I think it pretty much puts paid to the autumn internationals, so it will most likely be over two years that he hasn't played for England. |
I've been confident all pre-season that we can compete with anybody, and I still firmly believe it. Northampton lost a lot of games at home last season, so there will be a bit of tension there for the fans and the players. If we can achieve the level of performance we did at Sale (Newcastle lost 26-25), we believe we can cause them problems. |
I've been waiting to try and get that combination all season and today was the first time I had all four of them available. It's been a bit frustrating. |
It took nine months for Mathew to get over the experience. Next time they have to be certain that they want him and then stick with him. |
It was our worst performance of the season. |
It was our worst performance of the season. We know what the rules are and we know what the regulations are. He is a core Sevens player and that is the situation. The system is as it is. |
It wasn't even borderline, it was about two yards forward. |
It's disappointing for us all. That's pretty much put paid to him playing in the autumn internationals. We will want to get him back on the horse as quickly as possible but let's just get him back playing before England pick him. |
It's just absolutely ridiculous that he wasn't taken for an X-ray after complaining of jaw pains. |
Joe has worked very hard in coming back from injury over the last year and continues to give us options in a number of positions. |
Johnny has had the most complete week of training with the team since the injury happened. He was very close to being on the bench against Bristol last weekend, but the medical team bought him an extra week just to be absolutely certain. |
Matt is a good young local forward who has come through the club's academy, and is continuing to develop further as a player. |
My understanding of the current situation is that he can only play half a game, if he is fit and selected in the 22, so we'll just have to see how it pans out. |
On the face of it, we are both capable of playing open, entertaining rugby to a high standard, but it may be that the team who adapts to something different, maybe some tight forward play, is the one who succeeds. |
Our actual level of performance has been as good as I can recall in the last five or six years. We've just not had enough breaks and results have slipped away from us. This game will be a good yardstick for us. Not one single person in the land expects us to win. |