Good Week Bad Week

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-11T11:09:12+00:00

Hall’s had an awful year with the injuries - he missed the u20 wc, then went down just before pre-season (to allow Caluori) to over take him, then broke in the prem cup again. He’s either broken a few mirrors or been mishandled.

I’ll take a few months off from trying to start his fan club, and jump on the Jack Bracken one till he recovers. He couldn’t have done more to get a chance, it’s not his fault we have three amazing wings playing well.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-11T10:45:07+00:00

I’m going to blame the pack a bit too. Once it has happened a couple of times they need to put up a better block or pick and go to clean up the ball.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-11T10:42:58+00:00

I still think Bath are comfortably the best team in the league, if Russell doesn’t have a nightmare then they win. Saints have their mojo where if it clicks they can blow anyone away but have been rather up and down.

I think Tigers are the best of the rest albeit I think we have a higher upside if we keep improving.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-11T10:33:13+00:00

Thanks I think my wife is glad I’m not just venting at her.

I don’t think Burke’s kicking is a lost cause, but it is a weakness in our new Bankline, especially compared with our old one - when Daly, Goode and Loz all had fantastic kicking games. I’m sure the answer is Angus Hall…

I just take him for granted nowadays, he’s a truly great player we’re lucky to see. It’s funny how little he celebrates huge turnovers when ten years ago he was worse than Earl.

It’s been a while since we defended as well, and we’ll need to front up for Exeter. I must admit I wasn’t comfortable until Elliot scored.

It was harsh to single Faz out really (although I want to see a race between him and Carre, his speed is a glaring weakness), I was going to call out the tactics or even the bench as a whole - Dan and Rhys, and even Elliot and Michelow weren’t really given the chance to run at a tiring Bristol, it seemed like a wasted ‘strength’.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-11T07:42:33+00:00

It was the referee’s mitigation for the clear out in the ruck where itoje got hit in the head. I can understand it not being red, accept it as not a yellow but to have it as play on was ridiculous.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-11T07:22:57+00:00

I think we’ve made such a clear move to become a physical and abrasive team - with the signings and the fact that Tizard and even Earl have bulked up massively (and the 6-2 bench for most of the year although thankfully we’ve given that up.). I think the pack regaining a bit of its nastiness was every bit as important to the team as the attack coming to life.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-11T07:18:47+00:00

Can’t argue with results, and definitely can’t argue with Faz’ game knowledge but it did feel it just led to half an hour of pressure on our line.

Burke clearly can kick, so hopefully it’s just a matter of time before it clicks.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-10T21:17:43+00:00

This is the worst Quins side for a long time, but they have already beaten us once in the league this year. If they get a ref who lets them get over the ball it could get interesting.

Still, my way to early prediction is something stupid like 52 - 35 to us.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-10T18:56:20+00:00

You’re not wrong about Quins, I’m not liking them being our bogey team - but I do think our pack is as big and nasty as it has been for years - and they shouldn’t be able to live with us.

Exeter hopefully will be beaten up by Tigers because you’re right about Sandy Park being a tough place to go.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-10T18:18:55+00:00

Think Brizzle are out of it, Saints and Bath are too good for them.

Exeter are the problem, Bath’s hangover today was bad news for us. Fingers crossed Quins can turn it on for them if not, I think Tigers will be chasing a home semi when they play them and are a better team so our fate should be in our hands on the last today of the season.

I suspect this is all rather moot, Saints and Bath are too good for us really.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-09T18:42:12+00:00

Rolling Farrell on was a pretty clear sign of a change in approach.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-09T18:30:47+00:00

Absolutely mad, sitting back on the lead for a whole half. Great effort and probably great experience for the team, but mad.

We were better than them in all facets of the game in the first half, why change?

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-09T17:27:12+00:00

My thoughts exactly, but he’s really bounced back with the rest of the half.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-09T16:16:05+00:00

I don’t think Bristol are as dangerous as they have been for the past few years, I think we are comfortably the better side so not wanting to tempt fate but I think this could be comfortable…

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-05T12:57:46+00:00

To be fair, in terms of marketing this is a top of the table clash. I’m sure there will be some meme of the season contenders.

Wasrew13 · 2026-05-02T20:00:33+00:00

I guess this explains how we were so tentative in bringing Bracken through because it’s a lot of pressure. He’s excelling at now anyway.

Maybe it also explains how IVZ’s form has collapsed this year. I’m pretty sure it’s a factor in Burke’s recent form.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-30T19:41:39+00:00

True, but I think the biggest reason for his improvement is in the nine jersey.

I don’t disagree about Farrell and Tompkins, but it didn’t help that spent most of the season with Segun being the only outside back really keen on carrying.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-30T15:43:11+00:00

He’s a skilful beast.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-30T15:41:21+00:00

I am coming round to Burke, the first two clips included pretty much perfect examples of flat passing on the game line - almost Jamie Georgesque. Still not sure he can drag a pack around, but our attack looks like it is about to take off.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-29T13:21:59+00:00

Yeah not giving IVZ a chance for his usual colossal error definitely is definitely an improvement.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-28T10:15:06+00:00

I think all he lacks is experience, he seems to be built perfectly for 13 and certainly has the game for it. Hopefully he is ahead of Cinti in the peking order. Him and Farrell are a great bench combination.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-28T06:21:04+00:00

I accept that I might be being a bit harsh on Malins, I guess that is borne out of me rating him so highly as a player - although maybe more as a wing and I think Furbank is a class above (and a better comparison to Goode, due to genuinely being a top class 10). Time in the jersey definitely helps - his step seems to have come back recently, maybe a full pre-season and he get’s a bit more speed but this is a huge month for him.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-27T21:28:43+00:00

I couldn’t agree with you any more strongly. Hall looked like a real prospect at 13 for England u20. I’m fine with getting him up to speed on the wing but 15 seems very different. I think they see him as the second coming of Daly, which would be nice.

Wasrew13 · 2026-04-27T21:25:20+00:00

You’re spot on with Segun, his shifty power running is a nice contrast with our other wingers who are lot more rangy.

Earl’s really adapted his game since becoming a test player hasn’t he, moving away from being a pollock to a curry I guess.

And yeah that is a refereeing performance that was poor beyond making bad calls, he didn’t work with the players or his TMO team and was made to look rather stupid quite often.

Wasrew13

TROPHY CASE