Wee Woman wrote:I thought McKinney was poor tonight, on more than a few occasions it appeared that he just didn't know what to do with the ball. I was relieved to see him go off to be honest.
Payne was fairly ineffective at 13 tonight, I haven't a baldy why the Irish media think he's going to be Ireland's answer to the BOD question other than basing this on Payne's last season with the Blues 3 years ago and pre the Achilles injury. The better 13 was playing at 12 tonight.
I don't quite get all the negatives about Doyle, he's not and never was going to be another Chad. Like Andrew, I think he does an adequate enough job for us in games like this, nothing spectacular but enough.
Felt a bit sorry for Mikey Allen, the lad is mad keen to make an impression and he had another unfortunate off night tonight. His warning from Owens was unduly harsh.
Finally, all credit to those supporters who stood out in that tonight, particularly those on the Promenade side. Thank god my wet to the knickers days on the Prom are behind me lol.
About 100% nail on the head, apart from Doyle WW.
Unless Payne was still carrying an injury, he should've went to 15, with LM and DC 12 and 13, at the half-way mark. Sorry, RA has never cut it for me; aimless Garrys and running up his own 'arris a speciality. Where's Nelson (and we let D'Arsy go for this?...)
McKinney mixed poor with average tonight, given even RP's service was off. Still willing to give him some benefit of the doubt in fairer weather, but loosing patience. Maybe it's how he carries himself that gives me the ar*e, but he needs to walk the walk, rather than empty swagger.
The main mystery is why we didn't empty the bench big guns earlier, and take them on up front. Doyle was also out muscled again. Agree with previous posters, unfortunately, he seems to be too lightweight for this level. I would've went Wilson/ Diack 6/7, and Williams 8. Only Wilson and Hendo had the dander up- rest looked like they wanted their feet up in their onesies.
Ospreys seconds played a smarter game than us; played to their limitations and the weather- tight, muscular mauling game by and large, spread it when we were stretched. Concerned however, how easily they out thought us and opened us up- only last ditch tackling saved our bacon a number of times... a lot of missed tackles.. poor all round- few heroes tonight. That game should've been a 6 point turnaround (or 5, given the weather,) rather than 3..
As an aside, both TC and JA were anonymous tonight, scrummaging apart..... aw well, on nights like this in Gloucester, webbed feet will be an asset... and he thinks NI is a shytehole......