EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Digby]

Mini Bergamasco

[Mikey Brown]

Anyone fancy giving some updates?

Saw a little bit of the Saints/Tigers came but that was it. Actually saw Hartley run (sort of) at one point! Quins actually scored some tries which is nice to see, but not fooling myself we'll do that consistently. Not sure which games were even televised. Anyone catch the Exeter Crusladers v Sharks game?

[twitchy]

Non rugby little snippet. EJ gave the england football lads a talk on friday night and apparently it went down really well. I know southgate has been to some rugby sessions during the 6N.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/bl ... -lithuania

[Mellsblue]

Joey Barton to be made captain?

[Puja]

Anyone fancy giving some updates?

Saw a little bit of the Saints/Tigers came but that was it. Actually saw Hartley run (sort of) at one point! Quins actually scored some tries which is nice to see, but not fooling myself we'll do that consistently. Not sure which games were even televised. Anyone catch the Exeter Crusladers v Sharks game?

You gave a scoring pass in a two-on-one in the Quins game, although you did look very, very long and hard at whether you could step inside and go yourself, before grudgingly giving it out to the unmarked winger in 20m of space, 30m from the line.

Hartley looked okay, but the outstanding performances from the Saints/Tigers game came from Genge and Lawes, who were both on top form. The former crushed Brookes in the scrum, not through strength but through devious tricks, winning 5 penalties to 0. He's been working on his game that lad.

Puja

[Peej]

Anyone fancy giving some updates?

Saw a little bit of the Saints/Tigers came but that was it. Actually saw Hartley run (sort of) at one point! Quins actually scored some tries which is nice to see, but not fooling myself we'll do that consistently. Not sure which games were even televised. Anyone catch the Exeter Crusladers v Sharks game?

You gave a scoring pass in a two-on-one in the Quins game, although you did look very, very long and hard at whether you could step inside and go yourself, before grudgingly giving it out to the unmarked winger in 20m of space, 30m from the line.

Hartley looked okay, but the outstanding performances from the Saints/Tigers game came from Genge and Lawes, who were both on top form. The former crushed Brookes in the scrum, not through strength but through devious tricks, winning 5 penalties to 0. He's been working on his game that lad.

Puja

You also scored a try after refusing to give it out to the unmarked winger in 20m of space, 30m from the line but making the most of a weak attempt at a tackle

[Puja]

Anyone fancy giving some updates?

Saw a little bit of the Saints/Tigers came but that was it. Actually saw Hartley run (sort of) at one point! Quins actually scored some tries which is nice to see, but not fooling myself we'll do that consistently. Not sure which games were even televised. Anyone catch the Exeter Crusladers v Sharks game?

You gave a scoring pass in a two-on-one in the Quins game, although you did look very, very long and hard at whether you could step inside and go yourself, before grudgingly giving it out to the unmarked winger in 20m of space, 30m from the line.

Hartley looked okay, but the outstanding performances from the Saints/Tigers game came from Genge and Lawes, who were both on top form. The former crushed Brookes in the scrum, not through strength but through devious tricks, winning 5 penalties to 0. He's been working on his game that lad.

Puja

You also scored a try after refusing to give it out to the unmarked winger in 20m of space, 30m from the line but making the most of a weak attempt at a tackle

You also made a lovely break out of nothing, set up a three man overlap, drew the full-back and then crashed straight into him (Quins did score off the next phase though). Overall, probably your best game for Quins in a while, but you did make your wingers cry more than once.

(Bet you wish you hadn't asked now!)

Puja

[TheNomad]

Get your hard hats on: Solomona 'sign residency paper work and declares interest in playing for England'

Currently on the BBC website

But will the new rules scupper him? I thought I'd read that somewhere

[Puja]

Get your hard hats on: Solomona 'sign residency paper work and declares interest in playing for England'

Currently on the BBC website

But will the new rules scupper him? I thought I'd read that somewhere

Wonderful. "My heart's not here unless there's a sh*t-tonne of cash involved, then my heart's wherever you'd like it to be."

As for the rules, I don't suspect they'll be able to pass it without an amendment making it so that it comes into effect after 2019. And while the RFU have got their principled stand coming, I suspect that if Eddie wants, Eddie will get.

Puja

[Digby]

If the only reason a players wants to play is money and they even actually rather dislike rugby I find I don't care if they're good enough, but that could apply to anyone. As to qualifying so easily on residency I do think it mocks the whole concept of international sport and instead it makes it a glorified version of the club game, but that's hardly on Solomona.

[Mellsblue]

FFS

[Raggs]

He was always going to declare available, Sale need him to do that in order for him to count within their EQP contributions during a match day squad/

[twitchy]

Any one watch underhill? EJ was supposedly attending to see him.

[twitchy]

http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured ... he-better/


"Mike Brown’s days as England’s first choice full-back are numbered according to Matt Perry, who reckons it is time for Bath and England to stop pussy-footing around and hand Anthony Watson their No.15 jerseys."

[Mellsblue]

Shouldn't he play 15 for Bath first!!?!?!?!?!?

[Digby]

Indeed, when will Bath actually play Watson at 15? Dashed unreasonable they've kept him out on the wing all this time, especially just to give Bowden all those games at 15

[Oakboy]

These Dorset lads can play a bit:

[TheNomad]

Watson looking pretty good at 15 I reckon

Anyway, the latest player to declare his interest in playing for the Red Rose (and inciting the hatred of the many on here) is Rhodes at Sarries.

Leaving aside the argument about whether he should - I happen to think he'd walk into the side at 6 at present. He's absolutely brilliant in my opinion.

[Mellsblue]

FFS. He's residency as well, isn't he? He's a good player and I think he'll go to Argentina. Sadly.

[Oakboy]

Watson looking pretty good at 15 I reckon

Anyway, the latest player to declare his interest in playing for the Red Rose (and inciting the hatred of the many on here) is Rhodes at Sarries.

Leaving aside the argument about whether he should - I happen to think he'd walk into the side at 6 at present. He's absolutely brilliant in my opinion.

Yes, agreed. I was praising him last week. If Eddie were to overcome his objections to Robshaw at 7 maybe they'd be good either side of Billy or Hughes.

[TheNomad]

Fear not - he won't qualify for a while I don't think

I think around later summer 2018

[Banquo]

Watson looking pretty good at 15 I reckon

Anyway, the latest player to declare his interest in playing for the Red Rose (and inciting the hatred of the many on here) is Rhodes at Sarries.

Leaving aside the argument about whether he should - I happen to think he'd walk into the side at 6 at present. He's absolutely brilliant in my opinion.

seriously? Hatred?

[Oakboy]

Watson looking pretty good at 15 I reckon

Anyway, the latest player to declare his interest in playing for the Red Rose (and inciting the hatred of the many on here) is Rhodes at Sarries.

Leaving aside the argument about whether he should - I happen to think he'd walk into the side at 6 at present. He's absolutely brilliant in my opinion.

seriously? Hatred?

A lack of rationality in some cases, perhaps? Certainly not impartial opinion anyway. Just imagine how some would deal with Hughes, Solomona and Rhodes in the same XV!

[TheNomad]

Watson looking pretty good at 15 I reckon

Anyway, the latest player to declare his interest in playing for the Red Rose (and inciting the hatred of the many on here) is Rhodes at Sarries.

Leaving aside the argument about whether he should - I happen to think he'd walk into the side at 6 at present. He's absolutely brilliant in my opinion.

seriously? Hatred?

It was tongue in cheek - for the record, I'm not too bothered by it

[Banquo]

Watson looking pretty good at 15 I reckon

Anyway, the latest player to declare his interest in playing for the Red Rose (and inciting the hatred of the many on here) is Rhodes at Sarries.

Leaving aside the argument about whether he should - I happen to think he'd walk into the side at 6 at present. He's absolutely brilliant in my opinion.

seriously? Hatred?

A lack of rationality in some cases, perhaps? Certainly not impartial opinion anyway. Just imagine how some would deal with Hughes, Solomona and Rhodes in the same XV!

Do you think Hughes was unfairly criticised then? Or solomona's recent play? I have no principled objection to their playing for England, but neither have I got an uncritical eye.
Rhodes would be very handy, good lineout, workrate, tough as nails, and smart.