Post by saladdodger on Sept 4, 2019 11:14:51 GMT
I haven't seen either of the away fixtures but I thought second half when James came on that the James / Olver / Lucock midfield worked well and if it can find a yard of space to get Pitman and Stedman in to then we'll be a decent threat off early phase ball? We will need a very hard working front 5 though to keep the back row on their feet when we have the ball and so whether we can start with Hunter and Quigley is for the coaches to decide as Hislop gets through the work of 2 props anyway!!!
I'll be forever disappointed that Will Owen and Matt Clark hardly played together as a centre combination due to injuries to both and also that Clark now moved on won't partner Lucock but hopefully Roberts/Hayes can fill that role at 13 and create the space to get the wingers in in the corners! Losing Cowell as an attacking threat from 15 for a spell (full boot and crutches Saturday!) blunts us a bit but with patience, going through the phases and putting defences under phase count pressure the gaps will open up if we can be disciplined ourselves.
The Knights have the team to dominate possession and territory but too often needless penalties in midfield and handling errors off of reckless offloads stop us in our tracks in the early stages of games! Its great to get a fast start and score the tries but if we can be content to wear teams down a bit, move opposition packs around the fiwld and make their forwards keep getting up off the floor then this will tell later on in games - basics of rugby really?
I think Sproston Jones and Eames may well be regular 'finishers' this season (injuries permitting) exactly due to their energy and mobility in their various positions but possibly each down on weight/power of those starting in the arm wrestle fixtures of the winter months?
I thought Smith looked good at lock on Saturday and having Eames possibly at 6 until Stedman is fully fit gives us that third lineout option as Chall isn't a go to jumper really. Calladine is out for a while which is a blow in the flank options but Hills completes a very capable back row - with Jones as cover.
My team would look 1 - 15 like this if everyone was healthy
Hislop / Beech
Hunter / Edgson
Quigley / Sproston
Challinor / Eames
Smith
Stedman / Jones
Hills
Pitman
James / Cullen
Olver / Foley
Wilson
Lucock
Roberts
Flockhart
McColl
If we hadn't faded last year then there was a bit of a bun fight for those 4 - 6 league positions and I hope that with a few more assured performanaces that we can be secure around that 4th area in the league? Our squad still looks lighter than some and when you see the calibre of signings that Ealing, Coventry and Bedford are making in the closed season on top of Irish and then consider that there's Jersey and Nottingham too then its not an easy task to be comfortable in the top half...
Hopefully the rugby is good, the weather doesn't wreck too many games with gale force winds and the refs find some way to get the set pieces moving the game on quicker - if anything is killing Championship rugby its scrum time and sometimes the Phoenix games are a breath of fresh air in comparison!
COYK
I'll be forever disappointed that Will Owen and Matt Clark hardly played together as a centre combination due to injuries to both and also that Clark now moved on won't partner Lucock but hopefully Roberts/Hayes can fill that role at 13 and create the space to get the wingers in in the corners! Losing Cowell as an attacking threat from 15 for a spell (full boot and crutches Saturday!) blunts us a bit but with patience, going through the phases and putting defences under phase count pressure the gaps will open up if we can be disciplined ourselves.
The Knights have the team to dominate possession and territory but too often needless penalties in midfield and handling errors off of reckless offloads stop us in our tracks in the early stages of games! Its great to get a fast start and score the tries but if we can be content to wear teams down a bit, move opposition packs around the fiwld and make their forwards keep getting up off the floor then this will tell later on in games - basics of rugby really?
I think Sproston Jones and Eames may well be regular 'finishers' this season (injuries permitting) exactly due to their energy and mobility in their various positions but possibly each down on weight/power of those starting in the arm wrestle fixtures of the winter months?
I thought Smith looked good at lock on Saturday and having Eames possibly at 6 until Stedman is fully fit gives us that third lineout option as Chall isn't a go to jumper really. Calladine is out for a while which is a blow in the flank options but Hills completes a very capable back row - with Jones as cover.
My team would look 1 - 15 like this if everyone was healthy
Hislop / Beech
Hunter / Edgson
Quigley / Sproston
Challinor / Eames
Smith
Stedman / Jones
Hills
Pitman
James / Cullen
Olver / Foley
Wilson
Lucock
Roberts
Flockhart
McColl
If we hadn't faded last year then there was a bit of a bun fight for those 4 - 6 league positions and I hope that with a few more assured performanaces that we can be secure around that 4th area in the league? Our squad still looks lighter than some and when you see the calibre of signings that Ealing, Coventry and Bedford are making in the closed season on top of Irish and then consider that there's Jersey and Nottingham too then its not an easy task to be comfortable in the top half...
Hopefully the rugby is good, the weather doesn't wreck too many games with gale force winds and the refs find some way to get the set pieces moving the game on quicker - if anything is killing Championship rugby its scrum time and sometimes the Phoenix games are a breath of fresh air in comparison!
COYK
