100% this.

The problem is even if the edge defence is bolstered all the attacking team has to do is stroll through the middle. Just like they did last night.

Our lack of basic skills is so alarming and has been for a while, simple passing and catching should be the minimum requirement for a professional rugby player but the amount of times we've got players taking passes round their knees or head or behind them is ridiculous.

Out of interest, why too soon? We’re desperate for a spark and in the first half he gave that, with an assist and some good touches. Hindsight says his pass to Faraimo was bad, but it was a good read by Faraimo. He doesn’t make that and we’re 22/24 to 8 and they have 12 players on the pitch, would be a different game. I know that’s all it’s and buts, and I’m not excusing anything, but we need all the help we can get and Connor was ready and he had to play. Unfortunately he was as bad as the rest of the team after all that!

I would assume next week we will line up with Jake back at 1, Smith into 6 to partner Gale in the halves.
I don't know much about Smith so anybody know if he would be a better option at fullback than 6?

Surely our esteemed coach will provide the answer.

Well that was fun. When your there you tend to pick more up concerning players efforts etc. For 30 min I honestly thought we would win. Even half time I did. Connor pass if sticking wr go up 24/14 and might have gone on to win. What happened next is not acceptable. Certain players throw in the towel. Hodgson will get a lot of flak rightly so. But the players deserve more. What's Ellis supposed to be doing? We went behind and once again a lot of players put there que away. I was disgusted at the lack of effort by some. Wondering around like it's a Sunday walk. I've stuck up for Hodgson but he's got to be man enough to drop or get rid of some. How the H Ell is it good enough to not give the basic effort in a professional team.

Name the players then. Which ones are the problem and which ones are you letting off. Giving some to Ellis now but you still really don't believe Hodgson is the problem do you?

As Dan Tomlinson said. It would be criminal if some players stayed whilst another coach went. Why shouldn't Ellis kop some is he not the defense coach?. Do we just keep changing the coach and keep the players? We have a habit of just sacking the coach and the underperforming players stay. Last night Taylor Lane where awful. Lovudo doest look the player he was. Brown has dropped off. Connor sulked. Wynne needs to be told to keep his gob shut. He was at it all night. The 3 loanees will leave out as they must thing what have joined he. Evans had a real go. Soa lost it but at least the effort there. Houghton tried. Vuni not a centre. Gale started well and even though he dropped of he actually imo gave it a good shot. Onto Hodgson I have stuck up for him. But I would like him now to start dropping the worst culprits and ship them out. I still blame Griffin.

For me the time has come for the core group of players to be cleared out. Houghton, Taylor, Griffin along with Johnstone and Gale. I’d put a question mark on some others such as Lane, Carlos even Connor (if it’s true he’s messaged Radford about where he’s playing etc) and a warning to Wynne about his attitude and petulance.
I think Hodgsons time is also up as he just doesn’t seem to have the personality to get tough with the players, tell them how it is in blunt language or have any real ideas as he just looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Purtill is another that should also be shown the door.
We need a uncompromising coach who isn’t interested in who you are or what you’ve done in the past but just in what you do in the present and how you perform and doesn’t pull their punches. One who demands pride, effort, commitment from his players at all times and won’t accept anything less than their best regardless and without excuse.

Some players out there should not wear the shirt again after last night so called 2nd half display and I say display as I can’t even say it was effort.