v Crusaders

[bruce]

Crusaders were dire. A team that's been winning games through efficiency suddenly lost it. They weren't helped by the ref not knowing his arse from his elbow at scrum but they were just poor.

The Lions forwards were better at the breakdown. The backs created chances but couldn't finish them. That's not entirely surprising with JD2 there. We're going to need to finish pretty much every chance we get to beat the ABs.

I think your probably letting your dislike of Foxy affect your judgment, considering he wasn't on the field for most of the game. I suppose the Scarlets success is despite him being a crucial part of the team.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Crusaders were dire. A team that's been winning games through efficiency suddenly lost it. They weren't helped by the ref not knowing his arse from his elbow at scrum but they were just poor.

The Lions forwards were better at the breakdown. The backs created chances but couldn't finish them. That's not entirely surprising with JD2 there. We're going to need to finish pretty much every chance we get to beat the ABs.

I think your probably letting your dislike of Foxy affect your judgment, considering he wasn't on the field for most of the game. I suppose the Scarlets success is despite him being a crucial part of the team.

He screwed up 2 gilt-edged chances. How would you describe his contribution?

Eta. I don't dislike him at all. He seems like a perfectly nice chap, unlike say Biggar. He's just not very good at the core skills of an international centre.

[Puja]

Crusaders were dire. A team that's been winning games through efficiency suddenly lost it. They weren't helped by the ref not knowing his arse from his elbow at scrum but they were just poor.

The Lions forwards were better at the breakdown. The backs created chances but couldn't finish them. That's not entirely surprising with JD2 there. We're going to need to finish pretty much every chance we get to beat the ABs.

I think your probably letting your dislike of Foxy affect your judgment, considering he wasn't on the field for most of the game. I suppose the Scarlets success is despite him being a crucial part of the team.

Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt and Alex Goode were crucial parts of Saracens' success. Doesn't mean that they've not got weakness that are exposed at international level.

Puja

[skidger]

Crusaders were dire. A team that's been winning games through efficiency suddenly lost it. They weren't helped by the ref not knowing his arse from his elbow at scrum but they were just poor.

The Lions forwards were better at the breakdown. The backs created chances but couldn't finish them. That's not entirely surprising with JD2 there. We're going to need to finish pretty much every chance we get to beat the ABs.

I think your probably letting your dislike of Foxy affect your judgment, considering he wasn't on the field for most of the game. I suppose the Scarlets success is despite him being a crucial part of the team.

Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt and Alex Goode were crucial parts of Saracens' success. Doesn't mean that they've not got weakness that are exposed at international level.

Puja

I do feel Davies get some unwarranted stick really. He has played well for Wales and against England yet he gets dismissed He also have previous for the Lions and i thought he looked very good for the Scarlets at the end of the season.

[Mikey Brown]

In fairness to Davies he ran a nice line before giving it to the winger of the wrong team.

[skidger]

I would say he has been watching you Mike but alas you would not even give it.

[Numbers]

Crusaders were dire. A team that's been winning games through efficiency suddenly lost it. They weren't helped by the ref not knowing his arse from his elbow at scrum but they were just poor.

The Lions forwards were better at the breakdown. The backs created chances but couldn't finish them. That's not entirely surprising with JD2 there. We're going to need to finish pretty much every chance we get to beat the ABs.

I think your probably letting your dislike of Foxy affect your judgment, considering he wasn't on the field for most of the game. I suppose the Scarlets success is despite him being a crucial part of the team.

He screwed up 2 gilt-edged chances. How would you describe his contribution?

Eta. I don't dislike him at all. He seems like a perfectly nice chap, unlike say Biggar. He's just not very good at the core skills of an international centre.

How did he screw up the first one? He admittedly dropped the ball through contact on the second occasion(which he had to go off after because he suffered a blow to the head in contact, perhaps a mitigation for dropping it?). You say you don't dislike him but you and Stom are still sore about BOD being dropped 4 years on, get over it Eugene.

Every pundit I've seen said he looked promising for the time he was on the pitch Saturday but I doubt any of them have your rugby intellect of course.

[Mellsblue]

I think your probably letting your dislike of Foxy affect your judgment, considering he wasn't on the field for most of the game. I suppose the Scarlets success is despite him being a crucial part of the team.

He screwed up 2 gilt-edged chances. How would you describe his contribution?

Eta. I don't dislike him at all. He seems like a perfectly nice chap, unlike say Biggar. He's just not very good at the core skills of an international centre.

How did he screw up the first one? He admittedly dropped the ball through contact on the second occasion(which he had to go off after because he suffered a blow to the head in contact, perhaps a mitigation for dropping it?). You say you don't dislike him but you and Stom are still sore about BOD being dropped 4 years on, get over it Eugene.

Every pundit I've seen said he looked promising for the time he was on the pitch Saturday but I doubt any of them have your rugby intellect of course.

The one where he passed to the oppo winger?!?!?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

He screwed up 2 gilt-edged chances. How would you describe his contribution?

Eta. I don't dislike him at all. He seems like a perfectly nice chap, unlike say Biggar. He's just not very good at the core skills of an international centre.

How did he screw up the first one? He admittedly dropped the ball through contact on the second occasion(which he had to go off after because he suffered a blow to the head in contact, perhaps a mitigation for dropping it?). You say you don't dislike him but you and Stom are still sore about BOD being dropped 4 years on, get over it Eugene.

Every pundit I've seen said he looked promising for the time he was on the pitch Saturday but I doubt any of them have your rugby intellect of course.

The one where he passed to the oppo winger?!?!?

Now how could that be a screw up...

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I think your probably letting your dislike of Foxy affect your judgment, considering he wasn't on the field for most of the game. I suppose the Scarlets success is despite him being a crucial part of the team.

He screwed up 2 gilt-edged chances. How would you describe his contribution?

Eta. I don't dislike him at all. He seems like a perfectly nice chap, unlike say Biggar. He's just not very good at the core skills of an international centre.

How did he screw up the first one? He admittedly dropped the ball through contact on the second occasion(which he had to go off after because he suffered a blow to the head in contact, perhaps a mitigation for dropping it?). You say you don't dislike him but you and Stom are still sore about BOD being dropped 4 years on, get over it Eugene.

Every pundit I've seen said he looked promising for the time he was on the pitch Saturday but I doubt any of them have your rugby intellect of course.

Pundits seem to universally think that Farrell is in the top dozen rugby players on the planet. You agree with that?

[Numbers]

He screwed up 2 gilt-edged chances. How would you describe his contribution?

Eta. I don't dislike him at all. He seems like a perfectly nice chap, unlike say Biggar. He's just not very good at the core skills of an international centre.

How did he screw up the first one? He admittedly dropped the ball through contact on the second occasion(which he had to go off after because he suffered a blow to the head in contact, perhaps a mitigation for dropping it?). You say you don't dislike him but you and Stom are still sore about BOD being dropped 4 years on, get over it Eugene.

Every pundit I've seen said he looked promising for the time he was on the pitch Saturday but I doubt any of them have your rugby intellect of course.

The one where he passed to the oppo winger?!?!?

Who was inbetween him and North, what should he have done, taken contact? if that's the case I wouldn't say it was a gilt edged chance but that the crusaders winger had positioned himself very well defensively.

[Numbers]

He screwed up 2 gilt-edged chances. How would you describe his contribution?

Eta. I don't dislike him at all. He seems like a perfectly nice chap, unlike say Biggar. He's just not very good at the core skills of an international centre.

How did he screw up the first one? He admittedly dropped the ball through contact on the second occasion(which he had to go off after because he suffered a blow to the head in contact, perhaps a mitigation for dropping it?). You say you don't dislike him but you and Stom are still sore about BOD being dropped 4 years on, get over it Eugene.

Every pundit I've seen said he looked promising for the time he was on the pitch Saturday but I doubt any of them have your rugby intellect of course.

Pundits seem to universally think that Farrell is in the top dozen rugby players on the planet. You agree with that?

[Numbers]

He's certainly in the top 12 in the NH.

[Mellsblue]

How did he screw up the first one? He admittedly dropped the ball through contact on the second occasion(which he had to go off after because he suffered a blow to the head in contact, perhaps a mitigation for dropping it?). You say you don't dislike him but you and Stom are still sore about BOD being dropped 4 years on, get over it Eugene.

Every pundit I've seen said he looked promising for the time he was on the pitch Saturday but I doubt any of them have your rugby intellect of course.

The one where he passed to the oppo winger?!?!?

Who was inbetween him and North, what should he have done, taken contact? if that's the case I wouldn't say it was a gilt edged chance but that the crusaders winger had positioned himself very well defensively.

Yep, take the contact. We'd breached the defence and from there you'd hope we'd score. You definately won't score if you give the oppo the ball.

[Numbers]

The one where he passed to the oppo winger?!?!?

Who was inbetween him and North, what should he have done, taken contact? if that's the case I wouldn't say it was a gilt edged chance but that the crusaders winger had positioned himself very well defensively.

Yep, take the contact. We'd breached the defence and from there you'd hope we'd score. You definately won't score if you give the oppo the ball.

Ok, in that case I would suggest that this wasn't a gilt-edged chance, of course his running angle allowed him to make the break in the first place but lets not let that get in the way of the JD bashing.

To give you an idea we had I think 15 clean line breaks v the Blues and scored one try, I think on Saturday it was something along the lines of 11 and we scored no tries, so scoring from the advanced position that you 'hope' we would have converted from would be wishful thinking I suspect, see the numerous times we have failed to convert from 5 yards out as an example.

No-one seems to be bashing Stander for taking his eye off the ball completely with the line begging, or Te'o's hopeless pass to Williams, ditto Watson.

If you want to critcise then try to do it with a measure of perspective.

[Mellsblue]

Who was inbetween him and North, what should he have done, taken contact? if that's the case I wouldn't say it was a gilt edged chance but that the crusaders winger had positioned himself very well defensively.

Yep, take the contact. We'd breached the defence and from there you'd hope we'd score. You definately won't score if you give the oppo the ball.

Ok, in that case I would suggest that this wasn't a gilt-edged chance, of course his running angle allowed him to make the break in the first place but lets not let that get in the way of the JD bashing.

To give you an idea we had I think 15 clean line breaks v the Blues and scored one try, I think on Saturday it was something along the lines of 11 and we scored no tries, so scoring from the advanced position that you 'hope' we would have converted from would be wishful thinking I suspect, see the numerous times we have failed to convert from 5 yards out as an example.

No-one seems to be bashing Stander for taking his eye off the ball completely with the line begging, or Te'o's hopeless pass to Williams, ditto Watson.

If you want to critcise then try to do it with a measure of perspective.

I'll criticise them all but I'm not going to write a list of all those who've ****ed up just so I can point out that Davies ****ed up. I'm still angry with Kay for dropping the ball over the line in the 2003 World Cup final but maybe I should just be happy he had the ability to stand out there to create the opportunity in the first place.

Just because we've failed to convert so many line breaks doesn't take away from the fact that it's a try scoring opportunity. Any line break in the oppo's 22 should be considered a try scoring opportunity.

When it comes down to it it was a big mistake. We won't have many scoring opportunities in the tests and one that good should not be squandered with such a poor piece of execution.
Just to show I'm not completely one sided, I was very pleased that he didn't fire it into row F of the crowd as he normally does off his left hand.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

The one where he passed to the oppo winger?!?!?

Who was inbetween him and North, what should he have done, taken contact? if that's the case I wouldn't say it was a gilt edged chance but that the crusaders winger had positioned himself very well defensively.

Yep, take the contact. We'd breached the defence and from there you'd hope we'd score. You definately won't score if you give the oppo the ball.

And against the ABs or the more lively franchises there's every chance they will.

[Mellsblue]

Who was inbetween him and North, what should he have done, taken contact? if that's the case I wouldn't say it was a gilt edged chance but that the crusaders winger had positioned himself very well defensively.

Yep, take the contact. We'd breached the defence and from there you'd hope we'd score. You definately won't score if you give the oppo the ball.

And against the ABs or the more lively franchises there's every chance they will.

Only if they produce some pieces of magic.

[Numbers]

Yep, take the contact. We'd breached the defence and from there you'd hope we'd score. You definately won't score if you give the oppo the ball.

Ok, in that case I would suggest that this wasn't a gilt-edged chance, of course his running angle allowed him to make the break in the first place but lets not let that get in the way of the JD bashing.

To give you an idea we had I think 15 clean line breaks v the Blues and scored one try, I think on Saturday it was something along the lines of 11 and we scored no tries, so scoring from the advanced position that you 'hope' we would have converted from would be wishful thinking I suspect, see the numerous times we have failed to convert from 5 yards out as an example.

No-one seems to be bashing Stander for taking his eye off the ball completely with the line begging, or Te'o's hopeless pass to Williams, ditto Watson.

If you want to critcise then try to do it with a measure of perspective.

I'll criticise them all but I'm not going to write a list of all those who've ****ed up just so I can point out that Davies ****ed up. I'm still angry with Kay for dropping the ball over the line in the 2003 World Cup final but maybe I should just be happy he had the ability to stand out there to create the opportunity in the first place.

Just because we've failed to convert so many line breaks doesn't take away from the fact that it's a try scoring opportunity. Any line break in the oppo's 22 should be considered a try scoring opportunity.

When it comes down to it it was a big mistake. We won't have many scoring opportunities in the tests and one that good should not be squandered with such a poor piece of execution.
Just to show I'm not completely one sided, I was very pleased that he didn't fire it into row F of the crowd as he normally does off his left hand.

You can continue as you are, just don't expect anyone to take you seriously if you just have an agenda.

Here's what Guscott said: "Jonathan Davies is also in such good form that he is likely to start in the Test matches and they will want to get him back as quickly as possible."

I wouldn't think you have any respect for him either,, not one pundit has criticised Davies to my knowledge and as previously stated there were bigger mistakes from other players imo which have been glossed over, but lets not let any facts disrupt the witch hunt.

[Mellsblue]

Ok, in that case I would suggest that this wasn't a gilt-edged chance, of course his running angle allowed him to make the break in the first place but lets not let that get in the way of the JD bashing.

To give you an idea we had I think 15 clean line breaks v the Blues and scored one try, I think on Saturday it was something along the lines of 11 and we scored no tries, so scoring from the advanced position that you 'hope' we would have converted from would be wishful thinking I suspect, see the numerous times we have failed to convert from 5 yards out as an example.

No-one seems to be bashing Stander for taking his eye off the ball completely with the line begging, or Te'o's hopeless pass to Williams, ditto Watson.

If you want to critcise then try to do it with a measure of perspective.

I'll criticise them all but I'm not going to write a list of all those who've ****ed up just so I can point out that Davies ****ed up. I'm still angry with Kay for dropping the ball over the line in the 2003 World Cup final but maybe I should just be happy he had the ability to stand out there to create the opportunity in the first place.

Just because we've failed to convert so many line breaks doesn't take away from the fact that it's a try scoring opportunity. Any line break in the oppo's 22 should be considered a try scoring opportunity.

When it comes down to it it was a big mistake. We won't have many scoring opportunities in the tests and one that good should not be squandered with such a poor piece of execution.
Just to show I'm not completely one sided, I was very pleased that he didn't fire it into row F of the crowd as he normally does off his left hand.

You can continue as you are, just don't expect anyone to take you seriously if you just have an agenda.

Here's what Guscott said: "Jonathan Davies is also in such good form that he is likely to start in the Test matches and they will want to get him back as quickly as possible."

I wouldn't think you have any respect for him either,, not one pundit has criticised Davies to my knowledge and as previously stated there were bigger mistakes from other players imo which have been glossed over, but lets not let any facts disrupt the witch hunt.

No agenda. As I say, I'll criticise anyone who I think deserves criticism. I criticised Hogg and Sexton after the BaaBaas match, even though I'd have both in my starting XV if in form, and I criticised Haskell after the Blues match.

As for what Guscott says, unless you've picked the wrong the quote and he's somewhere said that Davies was correct to pass to the Crusaders player rather than hold on to the ball then I fail to see what it had to do with the fact Davies shouldn't have passed the ball to the Crusaders player.

If it's any consolation then if Gats played 10. Sexton 12. Farrell then I'd quite happily have Davies at 13 and I'd still quite happily say Davies shouldn't have passed to the Crusaders winger.

[Puja]

Ok, in that case I would suggest that this wasn't a gilt-edged chance, of course his running angle allowed him to make the break in the first place but lets not let that get in the way of the JD bashing.

To give you an idea we had I think 15 clean line breaks v the Blues and scored one try, I think on Saturday it was something along the lines of 11 and we scored no tries, so scoring from the advanced position that you 'hope' we would have converted from would be wishful thinking I suspect, see the numerous times we have failed to convert from 5 yards out as an example.

No-one seems to be bashing Stander for taking his eye off the ball completely with the line begging, or Te'o's hopeless pass to Williams, ditto Watson.

If you want to critcise then try to do it with a measure of perspective.

I'll criticise them all but I'm not going to write a list of all those who've ****ed up just so I can point out that Davies ****ed up. I'm still angry with Kay for dropping the ball over the line in the 2003 World Cup final but maybe I should just be happy he had the ability to stand out there to create the opportunity in the first place.

Just because we've failed to convert so many line breaks doesn't take away from the fact that it's a try scoring opportunity. Any line break in the oppo's 22 should be considered a try scoring opportunity.

When it comes down to it it was a big mistake. We won't have many scoring opportunities in the tests and one that good should not be squandered with such a poor piece of execution.
Just to show I'm not completely one sided, I was very pleased that he didn't fire it into row F of the crowd as he normally does off his left hand.

You can continue as you are, just don't expect anyone to take you seriously if you just have an agenda.

Here's what Guscott said: "Jonathan Davies is also in such good form that he is likely to start in the Test matches and they will want to get him back as quickly as possible."

I wouldn't think you have any respect for him either,, not one pundit has criticised Davies to my knowledge and as previously stated there were bigger mistakes from other players imo which have been glossed over, but lets not let any facts disrupt the witch hunt.

Did you seriously just quote Guscott to support your point?

Puja

[Numbers]

I'll criticise them all but I'm not going to write a list of all those who've ****ed up just so I can point out that Davies ****ed up. I'm still angry with Kay for dropping the ball over the line in the 2003 World Cup final but maybe I should just be happy he had the ability to stand out there to create the opportunity in the first place.

Just because we've failed to convert so many line breaks doesn't take away from the fact that it's a try scoring opportunity. Any line break in the oppo's 22 should be considered a try scoring opportunity.

When it comes down to it it was a big mistake. We won't have many scoring opportunities in the tests and one that good should not be squandered with such a poor piece of execution.
Just to show I'm not completely one sided, I was very pleased that he didn't fire it into row F of the crowd as he normally does off his left hand.

You can continue as you are, just don't expect anyone to take you seriously if you just have an agenda.

Here's what Guscott said: "Jonathan Davies is also in such good form that he is likely to start in the Test matches and they will want to get him back as quickly as possible."

I wouldn't think you have any respect for him either,, not one pundit has criticised Davies to my knowledge and as previously stated there were bigger mistakes from other players imo which have been glossed over, but lets not let any facts disrupt the witch hunt.

Did you seriously just quote Guscott to support your point?

Puja

I suppose you know better than Guscott?

What would you base your obvious superior ability to read the game on or are you just trotting out an opinion formed by the EMB illuminati?

[Timbo]

I thought it was a perfectly understandable piece of decision making by JDavies. With the Crusaders wing sprinting back it's probably a 50:50 pass, but if he can get the ball through to North it's a walk in. If he takes contact and the Lions recycle do the odds go above 50:50? 77 minutes later and that pass was still probably the most gilt-edged chance for a try for either team.

On Davies in general, he has some big gaps in his skill set, but he's a genuine world class defender. Only a few weeks ago he completely shut down Leinsters wide game in the Pro12 semi. So if you expect/need to be doing a lot of highly accurate defending then maybe Davies is the way to go.

[Puja]

You can continue as you are, just don't expect anyone to take you seriously if you just have an agenda.

Here's what Guscott said: "Jonathan Davies is also in such good form that he is likely to start in the Test matches and they will want to get him back as quickly as possible."

I wouldn't think you have any respect for him either,, not one pundit has criticised Davies to my knowledge and as previously stated there were bigger mistakes from other players imo which have been glossed over, but lets not let any facts disrupt the witch hunt.

Did you seriously just quote Guscott to support your point?

Puja

I suppose you know better than Guscott?

What would you base your obvious superior ability to read the game on or are you just trotting out an opinion formed by the EMB illuminati?

I'm not claiming that I necessarily know better, for it is well known that I am a fool. I'm asking whether you have read anything written by Guscott in the past, or worse, met the tw*t in person.

Great rugby player. Appalling human being. A below average pundit. I'm just astounded that he's being referenced by a Welshman as a fount of truth; he's pretty much the epitome of English-stereotype that you love to hate!

Puja

[Puja]

And assuming there are no injuries, there's a high likelihood that it'll be 1 of Ryan Crotty or Sonny Bill Williams at 12 and probably Anton Lienert-Brown at 13 lining up against the Lions. You want someone with a bit of staunch defence to hold them up.

You do get that with Joseph though, plus an attacking threat.

Puja