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#Post#: 52669--------------------------------------------------
Our start to the season
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: November 13, 2020, 2:36 am
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Starting against the champions followed by away games against
Saints and Gloucester is a tall order on paper, but
international call-ups might actually be doing us a favour here.
12 points is probably wildly optimistic, but looking at it, we
have a real opportunity to make a good start.
Here’s my thought process:
We’re missing Marler, Marchant, Steele and Lang.
No two ways about it ... without Marler, we’re weak at
loosehead. Garcia Botta is no more than OK and I’m hoping Els
builds upon a promising introduction.
Losing two of our preferring centres is also a challenge, but
I’d like to think we can come up with a decent partnership from
Esterhuizen, Northmore (my preferred pair), Lasike and Tapuai.
I prefer Steele to Landajo in the 21 shirt, but that doesn’t
cause us a massive problem as long as Care is fit.
Exeter (home)
Exeter won’t have Williams, Francis, Gray, Hill, Skinner,
Hidalgo-Clyne, Slade and Hogg and will also be missing
Cowan-Dickie and Nowell who are both injured/recovering from
surgery. They’ll still have a number of their front line
players, including their first choice back row and halfbacks
though ...
Garcia Botta/Els can hopefully handle Exeter’s 3rd/4th choice
tighthead and without their preferred locks, we might be less
exposed in the lineout.
Exeter are always tough opponents, but missing 10 players from
their first choice 23 in comparison to our 4 really should give
us the advantage we need - particularly at home.
I’m hopeful of a home win, but not expecting a BP.
Northampton (away)
Saints are missing Ribbans, Ludlam, Mitchell, Biggar + Lawes
(injured). Not many in numbers, but definitely key players.
Given their poor run at Franklin’s Gardens, I’d hope we’re
targeting this as a good opportunity for an away win.
Gloucester (away)
Gloucester will be without Alemanno, Polledri, Heinz, Harris,
May, Thorley and Rees-Zammit.
In comparison to Exeter who’ve lost mainly forwards, Gooucester
will be without most of their preferred options in the backs.
Cipriani and Twelvetrees will still be there to orchestrate
things, but I’ll feel a lot more optimistic facing Sharples and
Banahan than May, Thorley or Rees-Zammit. Polledri is also a big
loss for them.
IIRC, we’ve won our last two league games at Kingsholm.
Hopefully, we can make it 3 on the bounce.
Thoughts?
#Post#: 52673--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: never sleep
Date: November 13, 2020, 3:42 am
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I am surprised that we are not playing any pre-season games.
I know that Ealing are playing Falcons (H & A) and Bristol. So,
some teams are having game time.
#Post#: 52674--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: Rocker
Date: November 13, 2020, 4:07 am
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I'm loving the optimism! Don't think we've got enough to see off
Exeter, Glos yes, Saints yes.
#Post#: 52676--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: dr_miles
Date: November 13, 2020, 4:13 am
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--- Quote from: never sleep link ---
>
> I am surprised that we are not playing any pre-season games.
> I know that Ealing are playing Falcons (H & A) and Bristol.
So, some teams are having game time.
>
--- End Quote ---
True, but it's only 7 weeks since our last game and we don't
have any new players or coaches to bed in, plus I would assume
that training has been continuing for most of that time.
#Post#: 52679--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: November 13, 2020, 4:20 am
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--- Quote from: dr_miles link ---
>
> True, but it's only 7 weeks since our last game and we don't
have any new players or coaches to bed in, plus I would assume
that training has been continuing for most of that time.
>
--- End Quote ---
Tyrone Green hasn't had any game time in a while, so he'll need
to get some game time to bed in, as well las the players we
signed for the 20/21 season who haven't played, like Jurevicius
& Stafford
#Post#: 52681--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: KentQuin
Date: November 13, 2020, 4:38 am
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I'm optimistic and would agree that, on the face of it,
international call-ups are less problematic for us than other
clubs. If our key/X-factor players can stay injury free, I think
we'll take our fair share points from these opening games.
Agree with Northmore being given a run at outside centre in
Marchant's absence. He had a good end to last season. I've been
impressed by his defensive positioning and he's shown glimpses
going forward with intelligent lines.
#Post#: 52683--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: November 13, 2020, 4:42 am
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--- Quote from: Rocker link ---
>
> I'm loving the optimism! Don't think we've got enough to see
off Exeter, Glos yes, Saints yes.
>
--- End Quote ---
Oh I know it is optimistic, I’m just hoping we can make
something of the fact that their 23 is missing 10 players. I’m
expecting an Exeter lineup something like this he following:
1. Hepburn (1st choice)
2. Yeandle (2nd choice)
3. Street (3rd choice)
4. Kirsten (3rd choice)*
5. Witty (4th choice)
6. Ewers (1st choice)
7. Vermeulen (1st choice)
8. S. Simmonds (1st choice)
9. Maunder (1st choice)
10. J. Simmonds (1st choice)
11. Woodburn (1st choice)
12. Devoto (1st choice)
13. Whitten (2nd choice)
14. O’Flaherty (1st choice)
15. Hodge (2nd choice)
*2nd choice flanker
The bench is probably going to be pretty weak with some 3rd/4th
choice squad players.
It’s still a very good side that will play in the usual,
machine-like Exeter way, but I’d argue we beat a better lineup
than that on their last league visit to The Stoop.
COYQ
#Post#: 52686--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: November 13, 2020, 4:56 am
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--- Quote from: never sleep link ---
>
> I am surprised that we are not playing any pre-season games.
> I know that Ealing are playing Falcons (H & A) and Bristol.
So, some teams are having game time.
>
--- End Quote ---
I am a bit too, but then Newcastle haven’t played a competitive
game since March. I’m not sure losing quite poorly to Ealing
last weekend was the prep they were hoping for either ...
We usually play Jersey Reds and as the Championship kick off is
TBC, I think most of the teams are on Furlough.
#Post#: 52688--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: Rocker
Date: November 13, 2020, 5:00 am
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That's still a very good Exeter team.
Exeter's B Team were probably the e3rd best team in the league
at the end of last season.
But you're right we did beat a "better" Exeter team at home at
the end of last season, maybe there is a glimmer of hope.
#Post#: 52721--------------------------------------------------
Re: Our start to the season
DIR By: Shack
Date: November 13, 2020, 10:08 am
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Equally pertinent if not more so our players finished a few
weeks before Exeter did so they will have had a break and a
decent training block. Exeter may be under prepared for us
because of this.
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