Quins v Saints

[Adam_P]

Awful first halfs from Mallinder and Tuala. Tuala is great going forward but simply cannot defend on the wing. Mallinder is so frustrating as he produces brilliant things, but also many terrible mistakes

[Mikey Brown]

Grim for mallinder jnr.

I'm struggling to watch it to be honest.

I have nothing against the guy. He's very talented. Hard not to laugh though.

he may be talented, but imo he needs a re-boot. Hopefully the new head coach will give him a kick up the 'arris!!

Aye. I mean he's currently more Billy Twelvetrees than Twelvetrees ever was.

[Oakboy]

I agree that Mallinder is embarrassingly poor but how the hell does Francis get in the England squad? Myler was always one of the worst FHs in the AP. Saints had to try hard to find an even worse one in Francis.

[Adam_P]

Care shouldn't be on the field. He avoided a yellow for a deliberate knock on just because saints managed to score themselves during the advantage. Then he scores.

[padprop]

I agree that Mallinder is embarrassingly poor but how the hell does Francis get in the England squad? Myler was always one of the worst FHs in the AP. Saints had to try hard to find an even worse one in Francis.

Because of the rugby world's lore over super rugby and the mistaken belief that if any player is able to play in that league is international class.

[Banquo]

I'm struggling to watch it to be honest.

I have nothing against the guy. He's very talented. Hard not to laugh though.

he may be talented, but imo he needs a re-boot. Hopefully the new head coach will give him a kick up the 'arris!!

Aye. I mean he's currently more Billy Twelvetrees than Twelvetrees ever was.

at least Billy is happy to tackle.

[padprop]

Care shouldn't be on the field. He avoided a yellow for a deliberate knock on just because saints managed to score themselves during the advantage. Then he scores.

I dont think he deliberately knocked it forward though, its quite an obscure part of the rule but I thought he meant to knock it backwards, as his hands clearly flapped back. If the ball then happens due go forwards despite a player trying to knock it back, is it a deliberate knock on?

[Banquo]

Gaffney has a sh*t ton of work to do. Saints lacking heart amongst other things

[Banquo]

Nutley nobs it

[Mikey Brown]

Great to see Wallace back for a few minutes. But surely you can't go on the pitch with a chop-stick in your hair?

[Digby]

Quins can even look at this game and bemoan a few dominant scrums another ref would've given them pens for, but JP in wanting them to play saw them balls up really positive chances to play and put themselves under pressure, all Quins fault, but they could easily have had an even better game

[Adam_P]

Kill me.

[Banquo]

Kill me.

....too good to go down...

[padprop]

From an outward observer who doesn't watch much of Saints, a huge issue is they have no one of any serious threat or gas in the backline, apart from Tuala who can be patchy at best. Added to the fact that they don't have many effective carriers in the forwards, it doesn't equate to a great end product.

[fivepointer]

Gaffney has a sh*t ton of work to do. Saints lacking heart amongst other things

thats what struck me. some of their players just didnt want to know. The urgency and energy levels were way below what is required at this level. Some of the tries scored and ground made were far too easy. Yards were routinely given up without anyone challenging the ball carrier.
Come on Saints, you are a big club and have plenty of good players at your disposal. You simply have to be better than this.

[Banquo]

From an outward observer who doesn't watch much of Saints, a huge issue is they have no one of any serious threat or gas in the backline, apart from Tuala who can be patchy at best. Added to the fact that they don't have many effective carriers in the forwards, it doesn't equate to a great end product.

that, and missing 40% of tackles over the match, and a lineout imploding.

[Adam_P]

From an outward observer who doesn't watch much of Saints, a huge issue is they have no one of any serious threat or gas in the backline, apart from Tuala who can be patchy at best. Added to the fact that they don't have many effective carriers in the forwards, it doesn't equate to a great end product.

Collins and Reinach are our only top end gas. Tuala should not play on the wing until he leans to trust his inside man in defence and not bite in and leave the oppo winger free to go.

Harrison carries above his weight, but is not that heavy. I thought Ford-Robinson was going to be better in the loose than he has been.

[twitchy]

[Banquo]

I agree that Mallinder is embarrassingly poor but how the hell does Francis get in the England squad? Myler was always one of the worst FHs in the AP. Saints had to try hard to find an even worse one in Francis.

Because of the rugby world's lore over super rugby and the mistaken belief that if any player is able to play in that league is international class.

...or that like many, if playing in a half decent side, a talented ball player can perform a lot better than in a shambolic one.

[padprop]

I agree that Mallinder is embarrassingly poor but how the hell does Francis get in the England squad? Myler was always one of the worst FHs in the AP. Saints had to try hard to find an even worse one in Francis.

Because of the rugby world's lore over super rugby and the mistaken belief that if any player is able to play in that league is international class.

...or that like many, if playing in a half decent side, a talented ball player can perform a lot better than in a shambolic one.

It's all well and good saying that, but it was clear to see Northampton improved when Myler came on, whether that be chance or Myler having an effect who is to say.

Fact of the matter is Francis has now had over half a season to impress and is yet to put in a significant impact from a much lauded new zealand franchise fly half.

[Banquo]

Because of the rugby world's lore over super rugby and the mistaken belief that if any player is able to play in that league is international class.

...or that like many, if playing in a half decent side, a talented ball player can perform a lot better than in a shambolic one.

It's all well and good saying that, but it was clear to see Northampton improved when Myler came on, whether that be chance or Myler having an effect who is to say.

Fact of the matter is Francis has now had over half a season to impress and is yet to put in a significant impact from a much lauded new zealand franchise fly half.

possibly because he is playing in a shyte team. Its not exactly rocket science. If you are trying to say New Zealand franchises aren't very good, good luck. He's also not been playing 10 that much, in fact not played that much at all. And yes, it is all well and good saying that

[morepork]

...or that like many, if playing in a half decent side, a talented ball player can perform a lot better than in a shambolic one.

It's all well and good saying that, but it was clear to see Northampton improved when Myler came on, whether that be chance or Myler having an effect who is to say.

Fact of the matter is Francis has now had over half a season to impress and is yet to put in a significant impact from a much lauded new zealand franchise fly half.

possibly because he is playing in a shyte team. Its not exactly rocket science. If you are trying to say New Zealand franchises aren't very good, good luck. He's also not been playing 10 that much, in fact not played that much at all. And yes, it is all well and good saying that

The Blues are pretty wank.

[Banquo]

It's all well and good saying that, but it was clear to see Northampton improved when Myler came on, whether that be chance or Myler having an effect who is to say.

Fact of the matter is Francis has now had over half a season to impress and is yet to put in a significant impact from a much lauded new zealand franchise fly half.

possibly because he is playing in a shyte team. Its not exactly rocket science. If you are trying to say New Zealand franchises aren't very good, good luck. He's also not been playing 10 that much, in fact not played that much at all. And yes, it is all well and good saying that

The Blues are pretty wank.

They'd still fare quite well here. Anyway, Francis has looked decent playing for a half decent team, namely England, so jumping all over him playing in a shockingly bad and heartless team like Saints seems harsh; I'd look elsewhere to lash out....the pack were pretty gutless and Mallinder is simply shot imo.

[Adam_P]

Because of the rugby world's lore over super rugby and the mistaken belief that if any player is able to play in that league is international class.

...or that like many, if playing in a half decent side, a talented ball player can perform a lot better than in a shambolic one.

It's all well and good saying that, but it was clear to see Northampton improved when Myler came on, whether that be chance or Myler having an effect who is to say.

Fact of the matter is Francis has now had over half a season to impress and is yet to put in a significant impact from a much lauded new zealand franchise fly half.

He has started only 3 games at 10 I believe...

[Oakboy]

...or that like many, if playing in a half decent side, a talented ball player can perform a lot better than in a shambolic one.

It's all well and good saying that, but it was clear to see Northampton improved when Myler came on, whether that be chance or Myler having an effect who is to say.

Fact of the matter is Francis has now had over half a season to impress and is yet to put in a significant impact from a much lauded new zealand franchise fly half.

He has started only 3 games at 10 I believe...

But, somebody took a selection decision to start him there! Regardless of how poor Saints might be as a team unit, Francis looked hopeless. I have seen posts on this board saying that Parisse will always look a star in such a poor Italy team. Lawes looked a good player yesterday. Wood looked poor. Basically, a good player looks good wherever and whenever (and vice-versa), IMO. I never said Francis made Saints a bad team but he sure as hell looked a considerably worse FH than Myler which takes some doing.