Aviva Premiership - Round 5

[ratsapprentice]

So strettle played the man in the air ? What makes me laugh is he probably made less contact than Woodburn did on Billy but because neither jumped no penalty.

Well... yeah - if no one's in the air there isn't a chance of falling awkwardly is there! :lol:

Fairly harsh yellow - but if your team is under even the slightest pressure and you try to intercept you know you have to catch it or you're gone.

 

[TheSaffycen]

But the point I make is that I didn't even notice strettle touch him until the ref said it's a penalty. I don't see how it should be a blanket rule that in the air there's pretty much no contest, and that Woodburn missed the ball hits Vunipola in the face. Now there isn't a yellow card for high tackle because that's just stupid obviously, but Strettle didn't comit dangerous play still gets a pen against him. In short decisions in the air are just crap.

 

[Tony Manx]

Watching this Bath match out of the corner of my eye but get the feeling ref is on Sarries payroll! Am I wrong?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

A lot of these collapsed maul penalties are BS.

With that one, Bath tried to turn the maul so they could pile round the corner but twisted too far and tripped over themselves - Garner's then done Sarries for pulling it down when they did no such thing. If anything Bath collapsed the maul, as they've dragged Brown round/down.

Watching this Bath match out of the corner of my eye but get the feeling ref is on Sarries payroll! Am I wrong?

Massively so, Bath are getting all of the 50/50s.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Game is over really now. Though looking at England at least Joseph and Eastmond look great.

 

[Tony Manx]

Olly you make me so happy as want Bath to thrash em!!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That ridiculous, surely the high tackle from Ford overrules the knock on from Ransom?
It happened before the whistle went, so it should be a penalty.


Also that's a yellow card for James for an attempted Shin Breaker on Binny.


Also also: Has Ford always been this poor on defence? He's dropping off tackles for fun tonight, on backs as well, not just forwards.

 

[Tony Manx]

Must admit saw the James tackle and saw nothing wrong with it.......

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Bath have awoken Binny!

Must admit saw the James tackle and saw nothing wrong with it.......

He aimed at the lower shin and didn't use his arms (I know the TMO said he "made an attempt" but he just put his arms up and launched) - it's incredibly dangerous, and a player (can't remember who) was rightly carded for it earlier this season.

 

[TheSaffycen]

James tackle was great, he was just too quick to wrap. Vunipola has been immense and now just a 7 point game, james and wilson should have stayed on.

 

[Jaguares]

I love George Ford and Kyle Eastmond

 

[Tony Manx]

Want to see a no arms tackle, see that on Giteau which saw a yellow which should have been a red for the Oyonnax player even though Pat Sanderson saw it as a marginal decision at all!!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'd that 14 points ford has missed so far?

Cant say this is filling me with confidence in fords England credentials can think of a few teams that would be licking there licks playing against him.

More to rugby than attacking play.

That said eastmond and Joseph should def be looked at.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Really poor officiating from Garner tonight.

 

[Jaguares]

How much is the capacity of the Bath's stadium? 10k?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How much is the capacity of the Bath's stadium? 10k?

14k

 

[Tony Manx]

Well done Bath!!!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Very entertaining game, despite Garner.
Bath look the real deal, be interesting to see whether they can keep it up all season.

From an England point of view:
Binny had a busy, and good, game,
Wilson and Webber good,
Rokoduguni, Eastmond and Joseph all excellent,
Ford's attacking excellent, but kicking and defence were poor - needs to improve here to play for England. Lancs wants consistency and good defence, which Ford isn't offering.
Thomas was poor off the bench,
Goode continues his good form (I'm not saying I want him in contention for England, but he is, so...)

 

[TheSaffycen]

Fair play to Bath good win for them. Great play from them and really it should have been more. George Ford left too many points on the pitch though, it could be solved by playing Slade with him. Roko has to play for England, there is no doubt, Watson looked good in his cameo. Hopefully we can turn it around in the reverse fixture. With our first choice front row, fly half and centres.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Ford has had a 93% success rate at goal in the previous 4 rounds - second highest.
I would suggest that tonight was an aberration (possibly caused by playing in the dark? - first time this season).

Just seen this:

Always find it annoying when people say "we've had no complaints so far" about the artificial pitches - clearly, a lot of people dislike them.