocuous or accidental contact above the shoulders is a total no-no.

Marler knows he has to be really careful after Gypsygate, and he’s now looking at the business end of being made a massive example of twice in as many months.

By: Peteyboyb

Peteyboyb — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:47:24 +0000

I know a lot of people think Goode has had his international chances, but it’s pretty hard to ignore his form at the moment too, particularly after a disappointing 6 Nations from Brown.

Add to that the fact that Watson is in a bit of hot water himself (and Bath’s season is effectively over already), and EJ has some tough decisions to make about who to take on the plane.

Lynagh’s latest comments about a 0-3 whitewash are a bit of a stretch tho :-)

By: Liono

Liono — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:32:54 +0000

I agree, can’t condone the retaliation (I was at the game as a neutral but secretly backing Wasps as my better half supports them), it does leave a bitter taste when you’re watching the replays on the screen and McIntyre has two or three attemepts to try and loosen himself from Itoje’s grasp before he eventually lashes out in frustration. Itoje has been subsequently “warned” but it doesn’t go far enough in my opinion, part of the game that should be cracked down on!

By: Saunders Lewis

Saunders Lewis — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 18:44:16 +0000

Marler kicked a bloke in face when the guy was on the ground and could not protect himself.

He deserves a long ban this time because he was got well below the ‘usual’ 4 weeks for using the language of the Nazis.

He cannot plead ‘Mea Culpa’ this time for an offence committed immediately after his ‘racism ban’ ended.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 17:26:16 +0000

I think you’re spot on there. Wade has more positives than negatives, and should be given the chance. A back line of Nowell, Wade and Watson, with Daly as the 23 would be a great line up.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 16:43:00 +0000

Lineout wise it would mean exchanging Haskell for Hughes, would we really lose anything in that department? Neither are going to be lifted like ballerinas!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 16:37:10 +0000

I’d like to see Wade on tour to Aus this summer.
a) Jones and Gustard may help improve his not so good points
b) No other available player comes remotely close to what he can do ball in hand. How many others in world rugby, let alone domestic rugby, could have made that break in the second half.
c) It’s not just about beating men, he can keep a move alive and find his support runners.

I don’t see how you can be the quickest guy to 50 tries in the history of the prem and never even get a chance to see if you can cut it at international level or not. The ‘flaws’ may mean he doesn’t, but at the start of a world cup cycle I’d like to find out.

I have a hunch that he could be one of those players Jones works his magic on, giving him the confidence in what he can do, not all the negatives on what he can’t do.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 16:15:09 +0000

Can’t believe Farrell has also been cited as well? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36130239

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:55:53 +0000

Completely agree with you on provocation. Undoubtedly McIntyre was wrong, but he made several attempts to shake his left leg free while Itoje lay there clinging onto it. He was obviously quite desperate to get round and defend – as a Wasps fan it left a particularly sour taste.

Must say on Ashton, I really really hope he doesn’t go away with England.

By: brighty

brighty — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:25:24 +0000

I was shocked to hear Barnes make an insightful, if obvious, comment – when Ashton kicked that ball away – turning an own half scrum into a 10 yard from oppo line lineout with minutes to go and 7 pts the diff – he remarked that was why Jones will consider extremely carefully whether he takes him with England. He could have been instrumental in losing Sarries that game for a stupid moment, exactly the sort of temperament issue that Jones mentioned in his interview.

Joe Marler – heat of the moment no doubt, poor bloke being a marked man as O’Shea pointed out.

By: brighty

brighty — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:17:27 +0000

My focus was mainly on the Newport game and despite the one sided nature of the score after 60 mins I thought it was still excellent and also an impressive effort from Newport against the SA Veterans side. Montpellier play exactly like a White side – huge, smash, drive, win penalty, go and do it again. Enough to win, especially against lighter (financially, weight and experience wise) opponentss.

Saracens Wasps was a good game to watch – I do wonder if the rules on retaliation need a rethink. Yes, the Wasps player kicked Itoje in the head – yellow/red card (red, surely?) but I’d like to see some way of sanctioning the initial offence as well. It was provocation – and I know being provoked isn’t a defence but unless something is done you can see that it’s an excellent way of driving the oppo to give away a card offence. I don’t know – bit of a minefield but it left a sour taste to see Itoje’s cheating so well rewarded.

Leics v Racing was boring – so many handling errors I kept flicking back and fore to the FA Cup while yet another play reset was taking place. A little bit of excitement at the end due to the scores being close I suppose.

Credit to Sky Sports for taking the Rugby League approach to crowd angles and crowd noise amplification.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 14:55:57 +0000

Potentially. Hughes is an ok line out option but not great though. And BV can’t jump at all.

If the 7 was a jumper then it could be a devastating back row. Assume by the AI’s it might well be Clifford? Or even Underhill?