The ball was soooo slow to get to 10 (Gopps) that our backs were standing still. In the first half (if I counted right) we turned over 9 times in the first three phases of our possession.
It was a very, very poor game for Simpson.
Decision making was poor (sorry ash, but that is down to you as Captain). For example, having got Franks sent off, we didn't then kick the ball. It was a free 3 points with the KO to give the ball back to us. Then, having opted for the scrum, Simmo tossed the ball over the defence and pretty much into touch. Inexplicable.
We were very slow to the breakdown of our player having been tackled; lost a lot in ball held penalties.
When Robson + Ciprianni were on, the whole thing got much better. Lineout throws (Ash) were mainly OK, but Irish correctly guessed many of the throws to disrupt clean ball, or to even steal it. One throw went to Mr Nobody and gave it straight to Irish. We should have scored a try at that lineout.
Our defence was OK (not as good as it was against Falcons last game). Kicking usually went straight to them, or badly wrong.
All in all, the lads made it hard work for themselves and left a lot of tries on the field. I nearly went. I am glad I did not.
We have 3 9's, but only one is good enough; Robson. Neither Simmo nor Hampson is anywhere as good as Robson. Carr was OK. Haskell got a lot of stick for lost ball, but they were bounced off him from short range. I find that criticism of him is unfair. He played well; but not at the rate he did against Falcons. Willis was again excellent when he came on. JCW had a great game, as did McIntyre.
WLR DID have a much better game, but he wasn't smiling.
My MOTM? Tommy Bell, or maybe the ref.
What can we learn from this? We need to find another scrum half. Jimmy was off his kicking game a bit as well, but what do we do without him? Cips simply is not a good place kicker. So we need an alternative there as well. Jimmy is really a 12 now. He isn't so good at 10. With Cips out, that is a problem.
Looking at our lineup, we have good coverage at 11 thru' 15, but 9 and 10 are the problem. With Robson and Cips in and on form, all is good. Without them and we see games like this. With the game as it is now, we need people like Willis and Young as the foraging, stealing flankers. Not players like Haskell and Thompson. At 8 we need a big, line breaking player, like Nathan Hughes (and the arriving Shields).
We need TT back, but with a real hooker as the backup (So why isn't Charles playing - maybe he is still learning the calls? Why sign him otherwise?). With Ashley as hooker, the oppo are happy to see us get a lineout. That is never a good sign.