Couldn't agree with you more Phil.
Our line-out is malfunctioning so we rest McCartney? Ridiculous. These guys are professional rugby players on a winning run and want to play

About hookers, you know what? My worriness would vanish if we are considered like other provinces. Leinster got Hagan from L.I, we should do the same 3 months deal if McCartney is out, for Forgarty (Agen), Dundon or Annett (Worcester). But Lam suggested several times he must do only with inner ressources even wIth multiple injuries at the same spot

its_phil wrote:

connachta wrote: Only 1 player in the English squad, 5 for us... I'm one of those saying they've been under-rated for the last 3 years, but they have not a MUCH better squad...

Don't think anyone has underrated them since their first season in the Premiership when they picked up 10 wins and finished 8th. Only just fell short of a draw against the defending champions Leinster in the RDS. Not sure who would be stupid enough to underrate a team currently sitting in 3rd.

Tom Johnson, Jack Nowell, Thomas Waldrom, Dave Ewers, Henry Slade are all in and abouts the England squad.

Media overall didn't talk and cover their games as much as they did with ex-favourites London Irish and Gloucester

its_phil wrote:

connachta wrote:

its_phil wrote:
Of course we'd be in trouble but injuries happen! If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle! You can't play the "what if" card as a reason not to play someone. This is professional rugby and I have very little doubt that McCartney will pick up a knock between now and April. Doesn't mean we should hide him in a closet for the rest of the season so he doesn't get injured. By that logic he probably shouldn't train either.

it's what we call management... 3 hookers you risk them, 1 hooker you do all you can to protect him, which means rests. Injuries happen, but less with periods of rest and simply because you reduce exposure...

That is what I call poor management for a player who has had already an extended break.Rest? He's started one game. Unless he's on 20 fags a day and out Electric every night why would we rest him? Heffo is there too. Play him from the bench the following week to prepare for the next three games in 20 days but don't sit him down for two weeks straight. Rusty lineout throwers are the last thing we need

He played ITM from the 15th of august to the 20th of november (semi final with extra time, when he played 92 minutes)
Heff needs gametime too, he should have started at least...

connachta wrote:

its_phil wrote:
Of course we'd be in trouble but injuries happen! If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle! You can't play the "what if" card as a reason not to play someone. This is professional rugby and I have very little doubt that McCartney will pick up a knock between now and April. Doesn't mean we should hide him in a closet for the rest of the season so he doesn't get injured. By that logic he probably shouldn't train either.

it's what we call management... 3 hookers you risk them, 1 hooker you do all you can to protect him, which means rests. Injuries happen, but less with periods of rest and simply because you reduce exposure...

That is what I call poor management for a player who has had already an extended break.Rest? He's started one game. Unless he's on 20 fags a day and out Electric every night why would we rest him? Heffo is there too. Play him from the bench the following week to prepare for the next three games in 20 days but don't sit him down for two weeks straight. Rusty lineout throwers are the last thing we need

connachta wrote: Only 1 player in the English squad, 5 for us... I'm one of those saying they've been under-rated for the last 3 years, but they have not a MUCH better squad...

Don't think anyone has underrated them since their first season in the Premiership when they picked up 10 wins and finished 8th. Only just fell short of a draw against the defending champions Leinster in the RDS. Not sure who would be stupid enough to underrate a team currently sitting in 3rd.

Tom Johnson, Jack Nowell, Thomas Waldrom, Dave Ewers, Henry Slade are all in and abouts the England squad.

its_phil wrote:
Of course we'd be in trouble but injuries happen! If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle! You can't play the "what if" card as a reason not to play someone. This is professional rugby and I have very little doubt that McCartney will pick up a knock between now and April. Doesn't mean we should hide him in a closet for the rest of the season so he doesn't get injured. By that logic he probably shouldn't train either.

it's what we call management... 3 hookers you risk them, 1 hooker you do all you can to protect him, which means rests. Injuries happen, but less with periods of rest and simply because you reduce exposure...

Only 1 player in the English squad, 5 for us... I'm one of those saying they've been under-rated for the last 3 years, but they have not a MUCH better squad...

connachta wrote:

its_phil wrote:

connachta wrote:

_nobody_ wrote: Who badly needs a rest?

Aki, Muliaina and McCartney are in a new system and need time playing with new people.

Muldoon has played a lot of rugby this year but had a break during the international window. Marmion was involved with Ireland but did not get a significant run and I thought he was slightly rusty, when he came back at first, compared to his usual standards.

Play them this week, if we win easily then a weakened team can go to France and get the win. We can then focus on the interpros around Christmas.

Aki deserved a rest more then anyone, he played nearly every week since February
McCartney just need to be "wrapped up into cotton " as its-phil said. Not because he needs rest, he doesn't, but since heis, let's face it, our last experienced hooker.

I certainly didn't suggest wrapping players in cotton, quite the opposite.
I know, was just using your beautiful metaphor
he's a just arrived hooker and he needs to build a rapport with his jumpers during matches which is more than anything needed with this team. We've the worst lineout in the Pro12.

I take that point, it's true, but do you agree we'll be in big big Trouble without McCartney, until Henry comes back in April....?

Of course we'd be in trouble but injuries happen! If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle! You can't play the "what if" card as a reason not to play someone. This is professional rugby and I have very little doubt that McCartney will pick up a knock between now and April. Doesn't mean we should hide him in a closet for the rest of the season so he doesn't get injured. By that logic he probably shouldn't train either.

connachta wrote:

its_phil wrote:
Not sure what more you want the team to do? You can only beat what is in front of you

I didn't want this team at all

its_phil wrote: Look at Exeter last night got the TBP in the last five minutes while La Rochelle were down to 14 men.

That's what I would have liked. Doing it the Exeter's way. They're not silly as far as I'm concerned, and their squad isn't miles better than ours.. They made it a little bit harder for themselves, but in the end grabbed the BP and preversed 3/4 of their first string.

Never said anything about team selection with regard first quote. I was making the point about how giving teams like La Rochelle and Zebre beatings is all the team can do because they have to play them and isn't going to be the difference in getting bigger crowds anyway.

connachta wrote: inflicting 50 points to La Rochelle Zebre and Bayonne 2nd strings is simply not enough to build on... My opinion...

Exeter have a much better squad than us that are a couple years further down the road in development. We'll get there in a couple years with more experience but their strength in depth is much stronger than ours.

sea_point wrote: Nope regardless of what happens tomorrow, Bayonne will field a much stronger side at home for the reverse fixture.
It works the same in the Top14, they don't risk players with knocks for non-winnable road games and then defend their supporters honour at home with full metal jacket squads....

Totally agree about Ronaldson though, he has to be given opportunities at 10. He's big and quick and not afraid to attack the gain-line himself or play flat....

Agree and we have seen it down the years. I just think that this competition is difference and if a French team have no contention of qualifying may just throw it. Especially with the top 14 being so close and a big game the following week against Bordeaux.

It may be more hope than anything

_nobody_ wrote: Have to say I nearly agree with this selection. I would have tried one or two things, like possibly Ronaldson at 10 with a full strength team around him.

If we get the 5 points this week then Bayonne will have no interest at all the following week. We can rest a few then and hopefully still get the win, come back and beat a tired Leinster team

Nope regardless of what happens tomorrow, Bayonne will field a much stronger side at home for the reverse fixture.
It works the same in the Top14, they don't risk players with knocks for non-winnable road games and then defend their supporters honour at home with full metal jacket squads....

Totally agree about Ronaldson though, he has to be given opportunities at 10. He's big and quick and not afraid to attack the gain-line himself or play flat....

the bookies have us 20pts ahead of them at evens

_nobody_ wrote:
Fair point for Muliaina but not after being out of the game for 8 months! Needs to get match fitness and awareness.
Aki is 24, has played a lot but I think he is capable of it at that age and as I say is still settling in.
McCartney, maybe, becasue he is our last standing hooker. But we have had such problems in lineout this year we need some consistency to get form there.

As I say I agree with the team selection. Also to keep the fortress tag alive

Moderate words, here

But for the fortress, it could still be one with a last soldier in it, if the ennemy is beaten. Same here, winning 32-31 would have been the same result than the 50 points difference we will have...

its_phil wrote:

connachta wrote:

_nobody_ wrote: Who badly needs a rest?

Aki, Muliaina and McCartney are in a new system and need time playing with new people.

Muldoon has played a lot of rugby this year but had a break during the international window. Marmion was involved with Ireland but did not get a significant run and I thought he was slightly rusty, when he came back at first, compared to his usual standards.

Play them this week, if we win easily then a weakened team can go to France and get the win. We can then focus on the interpros around Christmas.

Aki deserved a rest more then anyone, he played nearly every week since February
McCartney just need to be "wrapped up into cotton " as its-phil said. Not because he needs rest, he doesn't, but since heis, let's face it, our last experienced hooker.

I certainly didn't suggest wrapping players in cotton, quite the opposite.
I know, was just using your beautiful metaphor
he's a just arrived hooker and he needs to build a rapport with his jumpers during matches which is more than anything needed with this team. We've the worst lineout in the Pro12.

I take that point, it's true, but do you agree we'll be in big big Trouble without McCartney, until Henry comes back in April....?

its_phil wrote:
Not sure what more you want the team to do? You can only beat what is in front of you

I didn't want this team at all

its_phil wrote: Look at Exeter last night got the TBP in the last five minutes while La Rochelle were down to 14 men.

That's what I would have liked. Doing it the Exeter's way. They're not silly as far as I'm concerned, and their squad isn't miles better than ours.. They made it a little bit harder for themselves, but in the end grabbed the BP and preversed 3/4 of their first string.