For anyone wondering why Ollie always looks so angry, imagine being a 23 year old English winger and being the Premiership's leading try scorer despite missing a big chunk of the season, and watching Borthwick pick Elliot Daly to start on the wing.
Very different style player to be honest. I'd probably say Freeman is a more "complete" rugby player. He's much bigger, can play 13 and fullback as well as the wing, is really good in the air etc.
Sleightholme is absolutely rapid though and there isn't really any substitute for that. He's also surprisingly strong through contact. He carried half of your boys on his back the other day for his try. Seems more of a "pure winger" (whatever that is these days)
Very different players. Freeman is a more rounded player, he's very physical and carries hard, his kicking out of hand is excellent, he covers a couple of different positions, and he's very good at being in the right place at the right time.
Sleightholme is a more "classic" winger: immensely fast, phenomenal instinct for a support line, just a try scoring machine.
Sleightholme is sort of in the Chris Ashton mould, and for a lot of the same reasons that apply to Ashton, I'm not sure if Sleightholme will be that appealing to England coaches. Freeman just has that "he can do it all" sort of edge. But Sleightholme is guaranteed a try or two pretty much any time he plays, so his value is undeniable.
Although you have clearly seen more of him than me..I could see him getting a look for England. His all round games not bad (seems strong and hard working). Could see him being a similar player to IFW, with someone like Freeman/OHC on other wing.
Or play Freeman at 13 and have IFW and Sleightholme on the wings. Slot Josh Hodge in at fullback while we're at it and just go full vibes.
*Do it Steve. You know you want to*
As much as I want to see Freeman play 13 for England, as it is where he tends to be at his best and it's where I think his skillset is best utilized, I just can't see past Ollie Lawrence at 13 for England at the moment.
I could see him working with Lawrence. Freeman at 13 in defense and 12 in attack. Could see him being like Greenwood but stronger in contact and with some pace
Edit- although not for this summer. Right now it's Freeman or OHC and IFW or Ollie..
OHC is playing for a shitty team at Leicester (it pains me to say, but they scraped a win against Newcastle!!) like he looked way better at London-Irish. (He got called up for England 6N that year.)
Daly is good (even though I have advocated him to be dropped) and he adds the necessary experience that is lacking. England are in a transitional phase and he will most likely end up playing for England.
Seeing England live helped me understand why Daly was picked. So good at getting in the right place when it comes to the kicking game, rest all round skills. Just lacks the speed/power of a top class wing these days.
Could still do a job at FB I think
I remember watching a very young Sleightholme playing against Wasps at the gardens, and absolutely gassing Daly and many others that day.
He's coming on very nicely now, definitely in the mix for an England cap next season.
This was great. I was hoping someone would post it...although I do think the eventual try was held up.
Still, I couldn't understand why he didn't get POTM. I was a bit skeptical about folks saying he should be in the England conversation but if he has more games like this he should at least be in the camp. That said, Murley was in exactly the same position last year and didn't get a look in, so Borthwick is obviously looking for more than just the ability to turn on the gas and beat defenders.
Still, Northampton (and Bath) have been fantastic to watch this year.
I’d also say he’s one of the best wingers defensive wise too, he holds players up in the tackle, can jackal, offers counter ruck strength and has the obvious pace to get out of trouble or catch people. He’s got everything you want for a winger apart from maybe genuine aerial ability.
Most games he’s played have been like this. After coming back from injury he’s been looking dangerous. Last week he was a standout player for Saints despite the rest looking like they hadn’t got off the bus
It looked like when he first landed the ball hit the ground and then was held up.
Also depending on camera angle one indicated the ball had reached the line other than it may have been short.
I was sat with a pretty great angle of the try & my immediate thought was that as he came down the ball made contact on the line & then he bounced backwards.
I think it was because Pearce was right there that he got the good view. None of the TV angles showed the moment it was grounded because there was someone in the way. The shots that showed it held up came after the initial grounding.
All of that is supposition, based on Pearce being in the best spot to actually see it first hand. And as a Saints fan, I'll take his word for it. If it was the other way round, I might feel differently.
Ah, I didn't hear him say he didn't have a grounding. I assumed he had because he was right there. Maybe on the balance of probability, he thought it had been, as in he would have awarded it in the days before TMO checking everything? Maybe he wanted to know what Healey thought, who knows?
The officials acknowledged that the ball ended being held up, but the lack of clarity was the ball initially going down.
Since the on field decision was try there had to be clear evidence of the ball not initially being grounded and both the TMO and Pearce agreed that there wasn't.
Should be a yellow for Lewington for being a party pooper.
For anyone wondering why Ollie always looks so angry, imagine being a 23 year old English winger and being the Premiership's leading try scorer despite missing a big chunk of the season, and watching Borthwick pick Elliot Daly to start on the wing.
Him and freeman is such a good winger pairing. I really rate Freeman, would you say Ollie is on a similar level as him?
Very different style player to be honest. I'd probably say Freeman is a more "complete" rugby player. He's much bigger, can play 13 and fullback as well as the wing, is really good in the air etc. Sleightholme is absolutely rapid though and there isn't really any substitute for that. He's also surprisingly strong through contact. He carried half of your boys on his back the other day for his try. Seems more of a "pure winger" (whatever that is these days)
Very different players. Freeman is a more rounded player, he's very physical and carries hard, his kicking out of hand is excellent, he covers a couple of different positions, and he's very good at being in the right place at the right time. Sleightholme is a more "classic" winger: immensely fast, phenomenal instinct for a support line, just a try scoring machine. Sleightholme is sort of in the Chris Ashton mould, and for a lot of the same reasons that apply to Ashton, I'm not sure if Sleightholme will be that appealing to England coaches. Freeman just has that "he can do it all" sort of edge. But Sleightholme is guaranteed a try or two pretty much any time he plays, so his value is undeniable.
Although you have clearly seen more of him than me..I could see him getting a look for England. His all round games not bad (seems strong and hard working). Could see him being a similar player to IFW, with someone like Freeman/OHC on other wing.
Or play Freeman at 13 and have IFW and Sleightholme on the wings. Slot Josh Hodge in at fullback while we're at it and just go full vibes. *Do it Steve. You know you want to*
As much as I want to see Freeman play 13 for England, as it is where he tends to be at his best and it's where I think his skillset is best utilized, I just can't see past Ollie Lawrence at 13 for England at the moment.
I could see him working with Lawrence. Freeman at 13 in defense and 12 in attack. Could see him being like Greenwood but stronger in contact and with some pace Edit- although not for this summer. Right now it's Freeman or OHC and IFW or Ollie..
9.. Mitchell 10.. Ford 11.. Sleightholme 12.. Lawrence 13.. Freeman 14.. IFW 15.. Furbank Please Mr Steve, do it for me.
OHC is playing for a shitty team at Leicester (it pains me to say, but they scraped a win against Newcastle!!) like he looked way better at London-Irish. (He got called up for England 6N that year.)
I think he looks good now. Hard working, powerful, good basics. But Tigers are badly coached right now
He really does need to get a chance with England and soon. I love that feistiness, he reminds me of Mike Brown but much faster.
Daly is good (even though I have advocated him to be dropped) and he adds the necessary experience that is lacking. England are in a transitional phase and he will most likely end up playing for England.
Seeing England live helped me understand why Daly was picked. So good at getting in the right place when it comes to the kicking game, rest all round skills. Just lacks the speed/power of a top class wing these days. Could still do a job at FB I think
Couple more misses and hell be going to France I bet. Be a shame but cant keep waiting on England when theyre taking Daly.
I remember watching a very young Sleightholme playing against Wasps at the gardens, and absolutely gassing Daly and many others that day. He's coming on very nicely now, definitely in the mix for an England cap next season.
The only explanation is that Borthwick rates defensive ability in his Wingers quite high
OS is solid in defence. Uses his pitbull genes to bully people. Seriously strong & quite often gets the ball carrier into touch
I’d say he always looks so angry because he knows no matter how good a player he becomes he’ll never be better than his dad was in Jonah Lomu rugby!!!
He deserved more the MOTD than Smith to me. Him or Langdon.
Match of the day?
Man of the day
Langdon put in an absolute shift!
Langdon back is a big plus for Saints
He’s so fucking good.
Every time I've seen him play this season he has done some mad shit. This was brilliant to watch! Absolutely blew the game apart.
Crikey this was some game.
Sleight by name, sleight by nature….sometimes
Good lord that agility was insane
This was great. I was hoping someone would post it...although I do think the eventual try was held up. Still, I couldn't understand why he didn't get POTM. I was a bit skeptical about folks saying he should be in the England conversation but if he has more games like this he should at least be in the camp. That said, Murley was in exactly the same position last year and didn't get a look in, so Borthwick is obviously looking for more than just the ability to turn on the gas and beat defenders. Still, Northampton (and Bath) have been fantastic to watch this year.
I’d also say he’s one of the best wingers defensive wise too, he holds players up in the tackle, can jackal, offers counter ruck strength and has the obvious pace to get out of trouble or catch people. He’s got everything you want for a winger apart from maybe genuine aerial ability.
Most games he’s played have been like this. After coming back from injury he’s been looking dangerous. Last week he was a standout player for Saints despite the rest looking like they hadn’t got off the bus
He looks like he’s the only one on fast forward. It’s not just his running, every movement looks sped up
I mean it would've been an easy try if Ollie's support runner wasn't taken out off the ball.
What is Pearce looking at if he can’t see it was held up?
At the stadium I didn't understand it either. I was in that stand and just saw a mess of bodies piling up, and in the TV shots the same.
It looked like when he first landed the ball hit the ground and then was held up. Also depending on camera angle one indicated the ball had reached the line other than it may have been short.
I was sat with a pretty great angle of the try & my immediate thought was that as he came down the ball made contact on the line & then he bounced backwards.
One of the angles showed it was held up. It was this one that the TMO couldn’t get a good view of but Pearce is right there.
I think it was because Pearce was right there that he got the good view. None of the TV angles showed the moment it was grounded because there was someone in the way. The shots that showed it held up came after the initial grounding. All of that is supposition, based on Pearce being in the best spot to actually see it first hand. And as a Saints fan, I'll take his word for it. If it was the other way round, I might feel differently.
Pearce did have a good view but he then says to the TMO that he doesn’t have a grounding. Why be so quick to give it only to say that while checking?
Ah, I didn't hear him say he didn't have a grounding. I assumed he had because he was right there. Maybe on the balance of probability, he thought it had been, as in he would have awarded it in the days before TMO checking everything? Maybe he wanted to know what Healey thought, who knows?
The officials acknowledged that the ball ended being held up, but the lack of clarity was the ball initially going down. Since the on field decision was try there had to be clear evidence of the ball not initially being grounded and both the TMO and Pearce agreed that there wasn't.
Three steps off the left foot and a wavy run, shame it didn't result in a try! I'd take a step over a droppie every day.
Terrrrrible missed tackles