Challenge Cup matches

[Adam_P]

First half: Clermont too powerful, Clancy too shit

[Adam_P]

2 of their first half tries were off the back of missed offenses by the officials

[Scrumhead]

Naiyarovoro is so bad in defence

[Scrumhead]

Great try from Saints

[Adam_P]

Great try off the back of a lovely Brussow turnover. Some great offloading from Saints backs

[Adam_P]

And then we eat another soft try

[Adam_P]

Couple of quick tries for Saints, the come back is on (maybe)

[Scrumhead]

Take a bow Alex Mitchell. First a great tackle that saved a possible try and then good support play to score.

[Adam_P]

And another from Hutch! Can't believe this

[Timbo]

Another great game between these two.

[Adam_P]

Big team from Clermont getting tired

[Scrumhead]

This game has gone crazy ... fair play to Saints for having the belief to fight back

[Adam_P]

Fuck

[Mellsblue]

Tackling optional, but what a game.

[Mellsblue]

Penaud is pure class.

[Scrumhead]

Crazy, crazy game. I really feel for Saints shipping 61 points.

[fivepointer]

Mad game. Fun, but a bit mad. Saints only themselves to blame for too many errors, weak defending and a dreadful line out.
Is Hutchinson definitely committed to Scotland? He must be EQ too. His form demands someone from the RFU contact him to see if he's interested in playing for England.

[Banquo]

Mad game. Fun, but a bit mad. Saints only themselves to blame for too many errors, weak defending and a dreadful line out.
Is Hutchinson definitely committed to Scotland? He must be EQ too. His form demands someone from the RFU contact him to see if he's interested in playing for England.

Great eye for a gap and rapid.

[Adam_P]

Hutch has said he definitely wants to represent Scotland rather than England internationally

[Mellsblue]

Hutch has said he definitely wants to represent Scotland rather than England internationally

In that case, I assume Starsky wants to play for Scotland too?

[Scrumhead]

Hutch has said he definitely wants to represent Scotland rather than England internationally

Yep. I’ve said this before, but he’s surely a World Cup bolter for Scotland.

I do wonder how different that result would have been with a competent ref and Hartley starting at hooker.

Plenty for Gustard to analyse. If Quins can rediscover the defence solidity we had earlier in the season, I think we have players that can cause them problems in attack. I’m not banking on a win though.

[Puja]

Hutch has said he definitely wants to represent Scotland rather than England internationally

And you can't blame him - he is Scottish and he should walk into the next Scotland squad, whereas he'd be on little more than a promise from England.

Puja

[Timbo]

Hutch has said he definitely wants to represent Scotland rather than England internationally

Yep. I’ve said this before, but he’s surely a World Cup bolter for Scotland.

I do wonder how different that result would have been with a competent ref and Hartley starting at hooker.

Plenty for Gustard to analyse. If Quins can rediscover the defence solidity we had earlier in the season, I think we have players that can cause them problems in attack. I’m not banking on a win though.

I agree Quins have a shot. You have a much better scrum and lineout than Saints and are a bit more physical. You will need to go there pretty much fully loaded though, and I wonder if Gustard will be prepared to do that when he would probably prioritise top 4/6.

Clermont’s squad is ridiculous. They had a few international props uninvolved last night, no Timani, Vahaamahina, Chouly, Fofana, Moala, Lamerat, Abandenon, Toeava, Grosso...probably some others that I can’t recall.

[Timbo]

Hutch has said he definitely wants to represent Scotland rather than England internationally

And you can't blame him - he is Scottish and he should walk into the next Scotland squad, whereas he'd be on little more than a promise from England.

Puja

Yeah, when you consider the season Marchant has had and he is still a fair way off being capped. Of the two I would say Hutchinson is behind Marchant.

[Scrumhead]

Hutch has said he definitely wants to represent Scotland rather than England internationally

Yep. I’ve said this before, but he’s surely a World Cup bolter for Scotland.

I do wonder how different that result would have been with a competent ref and Hartley starting at hooker.

Plenty for Gustard to analyse. If Quins can rediscover the defence solidity we had earlier in the season, I think we have players that can cause them problems in attack. I’m not banking on a win though.

I agree Quins have a shot. You have a much better scrum and lineout than Saints and are a bit more physical. You will need to go there pretty much fully loaded though, and I wonder if Gustard will be prepared to do that when he would probably prioritise top 4/6.

Clermont’s squad is ridiculous. They had a few international props uninvolved last night, no Timani, Vahaamahina, Chouly, Fofana, Moala, Lamerat, Abandenon, Toeava, Grosso...probably some others that I can’t recall.

Indeed. We need our first choice side available to be in with a realistic shout. In terms of prioritisation, there’s two more league games before the semi final against Sale (away on Friday) and Saints (at home). If we win one or both, we might have already secured top 4 given that both are the teams immediately behind us (Saints are 8 points behind and Sale are 9). If we beat both, we’re there. Beat one and it’s still a lot of points to catch up and would rely on us losing our other games.