Saracens v Bedford - farce
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Forum Name: The Championship
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Topic: Saracens v Bedford - farce
Posted By: Donnyknightfan
Subject: Saracens v Bedford - farce
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 20:06
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Well Sarries play their first game at full-strength tomorrow. Their side includes 9 full internationals and 5 players who have represented the British and Irish Lions. They are up against a mid-table championship side with very little experience in terms of players that have played in the Premiership. Some people will love the David v Goliath element to it, I personally hate it. I personally don’t see the benefit of Saracens being down at all. Bedford are going to be playing against players who they are not conditioned to face. I seriously worry that all of differences in terms of size and physique are going to result in a player from one of the championship teams getting very seriously injured. This is not like football where often the difference between the top and bottom teams in the pyramid is more to do with skill, it’s professional rugby where there is a giant chasm between the conditioning of players in the Premiership and championship. In my opinion a championship club would be within their rights to sue the RFU if one of their players got seriously injured playing against Saracens. The governing body have failed in their duty of care and it’s a disgrace. ------------- Donny Knights - best team in Yorkshire |
Replies:
Posted By: Welshie7
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 20:46
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An interesting problem this one. The Championship want to have promotion but when they play the relegated club the supporters moan? When Bristol were trying to get promoted in the 2010s they had plenty of internationals...as did London Irish when they were promoted....even when you go back to Worcester Vs Pirates back in the early years of the Championship Worcester had7 or 8 international players, ok some were recently retired. Saracens need to be promoted, got a bloody nose against Pirates in round 1 so want to make sure there are no more slips....I am sure everyone of the Bedford players would rather be playing against MV, MI, ED etc than some academy player?
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Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 21:41
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I disagree, Saracens deserve to be in the Championship. I personally believe they should spend a full season down here. Our lads are going to face these players and test themselves that is what they want ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: Welshie7
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2021 at 21:49
| Agree with you castlepark re being in the Champ, it is a shame the clubs will not benefit from increased crowd attendances though. |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 00:18
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This is almost like saying a 5ft 7”, 12 stone scrum half shouldn’t be on the same pitch as a 6ft 5”, 22 stone No. 8 or prop. Rugby has always been a game of mis-matches in size, speed and skill. At least we have our 1st choice tight head back for the game, which means we have a back up tight head on the bench.
Often the difference isn’t really size of player it is speed and skill. The blues team is... of which virtually every player in the 15 has had some form of premiership experience either as an academy player or who has played some games. 15. Rich Lane, 14. Pat Tapley, 13. Elijah Niko, 12. Reuben Bird-Tulloch (s), 11. Matt Worley, 10. Tommy Mathews (s), 9. Connor Tupai (s); 1. Emmanuel Iyogun (s), 2. James Fish (s), 3. Henry Paul, 4. Will Carrick Smith, 5. Lewis Bean (s), 6. Ollie Newman (s), 7. Joe Atkinson, 8. Tui Uru (s) Replacements: 16. Jacob Fields, 17. Sean McCarthy, 18. Ed Prowse (s), 19. Oli Curry, 20. Oli Robinson (e), 21. James Lennon, 22. Will Maisey, 23. Tom Litchfield (s) |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 00:22
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Saracens Elliott Obatoyinbo
Alex Lewington Elliot Daly Duncan Taylor Sean Maitland Manu Vunipola Aled Davies Mako Vunipola Jamie George © Vincent Koch Maro Itoje Joel Kpoku Andy Christie Jackson Wray Billy Vunipola Replacements Ethan Lewis Ralph Adams-Hale Alec Clarey Callum Hunter-Hill Janco Venter Tom Whiteley Juan Pablo Socino Dom Morris |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 08:34
| Sorry DKF, but I feel the premise of this thread is a bit of an over-reaction. Richmond's predominantly amateur (£100 a game) players coped ok with Saracens a couple of weeks ago. I know Sarries now have 4 more England players than they fielded at the RAG, but I don't believe these players are necessarily stronger or in better condition, just (in Eddie Jones' view at least) better players... |
Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 10:17
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Saracens had a hard time physically against part time Richmond. They were helped by some yellow cards, but the score was misleading. Ultimately Saracens' efficiency won the day but they scored less points than Ealing did yesterday against Pirates. From what I've read, Bedford doesn't have a strong scrum, so they may get steamrollered. However I shall pay my ten pounds and root for them from behind my computer. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 10:27
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Blues scrum is fine, there were no issues against Pirates, Cov, Hartpury and only had issues against Jersey when the replacement tight head had to come on. We have had a replacement a tight head issue but now have our first choice back, which means we don’t have to rely on two 20 year olds one of which has done tremendously well playing for virtually 80 mins most matches.
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Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 11:40
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Good to know. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: Robb
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 11:43
| Sarries are a Championship club (and rightfully so) and you would expect them to put out their strongest team for competitive integrity. That being said, I do hope that the players will have common sense not to be reckless and that the ref is strong on anything that involves head injuries. |
Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 11:50
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I understand the sentiment behind it but I'm not sure I understand the term "predominantly amateur (£100 per game)"
The game chose to go open many years ago and as far as I believe a player is either a full time professional, semi-pro or amateur. Every club competes in the league at a level they have managed to attain and what better challenge could there be for a player than to test themselves against full time pro's, many of whom also happen to represent their country. Bring it on I say whatever level of professionalism/amateurism your club happens to be at Players will not be going into those games worrying about possible head injuries or being able to cope with the physicality or skill of the opposition. It is a challenge they will rise to and an experience they will be telling their grandchildren about in the years to come
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Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 12:17
This is what I meant: they all have non-rugby jobs, they don't get paid to train, they get a match fee. I guess someone who gets a match fee, even if it's £5, is technically semi-professional. I thought my description gave a bit more context, but if you don't like it, that's your prerogative...
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Thatbloke wrote:Posted By: Bluesman11
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 12:23
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This thread is going to look very silly when Bedford win ------------- Championship Prediction League Winner 11/12 |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 12:33
| Blues are +52 on Paddy Power |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 12:50
You can always dream! ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 13:26
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The commentary is dreadful. Too many 'we's' and 'us's' and 'aren't Saracens brilliant's. I may turn the sound off if this continues. Scrum prediction coming true, unfortunately. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: oneagainstthehead
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 13:41
------------- Speak softly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 13:50
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HT Saracens (BP) 26 - 6 Blues Think a few decisions have gone against us and we haven’t taken the few chances we have had.
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Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 13:52
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They shouldn't have members of the playing clubs commentating. They talk as if the other team is just token opposition and it's all about them. I am technically a neutral but I'm becoming a Blues supporter for the afternoon. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: Bluesman11
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 14:26
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I can assure you the commentary is still nowhere near as partisan as Pirates commentators, who sounds like they’re going to explode every time pirates have the ball and if the opposition score an excellent try, it sounds like they’re commentating on a funeral. Sarries 33-13 Bedford at 60 mins. Bedford score length of field try of game which I expect will be another try of the week winner! ------------- Championship Prediction League Winner 11/12 |
Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 14:31
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Terrible commentary
------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. |
Posted By: JohnLowe
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 14:42
| As a Doncaster Knight’s supporter for over 50 seasons I would like to disassociate myself from some of the remarks by DonnyKnightsFan in the opening post of this thread. There have been some wonderful matches over the years between the relegated club and various championship clubs and DKF’s remarks are an insult to these clubs. I well remember, for instance, when we lost at Sixways to Worcester in the 8th minute of injury time. And what about Pirates great result a few weeks ago. |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 14:46
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I haven’t seen anything that leads me to think the Bedford players were getting smashed, just unfortunately a mini collapse from circa 65 minutes is tarnishing Bedfords efforts a tad. ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 14:49
Totally agree John And what a game that was, and no ways was that a penalty at 6 ways I was a few yards away and there was no offence, nor were there 8 minutes of stoppage time..... ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 14:50
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Final whistle 54 - 13 ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 14:56
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A hiding, but a long way from the record score. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 15:11
| There were a few more tries for the Blues for the taking, but ultimately the power and pace was too big. |
Posted By: corporalcarrot
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 17:10
------------- Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD. |
Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 17:25
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As were the Richmond players who commentated CC. But I found the Saracens commentators very poor. The reason I suggested not having them is that you would have a standard. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: Donnyknightfan
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 17:26
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Right, time to hold my hands up and admit a massive error in judgment. What I posted on reflection was wrong and I did not intend to offend any clubs. Having now looked at all of the reports of the game and the reaction to it, it is clear that Bedford did themselves proud today against Saracens and despite the score were competitive for the full 80 minutes. It was inappropriate to say that they shouldn’t have the chance of facing Sarries. The favourite v underdog dynamic is why we love sport. Also for the Bedford players and the players from all the other championship teams, the opportunity of pitting their wits against the likes of Maro Itoje, the Vunipola brothers and Owen Farrell (when fit) is a once-in a lifetime experience. Given all of that, I apologise for my post, it was inappropriate and a massive overreaction. ------------- Donny Knights - best team in Yorkshire |
Posted By: Monkey Magic
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 18:13
Of the 3 sets of Commentators i heard on the streams this week the Harbury v Jersey guy(s) were head and shoulders above the others- knowing when to talk and when to stay quiet / follow the action takes a fair bit of practice plus a semblance of impartiality or balance makes it more enjoyable for the majority.
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Posted By: corporalcarrot
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 19:17
------------- Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD. |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 19:46
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And what a surprise the only championship news article on BBC News sport website - Saracens sweep aside Bedford Bloody BBC bias  ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 21:54
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I wonder what they’ll say if Ealing beat Saracens. Saracens suffer from hubris. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2021 at 23:16
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Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2021 at 07:12
------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: isleonian
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2021 at 19:18
| Sadly simply a totally different league |
Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2021 at 19:44
| Same league - just simply a class above! 😂😂 |
Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2021 at 20:20
| One of the main differences between the top Championship clubs and the Premiership relegated team is the dreaded parachute payment. If you gave Donny, Ealing, Pirates etc 5 or 6 million pounds to improve the strong squads they already have they would definitely be able to more than hold their own. |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2021 at 21:07
| To be fair Saracens are hardly a relegated club, they would be challenging top European honours. In normal times I would agree, as the top championship clubs have shown on a regular basis that the very bottom to top of Premiership isn’t that vast. |