Props and back rowers kicking on the last, no game management.

I like to think I'm pretty fair and give players the backing and time they deserve but Smith has no defence at the minute. I don't expect him to break a game open with his running game but he's not even completing the basics of passing, kicking and tackling at the minute.

I thought it was a pretty brave effort overall tonight but there's clearly a huge weakness there at the moment.

Young lads great once again, Smith woeful as usual, can't kick, pass or defend, good job Sandow got injured, could have got to sixty.

Championship standard 7, worst half back at Wigan since Moran.

Proof is on the field every week.

The youngsters were great I thought. It was a very solid debut from Higginson and I thought Gregson, Sutton and Gildart really took it to them second half.

yep, really impressed with the young guns, really got stuck in.

Ye they were all very good but Gregson especially looks a class player. Can't wait til he gets poached by the NRL.

Our academy is ridiculous isn't it? Think we take it for granted because of the amount of talent that comes through.

Gregson has won half the battle straight away because of his aggression much like Sutton. Both could develop in to very good players.

Agree NK.
I thought young Gregson played very well and Sutton continues to improve. I tend to forget how young Gildart is and how few matches he has actually played.
I backed Wire purely on the fact that we had so many key players missing. Overall a creditable performance and better than I anticipated.
I think a little harsh to pick out Smith for special treatment however, I am in the camp that we need a much better organiser than Smith and until we do we will continue to fall short.
If SOL isn't fit for Wakey I dread to think how we may perform. I would be tempted to try Sarginson at 6 as I don't think we have anyone else who could there unless Williams is available.
It's going to be tough over the next month or so.

Ye that's true, always thought our precky could've been a class player if he had more aggression in him.

In that second half I don't know what was going on but Smith seemed to get tackled with the ball so much on the 4th tackle so that when it came to the 5th our only half on the field was playing the ball and we ended up with farrell and tautai kicking the ball down field....

I don't know whether it was down to lack of leadership or communication or what but our attack just wasn't good enough.

in fairness though I do feel that whilst matty smith isn't exactly a world class player he was pretty much on his own when we lost lockers. Sarginson went back to his side step and firm grip on the ball... and whilst we showed good determination and aggression to get back into the game a bit there just wasn't enough cohesion in the attack to really trouble wire.

we are missing williams and tomkins more than ever now. when those 2 come back and there is less pressure on smith I think all 3 of them could start to combine/click and we can get a decent attack going again.

Smith Can be an effective player when he is alongside another capable half/playmajker. but on his own he just isn't effective enough...

I think it's harsh to make smith the scapegoat. Granted he's not a world class player but he is a decent scrum half who at the moment is obviously suffering from a lack of confidence the effect of which shouldn't be underestimated. I applaud him for having a go at the goal kicking, as it did last year for some reason it seems to be affecting his game. It's time to give the kicking to Charnley and hope for the best, let Smith concentrate on what he can do well. If in the future a top scrum half becomes available then I'd say thank you and good luck else where but at the moment he is the best option we've got. We are also missing our 1, 6 and 9 which puts huge pressure on Smith to compensate for their absence, we also lost SOL and has a kid who was playing second row for the 19's at stand off.

What cost us tonight was poor discipline and poor defence in the first half. The only player I would single out was Farrell, he was dumb tonight. The sin bin was the most blatant I've seen in a long time, he was lucky not to go to the bin again for the 8 point try and he was dumb for the obstruction, if he had carried on through the line regardless of making contact with the defender it would probably have been given, the fact he stopped and turned his back made it an easy decision for the VR.

Might be a tad controversial but I don't see the Sutton potential. Big lad, looks the type to bully his way through junior rugby and be lauded as the prop of the future but for me another Bibey.

Think that's fair, I don't think there's many half backs that can carry a team on their own.

That Sandow is some player though, could've been embarrassing tonight if he'd stayed on.

There is carrying a team on their own and then there is basic game management. I see teams get beat by 30 or 40 points but never see the last tackle options I saw tonight by the losing side let alone having props and backrow forwards kick the ball on the last tackle.

More then a tad I'd say. That may well be the most insulting thing I've ever seen written about a player comparing him to Bibey

I've got to admit I was frustrated with him at times last year because I thought he'd started to drift and he wasn't putting in the hard yards but I think he's been excellent recently and is really starting to kick on. I thought all the props gave it a good dig tonight tbh.