[poyntonshark]

First half was truly awful, from all 30 players on the pitch. we did cut down on box kicking, but went for aimless punts instead. Think George Ford made more handling errors in that first 40 than in the rest of his career. That said I think singling players out for poor performances in the first half is unfair, everyone was shite.

Second half was still not exactly champagne rugby, but was much better, we managed many. many more contiguous phases. Our maul took some element of control and we scored some well worked tries. I thought Ene was OK, but is in right place in the pecking order. EVR was his usual busy self and Bev eventually managed parity with Koch (just about) after a very difficult start. I think Cain came on and threw 100% at the lineout.

Job done. Move on.

Do we take the kids to Toulouse, or maintain some continuity. Carps, for instance, looked like he needed some more time to gel.

I've had a go at refs a bit in past couple of weeks, but, I think Mr Breakspear was very good. I certainly didn't agree with every decision, and I might have been right occasionally, but his communication was excellent, he was decisive and consistent. I barely noticed the TJ's and TMO which can only be a good thing. Only TMO involvement I remember was when Bamber made the very unusual move for a Sale forward and showed some thinking was going on when he tried to touch down as their replacement 9 dithered with the ball on their try line. TMO made right (quite obvious) call of knock on by Bamber

[PappjeShark]

Poynton, that’s a good summary other than I don’t think they were aimless punts - had my Dad with me at the game and I said I thought it was a deliberate tactic given the frequency of kicking long and that it was so different to usual. I’ve subsequently seen a quote from Flats talking about the plan to move their pack around, so I’m thinking that kicking long was a part of that?

[DavenportSharky]

There clearly are a number of people who contribute who just watch every game on TV ( many for very good reasons). I have a season ticket but don’t go to many away games. I watch TNT but refuse to pay even more TV subscriptions. I sometimes watch a game I have attended on YouTube a few days later and quite frequently notice how different the game seems. I see things on TV I missed at the ground and vice versa.
I had 6 layers of clothes on. It was cold at ground level and it was bl@@dy freezing high up in the West Stand. I’m not surprised that handling errors were made. I’m not surprised that the “Sharks” looked as though they just wanted to go home. I’m not surprised that both teams kicked quite a lot as pre match the coaches must have expected a lot of spilled catches. Our defence was excellent. I watched the Julius video and thought omg but he seemed to do nothing. I couldn’t tell which of their team was which as the numbers were almost invisible. Did anyone try the bizarre sounding street food? A new burger van arrived at the S/E corner.

[SSR]

Not a great match but a great result.
Our defence was good for the most part, some massive HBS beasts going route one were
stopped dead. Their 7 (Manu Tshituka) was mighty impressive in attack and defence.
As a few have noted, we are never going to beat the top teams unless we find more go
forward in both forwards and backs. When are we expecting our first choice wings to be
fit ? I feel sorry for our short-term signing, he gets in the right positions but it is not
working for him. I guess he has so few minutes to impress he is not relaxed.
What has happened to Regan Grace ? Obi Ene was lively when he had a chance.
It was what it was, onwards and upwards ( hopefully ).
Ps loved the Michelle Orange footage with the bench

[Olyy]

Think Axe said Roebuck could be back the week before the 6N (Saints, I think?) but that would be ahead of schedule, and it'd be up to the England physios to make the final call and he might just go straight into the 6N camp instead (said the same about B.Curry, but I think Curry is firmly due back that week - but England get the final call due to the central contracts)

Reed I'm sure I saw a 2-3 week prediction a week or two ago so maybe next week? Week after?

[RinTin]

Think Axe said Roebuck could be back the week before the 6N (Saints, I think?) but that would be ahead of schedule, and it'd be up to the England physios to make the final call and he might just go straight into the 6N camp instead (said the same about B.Curry, but I think Curry is firmly due back that week - but England get the final call due to the central contracts)

Reed I'm sure I saw a 2-3 week prediction a week or two ago so maybe next week? Week after?

If they are fit I would expect both Roebuck and Ben Curry will be straight in the England camp regardless of playing that Saints game. It's the issue with the EPS contracts as the RFU isn't paying them ££££'s extra to not be in the squad. I still disagree with Tom Curry going straight back in with England in the Autumn and think we got incredibly lucky he didn't come away injured.

[Olyy]

100% agree

[poyntonshark]

Poynton, that’s a good summary other than I don’t think they were aimless punts - had my Dad with me at the game and I said I thought it was a deliberate tactic given the frequency of kicking long and that it was so different to usual. I’ve subsequently seen a quote from Flats talking about the plan to move their pack around, so I’m thinking that kicking long was a part of that?

Yeah that's a fair point, we definitely did put a few decent long kicks into space. There were also a few aimless ones though. The one that sticks out for me was Carps, he made a good break, reached about their 10m line with a defender approaching and he just kicked ahead.

[PappjeShark]

Poynton, that’s a good summary other than I don’t think they were aimless punts - had my Dad with me at the game and I said I thought it was a deliberate tactic given the frequency of kicking long and that it was so different to usual. I’ve subsequently seen a quote from Flats talking about the plan to move their pack around, so I’m thinking that kicking long was a part of that?

Yeah that's a fair point, we definitely did put a few decent long kicks into space. There were also a few aimless ones though. The one that sticks out for me was Carps, he made a good break, reached about their 10m line with a defender approaching and he just kicked ahead.

I know the one you mean and it was indeed a classic of the facepalm genre.