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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2014 20:03 by Tiggs.

Fine preview and a cogent view of likely teams.

Thanks Chris So hopefully the only question to be resolved on Saturday is whether we host Saints or they us.

Chris I fear any hope you have for a late career in the media may have to be put on hold following your withering comments of the chosen one.

Your preview as usual is outstanding but reminds me if reminding is needed that Sarries second string are just so much better than ours, I hope to be proved wrong but do not expect it.

We seem to be missing a trick, there is no doubt of our ability to develop fine players it is that we need to develop more.

why I do not know, could it be cash, brown envelopes of a missing link behind the scenes?

I hope your forecast for a possible victory comes to pass after all if any one orchestrate victory it is our excellent DOR.

Thank you for your regular season previews and I hope that we will two further gems before the cricket and holiday season takes hold.

THanks Chris - a good piece and intereesting but personally I rather doubt we will see so many changes to our team.

In theory at least we should have the freshest squad in the league given the amount of 'forced rest' we've experienced this season so yes, while injuries are possible they should be less likely and we should certainly not be fearful of burn-out. Add to that the fact that we've had so much disruption this term that consistency of selection - of our best players - has been possible only for the last month and I would imagine further unforced changes will be eschewed.

The only players I'd rest at this point would be Logo and Jules - and possibly OTY - with them all on the bench. I might also find a place on the bench for Crofty, if fit, and get him on at half time.

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Sarries fan here. Thanks for the preview, an enjoyable read and (apart from the Lancaster stuff) pretty bang on the money from my perspective.

Another great read, Chris - many thanks. Here's hoping for a good finish to the "normal" bit of the season.

Even when I don't agree with them all, your range of well-informed opinions and wonderful manner of expressing them are to be applauded. And it so happens that this time I think you're almost spot-on.

Thanks.

Also from Sarries,

Thank you Chris for a well constructed and thoughtfully written piece. I suspect you are being too humble on the likely accuracy of your predictions. Even if I don't necessarily agree with your opinions re Lancaster, I enjoyed having my perceptions challenged in such a well argued article. It was a pleasure to read-in contrast to some of the nonsense purveyed by those who should know better in the professional press. Keep up the good work!

Yep - all reality exists only in your mind until the plummeting piano splatters your perceptions across the pavement

I would argue for your inclusion in the New Years' honours list for actual, rather than perceived, services to rugby, journalism and wit, but, of course, the exponentially growing volume of tinkling ivories would be a portend of reality in that such appreciation is pre-ordained to glorify those you so rightly vilify. For once the OBE would not be for Other Bu66ers' Efforts, but hey ho

As ever, Chris, sterling and much appreciated

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'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget

An impressively wordy "report" sirrah, full of sound and fury etc. but my perception is that an overly stout defence to an attack of "puffery" is nothing more than a bit of flashy shadow boxing. Has Lancaster actually intimated to anyone he thought Johnson was@#$%&at the England job? Are you attacking the job the 'Bomber' is doing? What is your point?

Your assumption that "Tigers will surely not deny Thomas Waldrom a final start at Welford Road before he departs for the delights of Devon." seems to indicate you have given up on a home semi. Naturally, being a Saints supporter I wouldn't dispute your judgement, but looking at the Sarries line up do you still rule out closing the points difference gap?

There is of course a chance of a home semi, a remote chance, therefore the author is at liberty to tell it as he sees it most likely.

The media has peddled the Johnno = crap, Lancaster = saviour without recognising the similarity in their results and the facts pertaining to who gave first caps to whom. Now recognising the media grind axes and make stories rather than report facts, would it have hurt Lancaster to once step forward and gainsay the media to correct any impression that his predecessor was an abject failure.

Fair point Stopsy but for most England Rugby fans, including myself,Johnson remains among the handful of greatest ever forwards to don the shirt. You certainly could not say that about his coaching skills any more than you could about Lancaster as yet. The difference is that at this particular point in his mangement term Lancaster's career looks to be in the ascendent.

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oldtoastersaint
Fair point Stopsy but for most England Rugby fans, including myself,Johnson remains among the handful of greatest ever forwards to don the shirt. You certainly could not say that about his coaching skills any more than you could about Lancaster as yet. The difference is that at this particular point in his mangement term Lancaster's career looks to be in the ascendent.

Durr .. Johnno? Coach? Really?

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'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget

Odd shaped ones, presuming we're not talking 'Midland Red' then I didn't liken Jonno to a coach, quite the opposite.

"You certainly could not say that about his coaching skills..." (in comparison to his playing record)

Chris C introduced the 'United Counties' nomenclature when he so vividly described the windmill he's furiously engaged in tilting at :-

"... floods of management speak and pseudo sports’ science coaching babble, ..."

Steve James in the Telegraph Nov 2011 makes the strategic thinking behind Jonno's appointment clear.

"With Martin Johnson’s departure as England rugby manager (note that he was a manager and not specifically a coach, even if he had no qualification to do either)...

A masterstroke of RFU judgement, comparable to the Paul Flowers' Co-op appointment, the idea behind which I'm convinced was nicked from the Mel Brooks script of 'The Producers'. Follow the money on that one at least.

To repeat my earlier post, this is all of Shakespearean insignificance. In consequence of which I swiftly defer to your superior sounding Durr.

Your quote: "With Martin Johnson’s departure as England rugby manager (note that he was a manager and not specifically a coach ...

... which is of course my point, he was never coach, ergo, he is not be judged on his coaching skills

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'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget

Many thanks Chris.

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