MrPartridge wrote:I've said in the Quins v Tigers string we don't 'roll the dice ' enough. Totally agree with others that there was a great opportunity to swap Matera for Parling and move Slater to 8. Missed the chance and it couldn't have gone worse!
Slater would have gone straight to the blindside, just as he was (along with Parling as it happens) when he joined the club.
All those in the "he's a liability" camp may like to cast their mind back to our last "liability" who could have cost us dear - Manu ruling himself out of the premiership final in 2011. Who knows what could have occurred in the final had he not over reacted to Mr Ashton's gentle shove.
People should retain a bit of perspective; yes he's an international (albeit still a tyro), but as another poster has said, his experience of week-in week-out intense club rugby is still less than 6 months.
Give the lad a chance. Hopefully the finances will allow the club to do the same
Could not agree with this more!
Matera is a class back row player and top class flanker in the Richard Hill mould IMO, he is a real dog. A few others could do with looking at his anticipation and workrate around the park, particularly at the breakdown. Often I have seen Matera sniff a turnover only to be let down by a lack of supporting players who did not read the game on his level or were just to lazy to put their head in!
It's ridiculous that people are claiming this after a borderline illegal clearout. Before RWC 2011, what he did wouldn't even have been looked at. It's not as if he's lashed out at anyone.
One thing to bear in mind.... if TTTE hadn't blotted his copy book in Clermont he would probably have been on the bench and thus the natural replacement when Crane went off. Of course, it's always possible he too may have transgressed!
