RugbyRebels

Danno wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:14 pm I only remember Pollock taking a lot of lineout ball and that turnover at the end. Pretty anonymous day and given how poor the rucks were that's not great.

Putting him on a pedestal and kicking better backrowers out isn't going to magically supercharge his development.

Danno wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:14 pm I only remember Pollock taking a lot of lineout ball and that turnover at the end. Pretty anonymous day and given how poor the rucks were that's not great.

Putting him on a pedestal and kicking better backrowers out isn't going to magically supercharge his development.

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:11 pm So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:03 pm

wanderingjock wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:58 pm Shame I don't think any of the possibles really made a decent case for test selection... saying that some of the players in the twat on Saturday weren't much cop either...

I think there’s some fairly harsh assessments of the FNP team on here. Enjoyed a lot of their play, patchy as it was.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:21 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:11 pm So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:21 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:11 pm So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:26 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:21 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:11 pm So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

He's his scots team mate so hardly surprising. Was Itoje near, and maybe it just wasn't caught on camera in any case.

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:27 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:21 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:11 pm So sad for Graham, no luck there at all.

Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

Russell is leader although he doesn’t always get the credit for it.

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:25 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:03 pm

wanderingjock wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:58 pm Shame I don't think any of the possibles really made a decent case for test selection... saying that some of the players in the twat on Saturday weren't much cop either...

I think there’s some fairly harsh assessments of the FNP team on here. Enjoyed a lot of their play, patchy as it was.

They were poor; understandably, but poor. Came alive when we gave them momentum but couldn't string anything together apart from close to our line where we were pretty feeble.

Mind, credit to their scrum, which we took lightly and their lineout which made us look scruffy there.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:41 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:25 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:03 pm



I think there’s some fairly harsh assessments of the FNP team on here. Enjoyed a lot of their play, patchy as it was.

They were poor; understandably, but poor. Came alive when we gave them momentum but couldn't string anything together apart from close to our line where we were pretty feeble.

Mind, credit to their scrum, which we took lightly and their lineout which made us look scruffy there.

grit and determination to stay in it.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:38 pm Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:38 pm Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:33 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:27 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:21 pm
Anyone else notice that when he went off, fighting the tears; it was not-a-team-player Russell who put an arm around him and was consoling; not tour-captain Itoje?

Russell is leader although he doesn’t always get the credit for it.

isn't that a legacy of Gregor's havingaspat comments?

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 3:05 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:33 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:27 pm

Russell is leader although he doesn’t always get the credit for it.

isn't that a legacy of Gregor's havingaspat comments?

Don't think so as GT has made him captain at times.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:38 pm Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 3:15 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:38 pm Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 3:15 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:38 pm Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

Spiffy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:13 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 3:15 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 2:38 pm Barclay looking on awkwardly as a pair of 100 cap flyhalves cream their pants over that Farrell performance. Weird. I guess we really will never understand it.

I saw several moments where he looked calm and kept his shoulders square, sure, but tended to stand completely still and just pop it to somebody else who was hardly moving either.

Most of it was… fine (except the stupid grubbers) but I can’t understand how this is prompting reactions like ‘test match animal. Get him in the 23’ from people like McGeechan.

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:19 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:13 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 3:15 pm

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:37 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:19 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:13 pm
I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

I've only seen the highlights, but I'd have to disagree on the chip for the try - really poorly placed, overhit, and horrendously telegraphed. The only reason it led to a try was an incredibly lucky bounce to take the ball away from the three defenders.

Oddly enough, from the rest of the highlights, it looked like he had a good game - showed some nice sleight of hand for the second try, was running a good line for the intercept, made some great play for DVDM's try. I was expecting to come on here and find people grudgingly impressed, but clearly highlights not telling the whole tale.

Him starting a fight over the headshot on Graham was awful though - just emphasising why he's not captaincy material. It's generally a virtue to stand up for your teammates and defend them, but the captain has to keep their head and not be the first man in, grabbing at throats.

Puja

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:19 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:13 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 3:15 pm

Fair. Farrell jr was fine but not at test pace - would be very exposed if on the field for a longer period v the wallabies. Let's hope MSmith passed is HIA. Otherwise, perhaps they will reshuffle the 23.

I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 5:48 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:19 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:13 pm
I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

Have to disagree on the chip, it bounced into Osbournes arms, any other bounce and its a wasted possession. The dummy and give for VDM was class tho.

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 5:48 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:19 pm

Spiffy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 4:13 pm
I would not agree he was fine. I'd say he was poor to middling at best. He brought nothing to the attack, shoveled the ball on, was dodgy enough in defence, looked ploddingly un-athletic and out of place. But Fin Smith was poor, and if the unfortunate Marcus is injured, then Faz is in the Test 23. Prepare for a slow motion snooze-fest.

His chip for Osbornes try was excellent, and a nice dummy and assist for Duhan. But he looked stilted a lot of the time.

Have to disagree on the chip, it bounced into Osbournes arms, any other bounce and its a wasted possession. The dummy and give for VDM was class tho.