1: How do you solve a problem like Wasps?
2: Intensity and Speed of thought & deed should not wait until the final two minutes.
3: We are wonderfully consistantly inconsistant.
Well done Saints, with the mental block of trying to get in the top 4 gone, they played a much more physical and accurate game, and Sleightmolme was phenominal (Bassett will have been given a good heads up today that he needs to get better, and faster). Saints deserve the win.
But our boys were not at the races mentally or physically today. Our young talent are learning, and there is no hiding place in professional rugby. Umagas mistake after young Atkinson commited the cardinal sin of looking up before picking up was poor. Ohgre needs to learn when to give the ball to the 9 in the maul. It cost field position, points and cards.
However our lads looked like they were treading water today, and once more I could see no sort of style or plan. I have concerns over our S&C team, and this is an ongoing concern. I have concerns over our thinking and also our decision making. We fatigued far far to quickly today, and with that came mental fatigue and decision fatigue. Also we should not wait until the last 2 minutes to show some hustle and speed. We escaped with a point, but we now need to win against Irish and Tigers to qualify for Europe, and we (the fans) are going to be needed more than evere, because it is clear the team are struggling to get emotionally in the right place at the moment. But after today I am far from convinced we have enough in this team this season. I just hope I am wrong.
Oh, and a word about Graham Hughes. I am afraid it is time for him to hang up the remote control. We had a young referee today who needed support from his senior colleagues. What he got was a TMO out of his depth and rapidly running out of time. Referees are under scrutiny like never before, and unless we get the right people in then we could end up in a position where respect will get to a level of that of our roundball cousins.
We're in the top 8, but if we stay in it will be because other teams play worse than us....This summer is going to be big for Lee and co nomatter what European tournament we are in.