Alfie: Hamstring Injury Concern.

[Rossm]

Report from Bobby Bridge.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/public-notices/alfie-barbeary-concern-wasps-ace-25046541

Ali was also subbed because of a groin injury.

[Neils]

Interesting selection choices now.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Just as concerning, if not more so given the way he’s started, is Crossdale’s groin injury.  Back to a fullback problem.

[Neils]

Just as concerning, if not more so given the way he’s started, is Crossdale’s groin injury.  Back to a fullback problem.

Agreed. Not many choices

[Westy68]

Here we go again, injury after injury. He can’t play Jacob and Paolo on Tuesday. Jacob will now have to play full back next Friday and Paolo needs to play outside centre, also Hougaard needs to play on the wing and Dan and West needs to start

[Shugs]

What I find interesting there is that Blackett wasn’t planning on taking Barbeary off. It was crying out for Carr’s slightly subtler skills in the back row and we saw the impact Willis had at 8.

[Rossm]

What I find interesting there is that Blackett wasn’t planning on taking Barbeary off. It was crying out for Carr’s slightly subtler skills in the back row and we saw the impact Willis had at 8.

Do you think that Lee is under any sort of pressure from English rugby and Jones to keep playing Alfie at 8?

[Westy68]

It all led to 0 points but Tom was more of a threat.

Barbeary needs to learn the odd side step every now and then and pass the ball

[Rossm]

It all led to 0 points but Tom was more of a threat.

Barbeary needs to learn the odd side step every now and then and pass the ball

It must be very frustrating for Tom as he is clearly a far better 8 than Alf.

[Neils]

It all led to 0 points but Tom was more of a threat.

Barbeary needs to learn the odd side step every now and then and pass the ball

It must be very frustrating for Tom as he is clearly a far better 8 than Alf.

+1

[Sting]

What I find interesting there is that Blackett wasn’t planning on taking Barbeary off. It was crying out for Carr’s slightly subtler skills in the back row and we saw the impact Willis had at 8.

Do you think that Lee is under any sort of pressure from English rugby and Jones to keep playing Alfie at 8?

I find it hard to believe that England are pressuring Lee. More likely is that he just wants Alfie on the pitch for his game winning, stomping, magic, charges and that's the only positiin that fits but he is very inexperienced there. Against Bristol he was at times scrummaging with a one handed bind, supporting his weight with the the other. His tap and go could be seen as ill judged and the opposition double tackled him whenever he got the ball. He does not seem that keen to offload to keep the ball alive. Talk about Alfie as a centre seem a bit wishful. Lee must realise that nemo.and Tom should be started ahead of Alfie with him coming off the bench as a disruptive, game turning, impact finisher.

[JonnyD]

Alfie was proving ineffective for a long time before he got injured, he was regularly double teamed and knocked backwards.
We then needed someone to stand up and say to him to try a few balls out the back or use him as a decoy because when Tom was given the lead with carrying we saw the difference, this then opened up space for Nemo etc.

I would wish an injury on Alfie and hope it’s not a similar hamstring issue again for him, but for the time being I think we will be a better team with him not in it.

Nemo and Jack on the flanks whilst Brad is out with Morris/Curran deputising and we look far more balanced.

[Shugs]

What I find interesting there is that Blackett wasn’t planning on taking Barbeary off. It was crying
out for Carr’s slightly subtler skills in the back row and we saw the impact Willis had at 8.

Do you think that Lee is under any sort of pressure from English rugby and Jones to keep playing Alfie at 8?

I suspect not personally. I think he’s a bit off selection. I think Blackett is trying to not drop Willis or Barbeary. Unfortunately that means he’s unbalancing the back row.