Agree with the match summary. We had the same discussion in the car on the way back re: team selection. It seems Tompkins wasn't played because Riddell was fit, which meant that Tommy was in the halves the whole game. No disrespect to Leulai but he's not an organiser, so once Smith's game broke down in the second half, we were totally bereft of ideas in attack. If we'd have had ten sets on their line, we probably wouldn't have scored. We had players standing deep and taking the ball flat-footed. Feka finally getting the ball on the last play and doing a kick and chase (!). Our play in good attacking position was a shambles and Sam Tompkins was badly missed in that respect.

Staying with the team selection, McIorum had another cracking game (it was his bell-ringer on Dobson close to the line), and looked much better than Riddell. Whilst it was a bad night for wingers (they barely saw the ball), Roberts single-handedly gave them their second try. Food for thought the next time someone points out Ainscough's defensive weaknesses...

Will use this thread to make another point. Another blow tonight was Feka coming on with about 20 to go and immediately breaking his nose making a tackle to which he went straight back off with blood pouring (I'm told) and didn't return. We lost resting a prop for 10 mins which was perhaps vital. Who knows now.

Derailing my thread? How dare you

Dont worry, im sure you will find other things.

Don't think he hobbled. Looked a little dazed to me like he didn't know where he was.

it got all the fans going again - was a great atmosphere in the first half, the biff was back for 40 minutes!!!!

Hock came off with a massive cut on his cheek, went down the tunnel to have it cleaned and patched up, when he came back we had run out of subs - he was fuming and wanted to go back on.

Losing Hock, Feka, McIlorum and Prescott (for a short while at end) to blood injuries didn't help at the end either.

Its swings and roundabouts mate we had Dobson on one leg for parts of the game and we lost 2(If I remeber right) so we were far from uneffected ourselves.

How?

a bloody good question.

Good write-up Dave.

[Squeakyvoicemode]Don't blame any of our Aussie superstars for the fact that we lost. It's not their fault, it's everyone else's fault.[endsqueakyvoicemode]

The fact is that Roberts is offering nothing.

I wonder if "Mr. I've seen more games than you" is willing to tell me again that Riddell is only a couple of games away from walking on water and turning water into wine?