EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Digby]

I'm on red alert

Can't carry on in that vein too long

Meh, I'm chilled out this afternoon listening to some old Pearl Jam, Evenflow as it happens

[twitchy]

Lawes and Hughes are out of the SA tour.

[Scrumhead]

I see Polledri is playing for Italy.

I’m still sore about that one. I think he has it in him to become a top player.

He and Negri at 6 and 7 has the potential to be be a good Italian back row for years to come.

[Banquo]

I see Polledri is playing for Italy.

I’m still sore about that one. I think he has it in him to become a top player.

He and Negri at 6 and 7 has the potential to be be a good Italian back row for years to come.

I am too- he looked to be the sort of 7 that England needed to at least look at.

[Which Tyler]

For those who are interested in that chart going around a while ago about minutes played by the various Lions; I put this together last night during insomnia.
Domestic rugby only; but all domestic rugby (the previous chart was only Prem / Pro14 / Top14 - this includes EPRC and AWC)
Coloured by where the player plays as I'm interested in that, so not just league, but not nationality either:
Depressingly, it's reminded me that the likes of Kristian Dacey, Cory Hill, Matt Stevens, Ugo Monye, Riki Flutey etc all get to call themselves Lions Tourists

Lions 2017.jpg

Lions 2013.jpg

Lions 2009.jpg

[Scrumhead]

What’s the story with the colours? George North is debatable, but Liam Williams definitely isn’t English.

[Which Tyler]

Coloured by where the player plays as I'm interested in that, so not just league, but not nationality either:

Northampton and London are both in England

[Scrumhead]

OK. I get it now. Why is Ricky Flutey light blue though?

[Banquo]

OK. I get it now. Why is Ricky Flutey light blue though?

vive la france, je pense

[p/d]

Amazed how much rugby Billy has played considering his injury breaks.

And then there is Warburton

[Which Tyler]

OK. I get it now. Why is Ricky Flutey light blue though?

Much the same reason as Greig Laidlaw this season, or Sexton, Lydiate etc in 2013/14

[Gloskarlos]

I see Polledri is playing for Italy.

I’m still sore about that one. I think he has it in him to become a top player.

He and Negri at 6 and 7 has the potential to be be a good Italian back row for years to come.

It is a shame but he tied himself to Italy when he played against Wales and France in the JRWC in 14/15 as Italy, France and Wales's u20s are their designated second teams I think. Nothing Jones could do about that

[Puja]

I see Polledri is playing for Italy.

I’m still sore about that one. I think he has it in him to become a top player.

He and Negri at 6 and 7 has the potential to be be a good Italian back row for years to come.

It is a shame but he tied himself to Italy when he played against Wales and France in the JRWC in 14/15 as Italy, France and Wales's u20s are their designated second teams I think. Nothing Jones could do about that

And if he considers himself Italian, more power to him. I don't see the point in lamenting over Polledri - it's like saying we could've had North if we'd picked him first. Sometimes people want to play for the country they feel strongest for.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

I see Polledri is playing for Italy.

I’m still sore about that one. I think he has it in him to become a top player.

He and Negri at 6 and 7 has the potential to be be a good Italian back row for years to come.

It is a shame but he tied himself to Italy when he played against Wales and France in the JRWC in 14/15 as Italy, France and Wales's u20s are their designated second teams I think. Nothing Jones could do about that

And if he considers himself Italian, more power to him. I don't see the point in lamenting over Polledri - it's like saying we could've had North if we'd picked him first. Sometimes people want to play for the country they feel strongest for.

Puja

I’m also quite happy to let Italy have some of our academy products. The stronger they are the better for the 6N and it’s constituent teams. Producing Moriaty and then losing him to Wales on the other hand......

[Banquo]

I see Polledri is playing for Italy.

I’m still sore about that one. I think he has it in him to become a top player.

He and Negri at 6 and 7 has the potential to be be a good Italian back row for years to come.

It is a shame but he tied himself to Italy when he played against Wales and France in the JRWC in 14/15 as Italy, France and Wales's u20s are their designated second teams I think. Nothing Jones could do about that

And if he considers himself Italian, more power to him. I don't see the point in lamenting over Polledri - it's like saying we could've had North if we'd picked him first. Sometimes people want to play for the country they feel strongest for.

Puja

this explains Leicester's academy policy

[Mikey Brown]

It is a shame but he tied himself to Italy when he played against Wales and France in the JRWC in 14/15 as Italy, France and Wales's u20s are their designated second teams I think. Nothing Jones could do about that

And if he considers himself Italian, more power to him. I don't see the point in lamenting over Polledri - it's like saying we could've had North if we'd picked him first. Sometimes people want to play for the country they feel strongest for.

Puja

I’m also quite happy to let Italy have some of our academy products. The stronger they are the better for the 6N and it’s constituent teams. Producing Moriaty and then losing him to Wales on the other hand......

That one always interests me. Was he remotely on the England radar? He seems a bit limited but a real physical option and has looked great for Wales at times.

[Mellsblue]

And if he considers himself Italian, more power to him. I don't see the point in lamenting over Polledri - it's like saying we could've had North if we'd picked him first. Sometimes people want to play for the country they feel strongest for.

Puja

I’m also quite happy to let Italy have some of our academy products. The stronger they are the better for the 6N and it’s constituent teams. Producing Moriaty and then losing him to Wales on the other hand......

That one always interests me. Was he remotely on the England radar? He seems a bit limited but a real physical option and has looked great for Wales at times.

Think he won (at worst came second) a Junior World Cup with us. I also think he was in the u20 World Cup squad two years running which normally indicates the player is highly thought of.

[Digby]

I don't think we've lost much with Polledri or Moriarty. Both powerful players, but we don't lack depth in that area tbh

[Banquo]

I don't think we've lost much with Polledri or Moriarty. Both powerful players, but we don't lack depth in that area tbh

I was more impressed by Polledri than that- good hands, good over the ball, and good spatial awareness. I also wouldn't have minded Moriarty as an option at 6 as a ball carrier.

But all moot.

[Gloskarlos]

I don't think we've lost much with Polledri or Moriarty. Both powerful players, but we don't lack depth in that area tbh

I was more impressed by Polledri than that- good hands, good over the ball, and good spatial awareness. I also wouldn't have minded Moriarty as an option at 6 as a ball carrier.

But all moot.

What Polledri has over all of the English back row at the moment is out and out pace. some of the lines he has taken to outpace backs and score for Glos this season have been fabulous. But like you say - moot point, I'm also glad he is turning out for Italy, following after his old man - I like that.

[Digby]

I don't think we've lost much with Polledri or Moriarty. Both powerful players, but we don't lack depth in that area tbh

I was more impressed by Polledri than that- good hands, good over the ball, and good spatial awareness. I also wouldn't have minded Moriarty as an option at 6 as a ball carrier.

But all moot.

What Polledri has over all of the English back row at the moment is out and out pace. some of the lines he has taken to outpace backs and score for Glos this season have been fabulous. But like you say - moot point, I'm also glad he is turning out for Italy, following after his old man - I like that.

He has more pace than Simmonds? That would be fast. Curry looks quick to me too

[Gloskarlos]

Reckon he is faster than Curry, Simmonds might be similar, difficult to tell, I'm struggling to find videos of the tries he has scored and created this season. Here is one at least.

[Digby]

There's not a lot in that which would make me think he's as fast as Jacob Rowan, though he'd have a fair bit more bulk/power. That he's got both power and pace might see him stand out more than just the pace

[Raggs]

Owen Slot of the times posted an image of his article, showing just how massively Ford's individual attacking threat, and try assists have dropped since 2015. I've tried to point out that all those stats are not a condemnation of Ford's attacking threat, but rather the fact he's gone from a midfield of Burrell+JJ to one of Farrell+JJ. If the defence aren't interested in others, there's nowhere to go.

[Gloskarlos]

There's not a lot in that which would make me think he's as fast as Jacob Rowan, though he'd have a fair bit more bulk/power. That he's got both power and pace might see him stand out more than just the pace

I've never seen Rowan accelerate like Polledri, not even close - but you are right it is the blend that catches the eye.