There are more core skills than passing, like ball carry, tackle evasion agility etc and i would rate him very high at these even if his passing is not up to speed for you all. So can we agree that his core skills are not poor maybe just his passing is a bit suspect, the rest are world class, hence the reason that he is a top class rugby player apparantly wanted by the other code for his skill

Every time I see a modern centre make a break and observe the moment of abject panic as he desperately tries to decide if/when/who to pass to the same thought crosses my mind.

Allan Bateman.

Nothing kinky you understand, but that guy was a wingers wet dream.

Who had better 'core skills' Kelly Shelford or Ellery Hanley?

Hanley which is why he was a world class centre a great stand off and a world class loose forward. He would have eaten more burgers than Shelford had he wanted to...........

His grip and carry and tackle technique are not what they should be either.

Ohhh I love it when you get technical MFS!!

lol sorry I have been doing this far too long!

It is interesting to watch first team players in relation to what they demonstrate to the Academy players and compare who can execute the techniques. Atkins is definitely one of the worst offenders but you get the feeling he came to the club without the benefit of some good coaching.

Atkins to smash Saints this weekend.... Im predicting a Hat-trick

Here is hoping the criticism makes him up his game. A few of the others need to follow suit as well.

I'm with you Moz, big occasion big performance and the winning back heeled drop goal to add spice for good measure

On a positive, it would be great to see Atkins have a cracker at the weekend.

Atkins must retire immediately....The forum has spoken.

Im having £10 on Atkins first try against saints.

Its a good shout with Turner as his opposite centre! Unless they swap him like they did at the HJ!

Rumours have it he's trying to engineer a move to Gloucester RU so thanks Ryan see ya

I thought that by "when it counts" Atkins meant when he was going through a lean spell as at the moment. When everything is going well your support is welcome, when it isn't your support is vital

Give the bloke a chance. Just moved to the area had a baby recently. Off course his game will be affected. He will come when it matters. And least not forget its not just Atkins, who is having a difficult time at the moment. A few other star players for me are right of the boil.

Gloucester may have been rumoured to be interested, but, I don't understand how Atkins is "engineering" anything, unless he's going to use the excuse that he's unloved here to ease his departure?

I'm not having it, just doesn't seem very grown up, come on Atkins stuff Saints and shut the moaners up

Maybe a lesser odds any time try, unlucky.

i was screaming DONT PASS IT when we scored our first try.

That's all it is... a rumour. He's trying to 'engineer' nothing. We approached them about Kyle Eastmond and were told 'no.' They mentioned Atkins and were told the same. Nothing else in it at the moment.

Eastmond is at Bath.

Explains the 'no' then.

I know. Worded my message incorrectly. By 'they' I meant Union. Doh.