nasher wrote:A little seasonal fun. Given the devastating victory by Saracens over the Quins earlier today would anyone like to guess how many London based players will be selected for the EPS by Mick Cleary and colleagues tomorrow?
Hopefully a lot and no Tigers so we get a 'fair' advantage to eat out the points we need to get top 2! I fear Tigers will lose (for all 6N teams, Saxonx, U21 etc) approx 10 players during this period of the 6N!!
A TIGER TILL I DIE!!
Supporting since 1977 and proud of it!!
Corbisiero - LI
Grey - Quins
Webber - Wasps
Robson - Quins
Care - Quins
Hodgson - Sarries
Barritt - Sarries
one of Farrell or JTH - Sarries/Quins despite neither actually being much cop
Strettle - Sarries
Brown - Quins
Why describe Sarries play as stifling rubbish? They defended well and took the points on offer. Harlequins got players isolated and conceeded penalties, chucked the ball around and gave away a try.
Why assume there is something intrinsically better about chuching the ball around to entertain viewers and sponsors with no understanding of rugby, who think tries = great play?
Top level sport is about maximising your own effectiveness whilst nullifying the opposition.
That's why sides like London Irish & Harlequins have historically won very little.
Sarries ruthlessly exposed the limitations of the Harlequins front row.
How many of either team will become top level internationals is debatable. The likes of Easter, Borthwick and Charlie Hogson have both had good goes at England and fallen way below the required standard. Top internationals cope under the sustained pressure (time and space) that comes with test rugby yet at club rugby be outshone by others who can do more when facing lesser opposition.
The Sky commentary team made this point about Brad Barritt - outstanding at club level but doesn't look like he has it for international play.
Last edited by mol2 on Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1) win stuff: okay their strategy is fine for that as you imply
2) attract a sustainable number of fans..... erm...
Cudgel, one-trick rugby will not attract many new fans, borne out by their reducing attendance numbers.
I stand by my statements: Sarries play retentive clamped-up rugby that is as fun as constipation IMO. They will not likely attract a sustainable crowd with that IMO.
Purebob wrote: Sarries play retentive clamped-up rugby that is as fun as constipation IMO. They will not likely attract a sustainable crowd with that IMO.
Oh, I don't know. It looked like all twelve of their fans went today.
Back on thread, despite the Londoncentric views I think we could lose, Cole, Croft, Parling (if fit), Waldrom, Youngs, Flood, 12T's, Manu. Add Harrison and Ford possibly to Saxons. AA could also be another loss.
Of course this is my own opinion and other posters may have a different perceived factual viewpoint.
I think we will lose the following during the 6 nations:-
Cole
Croft
Waldrom
Youngs
Flood
MT - Either out injured or with England
Ford - U20s 6 nations
Castro - Italy
I think Parling may miss out due to need to prove himself.
AA I think is out of the mix.
The Saxons games I believe are only played when there are no Premier games.
Unfortunately we play Saracens during the 6 ntions so yet again the fixture will be devalued.
This means we can put out the following for Premiership games (hopefully)
15. Murphy
14. Agulla
13. Smith
12. AA\12Ts
11. A. Tualiga
10. Staunton\12Ts
9. Young\Harrison
8. Woods
7. Salvi
6. Newby
5. Slater\Skivington
4. Parling
3. Brookes (hopefully fit by then)
2. Chuter\Youngs
1. Ayreza\Stankovich
I think Quins will lose, Marler, Robson, Robshaw, Care, JTH, Monye, Brown. Sarries could lose, Goode, Strettle, Barritt, Farrell and Saull. There may even be an awful decision to recall Hodgson. Regardless, that would be a devastating loss for both teams. Even if they are not called to play, they will come under the EPS rules.
There is a long way to go this season as I keep reminding my Quins friends!!
15. Alex Goode
14. David Strettle
13. Jordan Turner-Hall
12. Brad Barritt
11. Ugo Monye
10. Owen Farrell
9. Danny Care
1. Joe Marler
2. Joe Gray
3. Matt Stevens
4. George Robson
5. Steve Bortwick
6. Chris Robshaw
7. Andy Saull
8. Tom Guest
16. Rob Webber
17. Alex Corbiesero
18. Nick Kennedy
19. Luke Narraway
20. Joe Simpson
21. Fred Burns
22. James Simpson-Daniel
TTRITH wrote:15. Alex Goode
14. David Strettle
13. Jordan Turner-Hall
12. Brad Barritt
11. Ugo Monye
10. Owen Farrell
9. Danny Care
1. Joe Marler
2. Joe Gray
3. Matt Stevens
4. George Robson
5. Steve Bortwick
6. Chris Robshaw
7. Andy Saull
8. Tom Guest
16. Rob Webber
17. Alex Corbiesero
18. Nick Kennedy
19. Luke Narraway
20. Joe Simpson
21. Fred Burns
22. James Simpson-Daniel
smalldell wrote:I think we will lose the following during the 6 nations:-
Cole
Croft
Waldrom
Youngs
Flood
MT - Either out injured or with England
Ford - U20s 6 nations
Castro - Italy
Why do you think Tait would be selected by England? He hasn't played for England for 18 months & has hardly featured for Tigers since he signed for us! Yes he will probably miss the 6N period due to injury, but not due to England selection!
As for Waldrom, I believe that he's missed his opportunity now. The RWC was his shot at International honours & I can't see the new coaching set-up giving him much of a look in now as 29 is quite old for a debut 4 years away from the next RWC. They'll see this as a chance to introduce new, young talent rather than players who would be 32 or 33 by the next tournament. He may get a crack at the Saxons as "reward" for his RWC rescue call but I don't see him getting a full cap anymore.
