Old Hob wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:56 pm
It shouldn't have come down to those last minutes, though. The dropped passes, forward passes and muffed line-outs in the first half meant we were not in the position we could have been.
I’m sure that will be Borthwicks message to the squad and make sure we win it before it gets to that point.
As a fan though, we did scrap our way back into it and to see complete gamesmanship (many would say cheating) stop you winning is too much to accept.
For all his talk of spirit of rugby, playing the right way etc - Lam showed his true colours today and all the talk about doing things & playing the right way, developing a positive culture he comes out with went into the bin when he thought he was going to lose.
I think he’ll regret it in the mid-longer term as it undermines the philosophy’s and culture he’s built the club upon.
As annoying as today was.. (and it will be even more if we slip down to 9th next weekend!) we pushed the best team in the league all the way and arguably should have won. We were without Ford and Montoya has only just returned from injury. Next season we will have Van Staden added into that ferocious pack so the signs are promising. I really really hope this season isn’t a lost European final and 9th place in the league but if it is that’s an improvement on last year and you can bet the lads will use it as a springboard to push for top 4 next season.
My money is on us finishing in the top 8 but it’s going to be a tense final day next Sat!
Oakham lad born and bred, Tigers season ticket holder who is enjoying steady progression back towards the good old days!
I said it at the time, how many times do you see scrum x 5 with warnings and resets....then the defending team come up with something to deny the other. Regardless of Afoa’s fitness, he can hold an end up in a 5-10 second pushing competition. Very frustrating but they played it right, giving vital breathing time to their pack.
westwinds31 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:41 pm
I said it at the time, how many times do you see scrum x 5 with warnings and resets....then the defending team come up with something to deny the other. Regardless of Afoa’s fitness, he can hold an end up in a 5-10 second pushing competition. Very frustrating but they played it right, giving vital breathing time to their pack.
Agree 100%, the defending team gets so
many shots at winning a pen or at least just not conceding one. You have to be completely dominant with a ref who understands scrums for it to come off.
Think McPhilips did enough to keep on the books. Some of his kicks to touch were ultra-conservative, but I think I’d have him over Henry at 10. With Ford, Burns and McPhilips I’m guessing Henry drops to 4th choice at fly half and probably 3rd choice at full back behind Steward and Burns.
RichieB wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:30 pm
Think McPhilips did enough to keep on the books. Some of his kicks to touch were ultra-conservative, but I think I’d have him over Henry at 10. With Ford, Burns and McPhilips I’m guessing Henry drops to 4th choice at fly half and probably 3rd choice at full back behind Steward and Burns.
the style of attack we ran today was what we were sold Henry as being so I would like to see him in a team playing that way before I make up my mind personally
Scott1 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:12 pm
Did anyone ask Borths about Ford? Did any of the pundits mention him?
Think it was the radio that mentioned rumours over an achilles injury. I was listening on the radio on the way home and then turned on the TV when I got back so not 100% sure who said it.
Scott1 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:12 pm
Did anyone ask Borths about Ford? Did any of the pundits mention him?
Think it was the radio that mentioned rumours over an achilles injury. I was listening on the radio on the way home and then turned on the TV when I got back so not 100% sure who said it.
Thanks
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
Ignoring the abhoration at the end I think the result was a reflection of where we are at the moment. SB has taken us from the bottom of the league to the cusp of top 4 based on a functioning gnarly edgy pack. I say on the cusp because we are not there yet. Bristol are a top team because they had 4 chances and scored 4 tries. They also have Piutau , Radradra and Sheedy. That passing to Piutau from Sheedy is almost sleight of hand. I wasn’t the only Tigers fan that stood up and applauded that first Bristol Try.
Compared to Bristol we had multiple chances and failed on the final pass multiple times. As we did against Montpellier. If we’d been as clinical as Bristol we would have been 2 tries up in the first five minutes, never mind the rest of the game. And thats where we are, good defence with developing attack that now needs the precision and flair to always come away from the red zone with points as the top team do.
On a positive note:-
1. Our youngsters were excellent. McPhillips showed he’s now another selection headache. George Martin seems to have got his uumph back, Cam Henderson has definitely improving game on game and Freddie Steward is adding attacking runs to his outstanding catch. And he showed no fear in tackling Radradra at full speed. Brave!
2. Our pack is better with Montoya. It’s not TY is bad as he’s got his mojo back under Borthwick. It’s that Montoya is that good.
3. I made the effort to watch Moroni more today. The guy is everywhere, particularly in defence. We can’t afford to lose him.
4. Reffell. A true breakdown specialist. I’d have him as a dead cert for the starting XV.
5. Weise. I think teams are now focussing on Weise and trying to hit him early to nullify his threat. But that’s giving more space for the other “attacking forwards” such as Genge and Leibenburg so it’s not a bad thing.
6. Wells. If there is a prize for most improved player of the season it must be Wells. In fact I’d put him as player of the season. At the heart of every forward move. A true Tiger.
7. Leibenburg. My favourite player. He has it all. I’d make him Captain.
7. Wiggy, 300 is an incredible achievement. Bravo!
8. Great to see us trying to throw the ball wing to wing. If only we’d had Johnny May still!
A few worries:
1. Pace. Potter was unlucky. But where is our pace? And why does Scott keep messing up the final ball? Is a confidence thing?
2. Nadolo. Is Nemani carrying an injury? Though Nice to see how it looks with Kini and Nadolo on the wings.
3. Line Out. Bristol managed to successfully attack our line out a few times today, losing us good attacking position. Very discomforting. Would we have gone for the scrum if our line out had been working better at the end?
Overall. To me today showed that we finish this season as a mid table team on the cusp of being a top 4 chaser next season. I also think that other teams now know they are in for an uncomfortable time at WR which is an achievement in itself
And I am so so so SO looking forward to Tigers v Bristol “Revenge of the Crumbie” next season.
I watched the game this afternoon. I think I must have seen it in a different way to some others. I thought the lads played well. Very well in fact, because they very nearly turned over one of the top teams in the league. Okay, a few mistakes, and a few poor decisions were made, but worthy of some of the negative comments? Perhaps not. After nearly 60 years, I've not seen the perfect game, or player yet. 2003 got pretty close, perhaps because of the result. I've read a lot of testicles on the forum today, but I suppose that's what forums are for. Fortunately, some very good comments and posts too. I don't agree with the shenanigans that went on at the end, but the most important thing is it was a good, honest, committed performance by the boys which is far more important. On the subject of refereeing, you don't often hear winning supporters whinging. That's got to be the way forward.
At the end of the day forget all the shenanigans at the end of the game. Where the game was lost was the 14 quick points they scored just after we had dragged ourselves back, including an interception try.
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