Tigers vs Wasps Sat 3pm

[Raggs]

Wasps low on the ground with scrum halves. Hoping for another win.

[Puja]

Disappointed that we've dropped JVP. He was a breath of fresh air last week.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Only seen snippets of him play but he does look class, even just the way he moves.

So is Umaga (3rd choice England 10) actually second choice at Wasps now or is this rotation? Atkinson seems quite highly rated, though I've not seen anything of him except when he got tanked by Farrell.

[Puja]

Only seen snippets of him play but he does look class, even just the way he moves.

He's impressively quick of brain and there is a significant difference between his speed at the breakdown and Wigglesworth's. Hopefully Leicester won't beat that out of him.

Puja

[Beasties]

Only seen snippets of him play but he does look class, even just the way he moves.

So is Umaga (3rd choice England 10) actually second choice at Wasps now or is this rotation? Atkinson seems quite highly rated, though I've not seen anything of him except when he got tanked by Farrell.

I think Blackett's put a comfort blanket around Umaga to a degree and is easing him back in. But Atkinson looks like he's going to be the better player imo, he's not scared to get stuck in.

[Oakboy]

Only seen snippets of him play but he does look class, even just the way he moves.

So is Umaga (3rd choice England 10) actually second choice at Wasps now or is this rotation? Atkinson seems quite highly rated, though I've not seen anything of him except when he got tanked by Farrell.

I think Blackett's put a comfort blanket around Umaga to a degree and is easing him back in. But Atkinson looks like he's going to be the better player imo, he's not scared to get stuck in.

Have Bristol got the same dilemma at 9 with Randall and Uren?

[FKAS]

Only seen snippets of him play but he does look class, even just the way he moves.

He's impressively quick of brain and there is a significant difference between his speed at the breakdown and Wigglesworth's. Hopefully Leicester won't beat that out of him.

Puja

I hope not to. JVP looks like he should be the natural successor to Benny for Tigers and England. The lad looks really good so far. I'm not to worried about him being rotated in and out, he's only 19 and scrum half is an intense position.

I think Umaga could make a very good 12, probably a better 12 than a 10. If he can up his physicality level a bit them Atkinson and Umaga could be a good combination for Wasps.

[Puja]

TBH, I never rated Umaga that highly when he was at Tigers and wasn't too broken-hearted when he left for Wasps. Felt he was rated because of his surname rather than because of his talents. Obviously, I was wrong and there definitely is a good player there, but I wonder if the superb form might not have been a purple patch and this more of a reversion to the mean.

Puja

[FKAS]

Even in his purple patch he still had issues. At 12 in a Redpath style role outside a more pragmatic flyhalf could work well.

[Mikey Brown]

Isn't this just like saying Mallinder could be a great 12 if he was more physical? It's quite a big thing to just add to your game out of nowhere.

[FKAS]

Isn't this just like saying Mallinder could be a great 12 if he was more physical? It's quite a big thing to just add to your game out of nowhere.

Mallinder has plenty of physicality he also has a dodgy shoulder which meant he doesn't like tackling head on, on that side. If he's actually fit for long enough that might stop being a problem.

90% of physicality is mindset and Umaga has the ideal mentor on Gopperth who isn't big but is always happy to get stuck in. I'm not suggesting he starts running crash ball lines more that he flicks the switch and gets more aggressive in defence. I think generally it's easier to be aggressive in D at 12 as a secondary playmaker than it is at 10. Well I always found it that way, too aggressive at 10 and you can lose focus of the big picture around you.

Umaga is also 22 and built like a Twiglet, if he wants to add a bit is muscle (and I don't mean bulk up to Haskell levels or anything silly) now would the idea age and I think his frame could take a couple of kilos more. Might just give him that bit more confidence to defend at 12.

[Raggs]

If anything I'd rather move Atkinson there. Umaga is a very skilful fly half for me. He's not very physical, but it's the mental side he needs to fix. A lot easier to take an already physical player and adjust their role, than take one who isn't, and then throw him into a position that requires even more of it.

EDIT - I'd say Atkinson seems a more solid runner too.

[Raggs]

Christ, is it only me that sees Atkinson's picture on the team lineups and thinks he's maybe 14...

[I R Geech]

Christ, CMK reffing and Healey commentating. Perfect way to ruin my afternoon.

[I R Geech]

If anything I'd rather move Atkinson there. Umaga is a very skilful fly half for me. He's not very physical, but it's the mental side he needs to fix. A lot easier to take an already physical player and adjust their role, than take one who isn't, and then throw him into a position that requires even more of it.

EDIT - I'd say Atkinson seems a more solid runner too.

Umaga is a great talent but just shits the bed too often and is clearly very averse to contact. I was secretly hoping that with Sopps on the way out we’d splash it large for Marcus Smith and ease Umaga out.

[Peej]

CMK making some odd calls already

[Peej]

Wasps not helping themselves

[I R Geech]

CMK making some odd calls already

Odd for anyone else, normal for him.

[Raggs]

Wasps always have to be whiter than white with CMK. We need to adapt.

[I R Geech]

Wasps always have to be whiter than white with CMK. We need to adapt.

Ever since he got it wrong on the Hughes red card and got rinsed by the RFU, he’s been after Wasps

[Raggs]

Wasps always have to be whiter than white with CMK. We need to adapt.

Ever since he got it wrong on the Hughes red card and got rinsed by the RFU, he’s been after Wasps

Pretty much. No maul call there for instance. A bullshit offside call just there on Atkinson.

That said, if we're not going to stop Wiese, we'll lose regardless.

[Raggs]

It's chest on chest, it's chest on chest....

Oh...

[Peej]

I mean that's a tucked elbow to the chin, right?

[Raggs]

We're going to need another 3 red cards to get back into this.

[Scrumhead]

The best and worst of Wiese in one half ...