Some interesting stats here
Perfect lineout and scrum, which suggests that despite criticism last week, Walker is doing ok at the basics.
Very poor red zone efficiency this week - I think last week was much better.
But terrific discipline. Only 5 penalties given away! And 95% tackle success too.
Also not there but 100% kicking record for Tommy A.
Three of the penalties were in the first five minutes, suggesting a degree of adaptation to the ref we have rarely seen before.
Shame about the penalty in the 80th+ minute though...
That said, only 10 penalties last week too
Not quite stats, but Ruck chose Lynagh, Allen and Dino Lamb in their team of the week:
Week two in the Gallagher Premiership was breathtaking from start to finish. From Leicester Tigers big win away at Gloucester on Friday night to London Irish’s remarkable comeback to draw with…
I'm inclined to agree with them... Lamb is a surprise choice but seems to be finally coming into his own after a long period on the fringes. They said in Close Quarters that he has added a few kilos of muscle over the summer and it seems to have been what he needed to reach full effectiveness. He's a smart lineout jumper (and made some decisive steals at the end of last season) and has been carrying well so far this season.
Given the problems we have had keeping our locks fit over the years, we now have three good challengers to Lewies and Symons, with the potential that at some point in the second half of the season we'll unleash Christian Scotland-Williamson on an unsuspecting rugby world...
I think that although we leaked points our defence was not at all bad and the tackle stat backs that up.
That said I would like to concede a few less.
Indeed, the defence wasn't bad. Their first two tries came from skilful play (great line from Lawrence and then a good chip through - after we'd defended a maul pretty well!). On the third you could maybe criticise although André just got done for pace. The fourth was a pick and go at the death when we'd already got 5 points, and even then we'd made a decent fist of defending the previous phases.
I'd be more critical of our failure to convert position into points - something we were really good at last season.
The things that I keep coming back to are:
1) It's an ultra-competitive league this season and even Worcester are a far better side than last year
2) In an opening that has seen last season's form book turned upside down, Quins have won two out of two with TBPs in both, without ever really playing to our full potential.
3) We're used to the end-of-match tension being about "can Quins pull an improbable win out of the bag?". I will happily take a bit of "can Quins' opposition pick up a bonus point or two at the death?" as an alternative
4) This is a side that still hasn't fielded Wilco, Lewies and Smith - three of our best players - and where the squad are tending to overplay the high tempo offloading game. There is lots of room for improvement.
And Will Evans still to come back from injury. Jack Kenningham has done a fantastic job deputising and has really taken his chance but the turnover master adds another dimension
And Will Evans still to come back from injury. Jack Kenningham has done a fantastic job deputising and has really taken his chance but the turnover master adds another dimension
I spoke with Will on Saturday and he said it will be about another six weeks before he is back at least, hopefully he was meaning on the pitch, not just training (but he has got a fight for the shirt IMHO).
It makes a pleasant change for us to be talking about returning players having to fight for the shirt from the supposed "second string" player currently occupying the position. Usually it's been a case of "we need X to come back soon so we can push Y back to bench/A league games"!
And Will Evans still to come back from injury. Jack Kenningham has done a fantastic job deputising and has really taken his chance but the turnover master adds another dimension
It will be great to have Evans back - particularly for fast games where there's a chance to be first to the breakdown. But I'd argue that Kenningham is now one of the first names on the teamsheet, and it's Will, Lawday and Baby Chis fighting it out for the other back row slot depending on what the game needs.
It will be great to have Evans back - particularly for fast games where there's a chance to be first to the breakdown. But I'd argue that Kenningham is now one of the first names on the teamsheet, and it's Will, Lawday and Baby Chis fighting it out for the other back row slot depending on what the game needs.
It could be that Kenningham is away with England after the current short training camp....who would have predicted that before Will's unfortunate injury! Oh the problems of having so many good young players!
It will be great to have Evans back - particularly for fast games where there's a chance to be first to the breakdown. But I'd argue that Kenningham is now one of the first names on the teamsheet, and it's Will, Lawday and Baby Chis fighting it out for the other back row slot depending on what the game needs.
Agreed on this. Kenningham is following Robshaw’s fine tradition of being a brilliant 6.5 which definitely creates an opportunity to play him and Evans together rather than it being an either/or.
Baby Chis is one of my favourite players and would ideally be my first choice at 6, but sadly he’s a bit too injury prone to be inked-in to that spot. Lawday is decent enough, but not quite at the same level as the others and with a fit Evans available, I’d be prepared to sacrifice the extra bit of heft he brings for Kenningham’s all round industry.
I’ll be curious to see how Taulani fits in to the mix too. On paper, he could bring a bit of extra physicality and heavy carrying ability (an area we’re a bit lacking in).
I think Kenningham has done brilliantly but I would be very surprised and to be honest fearful for his safety if he plays v TONGA. Everyone getting a bit gung ho on here and the last thing we want is him injured before Will is back.
I don’t think anyone is being ‘gung-ho’. For the most part, I think we’re simply saying he’s quickly established himself as one of our best back rowers.
I’m not in a rush to see him play for England, but if he does, I won’t be worried for him. I’d actually back him to do really well.
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