Always a Wasp

Both kits look great to me. Much better than last year.

Take the point that at 31 you have to be a bit cute but I think we're a bit unbalanced and I don't know why we're going in with 3 hookers and 5 wingers. You can argue Watson covers Daly at FB (which is a different argument). Surely you'd not take Singleton or one of the wingers to put a TH in.

Quote from: Shugs on August 12, 2019, 09:08:20 PM

Yes, agree, going in with two TH's is an extreme risk. One that most other coaches simply wouldn't consider. Personally I'd have taken another TH and left a winger out.

Me too. We've probably got too many back three players, and prop really is high risk in terms of injury - and you need both every game.

The other thing I noticed - being in the West Country - is whilst there is justifiable pride in the Bath backs in the squad - its slightly odd given Bath didn't punch above their position in the table in terms of tries scored. Probably means very little - but stood out given the players selected - you'd have thought Bath were scoring for laughs!

Agreed. For me it's just a further reflection of what should have been at least two years of simply finessing and coping with the odd inevitable injury descending into a series of last minute picks, punts and gambles. Still mystified as to why we've seen so little of the likes of Heinz, Ludlam, McConnochie, Francis and Singleton if they were always part of the plan.

I think we're in for a largely black number  - something like the previous year but perhaps with a tad more gold (and hopefully a tad more silver!).

Feel sorry for Shields. If he's been left out due to injury that's one thing. If it's a straight pick scenario I think Jones has made a mistake. Department wise we look strong all over the pitch apart from FB where the choices seem to be Daly and Watson - that will cost us points.

Thought that was a good positive game for us. Ludlam put his hand up and it was good to see Watson back. The only negatives were again seeing locks in the back row and unfortunately defensively Daly was poor again.

Looking particularly at the SH sides they all look like they have settled squads, well honed styles of play and able coaches. We still appear to be in a state of mild disarray. Jones stated aim when he took over was to target this RWC. If that was the plan his selections over the last two years have been extremely odd. We appear to be going in with no scrum half cover, a novice FB, untried centre partnerships, uncertainty as to who'll play 10 (though I think it will be Farrell) and a front row that has indiscipline written all over it.

Team is ok. I just don't know why we are playing these friendlies. SH teams are busy taking lumps out of each other at the moment and I think we could really have used that to our advantage by just staying off the field.