EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Banquo]

A good look at Jonathan Joseph getting some consistent space and good ball against Toulon today. World class. His running and distribution, really impressive. And his defence is always spot on.

Preaching to the choir, but a Te’o-Joseph partnership could be dynamite.

Never

[Spiffy]

Leicester and England first choices Youngs/Ford were schooled in the art of halfback play by Munster's Murray/Keatley in the Limerick game. To be fair, they were playing behind a totally-humped pack. Still - they looked well short of international class.

[Puja]

Leicester and England first choices Youngs/Ford were schooled in the art of halfback play by Munster's Murray/Keatley in the Limerick game. To be fair, they were playing behind a totally-humped pack. Still - they looked well short of international class.

Not really a fair comparison - the pack seemed to regard getting the ball back as optional and getting it back quickly as somewhat gauche. I think Van der Westhuizen/Carter would've struggled with that game.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Leicester and England first choices Youngs/Ford were schooled in the art of halfback play by Munster's Murray/Keatley in the Limerick game. To be fair, they were playing behind a totally-humped pack. Still - they looked well short of international class.

Not really a fair comparison - the pack seemed to regard getting the ball back as optional and getting it back quickly as somewhat gauche. I think Van der Westhuizen/Carter would've struggled with that game.

Puja

They we both pretty poor but as Puja says they were playing behind a retreating, error strewn pack and Ford did have Tait and Smith outside him. A centre combo that would struggle in the Prem.

[Timbo]

Leicester and England first choices Youngs/Ford were schooled in the art of halfback play by Munster's Murray/Keatley in the Limerick game. To be fair, they were playing behind a totally-humped pack. Still - they looked well short of international class.

Not really imo. You swap the 9/10’s around and the result is not materially different. What specifically did you notice that the Munster halfbacks did so well compared to the Leicester ones? A lot of Murray’s kicking, for example, was pretty mediocre. 3 or 4 kicks just went straight up in the air. Given that the Munster pack pretty much just took the ball off Leicester at the breakdown whenever they chose none of it mattered.

[Banquo]

I do wonder what May, George Ford, and Freddie Burns are thinking about their career choices over last summer...in fairness, May has thrived relatively, but this season's Glaws would have suited him.

[twitchy]

I do wonder what May, George Ford, and Freddie Burns are thinking about their career choices over last summer...in fairness, May has thrived relatively, but this season's Glaws would have suited him.

It was a huge shame when may left glos imo.

[Banquo]

I do wonder what May, George Ford, and Freddie Burns are thinking about their career choices over last summer...in fairness, May has thrived relatively, but this season's Glaws would have suited him.

It was a huge shame when may left glos imo.

aye, but they were pretty dire when he made the decision, plus suspect cash played a tiny part

[p/d]

Leicester and England first choices Youngs/Ford were schooled in the art of halfback play by Munster's Murray/Keatley in the Limerick game. To be fair, they were playing behind a totally-humped pack. Still - they looked well short of international class.

Not really a fair comparison - the pack seemed to regard getting the ball back as optional and getting it back quickly as somewhat gauche. I think Van der Westhuizen/Carter would've struggled with that game.

Puja

They we both pretty poor but as Puja says they were playing behind a retreating, error strewn pack and Ford did have Tait and Smith outside him. A centre combo that would struggle in the Prem.

George should just be grateful he gets to line up alongside the mighty Matty Tait

[16th man]

I do wonder what May, George Ford, and Freddie Burns are thinking about their career choices over last summer...in fairness, May has thrived relatively, but this season's Glaws would have suited him.

Sticking around for Glaws to sort their act out was a bit Waiting for Godot though.

[Banquo]

I do wonder what May, George Ford, and Freddie Burns are thinking about their career choices over last summer...in fairness, May has thrived relatively, but this season's Glaws would have suited him.

Sticking around for Glaws to sort their act out was a bit Waiting for Godot though.

True, and as I said, at the time he made the call, it was an obvious one. Not so much now.

[Mellsblue]

It’s not all about results, either. Unless you join Sarries or Exeter you might as well forget about trophies. At Leicester he can play outside the Eng 9 & 10, and probable 12/13 if he can get himself fit. Most importantly, as p/d rightly states elsewhere, he gets the chance to learn off ‘Matty’ Tait. He can also take himself out of his comfort zone. He may have felt himself stagnating at Glos regardless of whether he foresaw Glos’ upturn in fortunes.

[Banquo]

It’s not all about results, either. Unless you join Sarries or Exeter you might as well forget about trophies. At Leicester he can play outside the Eng 9 & 10, and probable 12/13 if he can get himself fit. Most importantly, as p/d rightly states elsewhere, he gets the chance to learn off ‘Matty’ Tait. He can also take himself out of his comfort zone. He may have felt himself stagnating at Glos regardless of whether he foresaw Glos’ upturn in fortunes.

which says much about the AP, though Wasps at one point looked like a challenger.

Mind, as Dors or Spiff might say, no use being outside Ford when he can't control a game

[Puja]

I do wonder what May, George Ford, and Freddie Burns are thinking about their career choices over last summer...in fairness, May has thrived relatively, but this season's Glaws would have suited him.

Sticking around for Glaws to sort their act out was a bit Waiting for Godot though.

True, and as I said, at the time he made the call, it was an obvious one. Not so much now.

Not sure about that. May is top scorer in the Prem, the reinvigoration of the move has him back to being an England regular and, while I'm sure it wasn't fun watching his pack get horsed by Munster, he is playing in the ERC instead of having to travel to the likes of Krasny Yar in the ECC. Plus, being second in the Prem after the international period, when you lost 0 players to the AIs, doesn't necessarily guarantee a successful season. I think I'll reserve judgement on the Ackermann revolution until it's been going a little bit longer.

Puja

[Banquo]

Sticking around for Glaws to sort their act out was a bit Waiting for Godot though.

True, and as I said, at the time he made the call, it was an obvious one. Not so much now.

Not sure about that. May is top scorer in the Prem, the reinvigoration of the move has him back to being an England regular and, while I'm sure it wasn't fun watching his pack get horsed by Munster, he is playing in the ERC instead of having to travel to the likes of Krasny Yar in the ECC. Plus, being second in the Prem after the international period, when you lost 0 players to the AIs, doesn't necessarily guarantee a successful season. I think I'll reserve judgement on the Ackermann revolution until it's been going a little bit longer.

Puja

I'm speculating what he is thinking, not making a judgement. Tigers are pretty pony by their standards tho, and that wasn't likely his plan

(horsed?)

[Digby]

It’s not all about results, either. Unless you join Sarries or Exeter you might as well forget about trophies. At Leicester he can play outside the Eng 9 & 10, and probable 12/13 if he can get himself fit. Most importantly, as p/d rightly states elsewhere, he gets the chance to learn off ‘Matty’ Tait. He can also take himself out of his comfort zone. He may have felt himself stagnating at Glos regardless of whether he foresaw Glos’ upturn in fortunes.

I still think Wasps could have a crack at an AP win this season too. The slower grounds right now aren't going to have them at their best, and they would need WLR to remember he's actually a talented player, but they're in it to win it (which perhaps doesn't say that much for the AP)

[p/d]

True, and as I said, at the time he made the call, it was an obvious one. Not so much now.

Not sure about that. May is top scorer in the Prem, the reinvigoration of the move has him back to being an England regular and, while I'm sure it wasn't fun watching his pack get horsed by Munster, he is playing in the ERC instead of having to travel to the likes of Krasny Yar in the ECC. Plus, being second in the Prem after the international period, when you lost 0 players to the AIs, doesn't necessarily guarantee a successful season. I think I'll reserve judgement on the Ackermann revolution until it's been going a little bit longer.

Puja

I'm speculating what he is thinking, not making a judgement. Tigers are pretty pony by their standards tho, and that wasn't likely his plan

(horsed?)

.
Well T Youngs had a mare, committing two reckless foals in quick succession

[Mr Mwenda]

That needs to be reined in.

[Beasties]

The puns we get saddled with on here.

[Gloskarlos]

Early days for Ackerman for sure.

Over the lest few years it has been the exception rather than the rule that any prem team has been further than +/- one position from their Christmas slot by season end, I can't really see us in 2nd or 3rd but possibly 5th or 6th if the revolution is not short lived.

Glos have beaten both Exeter and Sarries this season, and the lack of English international call ups can be countered in a large part by ongoing injury lists.

Most people on ShedWeb wished Jonny all the best and understood why he left. I'm with Banquo though, come the end of the season if Glos fnish higher than Tigers and are playing a decent brand of rugby he may have a sentimental thought or two. He wouldn't be human if he didn't.

We do miss seeing Jonny on the hoof at the holm though....

[Stom]

Early days for Ackerman for sure.

Over the lest few years it has been the exception rather than the rule that any prem team has been further than +/- one position from their Christmas slot by season end, I can't really see us in 2nd or 3rd but possibly 5th or 6th if the revolution is not short lived.

Glos have beaten both Exeter and Sarries this season, and the lack of English international call ups can be countered in a large part by ongoing injury lists.

Most people on ShedWeb wished Jonny all the best and understood why he left. I'm with Banquo though, come the end of the season if Glos fnish higher than Tigers and are playing a decent brand of rugby he may have a sentimental thought or two. He wouldn't be human if he didn't.

We do miss seeing Jonny on the hoof at the holm though....

Glos are as close to Newcastle as they are to Exeter...

I don't think you can really consider slots 2-5 to be individual slots right now, just the teams who are doing well, but not good enough to get top.

[Timbo]

There’s also an argument that says Glos are doing better in large part due to the fact a number of teams have gone backwards this season. Maybe.

[Gloskarlos]

Oh yes Stom - the table is tight no question.

Exeter have lost 2, Glos 3 and Newcastle 5. Its semantics of course right now, but a glass half full view feels so much more positive than the alternative

[Stom]

Oh yes Stom - the table is tight no question.

Exeter have lost 2, Glos 3 and Newcastle 5. Its semantics of course right now, but a glass half full view feels so much more positive than the alternative

Sure. As a fan, I completely understand that. Right now, though, it's Exe, followed by 5 others, then us, Newcastle Sale and Saints, with Wuss and LI fighting out relegation.

I think it's likely that those groups won't change much, but the positions within those groups will. I still reckon Sarries will finish 2nd, Quins 7th, LI relegated. The rest, I haven't got a clue.

[Puja]

I miss Ed Slater, especially given the lackadaisical approach to rucking by our current back 5.

Puja