RugbyRebels

Did Mullan go off injured? I thought he did but was watching in a crowded clubhouse so not sure.

Mellsblue wrote:Wasps EQP from today:
Plus:
Mullan (just)
Launch
Robson
Cipriani
Daly (average other than try but moments of brilliance make the difference)

Evens:
Bassett
Myall
Symons
McIntyre
Thompson
Simpson

Minus:
Wade
Hughes

It's in these sort of matches where you see why EJ isn't falling over himself to select Wade. Against the best teams with organised defences there simply isn't the room available for Wade to work his magic. In the right game he looks world beating, trouble is most of these "right" games are when Wasps are playing lower standard teams. Toulouse just swallowed him up every time as do the Saracens of this world.

Yes, Wade against good opposition is ineffective whereas Nowell thrives - even if it is only making 10 hard yards at a time.

I was at the Wasps game yesterday, and among other observations, it was interesting to see Daly in the flesh for the first time in a couple of seasons. He's packed on some serious timber, must be easily 15 stone plus. Having said that, it's easy to look big when you're usually stood between Wade and Gopperth....but seriously, he looks a proper big unit nowadays to go along with his pace.

He can be a genuinely top class player if he keeps going like he is now. I hope he gets one position nailed down for club and country and just works at that. He has every thing.

Lawes, Wood and Harrison very good for Saints yesterday.

Harrison seems to be carrying the ball more these last few weeks. That's how he got himself noticed last season, just some serious hard edged, aggressive carrying. He seemed to go away from that, maybe trying to show that he could do more of the breakdown 7 stuff.

Lozowski is the dogs nuts at fb

Timbo wrote:Harrison seems to be carrying the ball more these last few weeks. That's how he got himself noticed last season, just some serious hard edged, aggressive carrying. He seemed to go away from that, maybe trying to show that he could do more of the breakdown 7 stuff.

I've never really got this thing about him being a 7. His entire game seems to be about charging in to people.

p/d wrote:Lozowski is the dogs nuts at fb

Is it premature to think we should just replace Brown with him without hesitation?

Renniks wrote:

p/d wrote:Lozowski is the dogs nuts at fb

Is it premature to think we should just replace Brown with him without hesitation?

Nope. A genuine talent with great defence and oodles of skill going forward.

And proper gas too.

Loz was the best player on the park today. He looked all class, making good decisions and executing well under pressure.

fivepointer wrote:Loz was the best player on the park today. He looked all class, making good decisions and executing well under pressure.

The star amongst a poor display from the other English players. Showed today how much Sarries miss Kruis and the V's. Barritt's absence is also clear to see.

My only surprise was seeing Wigglesworth run out for the second half. Really poor behind a struggling pack.

Well played Scarlets

p/d wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Loz was the best player on the park today. He looked all class, making good decisions and executing well under pressure.

The star amongst a poor display from the other English players. Showed today how much Sarries miss Kruis and the V's. Barritt's absence is also clear to see.

My only surprise was seeing Wigglesworth run out for the second half. Really poor behind a struggling pack.

Well played Scarlets

Sarries were well below par. Those missing players would have made a big difference. Spencer should have been on a lot earlier.

Mikey Brown wrote:

Timbo wrote:Harrison seems to be carrying the ball more these last few weeks. That's how he got himself noticed last season, just some serious hard edged, aggressive carrying. He seemed to go away from that, maybe trying to show that he could do more of the breakdown 7 stuff.

I've never really got this thing about him being a 7. His entire game seems to be about charging in to people.

Wasn't he back at 8? Which is also where he looked good last season, IIRC.

Piatau just did Nowell like he wasn't there. Not the first, and won't be the last though.

16th man wrote:Piatau just did Nowell like he wasn't there. Not the first, and won't be the last though.

Nowell has been fantastic at providing a straight running pivot though. Good game.

morepork wrote:

16th man wrote:Piatau just did Nowell like he wasn't there. Not the first, and won't be the last though.

Nowell has been fantastic at providing a straight running pivot though. Good game.

Definitely, he's in fantastic form.

Monye is putting it down as a blot on a great performance, but if you're a winger of Piatau's ability, you'd be asking questions if you didn't beat your opposite number, one on one, 5 metres from the line.

And he's just done him back, beautifully.

Nice action.

Nowell was well out of position for that Piutau 2nd try though. If that's Wade people instantly point and say, "see, that weak defence us why he doesn't get picked for England"

Nowell seems to want to play every position bar wing.

Though it looks like he been given licence to roam

fivepointer wrote:Loz was the best player on the park today. He looked all class, making good decisions and executing well under pressure.

Not sure they were all good decisions. You want a player to back themselves, but he did push hard when very likely working the phases would've better suited Sarries. Basically he looked very good a phase at a time, but like Farrell has most certainly found you can put 6-8 phases together and that works too

Peej wrote:Nowell was well out of position for that Piutau 2nd try though. If that's Wade people instantly point and say, "see, that weak defence us why he doesn't get picked for England"

Yes, but some people go ludicrously over the top with that sort of thing.