PREM 25/26 - Round 8

[PremRugbyScorigami]

Sale 43-17 Harlequins

SCORIGAMI!!!

This is the first instance of this score in @premrugby history.

Of the 6 Scorigami this season so far, Sale have been involved in 4 of them.

 

[Rinkadink]

Fascinating game. Well played Sale.

Quins are an odd side, they didn't perform as well as they did last week (look at the difference in Hobson for example) in the first half but ended up in front in spite of their big players performing poorly. I thought the harsh talks during the past week were the wrong call in a side on the brink. I'd have been talking up rather than down, so when you have a leader like Murley chewing you out only to play like he did and Smith disintegrating as the game went on, you're going to think F this everything is wrong when the pressure is on. Then the capitulation naturally follows. Quins really a dug a trap for themselves and promptly fell into it. Will be interesting to hear post-match comments again.

Sale were physical, cynical and gritty. Squeezing until Quins broke. They're back baby (now I'm really worried) - RDP was my POTM, he is perfect for Sale and will be hard to replace.

 

[higgik]

I'm not a fan of big rotation for one game, but I get why DoRs are.
You can't ask them players to play every game - especially with a 30-match limit, so rotation is important.
If just prefer to rotate say 3 players a week for 5 weeks, than 20-odd as a one-off (and I've said the same about Bath before).
I get it, risk 1 loss, rather than 5, I just don't like it.

Equally, if you do decide to risk a full change, then I prefer the option of going weak against weak opposition (eg Bath against Newcastle) instead of going weak against a table topper.
Again, I get it - why risk not getting anything from what should be a 5-pounter? rather than accepting getting nothing from a match where a LBP is a 50:50.

Easy for me to say as a fan, who's job isn't on the line, of course.

This is the problem with the current calendar.
These are 2 top clubs and we should expect to see full strength squads.
Sorting out the number of matches in the season is a priority.
I would rather see less matches, and full strength squads, than an over full calendar with rotated squads.

 

[Which Tyler]

This is the problem with the current calendar.
These are 2 top clubs and we should expect to see full strength squads.
Sorting out the number of matches in the season is a priority.
I would rather see less matches, and full strength squads, than an over full calendar with rotated squads.

As a purely personal thing - I agree.
It's part of why I've always wanted a 10, or even 8 team league.

BUT to do that, you need a properly organised 2nd XV tournament, a greater variety of opponents brought in (IMO via the 2nd XV tournament) and greater jeapardy - whilst not having relegation as a threat to a club's existence (which it never really has been)

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

There’s clearly something rotten at the heart of Quins. Very poor. Again.

Smith’s howler was frankly very funny and could have happened to anyone, but forever and a day will be held against him by those who don’t think he should be within a million miles of 15. I hope he’s got a sense of humour as it’s going to be wheeled out ad infinitum.

 

[Rinkadink]

Just realised that I did not put the team in. Some rotation, returning minutes and resting going on.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Why did Tigers buy James O'Connor if he wasnt going to play much.

 

[Saintjay]

Some stuff coming out of Quins about issues within the squad and "lost the dressing room" to use the football term.

I think it's more the not having the pack anymore and "just 'play what's in front of you" not being the tactics it was for them.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Newcastle looking really good,
Not sure how long they can maintain this for, but promising start

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Newcastle looking really good,
Not sure how long they can maintain this for, but promising start

A very swift collapse

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Some stuff coming out of Quins about issues within the squad and "lost the dressing room" to use the football term.

I think it's more the not having the pack anymore and "just 'play what's in front of you" not being the tactics it was for them.

Where are you seeing this?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Why did Tigers buy James O'Connor if he wasnt going to play much.

Because his family member didn’t give prior warning that they were going to die part way through the season

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Proper grub hit from Bristol #5, was never a clearout to have any effect on the ruck, was purely to put one onto a Newcastle player and got him directly in the head

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Definite signs of life from Newcastle,
Unlucky not to get 2 LBPs, that final scrum probably should've been a penalty

Gloucester game is gonna be real interesting

 

[PremRugbyScorigami]

Bristol 36-27 Newcastle

NO Scorigami

This was the 3rd instance of this score

First Game: 5/9/98 Bath 36-27 Wasps
Last Game: 28/2/09 Gloucester 36-27 Bath

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Also is Byrne the worst signing of the season? He hamstrings Gloucester's attack so much, and that's the only thing they consistently had going for them before
Wet blanket on attack and wet tissue paper on defence, and likely their highest paid player by some distance

 

[PremRugbyScorigami]

Saracens 30-21 Gloucester

NO Scorigami

This is the 4th instance of this score

First Game: 25/10/03 Sale 30-21 Harlequins
Last Game: 22/2/13 Harlequins 30-21 Sale