Exeter v Leinster

[Banquo]

Practice won't always be enough I'd imagine. He was also a fairly late convert, so wouldn't have practiced whilst still a child. Throwing a ball that accurately, to varying heights and lengths, under pressure and with weather conditions, is not going to always just be a matter of practice, the degree of muscle control required must be huge. Just like not everyone who practices golfing for tens of thousands of hours is always going to be capable of playing in the masters.

see Tom Youngs. Its a tough gig, but that's a big chunk of what hookers these days are paid for, and its mentally and technically challenging.

[Banquo]

Lineout can be a bunch of issues though. Exeter’s lineout has had issues with Yeandle for most of the season too, so more than just throwing. Plus, not sure there were obvious issues with the throwing, like not straight, big over throws etc.

also true- hooker often cops it unfairly....but its also often the hooker getting the timing wrong, too

[Raggs]

Lineout can be a bunch of issues though. Exeter’s lineout has had issues with Yeandle for most of the season too, so more than just throwing. Plus, not sure there were obvious issues with the throwing, like not straight, big over throws etc.

Yep. Even if you get your throw perfect, the jumpers may not be up high enough, fast enough, far enough forwards or back. Huge amount that can go wrong.

[fivepointer]

LCD's throwing was generally very good. he overthrew one and had one nicked by a good steal. The Leinster hooker lost 3 balls - are we saying he cannot throw, or cannot deal with the pressure?
Occasionally a hooker will commit an error, and on occasions the opposition read the destination of the throw and get up to challenge resulting in a turnover.
Sometimes losing a line out isnt anything to do with the hooker.

[Banquo]

LCD's throwing was generally very good. he overthrew one and had one nicked by a good steal. The Leinster hooker lost 3 balls - are we saying he cannot throw, or cannot deal with the pressure?
Occasionally a hooker will commit an error, and on occasions the opposition read the destination of the throw and get up to challenge resulting in a turnover.
Sometimes losing a line out isnt anything to do with the hooker.

Probably, had he been singled out for effusive praise

[Timbo]

Clearly throwing remains a work in progress for LCD, but he’s such a good player i’d definitely have him involved with England asap. Plenty of national teams that have less than bomb proof lineout hookers - Rory Best, Codie Taylor etc.

[Digby]

I'd involve him with England asap. It might be his physicality doesn't transfer as well to the test level as he'd like when everyone is that bit better, but he looks such a pain to play against we've got to find out, it's not like we're expecting much from the hooker as is

[Banquo]

I'd involve him with England asap. It might be his physicality doesn't transfer as well to the test level as he'd like when everyone is that bit better, but he looks such a pain to play against we've got to find out, it's not like we're expecting much from the hooker as is

agreed, and you'd hope they'd get some intensive work in on his conditioning and tight play.

[p/d]

The praise for LCD's loose play is all fully merited, but ignores his somewhat slipshod throwing into the lineout.

Quite

Lol x 1

[Banquo]

The praise for LCD's loose play is all fully merited, but ignores his somewhat slipshod throwing into the lineout.

Quite

Lol x 1

Lol x 0

(though I was being serious initially- think its OTT to say LCD is BOOH, and that Slade is the best 13 in the world when on form)

[p/d]

Quite

Lol x 1

Lol x 0

(though I was being serious initially- think its OTT to say LCD is BOOH, and that Slade is the best 13 in the world when on form)

Of the current options I do think LCD looks in the best form. Regards Slade I was not suggesting for one moment he is the best 13 in the world. Merely saying that when he is good he is bloody good, be it standing at first receiver, or out wide. And yes I don’t think the likes of JJ have his natural skills with ball in hand

[Oakboy]

LCD's throwing was generally very good. he overthrew one and had one nicked by a good steal. The Leinster hooker lost 3 balls - are we saying he cannot throw, or cannot deal with the pressure?
Occasionally a hooker will commit an error, and on occasions the opposition read the destination of the throw and get up to challenge resulting in a turnover.
Sometimes losing a line out isnt anything to do with the hooker.

I agree with most of what you say about LCD but big moments need accuracy. I think I am right in saying that one of his 'losses' occurred when Exeter were under the cosh. They won a penalty and gained a lot of territory. It was crucial to stay in or near the Leinster 22 to get some initiative back. Top quality hookers find their jumpers in such vital moments, IMO.

[twitchy]

The game panned out frustratingly from an exe perspective but leinster showed they are a better team currently over both games. So well done to them.

LCD has always been a good player he has just had really bad luck with his injury timings (I wish he would have been fit for that mini tour in argentina). I think eng fans would far more sold on him already.

[Banquo]

Lol x 1

Lol x 0

(though I was being serious initially- think its OTT to say LCD is BOOH, and that Slade is the best 13 in the world when on form)

Of the current options I do think LCD looks in the best form. Regards Slade I was not suggesting for one moment he is the best 13 in the world. Merely saying that when he is good he is bloody good, be it standing at first receiver, or out wide. And yes I don’t think the likes of JJ have his natural skills with ball in hand

so I misunderstood this-'And when Slade is good nobody else comes close'. I like Slade, but think playing him at 12 would work really well for England- and his all round, as befits a fly half, skills are better than JJ's, who is a better runner and defender, and has shown excellent hands of late. IMO they'd be a decent, if not ideal pairing.

LCD is a good player, but has played relatively little, so tricky to make the call you made based on one game where the lineout wasn't a success. Again, I'd have him in the squad, pushing George and Dunn.

[Spiffy]

Lol x 0

(though I was being serious initially- think its OTT to say LCD is BOOH, and that Slade is the best 13 in the world when on form)

Of the current options I do think LCD looks in the best form. Regards Slade I was not suggesting for one moment he is the best 13 in the world. Merely saying that when he is good he is bloody good, be it standing at first receiver, or out wide. And yes I don’t think the likes of JJ have his natural skills with ball in hand

so I misunderstood this-'And when Slade is good nobody else comes close'. I like Slade, but think playing him at 12 would work really well for England- and his all round, as befits a fly half, skills are better than JJ's, who is a better runner and defender, and has shown excellent hands of late. IMO they'd be a decent, if not ideal pairing.

LCD is a good player, but has played relatively little, so tricky to make the call you made based on one game where the lineout wasn't a success. Again, I'd have him in the squad, pushing George and Dunn.

I think they would make a pretty good pairing if given a run of games to bed down. Slade is a good footballer who has been adding a bit of physicality to his game. He will never be a bosher but he actually is quite strong and difficult to bring down. He made some good hard yards yesterday for a relatively slim bloke.

[Banquo]

Of the current options I do think LCD looks in the best form. Regards Slade I was not suggesting for one moment he is the best 13 in the world. Merely saying that when he is good he is bloody good, be it standing at first receiver, or out wide. And yes I don’t think the likes of JJ have his natural skills with ball in hand

so I misunderstood this-'And when Slade is good nobody else comes close'. I like Slade, but think playing him at 12 would work really well for England- and his all round, as befits a fly half, skills are better than JJ's, who is a better runner and defender, and has shown excellent hands of late. IMO they'd be a decent, if not ideal pairing.

LCD is a good player, but has played relatively little, so tricky to make the call you made based on one game where the lineout wasn't a success. Again, I'd have him in the squad, pushing George and Dunn.

I think they would make a pretty good pairing if given a run of games to bed down. Slade is a good footballer who has been adding a bit of physicality to his game. He will never be a bosher but he actually is quite strong and difficult to bring down. He made some good hard yards yesterday for a relatively slim bloke.

I think that's what I said

[Spiffy]

so I misunderstood this-'And when Slade is good nobody else comes close'. I like Slade, but think playing him at 12 would work really well for England- and his all round, as befits a fly half, skills are better than JJ's, who is a better runner and defender, and has shown excellent hands of late. IMO they'd be a decent, if not ideal pairing.

LCD is a good player, but has played relatively little, so tricky to make the call you made based on one game where the lineout wasn't a success. Again, I'd have him in the squad, pushing George and Dunn.

I think they would make a pretty good pairing if given a run of games to bed down. Slade is a good footballer who has been adding a bit of physicality to his game. He will never be a bosher but he actually is quite strong and difficult to bring down. He made some good hard yards yesterday for a relatively slim bloke.

I think that's what I said

Yes, I did just manage to understand that. Merely adding a voice of support to the notion.

[Banquo]

I think they would make a pretty good pairing if given a run of games to bed down. Slade is a good footballer who has been adding a bit of physicality to his game. He will never be a bosher but he actually is quite strong and difficult to bring down. He made some good hard yards yesterday for a relatively slim bloke.

I think that's what I said

Yes, I did just manage to understand that. Merely adding a voice of support to the notion.

appreciated

[Which Tyler]

Yes, I did just manage to understand that. Merely adding a voice of support to the notion.

In rareness, Banquo's really not used to people agreeing with him

[Spiffy]

Cole really is a thicko and doing his team no good at all. Just like Sinkler against Ulster on Friday. What's with these props?

[Banquo]

Yes, I did just manage to understand that. Merely adding a voice of support to the notion.

In rareness, Banquo's really not used to people agreeing with him

agreed....In rareness is a new but apt phrase. Mind if you agreed with me I'd be both surprised and concerned.

[Banquo]

Cole really is a thicko and doing his team no good at all. Just like Sinkler against Ulster on Friday. What's with these props?

wrong thread

[Which Tyler]

Yes, I did just manage to understand that. Merely adding a voice of support to the notion.

In rareness, Banquo's really not used to people agreeing with him

agreed....In rareness is a new but apt phrase. Mind if you agreed with me I'd be both surprised and concerned.

Hell, I get surprised and concerned when I agree with myself. Even more surprised when I get through an entire post without any typo /autocorrect f*** ups

[Banquo]

In rareness, Banquo's really not used to people agreeing with him

agreed....In rareness is a new but apt phrase. Mind if you agreed with me I'd be both surprised and concerned.

Hell, I get surprised and concerned when I agree with myself. Even more surprised when I get through an entire post without any typo /autocorrect f*** ups

[Spiffy]

Cole really is a thicko and doing his team no good at all. Just like Sinkler against Ulster on Friday. What's with these props?

wrong thread

Woops - but true nonetheless.