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Thewobbler

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2016
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Saracens' Champions Cup defence could be under threat after it emerged that prop Titi Lamositele may have been ineligible to play against Racing 92 in January.

The European champions are subject to a misconduct complaint after the tournament organisers were informed by Saracens that United States international Lamositele's work permit expired the day before their 27-24 victory at Allianz Park.

Although there is no precedent for this sort of administrative error, French club Grenoble were heavily punished for fielding an ineligible player against London Welsh in the 2012-13 European Challenge Cup.
 

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2003
9,186
11,148
At this rate someone needs to set up a “Let’s all Laugh at Sarries” thread....??‍♂️
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
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13,785
It's a bit inevitable in a way though when for whatever reasons, everybody is on a post World Cup revamp. Can't say I'm at all impressed with EJ's squad selections though (or should I say ommissions?) and if you're going to move the old guard out why leave Youngs as your starting 9?

I guess the posts above yours kind of answer your question. It's fairly slim pickings at the moment even if you do sack off Youngs. If he'd brought in some mediocre replacement instead and we'd lost to France then people would be complaining that we should've stuck with tried and tested if no good alternatives were available. He's kind of damned if he does/damned if he doesn't at the moment

Maybe Jones was hoping we'd get by with Youngs for another year and in the meantime an exciting new alternative would develop somewhere that he could bring in.

Suppose we'll just have to wait and see. It's not looking great though.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
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11,110
It's a bit inevitable in a way though when for whatever reasons, everybody is on a post World Cup revamp. Can't say I'm at all impressed with EJ's squad selections though (or should I say ommissions?) and if you're going to move the old guard out why leave Youngs as your starting 9?

Youngs has been on a downward spiral for yonks now unfortunately. Jones is very, very stubborn. He’s always been that way. Dombrandt destroying everything in his way this season of late, and I’m talking top class opposition, whilst England don’t have an 8 in their squad which leaves the backrow massively unbalanced is quite a ridiculous situation!
Given how Curryhill play, the backrow needs a ‘proper’ 8. The lock in the backrow thing...he’s tried it many times and virtually every time England have played poorly/had poor results.

Ewels is getting grief which is a tad unfair as he wasn’t the man who cost us by any means but he simply isn’t good enough. He’s probably the 7th best lock available to the England team. I have no idea why he is this involved.

Strange selections aside, it’s clear Eddies England don’t function without ball carriers. Perhaps he is trying to form a plan B when carriers aren’t there, but I’m not sure he’ll find it.

I’m all for experimentation if it is leading somewhere but I’m not sure it is. I think it’ll lead to him getting the boot?
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
England v Scotland being played in awful conditions. England kicking into what seem like hurricane strength winds first half.
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,275
England v Scotland being played in awful conditions. England kicking into what seem like hurricane strength winds first half.

It's meant to get worse as the game goes on as this is meant to be the start of the storm hitting.

8 handling errors by Scotland so far, luckly for them they are still only 3 behind.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Goal kicks from anything other than short and in front are going to be something of a lottery.

It's meant to get worse as the game goes on as this is meant to be the start of the storm hitting.

8 handling errors by Scotland so far, luckly for them they are still only 3 behind.

I think England did the right thing in that half. Wasn't pretty at all but just made sure after about 10 mins that the game wasn't being played anywhere near their 22 and the danger of getting trapped in there against the wind.

Second half hopefully it can be used to our advantage and do what Scotland couldn't, pin them back and keep the game down that end.
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,275
England's kicking is going to cost them this game if they keep playing like this.
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,275
Farcical game really in those conditions.

And this is why I hate the bonus points awarded, there was never going to be many trys in this game say compared to the Ireland Vs Wales game earlier in better conditions.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,336
54,970
A game, I think, for the connersewer.

Overall I think England deserved it, but how long does it take in those conditions before you realise to have to allow a greater margin for error when kicking for touch?

I suppose it's easier sitting here on my arse, but all the same ...
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
A game, I think, for the connersewer.

Overall I think England deserved it, but how long does it take in those conditions before you realise to have to allow a greater margin for error when kicking for touch?

I suppose it's easier sitting here on my arse, but all the same ...

Some of them were silly, but then some on the overhead angle were starting on a trajectory about 15 metres or so infield before veering hugely off course, to be fair to them. And there was a bit of pot luck going on, sometimes kicks were fine and travelled true, sometimes a huge gust took them. You also had a couple of times when they did kick down the middle that Hogg ran back and made something of, which would spook you into going for the corners again.

They probably could have adapted to kicks along the ground at some points, but that's not really an option when between minutes 40-60 we were basically camped in our half on the back foot.

When you see everybody on the pitch struggling to do even the most basic of things, the conclusion has to be it was impossibly hard out there. Freak conditions and not something seen so often. I'm inclined to give everyone a pass and move on, forget this game ever happened!
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
10,836
33,607
Fucking hell that interview with Genge was awkward as

I thought it was quite amusing. I think english rugby needs more people like him. So many upper middle class public schoolboys who give politician style answers.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
7,984
11,110
Fucking hell that interview with Genge was awkward as

That Sonia lady is awful. The questions she asks and her attempts at being difficult...just awful. She actually asked yesterday if the conditions had any bearing on the game?
 
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