Frustrating game in the end.
Scrum - Really good, dominated all game
Line out - Functioned OK until replacement hooker came on (can't really put much blame on a young lad who won't have trained much with the squad and then has a series of clutch line outs - maybe should have been called to the front to make it easier for him)
Breakdown - Decent enough, good competition
Maul - Strong again
Front row - Looked strong in the loose, carried well and made some big hits. West looked fired up when he came on, Alo was good on the charge but his handling makes me nervous.
Second row - Cardell was his usual busy self and his try was good, staying onside, charging down and reacting quickest. TV3 was fine, decent enough for 7th choice lock, looks like he needs an extra 3/4 of a stone of bulk and to work on his leg drive for the Prem though.
Back row - Went well. Ben Morris was good at the line out and breakdown and Kieran Curran had a good game at 8.
Half-backs - Clement looked like he's copying Robson's current form, box kicks to touch were good but otherwise they were poor and let Wandies run back at us. Too slow to get the ball away (I'll give him a p[ass on the 'tache as it's still November). Searle was OK aside from the kicking but it was notable how that last year Umaga was great in these games and showed his talents, I expected more from Billy. Replacements didn't have much time and I didn't see any big change when they came on.
Centres - Disappointing. Neal should have been running hard and fast down the 10/12 channel. Jardine distributed well but kicking and tackling was poor. Anderson didn't show up much. Defense was iffy all game.
Back Three - Wings didn't get much of a chance. Showed they were fast but not much else, but they are both young. James I was impressed with: defence wasn't perfect but he came into the line well, took a tricky high ball under pressure, great pick up and some lovely play to avoid a tackler and clear down the line plus a good try (although I could be wrong as haven't re-watched but it looked to me like he might have lost control as he went over).
To me it was like most of our games this season: a strong performance from the pack, dominating the scrum and competing at the breakdown but let down by handling errors, half-backs that struggle to orchestrate the attack and poor defence outside of the tight areas. In the end close but not quite there.
Always a Wasp
