QF Toulouse v Exeter

[francoisfou]

Here's the Toulouse side for Sunday's game in the sun:

15. Kinghorn ; 14. Mallia, 13. Costes, 12. Ahki, 11. Lebel ; 10. Ntamack, 9. Dupont (cap.) ; 7. Cros, 8. Roumat, 6. Willis ; 5. Meafou, 4. Arnold ; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Baille.

Remplaçants : 16. Marchand, 17. Neti, 18. Merkler, 19. Flament, 20. Brennan, 21. Graou, 22. Ramos, 23. Chocobares.

Thomas Ramos has recovered from his injury and will be on the bench. Joel Merkler is one to keep an eye on. He's a replacement prop who's won 9 caps for Spain and is highly regarded by the Toulouse coaches.

[francoisfou]

And the Chiefs' side:

15. Hodge ; 14. Feyi-Waboso, 13. Slade, 12. Devoto, 11. Woodburn ; 10. Skinner, 9. Cairns ; 7. Tshiunza, 8. Vintcent, 6. Roots ; 5. Jenkins (cap.), 4. Tuima ; 3. Painter, 2. Yeandle, 1. Sio.

Remplaçants : 16. Innard, 17. Southworth, 18. Street, 19. Pearson, 20. Fisilau, 21. Townsend, 22. Haydon-Wood, 23. Wimbush.

I'm hoping this is going to be a cracker as the weather forecast is warm and sunny.
Allez les Toulousains!

[Puja]

And the Chiefs' side:

15. Hodge ; 14. Feyi-Waboso, 13. Slade, 12. Devoto, 11. Woodburn ; 10. Skinner, 9. Cairns ; 7. Tshiunza, 8. Vintcent, 6. Roots ; 5. Jenkins (cap.), 4. Tuima ; 3. Painter, 2. Yeandle, 1. Sio.

Remplaçants : 16. Innard, 17. Southworth, 18. Street, 19. Pearson, 20. Fisilau, 21. Townsend, 22. Haydon-Wood, 23. Wimbush.

I'm hoping this is going to be a cracker as the weather forecast is warm and sunny.
Allez les Toulousains!

I still do not understand the Exeter back row. I said on the WMB that Tshiunza looks every inch like he should be being moulded into the next big thing at lock for Wales, but Exeter somehow have a back-row with him at 7, and two big ball carries (and another 8 on the bench) and it somehow works? I don't know how it will hold up to Willis and Cros - I suspect badly, but I've been saying that all season and it keeps going well when it shouldn't.

Puja

[Banquo]

And the Chiefs' side:

15. Hodge ; 14. Feyi-Waboso, 13. Slade, 12. Devoto, 11. Woodburn ; 10. Skinner, 9. Cairns ; 7. Tshiunza, 8. Vintcent, 6. Roots ; 5. Jenkins (cap.), 4. Tuima ; 3. Painter, 2. Yeandle, 1. Sio.

Remplaçants : 16. Innard, 17. Southworth, 18. Street, 19. Pearson, 20. Fisilau, 21. Townsend, 22. Haydon-Wood, 23. Wimbush.

I'm hoping this is going to be a cracker as the weather forecast is warm and sunny.
Allez les Toulousains!

I still do not understand the Exeter back row. I said on the WMB that Tshiunza looks every inch like he should be being moulded into the next big thing at lock for Wales, but Exeter somehow have a back-row with him at 7, and two big ball carries (and another 8 on the bench) and it somehow works? I don't know how it will hold up to Willis and Cros - I suspect badly, but I've been saying that all season and it keeps going well when it shouldn't.

Puja

Vintcent is pretty speedy I thought? Exeter have previous in this sort of configuration, no?

[fivepointer]

The Exeter back row has seldom followed conventional thought. They seem to find a formula that generally works. It'll have to be on Sunday as this looks a monumentally difficult assignment.

All eyes on IFW again.

[Puja]

And the Chiefs' side:

15. Hodge ; 14. Feyi-Waboso, 13. Slade, 12. Devoto, 11. Woodburn ; 10. Skinner, 9. Cairns ; 7. Tshiunza, 8. Vintcent, 6. Roots ; 5. Jenkins (cap.), 4. Tuima ; 3. Painter, 2. Yeandle, 1. Sio.

Remplaçants : 16. Innard, 17. Southworth, 18. Street, 19. Pearson, 20. Fisilau, 21. Townsend, 22. Haydon-Wood, 23. Wimbush.

I'm hoping this is going to be a cracker as the weather forecast is warm and sunny.
Allez les Toulousains!

I still do not understand the Exeter back row. I said on the WMB that Tshiunza looks every inch like he should be being moulded into the next big thing at lock for Wales, but Exeter somehow have a back-row with him at 7, and two big ball carries (and another 8 on the bench) and it somehow works? I don't know how it will hold up to Willis and Cros - I suspect badly, but I've been saying that all season and it keeps going well when it shouldn't.

Puja

Vintcent is pretty speedy I thought? Exeter have previous in this sort of configuration, no?

Speedy yes, but not an ersatz 7 like Simmonds used to be. I only vaguely understood how it worked from previous, now it's a pure 8, a 5/6, and a 6/8, I have no idea whatsoever.

Puja

[p/d]

Fuck me!!! The gap in class between the halfbacks is ridiculous. Not sure how they plan to contain Skinner

[Banquo]

Fuck me!!! The gap in class between the halfbacks is ridiculous. Not sure how they plan to contain Skinner

[Oakboy]

Fuck me!!! The gap in class between the halfbacks is ridiculous. Not sure how they plan to contain Skinner

I think Slade would do a better job at 10 than Skinner. It seems such a fundamental weakness week after week.

[FKAS]

Fuck me!!! The gap in class between the halfbacks is ridiculous. Not sure how they plan to contain Skinner

I think Slade would do a better job at 10 than Skinner. It seems such a fundamental weakness week after week.

It's bizarre that Baxter sticks with him. Skinner will have playmakers at 12 and 13, alternative kicking options at 13 and 15 and we'll all still not back him to get things moving. I rate Haydon-Wood on the bench more highly.

[Scrumhead]

I still do not understand the Exeter back row. I said on the WMB that Tshiunza looks every inch like he should be being moulded into the next big thing at lock for Wales, but Exeter somehow have a back-row with him at 7, and two big ball carries (and another 8 on the bench) and it somehow works? I don't know how it will hold up to Willis and Cros - I suspect badly, but I've been saying that all season and it keeps going well when it shouldn't.

Puja

Vintcent is pretty speedy I thought? Exeter have previous in this sort of configuration, no?

Speedy yes, but not an ersatz 7 like Simmonds used to be. I only vaguely understood how it worked from previous, now it's a pure 8, a 5/6, and a 6/8, I have no idea whatsoever.

Puja

It’s not dissimilar in principle. Vintcent isn’t a pure 8. He’s more of a 7/8 in the Ben Earl mode. Roots is playing Ewers’ role and Tshiunza is playing the Vermeulen role.

Simmonds was never an ‘ersatz 7’ though. If anything he was a third centre. He packed down at 8 and hovered around pick and goes within 10m of the line, but he didn’t do what a flanker (or 8) would typically be expected to do. Not much of a jackal and not particularly busy clearing rucks. Earl is doing what Simmonds could/should have been doing - more graft and breakdown work allied with the more explosive stuff.

[Oakboy]

Vintcent is pretty speedy I thought? Exeter have previous in this sort of configuration, no?

Speedy yes, but not an ersatz 7 like Simmonds used to be. I only vaguely understood how it worked from previous, now it's a pure 8, a 5/6, and a 6/8, I have no idea whatsoever.

Puja

It’s not dissimilar in principle. Vintcent isn’t a pure 8. He’s more of a 7/8 in the Ben Earl mode. Roots is playing Ewers’ role and Tshiunza is playing the Vermeulen role.

Simmonds was never an ‘ersatz 7’ though. If anything he was a third centre. He packed down at 8 and hovered around pick and goes within 10m of the line, but he didn’t do what a flanker (or 8) would typically be expected to do. Not much of a jackal and not particularly busy clearing rucks. Earl is doing what Simmonds could/should have been doing - more graft and breakdown work allied with the more explosive stuff.

I think that Fisilau is better than any of those three.

[Scrumhead]

I assume you mean Vintcent, Tshiunza and Roots?

[Oakboy]

I assume you mean Vintcent, Tshiunza and Roots?

Yes. If I was picking the Exeter back row Fisilau would be the first name. IMO, the other three are good but not as good. I've not studied the stats on their relative measurements. Fisilau seems to punch more than his weight in contact. I just can't help liking him more every time I see him. I suppose the other three are nudging ahead in terms of international experience, arguably.

[Mikey Brown]

I assume you mean Vintcent, Tshiunza and Roots?

Yes. If I was picking the Exeter back row Fisilau would be the first name. IMO, the other three are good but not as good. I've not studied the stats on their relative measurements. Fisilau seems to punch more than his weight in contact. I just can't help liking him more every time I see him. I suppose the other three are nudging ahead in terms of international experience, arguably.

I’ve yet to properly watch him enough to know how consistently he makes the good contributions, or if he offers something significantly different to any of our other 8 contenders?

Just a good solid all rounder or is there some USP (I know, sorry) that I haven’t seen?

[Puja]

That's a penalty try to my mind. I don't see the knock-on that the ref is seeing and then the Toulouse player plays the ball on the ground to prevent Exeter from scoring.

Puja

[Banquo]

Vintcent is pretty speedy I thought? Exeter have previous in this sort of configuration, no?

Speedy yes, but not an ersatz 7 like Simmonds used to be. I only vaguely understood how it worked from previous, now it's a pure 8, a 5/6, and a 6/8, I have no idea whatsoever.

Puja

It’s not dissimilar in principle. Vintcent isn’t a pure 8. He’s more of a 7/8 in the Ben Earl mode. Roots is playing Ewers’ role and Tshiunza is playing the Vermeulen role.

Simmonds was never an ‘ersatz 7’ though. If anything he was a third centre. He packed down at 8 and hovered around pick and goes within 10m of the line, but he didn’t do what a flanker (or 8) would typically be expected to do. Not much of a jackal and not particularly busy clearing rucks. Earl is doing what Simmonds could/should have been doing - more graft and breakdown work allied with the more explosive stuff.

agreed all round- though Simmonds was a very capable jackaller as well, he just wasn't deployed tight

[Banquo]

kin ell
play that

[Mellsblue]

No thanks.

[morepork]

Way to carve a team up!

[Mellsblue]

Time for them to start kicking for territory.

[Banquo]

wimbush is a handful

[Banquo]

Time for them to start kicking for territory.

[Banquo]

blatent cheat there tbf

[Banquo]

funny how when you are on top refs miss a lot. They unplayable in this mood tho