PREM 25/26 - Round 13

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[Scotty]

Not high hopes for this one especially with Saints coming off a painful close loss. We wouldn't be favourites anyway.

I think Ikitau is getting closer to fitness.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Another week, another embarassing loss on the cards

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Exeter v Saints should be a cracker.
That and Bath v Quins are going to see some very fatigued bodies taking the field - though both might rotate heavily if the coaches see that as the best long term option.

Worth noting the next week is Saints v Bath in the Prem, before Saints get a rest week, and Bath travel to Bordeaux.
I'm very happy not to be responsible for those calls

 

[Saintjay]

Not high hopes for this one especially with Saints coming off a painful close loss. We wouldn't be favourites anyway.

I think Ikitau is getting closer to fitness.

Weirdly I feel the same for Saints. Exeter seem to match up to us well.

We are currently conceding over 30 a game I believe, which is a concern.

Slight favourites but really depends on where the boys heads are at after Bath.

 

[Scotty]

Weirdly I feel the same for Saints. Exeter seem to match up to us well.

We are currently conceding over 30 a game I believe, which is a concern.

Slight favourites but really depends on where the boys heads are at after Bath.

I think Saints and Bath are clear 1 and 2 this season(not sure which way round) and if you get a lead vs us as you did against bathbim noy sure we'd come back the same but well happy with how this season has gone, but be in a position to be at least 4th the end of this round regardless of other results is nice.

Alot of work to do and build on but its back to being good to be a Chiefs fan after a couple of rough seasons and a full rebuild.

 

[Seeker]

Bristol over Gloucester, unfortunately for me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Starting XV:
15. Tom Roebuck, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2. Ethan Caine, 3. James Harper, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Jos Gilmore, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements:
16. Alfie Longstaff, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Dylan Hodkinson, 20. Reuben Logan, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Tristan Woodman.

I guess, bro

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Martin is back
Ilione and Kata also close to coming back

Some heavy firepower

 

[Geordie]

I have a feeling its going to be a long day at the office for us....

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Bath Rugby v Harlequins
Referee: Sara Cox (14th game)
ARs: Matthew Carley & John Meredith
TMO: David Rose

Bath Rugby: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Santi Carreras

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Francois van Wyk., 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Tom Carr Smith, 22 Louie Hennessey, 23 Miles Reid

Quins: 15. Marcus Smith (191), 14. Nick David (88), 13. Luke Northmore (97) 12. Bryn Bradley (28), 11. Cadan Murley (146), 10. Jarrod Evans (47), 9. Lucas Friday (15)
1. Will Hobson (32), 2. George Turner (10), 3. Joe Jones (3), 4. Chandler Cunningham-South (45), 5. Kieran Treadwell (25), 6. Guido Petti Pagadizábal (14), 7. Jack Kenningham (92), 8. Alex Dombrandt © (172)

IMPACT PLAYERS: 16. Jack Walker (108) 17. Ethan Clarke (3), 18. Ollie Streeter (9), 19. Elliot Williams (8), 20. Zach Carr (28), 21. Will Evans (127), 22. Stu Townsend (7), 23. Sean Kerr (17)

 

[Geordie]

Newcastle

15 Josh Hodge, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Rhys Beeckmans, 11 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 10 Ben Healy, 9 James Elliott; 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 Ollie Fletcher, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Adam Scott, 6 Tom Gordon, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow.

Replacements: 16 Samson Adejimi, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Reuben Parsons, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Fergus Lee-Warner.

Not available for selection: Sammy Arnold, Eduardo Bello, Max Clark, Luan de Bruin, Connor Doherty, Ethan Grayson, Joel Grayson, Callum Hancock, Connor Hancock, Elvis Kitenge-Fuki, Freddie Lockwood, Amanaki Mafi, George McGuigan, Cameron Neild, Oli Spencer, Oscar Usher.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Newcastle

15 Josh Hodge, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Rhys Beeckmans, 11 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 10 Ben Healy, 9 James Elliott; 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 Ollie Fletcher, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Adam Scott, 6 Tom Gordon, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow.

Replacements: 16 Samson Adejimi, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Reuben Parsons, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Fergus Lee-Warner.

Not available for selection: Sammy Arnold, Eduardo Bello, Max Clark, Luan de Bruin, Connor Doherty, Ethan Grayson, Joel Grayson, Callum Hancock, Connor Hancock, Elvis Kitenge-Fuki, Freddie Lockwood, Amanaki Mafi, George McGuigan, Cameron Neild, Oli Spencer, Oscar Usher.

That is a very inexperienced front row really

 

[Saintjay]

Coys

 

[Brown Bottle]

Bath Rugby v Harlequins
...

Well, QC, what do you think?

On COML there are quite a few saying they think that's a strong Quins side. To me it's missing about 2/3 of our starting 23 and with 2 starters out of position.

I think we are probably going to get hammered, as do punters placing bets.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Well, QC, what do you think?

On COML there are quite a few saying they think that's a strong Quins side. To me it's missing about 2/3 of our starting 23 and with 2 starters out of position.

I think we are probably going to get hammered, as do punters placing bets.

Bath team is about as strong as we can put out. "Interesting" that we're starting our weaker props, with reinforcements on the bench - but JvG would have known about your propping crisis before selecting. Equally, it gives us a chance to start our hybrid lock/backrow, rather than starting our usual bench lock (but again, with reinforcement on the bench).
In the backs, on form, I think Lawrence is lucky to keep his place TBH.
At the end of the day, it's a home match, and we've gone as strong as available in the 23, if not in the XV.
I suspect we're looking at a very rotated team away to Saints next week, and going strong again for the losing battle against UBB.

As for Quins - I can't say that I'm up to date. I know you've an injury crisis a the moment, especially in the tight 5, but that backline still looks scary, so you feel like a banana skin - at least for the first 55 minutes.
Usually I'd be able to say more, but as I fall ever further out of love with club rugby, I watch ever less of it - not sure I've watched a non-Bath (club) match this year, and I've not even seen all of those. This would be unheard of for me as recently as a year ago, let alone pre-covid when I'd watch everything I could get in front of my eyes.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Marcus Smith at 15

His best position in my mind if he gets to play there week in week out.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Maybe injury necessitated, but I’m taking the line that SB has been busy leaning on people - CCS at 4, M at 15 and of genuine interest to me, AOF at 1. Will be really interested to see how he goes.

Great to see Martin back.

 

[Reiser99]

Maybe injury necessitated, but I’m taking the line that SB has been busy leaning on people - CCS at 4, M at 15 and of genuine interest to me, AOF at 1. Will be really interested to see how he goes.

Great to see Martin back.

It is great to see Martin back. Let's hope England let him find some form and fitness first.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

and of genuine interest to me, AOF at 1

That's injury related tbf, we've only got two senior props fit

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Fasogbon looks like he’s still beating Genge in the scrum.

 

[Geordie]

Fasogbon looks like he’s still beating Genge in the scrum.

But doing **** all else. Another Ehren Painter at the moment.

 

[Geordie]

Newcastle

15 Josh Hodge, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Rhys Beeckmans, 11 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 10 Ben Healy, 9 James Elliott; 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 Ollie Fletcher, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Adam Scott, 6 Tom Gordon, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow.

Replacements: 16 Samson Adejimi, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Reuben Parsons, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Fergus Lee-Warner.

Not available for selection: Sammy Arnold, Eduardo Bello, Max Clark, Luan de Bruin, Connor Doherty, Ethan Grayson, Joel Grayson, Callum Hancock, Connor Hancock, Elvis Kitenge-Fuki, Freddie Lockwood, Amanaki Mafi, George McGuigan, Cameron Neild, Oli Spencer, Oscar Usher.

That is a very inexperienced front row really

We've been playing alot of the kids for a while now. We have some talented lads and they Probably feel it's better to expose them to this level than the dross more experienced players were dishing up.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Gloucester looking pretty pants in the first half. I missed the premiership rugby but this is disappointing so far albeit I’m enjoying the game as a neutral.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Scuffle at half time between Fasogbon and Genge, they really don’t get on for some reason.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

That's injury related tbf, we've only got two senior props fit

Guessed it was a forced hand. But even so I’m still v interested to see how he goes. I know his preference but I just have a gut instinct that he could be better at LH.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I’ve never watched Ibitoye and thought he looked like an international player. Always makes basic mistakes.

 

[PremRugbyScorigami]

Bristol 53-12 Gloucester

SCORIGAMI!

This is the first instance of this score in Prem Rugby history

 

[Deleted member 91904]

Has something gone wrong or is Newcastle's new-ish owners waiting for next season to make a good team?

 

[Welsh Exile]

Scuffle at half time between Fasogbon and Genge, they really don’t get on for some reason.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take it personally a few years back when he waved at me when I was walking off the pitch,” said Genge.

I saw him grab Jim [second-row James Dunn]. I think he said he was breaking something up but I don’t know.

I think I’m sometimes tarnished with the brush of a hot head but I think the animosity and violence in rugby is what people crave. We should embody it and not shy away from it.”