Just arrived back at my temporary Shropshire base after the match. I spent most of the first fifteen or so minutes dreading the final score. To be fair after that the players largely deserve credit. Some good defence on the line and outbreaks of decent attacking play. Unlike last years shower they kept going.

Quite simply we were up against a bigger, faster, more skilful and better drilled team. They largely did their best and I came away not too unhappy. Sadly the fact I felt like that says a lot about where we are.

I won't name him as it really wouldn't help but I thought there were worrying signs the constant physical and mental batterings this season be taking their toll on the confidence of one of the better youngsters. I hope the club remember what happened when Olu and Josef were asked to do too much too young and keep a careful eye out for the youngsters. There may or may not be a London next year and we owe it to them to do our best to ensure they are in a good place to pick up a contract elsewhere worst case scenario.

I'd have taken a 5 try margin before kick-off to be honest, good crowd though, especially for a Thurday.

So do I, as it happened in front of me on the Ealing Road terrace.

Zeb disappears from sight, there's an awful noise, followed by some very worried looks on the players faces.

Worst I ever saw was at an RU match at The Stoop, when the Stoop was little more than a waste ground.
Then there was no mega East Stand. In fact there was no stand; instead there was a low wire fence. I saw London Irish full back Jim Staples go into the wire fence, the wire stopping him around the throat!

The biggest problem London have had for years is a lack of props. Constantly we persist in signing second rowers and expecting them to play front row. Its just something I've come to accept now. Senseless yes, but no point moaning.

Last time I think we had a pack that caused opposition teams problems on a regular basis was during the Solomono and Danny Williams era.

I appreciate this season we had slim pickings due to the mess off field... but surely (if and that is a massive IF) we were to somehow avoid relegation... we need to sign a minimum of 2 huge and nasty props.

However, back to the main point... team did the best they could yesterday. Fair play to them. St Helens are a top team and we could have picked up a squeaky win if we had played a lesser team. Still think our pack is the issue and we certainly are now praying Bradford and Wakefield continue to struggle through the rest of the season.

Yep, we've been saying that since BEFORE the first game this season, we could do with some experience in the halves as well, but 2, 3 or even 4 big ugly buggers up-front is what we've been crying out for.

Have to agree with all that's been said above. Even John Kerr said the same if London had a couple of big props like LMS and Walmsley, they could have made the different going forward and just might have given the backs some go forward to work on instead of having to keep trying to break out of our own 20m. (kicking game is crap that didn't help)

As for the youngest they are starting to look tried (greenwood didn't carry the ball in hard once from what I saw, his brother had more go then him), but what else can we do as we don't have anyone to replace them with so that they get a spell on the sidelines, even McMeeken was quiet last night and he's been one of our most improved players so far. Vea;s starting to show what we need in the pack one more like him would be good, I was surprised we didn't use him more if honest
I also think that the messing around with the HB's is not helping. I cant help feel we should have stuck with Drinkwater/Bishay from the start and either left Farrar in the centre or FB. I know Nesi is FB but he could have played wing with Solomona on the other that would have gave us pace and high out wide.
I be honest I wouldn't have even know if Atkins had come on or not as I don't think I heard the commentaries say his name once.

There must be some props out, blimey even Salford found one in Lee Jewitt playing out in France. and as their seasons over there is coming to an end could it be possible for TR to look around in there as they be sort match fit. If not then TR's meant to have been contacted from other clubs (i.e. e mails/ phone calls) offering players (I know they might be young guys) but maybe just maybe they might be a little bit bigger and are props not 2nd rows, (shame couldn't have Carl Forster back from St's he played alright last night, or even Greenwoods brother ).

There is a team spirit there I think you can see that, but I sometimes feel the backs heads go down a bit when the forwards cant get on top. Just look at the breaks Vea made they were round him like a swam of flies hunting the off load.

Its going to happen I just might be silly and have a bet on a win against Hudd's or even John Kerr took a punt of us winning at the Magic weekend against Les Cats (maybe I go for that one)......