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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:05:18:14:09 by Darraghgirl.

I’d imagine we’ll be targeting Bristol and home and the two European games ahead of this one so don’t see any risks being taken.
Is Tom Parton injured? Not been seen the last few weeks and would be a good option as he played really well there last season.
I’m still miffed at the ticket prices so this will be the first game I’ve chosen to miss in nearly 3 years.

Saracens Men team to play Bath Rugby:

1 Phil Brantingham

2 Jamie George

3 Fraser Balmain

4 Maro Itoje (c)

5 Nick Isiekwe

6 Theo McFarland

7 Toby Knight

8 Ben Earl

9 Gareth Simpson

10 Fergus Burke

11 Rotimi Segun

12 Olly Hartley

13 Alex Lozowski

14 Tobias Elliott

15 Liam Williams

Replacements:

16 Kapeli Pifeleti

17 Eroni Mawi

18 Alec Clarey

19 Harry Wilson

20 Nathan Michelow

21 Ivan van Zyl

22 Sam Spink

23 Angus Hall


Players Rested:

Rhys Carre, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Nick Tompkins, Lucio Cinti

Players Unavailable:

Alex Goode, Andy Onyeama-Christie, Elliot Daly, Hugh Tizard, James Hadfield, Louie Johnson, Marco Riccioni, Tom Willis, Theo Dan

Bath Rugby: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Cameron Redpath, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Sam Underhill, 21, Louis Schreuder, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Miles Reid

A formidable task has been made even more so by the team selected. However I think Bards analysis is probably correct

So that's just the eleven players rested or unavailable that would normally be in the 23! As said by gerry1 it is now a formidable task. Bench in particular may struggle to make an impact. Hopefully no serious injuries to Tom Willis, Elliot Daly and Theo Dan and they are back for next week.

Mark McCall i would guess targeting second place so Bristol is the one he is going to try and win - and if it allows Bath to top the table comfortably it does not make a huge difference at play offs time.

Agree, rotation and a few key players rested for Bristol and then Munster.

So, what's the difference between rested & unavailable? Clearly some on the unavailable list are injured, so does that mean Theo & Tom have knocks too?

This will be a very close game. Not sure who will come out winners.

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viewfromthe22
So, what's the difference between rested & unavailable? Clearly some on the unavailable list are injured, so does that mean Theo & Tom have knocks too?

Hm, that’s new from The Fish, actually showing who could not be picked - about time they did this like the other clubs. Thanks.

Parton on neither list which is odd

One thing is for sure - sarries will need to be on form, no matter who our starting lineup is!

Absolutely right …but having seen the Bristol result at home vs Sale , there can always be surprises ….

Not feeling very confident ahead of this kick off but there is plenty of talent in our starting XV so hopefully they can surprise me against what looks like a very strong Bath XV.

Karl Dickson once again refereeing only one team.

Not sure that was a 🟥, yes a 🟨

Mitigation that OL was dipping.

Brian O’Driscoll thought along similar lines. Unforgettable start though with a yellow card, penalty try and two injuries to 2 players and then the red! A BPwould be a bonus!

Happy Christmas everyone

Definitely not getting the rub of the green from Dickson. That last knock on went backwards off Hall

I fancy us beating Bath with a full team out there on another day. im not crazy on the commentary. We should have had a put in and the BT commentary seem to be a little one sided. They tend to play video ref as well.
I agree with a poster with Mark M keeping players for the Bristol and getting the win at home.

Merry Christmas 🎅 everyone

HT 28-03

Dickson doing his usual anti-Sarries Dickson things... Cocks up a knock on call, even admits it and doesn't reverse the put in, which leads directly to a try. Ignores calls from his ARs about Bath being offside...

Absolute nightmare

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Sarriebone
HT 28-03
Dickson doing his usual anti-Sarries Dickson things... Cocks up a knock on call, even admits it and doesn't reverse the put in, which leads directly to a try. Ignores calls from his ARs about Bath being offside...

We’ve actually got an impressive record with Dickson as referee.

Said it before the game, we should have brought a full Prem Cup team today and rested up the internationals for next week.

Lost 2 starters to injury already, with Isiekwe also looking like he’s struggling - big trouble going forward if either Itoje or Earl gets injured

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MarkCol7

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Sarriebone
HT 28-03
Dickson doing his usual anti-Sarries Dickson things... Cocks up a knock on call, even admits it and doesn't reverse the put in, which leads directly to a try. Ignores calls from his ARs about Bath being offside...

We’ve actually got an impressive record with Dickson as referee.

Said it before the game, we should have brought a full Prem Cup team today and rested up the internationals for next week.

Lost 2 starters to injury already, with Isiekwe also looking like he’s struggling - big trouble going forward if either Itoje or Earl gets injured

Getting results despite him is impressive

Even with 15 we wouldn’t match Baths power or pace today.

I do wish we knew how to fashion a line break though. We’re going to lose, and it’s going to ugly - what’re we learning from these constant grubbers and chips? Nothing. And it isn’t as if they’re working for us so far.

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Sarries/BebeRexhafan
This will be a very close game. Not sure who will come out winners.

Meanwhile at the Rec

It's a very one sided game which is a shame as any neutral not getting a fair view of the relative merit of the two teams on view. Bath fully stacked and Sarries clearly not and any marginal decisions not going their way. Abit of a boring game as a result.

Shows the madness of having a hybrid side.

Get smoked plus pick up key injuries

We are disrupted; we are down to 14…

But, it’s still only 15 v 14 — we haven’t a clue how to fashion a line break or how to win the gain line or to create space. Ball from the breakdown is slow and then we just kick it. No wonder they’ve had 65% possession, we just give it to them.

As BOD said - watching this looks like we’re more than just 1 player down.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:12:28:14:01:28 by #wolfpack1.

Very very disappointed in the way we're playing...or rather not. No shame in losing to the better side (and let's face it, we will be losing) but the way we're playing is really poor. Sorry but despite what others may think, I am not a fan of our new fly half. I'm happy to have my mind changed but currently, he simply isn't good enough. Does the occasional good thing but then makes far too many mistakes and shows poor judgment.

Gave up watching before half time, when they scored number three. Couldn't face anymore

Sam Spink … bit of space … prop in front of him…

Kicks it

Now Pifelti is kicking it…

And they come straight back to score.

Pathetic effort.

Can’t wait for all the Karl Dickson excuses…

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Stonexjim
Can’t wait for all the Karl Dickson excuses…

Sorry, but there's simply no excuse for Karl Dickson...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:12:28:14:34:57 by Harrow Sarrie.

Absolutely dreadful performance.

Slightly weakened team, red card, early injuries etc no mitigation for that.

A team with no power, no pace and absolutely no ideas whatsoever. A proper rethink of our attacking game is desperately needed. We can’t just keep kicking the ball away and hoping for a decent bounce.

We really do not have a clue how to fashion a line break or actually create a try from several phases of possession.

This calendar year we have been on the wrong side of a number of very bad drubbings. All we see is chat about “togetherness” and “energy”. I hope they’re thinking a bit more seriously about it

Totally and utterly agree with everything Wolfpack says.

Name one positive that Kevin sorrell and Joe shaw have brought to our backline in the last two years? Answer-zero.

Yet we couldn’t possibly criticise him as he’s a club legend! In the coaches I must trust! Well sorry at the moment I don’t fully.

Yet I’m sure many will blame Karl Dickson or say “its a transition year”.

Removing Farrell from the conversation altogether, Fergus Burke is frankly not good enough. Needs IVZ to babysit him and has no variation to his game thereby putting pressure on the centres and stalling any forward momentum. Pants goal kicker too.
Don’t know much about Johnson but once he’s fit then the 10 shirt is his to play for.

I am just glad I stopped watching after the red card. Was always going to be a big ask but the first 15 minutes could not have gone worse and from the 14th minute it was effectively a dead game. Kicking through with a very strong wind and an artificial pitch is a very different proposition to no wind and a grass pitch. It’s like the team don’t have more than one game plan
I can’t comment on Dickson as I didn’t see much of him but I thought the red card was harsh as OL had fallen quite a bit before he was tackled.

I think you are all being very unfair on Fergus - imho he was player of the match against Saints . Today he had no chance with a pack in retreat and a player down …I think he will be great once he has fully settled in , and if someone else has to take over the goal kicking pro tem so be it …

In today’s game, it was a red card all day long. Why did it take so long before we began competing against their line out?
Big hats off to Maro. He never gave up but games like this, coupled with injuries, demonstrate how exposed we are to our first 15

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OTsarrie
I think you are all being very unfair on Fergus - imho he was player of the match against Saints . Today he had no chance with a pack in retreat and a player down …I think he will be great once he has fully settled in , and if someone else has to take over the goal kicking pro tem so be it …

He can tackle and makes the odd line break but otherwise there is no movement or deception in attack and it’s a piece of pish to defend against. How often do we end up kicking possession away because we’ve run out of ideas? The Northampton game plan worked but that was extreme conditions….

Not writing Fergus off yet, but he does really struggle to inject pace into the game. The goalkicking is a real issue because it means we have to find someone else to do it.
Loz is not our best 13. If Spink starts to go well, then he isn’t our second best 13 either.

For some reason they aren’t giving the boot to Daly.

So….

The lack of attention to attack goes further than him though. Ball from the ruck - always slow. Physicality of the centres - weak. Involvement of the wingers - negligible.

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wolfgangvonb77
I fancy us beating Bath with a full team out there on another day.

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lineoutball

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wolfgangvonb77
I fancy us beating Bath with a full team out there on another day.

Agree with lineoutball.

Want some of what you’ve been stuffing the Christmas turkey with

That was just awful to watch, you just hope the injuries arent serious.Does every player have to get sent off before they learn how to tackle? Next week Bristol with a point to prove after Friday doesnt bode well. Europe looks like a pipe dream when we play someone good.

A couple of minor positives from an other wise awful day - Harry Wilson impressive when he came in, so too Mitch. And big Olly showed some glimpses. Brants also impressed. Might struggle for locks next week!

Well done Bath, but would be a different story if we were at full strength.

Can’t really complain about rub of the green as we had most of them last week. Does annoy me when refs get things wrong and the ARs don’t call out opposition infringing at scrum.

Very poor from Liam to give the PT away. Thought the forwards generally did ok, Maro outstanding in a hopelessly lost cause. But as soon as they got the ball beyond 12 with an extra man they were always going to score.
Michelow and Hartley went OK, but a very daunting afternoon for Angus Hall.
We could be down in 6th by the end of the weekend…

Brantingham stood up well against Du Toit so we look well stocked at LH but TH we look very exposed especially as Marco hasn’t really regained any consistent form since his major injury.
Michelow off the pace for me (granted he’s not had much game time and tough opposition) but what has happened to Earl this season? Over played? Man marked or struggling to replicate some exceptional form from years gone by?
Wilson looks like fun. Reminds me of a younger dombrandt - in need of some conditioning to last longer than 40 mins?
Sanjay out done by a brilliant kick from Russell - he was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. Hindsight wonderful in those situations and with the benefit of multiple slow motion replays…

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#wolfpack1
Not writing Fergus off yet, but he does really struggle to inject pace into the game. The goalkicking is a real issue because it means we have to find someone else to do it.
Loz is not our best 13. If Spink starts to go well, then he isn’t our second best 13 either.

For some reason they aren’t giving the boot to Daly.

So….

The lack of attention to attack goes further than him though. Ball from the ruck - always slow. Physicality of the centres - weak. Involvement of the wingers - negligible.

Some of it true today, but none of it true last week against Saints. I think your diagnosis is wrong - it starts in the pack........

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samgibbo
Sanjay out done by a brilliant kick from Russell - he was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. Hindsight wonderful in those situations and with the benefit of multiple slow motion replays…

Yes but why do experienced players do this?
'..if he didn't' would have resulted in 5 points, maybe 7.
Since '...he did' it was a definite 7 and a red card. This happens too often with the props in the 5 metre zone (maybe less often this season than last).

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AlanE2

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#wolfpack1
Not writing Fergus off yet, but he does really struggle to inject pace into the game. The goalkicking is a real issue because it means we have to find someone else to do it.
Loz is not our best 13. If Spink starts to go well, then he isn’t our second best 13 either.

For some reason they aren’t giving the boot to Daly.

So….

The lack of attention to attack goes further than him though. Ball from the ruck - always slow. Physicality of the centres - weak. Involvement of the wingers - negligible.

Some of it true today, but none of it true last week against Saints. I think your diagnosis is wrong - it starts in the pack........

I disagree. How many tries last week were the result of a line break, or the creation of space and not either an effort from the forwards or a kick where the bounce went our way? None.

You only have to watch Quins away as an example of how blunt our attack is. In this game the forwards tried to bludgeon their way over the line but Quins ‘grew a pair’ and barred up in defence. Zero creativity in the back line and Burke always seems to be static when he takes the ball rather than running onto it with any pace. So so easy to defend against and I’m not sure that’s something the coaches can easily change. I’d love to be proven wrong but it looks like Burke’s style is to ship the ball onto a one out runner who then gets smashed. The next few phases tend to move laterally then we either kick a grubber or put up a high ball….

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Stonexjim

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lineoutball

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wolfgangvonb77
I fancy us beating Bath with a full team out there on another day.

Agree with lineoutball.

Want some of what you’ve been stuffing the Christmas turkey with

Well we had quite a few players missing and we missed Willis punching a hole in the middle of defences. We should have rested Maro and Ben as well. It's a shame Tobius went off with his injury as he going to develop into one hell of a player. He reminds me of Ashy.
I stand by that, we can beat any team on our day at full capacity. If we take a pasting today and manage to make it to a final I'd be happy. We also have players that will take time to bed in. Some don't always hit the ground running.
Watching the game last week at the Stone X we blew away Nothampton before we let them get a bonus point with lapses of concentration. We were hitting gaps and space against them.

We went with a weakened team and then everything that possibly could go wrong did go wrong , so best to forget this one and move on to Bristol next week .
As an aside there were some pretty unfortunate bounces of the ball - plastic pitch anyone ?

A reminder that we are in transition but still in the mix for top 4. Fergus needs to be allowed to run things, not babysat by IVZ. If we had had 15 men all game I think we would see a different dynamic with Gareth at 9, Fergus at 10 and Olly at 12.

Big week building up to Jinx’s 300th. Lots of negativity on here three big games coming up so back the boys and the coaches. They know what they are doing.

Quote:

dirtybertie
Big week building up to Jinx’s 300th. Lots of negativity on here three big games coming up so back the boys and the coaches. They know what they are doing.

Despise comments like this.

Of course I will back them as I do at every home game.

What evidence from today did they show they know what they’re doing?

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Stonexjim

Quote:

dirtybertie
Big week building up to Jinx’s 300th. Lots of negativity on here three big games coming up so back the boys and the coaches. They know what they are doing.

Despise comments like this.

Of course I will back them as I do at every home game.

What evidence from today did they show they know what they’re doing?

I think 99.9% of people will judge them over a rather bigger sample than one game or even one season.
We’ve just had 3 excellent victories

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The Bard

Quote:

Stonexjim

Quote:

dirtybertie
Big week building up to Jinx’s 300th. Lots of negativity on here three big games coming up so back the boys and the coaches. They know what they are doing.

Despise comments like this.

Of course I will back them as I do at every home game.

What evidence from today did they show they know what they’re doing?

I think 99.9% of people will judge them over a rather bigger sample than one game or even one season.
We’ve just had 3 excellent victories

We’ve also lost 4 of the last 6 in the league. The Leicester effort was good. The others were absolutely abject including against a side which had previously won one game in 2 seasons.

Let’s not get over excited about a win against Stade away either. That’s a team at the bottom of the Top14 who played most of the game with 14 men. We didn’t exactly blow them away.

The negativity is justified imo. How are we scoring? What’s the plan?

“Give it to Tom, and then kick it” is literally all I can see at the moment.

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tigersimon
Not sure that was a 🟥, yes a 🟨
Mitigation that OL was dipping.

There's an old joke:

Scotsman drops a 10p, bends over to pick it up...hits him on the back of the head.

Could have been a red or a yellow (there was significant "dip" by OL into the tackle) but what was frustrating was the speed at which the red card was out and the total absence of any input from the other officials allowed by Dick(son).

Even more frustrating when Matthew Carley, who again can be very trigger-happy, has just followed the correct protocol to the letter with Kata in the Quins/Tigers game.

Wouldn't have changed the result though. Creative men against non-creative boys today.

It must be very difficult, even for professionals, to be in the right head space when we've rested or rotated so many players and quite obviously sent a weakened team to Bath almost expecting to lose and keeping powder dry for Bristol. Add in early cards, injuries and trys and you're on a hiding to nothing. Two teams with a point to prove next week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:12:28:19:05:27 by Eric Browett.

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Stonexjim

Quote:

dirtybertie
Big week building up to Jinx’s 300th. Lots of negativity on here three big games coming up so back the boys and the coaches. They know what they are doing.

Despise comments like this.

Of course I will back them as I do at every home game.

What evidence from today did they show they know what they’re doing?

I understand your frustration, and I respect your commitment to supporting the team. Everyone has their own perspective, and while today may not have been perfect, we all want to see improvement. I believe there’s always room for growth, and I’m hopeful that with continued backing, we’ll see the progress we’re all hoping for.

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dirtybertie

Quote:

Stonexjim

Quote:

dirtybertie
Big week building up to Jinx’s 300th. Lots of negativity on here three big games coming up so back the boys and the coaches. They know what they are doing.

Despise comments like this.

Of course I will back them as I do at every home game.

What evidence from today did they show they know what they’re doing?

I understand your frustration, and I respect your commitment to supporting the team. Everyone has their own perspective, and while today may not have been perfect, we all want to see improvement. I believe there’s always room for growth, and I’m hopeful that with continued backing, we’ll see the progress we’re all hoping for.

Well said!

Freak ish match for us. A one off. Forget. Move on to next week.

Still think the comments about a blunt attack are correct though, we haven't had an attack that opens up defences in a long time

I missed the game (fortunately perfhaps) but saw the red card which seems harsh in the context of this season. Sounds like familiar failings to the Newcastle match which is disappointing despite the circumstances.

We have a concerning number of injuries and absences racking up. People listed as unavailable (not rested) for this week were Goode, AOC, Daly, Tizard, Hadfield, Johnson, Riccioni, Willis and Dan. Add on Eilliott, McFarland, Williams and Knight from this week and we’re almost at a full XV! Also, Maro going to be able to play after the six nations with the number of matches he’s playing? George, Isiekwe and Earl can’t be too far behind him either.

We have handled the loss of a number of key players well but the luck ran out yesterday. Squad roatarion is essential and Bath away is a reasonable sacrifice in this league if it is the difference between making the play offs and not.

I'm happy with where we are in a "building" year. We are not in a position like the early 2000's where there was mathematical possibility of relegation going into last couple of games.

I'm sure MM will get the team up on Monday morning and encourage them to only look back at what has gone badly in the last three games. Top 2 in the league is still a valid target

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TommyKentish
I missed the game (fortunately perfhaps) but saw the red card which seems harsh in the context of this season. Sounds like familiar failings to the Newcastle match which is disappointing despite the circumstances.
We have a concerning number of injuries and absences racking up. People listed as unavailable (not rested) for this week were Goode, AOC, Daly, Tizard, Hadfield, Johnson, Riccioni, Willis and Dan. Add on Eilliott, McFarland, Williams and Knight from this week and we’re almost at a full XV! Also, Maro going to be able to play after the six nations with the number of matches he’s playing? George, Isiekwe and Earl can’t be too far behind him either.

Add Isiekwe on to the injured list, my word.

Maro has played 12 games so far.

Possible future appearances
5 6N games
7 Premiership games (will miss 2 games - one training camp prior to 6N, one rest post 6N)
Up to 2 Prem playoff games
Europe - 2 pool games and up to 4 pool games

So a maximum of 32 games before the Lions if you reach two finals against the maximum of 30 appearances.

Olamide Sodeke no longer playing for Ampthill this afternoon.
No reason given.

Lots of negativity here. We’re unbeaten in Europe and fourth in the league, level on points with Sale in third place. Yesterday’s team changes backfired but a win next week will be a big step forward.
Happy and peaceful New Year to everyone.

Supporting Saracens for over 55 years.

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Supporting Saracens for over 50 years.
Lots of negativity here. We’re unbeaten in Europe and fourth in the league, level on points with Sale in third place. Yesterday’s team changes backfired but a win next week will be a big step forward. L

Well said!!

Only 29 years for me

Flavman: we scored the third most points in the league *last year*. The year before that we scored the most points in the league. I think that's a bit of an overreaction.

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nedrichards
Flavman: we scored the third most points in the league *last year*. The year before that we scored the most points in the league. I think that's a bit of an overreaction.

This.

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nedrichards
Flavman: we scored the third most points in the league *last year*. The year before that we scored the most points in the league. I think that's a bit of an overreaction.

This is interesting though.

2 seasons ago we did have a very potent attacking game. We looked really great, running from deep, offloading, keeping the ball in hand etc. And we won the league.

What happened? We certainly don’t play that way any more. We don’t even try to play that way.

well.........thanks to Quins, Tigers and Chiefs that hammering yesterday didn't punish our position too much!

SUPPORT Help for Heroes:
Help for Heroes

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#wolfpack1

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nedrichards
Flavman: we scored the third most points in the league *last year*. The year before that we scored the most points in the league. I think that's a bit of an overreaction.

This is interesting though.

2 seasons ago we did have a very potent attacking game. We looked really great, running from deep, offloading, keeping the ball in hand etc. And we won the league.

What happened? We certainly don’t play that way any more. We don’t even try to play that way.

I agree, but the team in key positions has changed quite significantly in that time. Our two wingers, while not - or no longer - the quickest - were key to how the moves finished; Alex Goode was still at the top of his game coming in at first or second receiver; Mako and Billy were putting us well on the front foot; and of course Owen Faz was excellent in the way he fizzed passes and came into a move two or three times.

But to pick up your point, Ivan is no longer delivering the ball as quickly from the breakdown. Two seasons ago we had the fastest speed from the breakdown at c 2 seconds with a best of iirc 1.7 seconds across a whole match. I put that down to the forwards not positioning properly but others will see it as a backs issue. I suspect the team at the time decided they could play like that and were going to do so (having not done so in the previous Final against Leicester).

We have not quite replicated any of that yet, though I think we have seen flashes of it at times, most recently against Saints in the first half last week when we were very fast on to the ball and in moving it. hopefully they can build on that going forward

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TommyKentish

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TommyKentish
I missed the game (fortunately perfhaps) but saw the red card which seems harsh in the context of this season. Sounds like familiar failings to the Newcastle match which is disappointing despite the circumstances.
We have a concerning number of injuries and absences racking up. People listed as unavailable (not rested) for this week were Goode, AOC, Daly, Tizard, Hadfield, Johnson, Riccioni, Willis and Dan. Add on Eilliott, McFarland, Williams and Knight from this week and we’re almost at a full XV! Also, Maro going to be able to play after the six nations with the number of matches he’s playing? George, Isiekwe and Earl can’t be too far behind him either.

Add Isiekwe on to the injured list, my word.

Add Liam and Tobias on to the injured list.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:12:29:22:46:23 by nicsue.

Searching for a silver lining......didn't Angus Hall speak well after the match. And he must have learnt so much from playing longer than expected in that game.

While I'm not expecting any silverware this season, the exposure it's giving to our youth is going to be so valuable going forward. For as long as I've been watching Sarries, we've never had a young crop of backs that we've... well, backed! Seeing Tobias, Brandon, Angus, Hartley, Spink, and hopefully more of C. Bracken and Johnson getting game-time is going to allow us to expand our attacking play over the next couple of years in a way it wouldn't have done if we'd persisted with, say, Goodey, Lewi, Sean (as amazing as they have been for us). If someone like Angus has a dozen premiership games under his belt by the end of next season, then the experience and togetherness of this team is only going to grow.

I think there are some fair points, especially Alan and MonaghanBoy align with my thoughts. For the kind of rugby we saw a couple of years back familiarity and experience really do matter - but also as we saw a bit last year you do need 'enough' pace. That only comes a little bit with game and practice time (as well as natural skill etc) but equally you have to 'have it' for that time to be worthwhile. From a pure salary cap perspective the league has said 'wingers can be young and not the highest paid players' so letting someone like Tom P go to Japan if we think that Angus has been doing well and we've all seen Tobias and Brandon already makes sense.

How I feel about Saturdays game will to a large extent be rewritten depending on how the result goes against Bristol. Win that and it'll be a wise choice to rest players over a busy festive period. Lose it and...

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MonaghanBoy
While I'm not expecting any silverware this season, the exposure it's giving to our youth is going to be so valuable going forward. For as long as I've been watching Sarries, we've never had a young crop of backs that we've... well, backed! Seeing Tobias, Brandon, Angus, Hartley, Spink, and hopefully more of C. Bracken and Johnson getting game-time is going to allow us to expand our attacking play over the next couple of years in a way it wouldn't have done if we'd persisted with, say, Goodey, Lewi, Sean (as amazing as they have been for us). If someone like Angus has a dozen premiership games under his belt by the end of next season, then the experience and togetherness of this team is only going to grow.

Well said. Just look at Saints back line and how they have given them game time over last couple of seasons. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

So, Knight gets 3 game ban reduced to 2 if he undertakes the 'advance driving course'.

Ridiculous, same ban as a deliberate swinging arm to the head of a player on the ground... seems fair...

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Sarriebone
Ridiculous, same ban as a deliberate swinging arm to the head of a player on the ground... seems fair...

Sarries felt it was a yellow only (on detailed reviews). Back for the Castres game along with big Tizz. Reckon we could rest Maro for that one depending on what we need and game mins played