Premiership Rugby 2018/19 Round 5

[TRF_Olyy]

You can be a big club/side and still sh*t.

Aye, to suggest tigers aren't a big side is pretty wild.
Easily the biggest in the UK, and up there with Munster and Toulouse as biggest in Europe

 

[will311293]

What a cripple fight

You can definitely tell Maxwell-Keys grew up supporting tigers

Gotta feel slightly sorry for Sale after that. In such a tight game, a blatent crossing line by Thompson and Cole and an 'in at the side' from Thompson and its a 6 point swing almost.

Usually Austin annoys me but gotta say he was bang on in his opinions (mainly) all weekend.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yeah, I'm surprised at people even entertaining the idea.
Happens every season when a big side loses a couple of games "OH GOD MAYBE THEY'RE FOR THE DROP"
Tigers misfiring massively but still joint 4th

It shouldn't happen in a month of Sundays, but they'll need to sort out their defence to avoid any unnecessary jitters. Currently worst in the league by 22 points. Shipping 40 away to Chiefs is just about excusable, 33 to Falcons, 41 to Wasps and 44 to Warriors less so. A scrappy, narrow, home win against a weakened, bottom of the table Sharks isn't anything to write home about either.

Middle of the table's pretty congested. There are worse teams than Tigers, but momentum's a funny thing and they've lost the fear factor. Murphy's a great Leicester man, but an inexperienced head coach.

While I can't see relegation, I can easily see them missing out on play offs again. Realistically they'll be one of about five teams scrapping out the final play off slot to join Sarries, Chiefs and Pests.

Greenwood wrote a piece about Ford in the Torygraph at the weekend. Basically cut and paste what I've said on here more than once. One of the best in the world when its an open game and things are going his way, goes missing when its not.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

don't know yesterday he played very well I thought in a none open game.

Controlled the game with a lot of calmness, gave the leicester pack 3 or 4 chances to drive it over the line with some very nice long touch finders, slotted his kicks including a 50 m one which if Cips had done people would be calling it the best kick to ever grace the world or some nonsense.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Obvs he wrote that before yesterday's match. Haven't seen stats, but it feels like his goal kicking may have ticked up a notch?

Goode looked sublime for Sarries. Only Barf reserves but still. Maybe put on a yard of pace?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Obvs he wrote that before yesterday's match. Haven't seen stats, but it feels like his goal kicking may have ticked up a notch?

Goode looked sublime for Sarries. Only Barf reserves but still. Maybe put on a yard of pace?

I hate it when Goode looks good for club because then the calls come for him to play for England at 15 where he just doesn't perform. He could potentially be an international 15 but he is the sort of guy who works brilliantly in the right setup but outside it is pretty average and England don't have the sort of setup Goode would thrive in.

 

[Aristodemus]

It's ok looking like a world class FB whilst you're getting an armchair ride for Sarries against Bath under 15s but who here has faith in Goode to perform when it matters for England? Not me.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I wasn't advocating Goode for England, otherwise I'd have posted in the England thread, but now you come to mention it.....

The big criticism of him was always his lack of pace. He'll never be a Daly or Watson, but is he any slower than Brown? And if he is, doesn't he have a much more heads up and intelligent style of play?

Funny isn't it? Some who'll hang Goode out to dry on fundamentally one aspect of his game are quite happy to praise to the skies others who also have massive flaws - Mako's scrummaging, Binny's line out jumping and Itoje's discipline etc.

I don't suppose he will figure for England again, but he certainly shouldn't be written off just because he plays for a strong team in Sarries. Anyone who racks up 200 appearances over a decade for that lot can't be a mug or a flash in the pan.

Brown is a known quantity, brave and solid, but blinkered and not the quickest. Not to mention he'll be 34 when the RWC comes around.

Watson is electric, but has an average kicking game and I wouldn't put my house on him taking a high ball under pressure. If only he played FB for Barf occasionally.

Daly could be the answer, but he's not playing there for his club, and it's such a key position.

Who else? Ashton? Don't make me laugh.

Goode's a smart player, a specialist FB, and should at least be on the edges of the conversation.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

If Goode's FB then you don't have to worry so much about a playmaker in the centres.

 

[TheSaffycen]

You have to worry about him not making meters though, as people say it doesn't translate onto the international game. It's a shame honestly, I think he's a tremendous player, but physically he isn't right to play 15 for England. Brown is a hard runner who can make yards, the others have pace to make up for it. Goode will be a club legend but not an international one.

 

[Which Tyler]

You have to worry about him not making meters though, as people say it doesn't translate onto the international game. It's a shame honestly, I think he's a tremendous player, but physically he isn't right to play 15 for England. Brown is a hard runner who can make yards, the others have pace to make up for it. Goode will be a club legend but not an international one.

Pretty much this, though I'd be happy to give him another shot at international rugby, now he's stopped his stop-and-dance into the tackle that always saw him pushed by 2m when reaching tue defenders, rather than going forwards 2m. For me, that was always his biggest handicap, with pace secondary to that.

 

[Muse_Cubed]

Pretty much this, though I'd be happy to give him another shot at international rugby, now he's stopped his stop-and-dance into the tackle that always saw him pushed by 2m when reaching tue defenders, rather than going forwards 2m. For me, that was always his biggest handicap, with pace secondary to that.

I dunno. Still think the idea of him as an international is better than the reality. Plus I want to shoot someone every time someone talks about his "mazy" runs .

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Steffon Armitage for England 7 though?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Brown is a hard runner who can make yards, the others have pace to make up for it.

Doesn't matter how fast they are if Brown doesn't pass / dies with the ball / gets isolated.

Woodward seems to have dropped right out of the discussion.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Plus I want to shoot someone every time someone talks about his "mazy" runs .

American by any chance?

 

[TheSaffycen]

Doesn't matter how fast they are if Brown doesn't pass / dies with the ball / gets isolated.

Woodward seems to have dropped right out of the discussion.

I'm talking about the fullback options, Brown isn't fast but is physical so can still make ground, Watson and Daly are both quick so make up ground. Goode isn't physical or fast, meaning he really can't make ground.
I'd want Goode to have the ball if a pass was needed to a winger for a try. More than any other option.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I'm talking about the fullback options, Brown isn't fast but is physical so can still make ground, Watson and Daly are both quick so make up ground. Goode isn't physical or fast, meaning he really can't make ground.
I'd want Goode to have the ball if a pass was needed to a winger for a try. More than any other option.

Ah, see what you meant!

None of the options are quick, reliably secure and skilful. There's always going to be a compromise.

 

[Scotty]

Ah, see what you meant!

None of the options are quick, reliably secure and skilful. There's always going to be a compromise.

Alots been saod about pace and secure under high balls physical carrier but who do we trust the most in defence?

Watson i dont trust in defence at FB so for me he's out for me. So brown is solid in defence to IMO, did daly stand up to the task at 15 for England?

Woodward god knows maybe he will get a shot one day but im not sold either way on him.

Goode for england you'd have to be with a few injuries and sure it will be an open game such as playing tear 2 nations but tear 1 teams he'd be no more than an emergancy back up for me.