Whilst I agree that the coach should be accountable for the performance of his players, the players do have to accept responsibility for their missed tackles, poorly executed kicking/passing etc. They are not playing well and while that may be down in large part to poor coaching, it must in some part be their own fault too.

Are you seriously making that analogy? These are grown men who can decide to do whatever they want. If they really dont want to behave in a professional manner the only sanction that Agar can use on them is to get rid of them, which he appears to be doing now that contracts are coming to an end. The behaviour of some of the players is childish I agree but he cant exactly send them to bed without any tea can he!

Agreed, but it is a hell of a case for ripping up contracts and making them a lot more related to performance.

This is one time I'm not glad I was right but it was bl00dy obvious it was a bad choice from day 1

Or putting more stringent rules regarding conduct, making them more accountable for their off field antics.

First on the list - NO SMOKING!

So why hasn't Mr agar already dropped those players whose "proirities" dont lie with rugby? We had a squad of 17 players yesterday who were all from the 1st team squad. Their were no Academy players in their. Isn't it about time that the players who don't want to play are dropped? And 2 or 3 Academy players are drafted in. Who would you rather have alongside you in the trenches? Some idiot who diidn't want to be there or a young kid trying his guts out and you know that at the very least he would be willing to put his body on the line, unlike some of the cowards we have in our team. It's time Mr Agar took action and made examples of these clowns instead of shifting the blame around all the time (and by examples I don't mean take players off while the team are under the post after a try like the cheap shot at Chris Thorman, that, in my eyes, was another way of deflecting the blame from Mr Agar again onto someone else). ACTION not more hollow words!!!!! God I'm angry

Don't be surprised to now get the usual "if a player wants to drink/smoke/dress up as a pillar box in their spare time then it's nothing to do with us, it's what they do on the pitch that counts" retorts.



I can well imagine that Saints/Leeds etc. expect a certain level of professionalism, which rules out habitual/constant smoking etc.

I would have thought you'd be hard pressed to enforce a smoking bad either practically or legally. The answer is to recruit the right type of person in the first place

You can enforce whatever conditions of employment you like (within reason), if people dont want to adhere, they can go elsewhere to be employed.



What would help is ending this practice of it being perfectly acceptable to be seen out and about drunk, having "Mad Monday" etc.

The "mad Monday" thing is not a problem for me, it's at the end of the season and they do need to "unwind". There needs to be a code of conduct the players should abide by. All it would take is one of the "big names" to fall foul and get binned, others would soon learn!

They don't own the players, they only employ them.

The players are not children - they are supposed to be professional sportsmen!



I do not know who is to blame, maybe Agar has his hands tied and cannot discipline as he would wish. Maybe the players know he is weak and take the proverbial. Maybe the players have no faith in him and cannot muster any enthusiasm - maybe it's all of the above and maybe it's none.



I dunno - I just turn up each week with a little optimism and come away feeling despondant. Maybe next week eh?