That's one theory. I thought Jowitt defended the situation well, held off for Batchelor to try and gain ground but Atkins was too quick, too strong and did well to get under the sticks.

Hicks did something similar against Catalan and gets lauded, Atkins does it and he makes a balls of a chance. Some people can't give credit where its due, he was good today, and has been for 18 months

And if he had got tackled when he had Lineham outside him for a clear run in you would be fine, i said at the time had he not scored he would of been cruicified.

Plus One

firstly I'm not having a go at Atkins specifically. He's not a great passer of the ball and never has been, today it was a highlight of how the whole team is lacking an application of the basics....

If you thought Atkins did the correct thing in looking to his right to NO support player at all ( not that clear from this small photo) and ignoring a fast finisher supporting him on his immediate left then I'm talking to a brick wall.....


I like Atkins he's big strong and fast .....but he cant pass the ball and this proves it....

is it a bad thing?? sometimes yes ....sometimes like today ...he got away with it.....

what Chris Hicks has got to do with this i dont know....

Atkins has been one of our top performers this season....he's been very good. Jack Hughes needs to have a spell in the reserves. He was good last season but has been our worst player this season....and that takes some doing.

I agree he has been poor especially compared to last season but he's not been as bad as Evans or Russell who cost us points every time they play. The worst thing about hughes is you know when he gets the ball that's the move finished and we're moving on to the next tackle (or handing over possession). Is he on the wrong side or something? He doesn't seem to want to pass outside. I hope he finds his form again soon, we're missing the dependable Jack Hughes of last season.

There's only really one word that matters in your post: "if".

"If" Atlins hadn't dropped the ball under a 4 man tackle at OT last October I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have a 37 page discussion on whether Smith should stay or go!

I've only seen it once live: I thought Atlins did the right thing. You can see from the still above it's not just a case of drawing the full back and passing as there's another chasing defender. At the point Atkins looks inside its because he has no viable option outside: I don't recall Lineham scoring from more than 10 yards out for us, so not quite sure this one would have counted as a walk in for him.

There were plenty of examples of us not doing the basics right today. Seems a bit bizarre to choose this as the one to single out.

I thought from the south he did the right thing keeping hold. It didn't look like the pass was on to the 'support'

I have to say I think Atkins has been one of the few highlights. He runs the ball in with venom. Today he backed himself and scored a cracker, he took a risk and it paid off, sometimes that is what is needed. On the Jack Hughes front I understood he is best mates with Dom Crosby doesn't take a massive leap of imagination to think that that may account for a lack of focus at the moment.

I think I preferred coming on here during the series of defeats. There was slightly less moaning.

Lineham reacted a little slowly to the break he has speed not really been given the opportunity to go the length in his time with us so was not a viable option for Atkins to pass to and by the time he had switched Atkins didn't need the support

If he had passed then there's the risk it goes to a supporter in the crowd linenham could have dropped it or been bundled into touch if Atkins made the pass

One of the hi lights of the game along with juliens big hit.

Seriously, we're moaning about whether Atkins should or shouldn't have passed? Never happy are we? Atkins goes half the length of the field, possessing strength, power and pace and scores a quality try yet some are desperate to find fault? Absolutely pathetic.

Atkins didn't even look at lineham during that run, he only looked for support on the inside and decided to go on his own when he realised there was nobody to his right. He is not a centre and never will be as long as he has a hole in his arris. He should play on the wing.

DAG, I think we have a similar perspective on a lot of things, but something about your posting upsets me: in your signature, you list our honours and the first championship date is wrong saying 1944/5 not 1947/8.

I'm a pedantic * so have to point it out. I appreciate this post says a lot about me, and it's not positive. Hopefully you and others will forgive me, but at least agree it's better than having a pop at one of own for scoring a great try!

Now, sort it out please!!

* edit: nice auto-correct (didn't know it did that on here!!)