: Sat May 23, 2009 1:35 pm  

Eastmond needs more game time. He has the skill levels and temperament to be in the side but he's not up to speed with our play and hasn't really clicked into the rythmn of the side. Wheels has slotted in seamlessly and continued with another solid display last night.

: Sat May 23, 2009 1:44 pm  

Wheels was solid defensively , but he came up with a number of errors with ball in hand.

He dropped the ball on Saints 10 yard line when running it back that lead directly to Quins getting their first try. This was an unforced error as no one touched him.

He also dropped ball when attacking a kick to corner. He had done well to intersect the two Quins defenders but failed to take the actual crossfield kick.

Safe to say if Meli had made above errors he would have been slated.

Emmitt took the ball up but wasnt really physically mature enough to make any forward impression.

Arnold, was wasted on the wing receiving no running chances, and was easily handled when returning deep kicks.
He missed one tackle that lead to Quins going 30 yards downfield.
When at standoff he did no kicking but did move the ball quite well and was clearly unsettling the Quins defenders due to his threat to dart at the line then pass. I felt his presence in the line was what allowed Wellens to score.

Ahsurst usual solid performance.

: Sat May 23, 2009 1:48 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

Wheels was solid defensively , but he came up with a number of errors with ball in hand.

He dropped the ball on Saints 10 yard line when running it back that lead directly to Quins getting their first try. This was an unforced error as no one touched him.

He also dropped ball when attacking a kick to corner. He had done well to intersect the two Quins defenders but failed to take the actual crossfield kick.

Safe to say if Meli had made above errors he would have been slated.

Emmitt took the ball up but wasnt really physically mature enough to make any forward impression.

Arnold, was wasted on the wing receiving no running chances, and was easily handled when returning deep kicks.
He missed one tackle that lead to Quins going 30 yards downfield.
When at standoff he did no kicking but did move the ball quite well and was clearly unsettling the Quins defenders due to his threat to dart at the line then pass. I felt his presence in the line was what allowed Wellens to score.

Ahsurst usual solid performance.

Thats because Meli isn't a young lad and also Meli does it regular, which is why he gets slated. Although, a lot of the time, it is unfair.

Did anyone see Ashurst chase the kick in the second half when we forced a drop out? Great work.

: Sat May 23, 2009 2:17 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

He dropped the ball on Saints 10 yard line when running it back that lead directly to Quins getting their first try. This was an unforced error as no one touched him.

Was that the time when the ball popped out like a wet bar of soap? If so, I thought that was him but couldn't be totally certain. Poor guy, I bet he felt gutted!

Safe to say if Meli had made above errors he would have been slated.

And so he should be. He's an international with donkey's years of experience. He's not a young lad just learning the ropes at this level. Wheeler has done very well. He's played wing and centre, neither position the one he is used to; has shown rugby smarts during some very testing moments; has kept his cool under pressure; has scored some excellent tries; has tackled with enthusiasm and has generally handled the ball very well. He didn't get a lot of game time last year as I remember so given his more regular inclusion in the team this year I think he is doing exceptionally well.

When he becomes a very experienced international I will be quite happy to criticise him for the mistakes he made last night, especially if we're paying him a fat wage. Meanwhile, he is learning his trade and hopefully his mistakes won't damage his confidence but instead will teach him something he can put back into his next game.

: Sat May 23, 2009 4:31 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I didn't really notice Emmit (except I knew he was on because his was one of just two clean shirts at the time!) but good on him for making his debut and I'm sure he did fine for his first time out.

That wasn't Emmitts debut.

: Sat May 23, 2009 5:19 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

That wasn't Emmitts debut.

Wasn't it? I know he's appeared in the 19 before now but I thought that was his first time out. My bad.

: Sat May 23, 2009 5:59 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

Wasn't it? I know he's appeared in the 19 before now but I thought that was his first time out. My bad.

Played against Wakefield last season, i think.

: Sat May 23, 2009 7:19 pm  

Billinge_Lump wrote:

That wasn't Emmitts debut.

Its actually his third appearance, but the first game he has started

: Sat May 23, 2009 7:29 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

Its actually his third appearance, but the first game he has started

First of many hopefully

: Sat May 23, 2009 9:44 pm  

McClennan wrote:

Eastmond needs more game time. He has the skill levels and temperament to be in the side but he's not up to speed with our play and hasn't really clicked into the rythmn of the side. Wheels has slotted in seamlessly and continued with another solid display last night.

As someone who has given him lots of praise in the past, that is the one thing I would be worried about.

Whenever things have gone wrong for him he appears to go into hiding (injured ) mode.

Purely an observation, and something I have heard mentioned from "inside" the game.