EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[FKAS]

An early penalty and then a knock on from a kick off. Made 5 tackles missed 1. I put it down to debut jitters. He was very good ball in hand so I'll excuse a couple of errors and put them down to work ons in a young player. Get him game time now so he's a viable option at the world cup, Coles and Chessum would give us good options going forward into the 6N.

Hill doesn't have the same excuse or impact.

[Mikey Brown]

Where do Coles and Chessum tend to pack down at the scrum when playing lock?

[Banquo]

An early penalty and then a knock on from a kick off. Made 5 tackles missed 1. I put it down to debut jitters. He was very good ball in hand so I'll excuse a couple of errors and put them down to work ons in a young player. Get him game time now so he's a viable option at the world cup, Coles and Chessum would give us good options going forward into the 6N.

Hill doesn't have the same excuse or impact.

ah ok, missed them. He looked excellent for about an hour that I saw, both sides of the ball. I was surprised at the great lines he took in attack tbh.

[fivepointer]

Coles should be a keeper. Theres a lot to like about him.

[Banquo]

Coles should be a keeper. Theres a lot to like about him.

He's a top lad too. Mrs B taught him - not rugby to be clear

[Banquo]

Where do Coles and Chessum tend to pack down at the scrum when playing lock?

Think Coles is left/loosehead.

[FKAS]

An early penalty and then a knock on from a kick off. Made 5 tackles missed 1. I put it down to debut jitters. He was very good ball in hand so I'll excuse a couple of errors and put them down to work ons in a young player. Get him game time now so he's a viable option at the world cup, Coles and Chessum would give us good options going forward into the 6N.

Hill doesn't have the same excuse or impact.

ah ok, missed them. He looked excellent for about an hour that I saw, both sides of the ball. I was surprised at the great lines he took in attack tbh.

Yeah in attack he was very sharp, really added something to the England attack. I liked the lines he was running as well, rather than just crashing straight into the nearest Puma forward giant.

Eddie must be looking at those attacking lines he's running and feeling more than a little aggrieved that the RFU failed to recruit Sam Vesty when he requested them to.

[FKAS]

Where do Coles and Chessum tend to pack down at the scrum when playing lock?

Think Coles is left/loosehead.

I think Chessum has done both sides depending on who he's playing with as I think Green normally packs down behind the tighthead for Tigers but could be wrong.

[Banquo]

Where do Coles and Chessum tend to pack down at the scrum when playing lock?

Think Coles is left/loosehead.

I think Chessum has done both sides depending on who he's playing with as I think Green normally packs down behind the tighthead for Tigers but could be wrong.

a lock who can pack down both sides equally well is a very rare and useful beast.

[Mikey Brown]

Surely it’s just about the best scrummager being out on the tight head? If you’re good enough to scrum on the right I don’t think there’s any issue going on the left.

I guess I just wondered if anyone other than Hill is considered to have enough ballast to partner Itoje. I had thought a lot of EJ’s thinking on Lawes was as much about the scrum as the lineout. He wants what Lawes offers around the field but can’t risk a weak scrum.

Similar sort of compromise to Farrell at 12 to be honest.

[Banquo]

Surely it’s just about the best scrummager being out on the tight head? If you’re good enough to scrum on the right I don’t think there’s any issue going on the left.

I guess I just wondered if anyone other than Hill is considered to have enough ballast to partner Itoje. I had thought a lot of EJ’s thinking on Lawes was as much about the scrum as the lineout. He wants what Lawes offers around the field but can’t risk a weak scrum.

Similar sort of compromise to Farrell at 12 to be honest.

Its very different according to those who know; the binding is different, the feet are different on your own ball. Locks tend to specialise; I know this from my late f-in-law who made it a point to learn both sides and make himself more selectable (he played for Yorkshire and the North and had an England trial; admittedly a while ago ).

[Puja]

Surely it’s just about the best scrummager being out on the tight head? If you’re good enough to scrum on the right I don’t think there’s any issue going on the left.

I guess I just wondered if anyone other than Hill is considered to have enough ballast to partner Itoje. I had thought a lot of EJ’s thinking on Lawes was as much about the scrum as the lineout. He wants what Lawes offers around the field but can’t risk a weak scrum.

Similar sort of compromise to Farrell at 12 to be honest.

Its very different according to those who know; the binding is different, the feet are different on your own ball. Locks tend to specialise; I know this from my late f-in-law who made it a point to learn both sides and make himself more selectable (he played for Yorkshire and the North and had an England trial; admittedly a while ago ).

Exactly. It's not like the centre positions where they're completely interchangeable - there's important specialisations!

Puja

[Beasties]

Surely it’s just about the best scrummager being out on the tight head? If you’re good enough to scrum on the right I don’t think there’s any issue going on the left.

I guess I just wondered if anyone other than Hill is considered to have enough ballast to partner Itoje. I had thought a lot of EJ’s thinking on Lawes was as much about the scrum as the lineout. He wants what Lawes offers around the field but can’t risk a weak scrum.

Similar sort of compromise to Farrell at 12 to be honest.

Its very different according to those who know; the binding is different, the feet are different on your own ball. Locks tend to specialise; I know this from my late f-in-law who made it a point to learn both sides and make himself more selectable (he played for Yorkshire and the North and had an England trial; admittedly a while ago ).

Exactly. It's not like the centre positions where they're completely interchangeable - there's important specialisations!

Puja

Fire - meet cat’s arse.

[Banquo]

Coles should be a keeper.

He is very tall

[Mr Mwenda]

Coles should be a keeper.

He is very tall

Is he quick for a back three player?

[Banquo]

Coles should be a keeper.

He is very tall

Is he quick for a back three player?

can he save penalties ?

[Mr Mwenda]

He is very tall

Is he quick for a back three player?

can he save penalties ?

Is he a Libra?

[Which Tyler]

Very much intending to find it somewhere to have a watch.
Which I'm pretty sure will mean somewhere illegal


I'm 13 minutes in, and he's just scored a try; having already been disallowed a perfectly good try that was knocked on - after being placed on the ground.

He's bloody everywhere so far. It's great to see that blue scrum cap buzzing about - it's going to hurt when he's wearing cherry and white underneath it.

ETA: and a second try disallowed (hands in the scrum by Marler)


ETA2: 3rd time lucky, 2 minutes after the first one.

[Danno]

Very much intending to find it somewhere to have a watch.
Which I'm pretty sure will mean somewhere illegal


I'm 13 minutes in, and he's just scored a try; having already been disallowed a perfectly good try that was knocked on - after being placed on the ground.

He's bloody everywhere so far. It's great to see that blue scrum cap buzzing about - it's going to hurt when he's wearing cherry and white underneath it.

ETA: and a second try disallowed (hands in the scrum by Marler)


ETA2: 3rd time lucky, 2 minutes after the first one.

For a second there I thought you meant he'd found a Japanese grandparent

[Scrumhead]

I feel lazy for not creating a thread, but Quins best Gloucester 21-12 last night. Not a vintage performance, but I’d definitely have taken that scoreline if it had been offered pre-game.

I expect Gloucester to be a play-off rival so picking up 4 and sending them home with 0 is a good result.

[Which Tyler]

I feel lazy for not creating a thread, but Quins best Gloucester 21-12 last night. Not a vintage performance, but I’d definitely have taken that scoreline if it had been offered pre-game.

I expect Gloucester to be a play-off rival so picking up 4 and sending them home with 0 is a good result.

Also last night, Newcastle beat Exeter; keeping things interesting in the mid-table

[Mellsblue]

Stuart Barnes advocating that the next coach should drop Farrell, and ‘liberate’ Smith and Ford.

[Which Tyler]

Stuart Barnes advocating that the next coach should drop Farrell, and ‘liberate’ Smith and Ford.

I hate it when I have to agree with that pickled tub of lard (I'm not sure I'd go as far as dropping Farrell before we have a realistic alternative at 12 though)

[Tigger]

I doubt many watch the Sale press briefs with Sanderson ...George Ford to be match fit by mid Jan

[Puja]

I doubt many watch the Sale press briefs with Sanderson ...George Ford to be match fit by mid Jan

Excellent news! That suggests fit to train by late December, which is a very good return.

Puja