Titans Chat

Lots of discussion around the Christmas break that since the great start, we haven’t kicked on in the way other teams have and had gone off the boil.

Interesting point that the lack of injuries has meant very consistent selection, and I do wonder if this consistency contributed to the malaise? Players got picked week in week out regardless of form and maybe felt safe without meaningful rotation? I rate Harvey but think he just got too conservative rather than trying anything different.

Who knows, we certainly lost some spark and got caught up. Going to be a nail biting run in.

I think you’ve nailed it. Pack is not an issue and where we are really strong compared to anyone else is in our back three. The issue for me is the link in between. We don’t exploit them well enough because our recycling is too slow and they aren’t getting the ball fast enough. They are lethal if they are unleashed before defences reset.

My probably unpopular opinion* is that, great as he is at other parts of the game, JB doesn’t track ahead or get to rucks fast enough to take advantage of the pack’s work and we need someone quicker and more lively at 9 to be there ready to whip the ball out. We have plenty of options there. Can’t help thinking that a bit of extra zip to up the tempo will suit the boys and help get their mojo back too. We have the pack and finishers to tear it up, and a very capable 10 to orchestrate it, just need to up the pace.


*fully acknowledge that as a former 10/15 my view reflects what I’d want if I was in their boots.

Doesn’t help but it wasn’t Ding’s level ringers. We just had a very bad day at the office.

Anyway, onwards we go. Happy Christmas ya filthy animals.

Yep, just not clinical enough. Plus should have got the subs on quicker as it wasn’t working and we were just too laboured - Leeds weren’t a quick team and watching JB waddling around with Sinjin on the bench till the end was frustrating. Feel for Rob, just one of those days. We’re so much better than that, but need to bring more energy. Feel like we’ve been holding on and Christmas is here just in time.

Well I guess now we know. I can see Harvey getting increasingly risk averse and making defendable decisions rather than using the squad. Shame and if anyone goes down their replacement will be undercooked. Don’t agree with it but I understand it.

Ran out of steam a bit at the end, quite a few cramping up. Boys must be knackered, need to dip into the squad more or they’ll be on fumes when we get to the business end of the season. Great win, Rams are no mugs.

I looked at the listings in the rugby paper and Dings fielded 6 changes from the team that got thrashed by Plymouth last week. 4 of these were Bristol Academy players (at least). There is a player listed as "A.N. Other" who could have been an import

Quote from: Chris.Garbutt on October 20, 2025, 02:28:58 pm

Quote from: IRGeech on October 18, 2025, 05:48:21 pm

Quote from: Chris.Garbutt on October 18, 2025, 05:43:43 pm

Poor result. Sounds like the 9 + 10 combo didn't work to well. I thought the 10 looked like he needed a lot of work in pre season. Corben should have been given his chance as a proven 10 at this level (if he is fit.)

We can't make excuses for this loss, we just weren't good enough on the day and the nature of this league is that anyone can beat anyone. Time to pick ourselves back up and kick back with a good game next week.

I'd have taken 6 wins from 7 and second in the league at this stage at the start of the season.

That’s a strange take. 9 and 10 were fine and have played together plenty before here, back three also did well. Today was all down the forwards coming off second best and getting out fought and out rucked - we didn’t see the ball for the first 15 minutes. Dings were more up for it and stacked full of ringers from Brizz too.

I don't think it is strange take what so ever. When you have a proven player at this level in a key position it is normal to question them not been selected particularly when this area seems to have struggled. Others have also pointed out that this area wasn't as strong as it could have been which is to be expected in there first game together at this level. University Rugby is one thing, competitive National 1 is another. In this league 6 wins from the first 7 is a good result. I can't remember the last time anyone went unbeaten in this league. Potentially Ealing 10 or so years ago, though I think they lost 1 or 2.

As for the Bristol 'Ringers', Dings had Bristol academy players in the starting line up and 1 first team though not a first team shoe in. We are not looking at 7 players who are going to be in Bristol's first team each week. We know Dings have the link with Bristol and do come away with these performances from time to time. I think they had a few out of the blue results like this last season too if my memory is correct.

As I said before, we don't need to make excuses, we got beat by the better side on the day. Similar to last seasons home game against Bishops Stortford. Now we dust ourselves off and go again this week against a solid Tonbridge side. This next string of 5 games will give us a great look as to where we are. Tonbridge, Blackheath, Rams and Plymouth all coming up.

. It is such a surprising result that I find myself fishing for answers, from what I have read Dings really turned on the style and just out-played us, but that is some turn around from last week. With Plymouth losing at Judds, next Saturday will provide a really good benchmark for where we are at. I guess the Birmingham Mosely win against Blackheath was also surprising so it does show how the matches can turn on small margins, with some of our big wins being forged in the latter part of the second half. I'ts a really tough league whereby you need to be at or around your best for 80 minutes.

My point, as with the comment above yours, is that it had no effect on the game as we didn’t see the ball. Had you watched the game, you’d know. But yes, incredibly tight league, which makes for much excitement.

Poor result. Sounds like the 9 + 10 combo didn't work to well. I thought the 10 looked like he needed a lot of work in pre season. Corben should have been given his chance as a proven 10 at this level (if he is fit.)

We can't make excuses for this loss, we just weren't good enough on the day and the nature of this league is that anyone can beat anyone. Time to pick ourselves back up and kick back with a good game next week.

I'd have taken 6 wins from 7 and second in the league at this stage at the start of the season.

That’s a strange take. 9 and 10 were fine and have played together plenty before here, back three also did well. Today was all down the forwards coming off second best and getting out fought and out rucked - we didn’t see the ball for the first 15 minutes. Dings were more up for it and stacked full of ringers from Brizz too.