Comments on: The Premiership’s most under-appreciated players

By: Tchadd

Tchadd — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 22:30:08 +0000

Mark Lambert is one of the most underrated props in the premiership in the loose and set-piece and George Lowe was always brilliant too tho’ that’s said by a Quin’s man.
Pennell, Lewington and maybe Dom Barrow?
Harry Thacker is always great too but often overlooked (no pun intended.)

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 08:39:00 +0000

I agree, a beast of a back row.

Felt he was very poorly treated over the Burgess debacle and it was a disappointment that no other English clubs picked him up.

Felt less sympathetic when he reneged on his Gloucester deal

But at the end of the day, he’ll always have a special place in many rugby fans’ hearts for laying out a mouthy Gavin Henson…

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:36:07 +0000

Loved watching Fearns for Bath; such a brute. And was really disappointed when he left, especially when Burgess then also left.
He’s now thriving at Lyon and is close to becoming eligible for France. A loss to England imo.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 14:06:43 +0000

Henry Trinder? Great talent, unlucky with injuries

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 14:05:38 +0000

Hope so. At least time is on his side. Think he’d be in EJ’s plans if he hadn’t taken the drop with Irish

By: Dazza (Dazzle)

Dazza (Dazzle) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 12:28:46 +0000

Lewington is definitely a good shout! Great for Irish week in week out.
Dave Ward is another one at Quins whether at hooker or flanker.

By: Blub

Blub — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:52:47 +0000

I wouldn’t surprise me if Lewington steps out of this category pretty soon. He seems to be the shining light at Irish so far this season.

By: Blub

Blub — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:50:55 +0000

Jeremy,
I am pretty sure that Brad Barritt receives the deserved recognition, certainly amongst those who understand the game.
I do agree that Jackson Wray os probably typecast as that utility player and probably suffers for that. Possibly in a similar vein to Matt Garvey and Matt Banahan at Bath.

By: Henry Ker

Henry Ker — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:49:51 +0000

To Jeremy, Dazza and Pablito – I will agree with Jackson Wray as well, I was originally going to talk about him as well but felt I had rambled on long enough!

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:40:16 +0000

I’ll throw in for Jackson Wray as well – shame he’s never won a cap

I think Pennell could have had a great England career but as you say he was a victim of injury timings and playing for an unfashionable club

Other names that spring to mind, past and present:

George Lowe at Harlequins
Carl Fearns at Bath
Alex Lewington at Irish (who also followed his club into relegation)

By: Dazza (Dazzle)

Dazza (Dazzle) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:26:18 +0000

An interesting article and question. Everyone will have their own personal choices for this one, but as a Sarries fan I would have to second Jeremy’s choice of Jackson Wray. He was the first person I thought of when I read the heading. He has been at the club man and boy and rarely makes a mistake.

Going further back I would say that Kevin Sorrell would fit into this category in his playing days. Barely missed a tackle and similarly to Matt Smith, allowed other players to shine.

By: Matt Jones

Matt Jones — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:21:23 +0000

For me, its got to be James Lunn at Bank RFC. Bruising ball carrier and deft hands. He gets my vote over an old, past it , and Leiceter ‘A’ player at best Matt Smith.