Blind side johnny

Not looking at the top, then?

I can think of one.

No doubt someone will suggest banjo music for the next home game!

And not wishing to be a wet blanket but last week against Doncaster we let in three tries straight from the ptb with dummy half sneaks. Yesterday the same thing once again. This is surely basic stuff and I am hopeful that DM will have spotted it.

A very good first half from us with bags of enthusiasm and some good rugby on show. Games against Toulouse have always been entertaining as their open attacking style is often matched by a less than tight defence, which does lead to a more open game. They focussed more in the second half and had clearly recognised some weaknesses that they then exploited. I felt that the difference in fitness between full-time and part-time players began to show at the end, resulting in a score line that didn't really reflect our performance. As Paul March said in his post match interview we were beaten by the better side; they were bigger, faster and fitter with a sprinkling of experience and gamesmanship that we didn't match. Overall a game that was pleasing to the eye and offered some encouragement, albeit producing zero points in the table, once again. I will be difficult to see us getting anything from the next three games, however, after which our race might almost be run. I was baffled by the penalty count but would never accuse any referee of bias. It will be interesting to see a video of the game, if we still produce one. I often feel that, on rewatching games I find that the referee was actually correct most times when I thought that he was wrong, but let's see. One final point for those who regularly advocate for reducing the entrance prices in order to increase the crowd size (speculate to accumulate is a popular theme), the proof of the pudding was there to be seen yesterday.

According to reports their result at Wakefield didn't reflect how competitive they were, being let down by poor discipline, thankfully not something that we suffer from. Given that our squad is only boosted by one DR this week it is difficult to see where an immediate improvement on recent performances might come from. We can enjoy the day of celebration and possibly see some enjoyable rugby to give us hope. Rams 18 - 32 Toulouse FTS: Davies Att: 925

I hear that Toulouse have requested that we get a load of pasties in for the after match celebration.

True. Sadly you and most others always assume that the fault lies with us. I don't know any more than you do but wouldn't be surprised if we weren't getting the best of assistance from the Giants either. People seem to imagine that SL clubs enter into DR arrangements out of some sort of charitable instinct. They don't; they use them largely to their own benefit first and foremost.

Back to the Doncaster match - Jimmy Beckett went off with 10 minutes to go clearly holding his hamstring. If he is absent then the pack will really look lightweight.

As I have pointed out previously a change of half back wouldn't have affected the points conceded. Rush's absences previously were due to injury, I understand.

He didn't say at which end the fault lay.

I disagree. Where we did improve noticeably was in defensive systems and discipline, the former of which was noticeably missing today. Personally I would have been delighted had he stayed with us, but he didn't for understandable reasons.

If there is someone knocking about willing to invest (spend) substantially in a Championship club I believe there would be a small queue of club chairmen/owners eager to talk to him. RL clubs, especially lower league ones aren't an attractive proposition for anyone. I agree that the squad isn't strong enough but, equally, there don't appear to be a host of suitable players knocking about to recruit. Ex SL players are no guarantee of success - we have had our share of disappointments there and I was watching one today who looked like very dubious value for money. We appear to have taken a bit of a gamble with recruiting young players who require development. Whether they will prove worthwhile and if we have coaching staff with the skills to properly develop them is debateable. I certainly don't think there are any quick fixes waiting to be found.

They have conceded more points than we have. On the other hand they have already played Fev, Wakefield and Sheffield, something we have yet to do.

I will be there, more in hope than anticipation I must confess. Doncaster will be clear favourites and, as has been said, we could be looking at a long run of defeats if we do lose. I am puzzled by the lack of any Giants players although apparently we have had some sickness in the camp, so it might be related to that. On a note of realism I predict: Dons 28 - 18 Rams FTS: Davies Att: 1200