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And in the 6N it was noticeable that George’s game time reduced over what we’d seen previously. Is that because they had increased faith in Dan or because George no longer has the legs / form? Possibly a bit of both but I’d say more the latter. He did 71 v Wal, 67 v Sco, but just 54 v Ire, 52...

I guess the point is that there’s a huge gap behind an ageing George if we assume that LCD struggles to regain full form. It’s not so much about who’s 7th or 8th choice, but who’s the immediate succession plan for both 2 and 16? Dan looks to be the chosen man but despite some obvious strengths...

Is that him, or is that him trying to ref how his paymasters want him to ref and worrying about how he’s going to be assessed? If you believe everything you read on here, no match has ever been reffed competently and the likes of Barnes only get grudging respect once they hit 100 tests or have...

Nice piece on Langdon in the Times today. Slightly surprised that he’s going to turn 27 over the summer though. Maybe a case of now or never for him.

Which would be just as bad. We don't want any kind of swingers. It's a no win situation - dumb to put Dickson in that position. I don’t believe any ref would try to inappropriately influence a match, but it’s needlessly opening them up to that criticism and social media vitriol. Attwell who's...

To the end of 24/5 season with option to extend for a year after that.

Quite. A 10 team league where 2 clubs have a combined 4 wins out of 30’s not a good look. Although above those it’s all pretty competitive.

Half back I’d go Mitchell and F Smith. While I prefer Isiekwe at lock, a BR of him, T Willis and Earl wouldn’t be too shabby. For the next couple of weeks Lawes, Ludlam and Pearson could do a job. Dombrandt, Evans and CCS would be competitive too.

That’s disappointing. I’m sure rest / other priorities yada yada will be cited. But from a spectator’s pov it’s pretty poor when a team’s not full strength for a traditional derby bust up against their fiercest rivals. It’s only a 10 team league - imagine what it would be like with 12 or 13...

True, but if Underhill’s fit that’s a pretty big if. As is that. He’s a utility kind of size. Has he played at 6 / 8 or has he purely been at 7?

Good player etc. But as a son of the North East it's just a shame that there wasn't a long term future with a vibrant Falcons.

I’ll remind you of that when George goes down in the first minute v the ABs…. He went well and JvP may be back in the frame?

Of the original 6N squad we’re either going to lose or have to wonder for various reasons about: Heyes, Marler, Obano, Isiekwe, B Curry, Dombrandt, Pearson, Roots, Spencer, Beard, Dingwall & Roebuck. Personally I’d wonder about Daly too and LCD probably stays for experience although Langdon’s...

Fair points. He could have had a better crack before now but the graph’s never even. With Cole’s recall I am hoping that we are seeing an increased emphasis on scrummaging props. Foundations, piano shifters and all that.

We have some very exciting players coming through, but they need to get experience and then be properly melded into a cohesive team with the right tactics, a balance of youth and experience etc. As we saw with Chiefs yesterday, talent and youth isn’t enough. Of the emerging crop I particularly...

Thought Quins were going to blow that, but blimey. Didn’t see that coming, but fair play.

Fast synthetic tracks taking over from uneven, claggy cinder ones being a huge one. The world never stands still and in some ways it’s just another technical advancement. Trouble its a big one that’s caused a huge leap in performances and records to be shattered with monotonous regularity. I...

Baxter talking sense. And not for the first time. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/11/rugby-union-rob-baxter-exeter-club-world-cup

Agreed. Just make the most of it. You can only beat who’s there. I mean who puts an an asterisk against Dina Asher-Smith’s 2019 200m world ***le just because the 7 other finalists only ended the year ranked 5th, 7th, 9th, 14th, 16th, 24th and 25th? Apart from me, obviously.

The Saracens break up continues with Alex Lewington retiring at the end of the season. Good player who at one point threatened to be very good.