Clermont Auvergne v Leicester

[tigermad]

Leicester return to Heineken Cup action with a tough away trip to Clermont Auvergne this weekend. Hopefully some more players will be back in the selection mix for this game.

[mike]

If we don't win this away game our HC hopes have gone as our chances of winning at Ospreys are even less likely . A display similar to yesterday will probably result in an absolute hammering - hopefully Castro is back and Ellis at 9 ( even on one leg) would give us a chance . Until we ditch the centre pairing of Mauger and Allen we won't get anywhere in attack against the good sides - all they do is go across the field , never forwards , and I long to see Billy T back to give some pace and penetration . I hope the tackling os a bit better than yesterday as well !

[salcombe bob]

Nice and early again Tigermad! Surely we have the ability to win there but why aren't we scoring tries?
What about young Manu Tuilagi in the backs?

[Darc Tiger]

Clermont lost 20-15 to previously 11th placed Montauban at the weekend, and are not looking in great form themselves.

If we are ever going to win at Clermont, its now.

Manu is still ineligible for competitive matches I believe bob. Maybe next year.

[Richard]

It was all home wins in the top 14 this week.

Clermont lost 20-15 to previously 11th placed Montauban at the weekend, and are not looking in great form themselves.

If we are ever going to win at Clermont, its now.

Manu is still ineligible for competitive matches I believe bob. Maybe next year.

The full results were
Bourgoin / Castres 16-9 Montauban / Clermont 20-15

Brive / Toulouse 27-21 Perpignan / Montpellier 29-3

Paris / Bayonne 34-10 Racing-Métro 92 / Toulon 28-15

Albi / Biarritz 20-9

[salcombe bob]

thanks Darc Tiger.

[Cliffeclimber]

I don't want to be a doom merchant, but just because Clermont lost to a lower team doesn't mean that they'll be an easy target or that they are off-form at present.

Maybe they are saving their better players for the HC games against us.

That, of course, shouldn't worry us, as even with their strongest team we'll be too much for them, as you'd expect from the next HC Champions.

[kingol22]

hopefully hipkiss will be back and tuqiri needs to be dropped not sure about playing ellis he offers the experience but could be risky as he has not played for a while. Worst case scenario is a loss but i feel we should get a bp win if we can pick up ten points this fortnight i know its a big ask then we would have 5 from viadana which would give us 23 points and be enough to qualify.

[bluntiger]

... but i feel we should get a bp win if we can pick up ten points this fortnight ...

Two bonus point wins home and away to Clermont? Talk about living in fantasy land!

[Duncan B]

To be honest I think Allen has looked better than Hipkiss this year, would love to see 12T at 13, outside Mauger, Alesana has to come back in he was pretty good vs Wasps. Is he fit enough yet though?

[tigerburnie]

Firstly a question,is cockers banned from Heiney matches as well?Secondly,let's study the team sheet.I for one know we have players capable of winning home and away in the next 2 weeks,5 point wins might be tricky,but win certainly.

[Tigerbeat]

Cocky is banned for both Heineken Cup fixtures.

[kingol22]

... but i feel we should get a bp win if we can pick up ten points this fortnight ...

Two bonus point wins home and away to Clermont? Talk about living in fantasy land!

Anything is possible and if we pick the right team it could be done.

[bluntiger]

Anything is possible and if we pick the right team it could be done.

Sure, anything is possible, that goes without saying.

It is also possible for us to pick up 5 points in every game from now until the end of the season. But it isn't likely and I for one won't be putting my mortgage on it happening.

As for the Clermont games, a win for Tigers this weekend will be massive. Any win will do and as the French do not typically travel well, it should set us up well for the return game.

But remember, we still have Ospreys in our group and they are quite capable of beating Clermont home and away too. Although, since we have an Italian club in our group, it is likely that two teams will qualify from our group.

[TTRITH]

15. Scott Hamilton
14. Johne Murphy
13. Anthony Allen
12. Aaron Mauger
11. Alesana Tuilagi
10. Toby Flood
9. James Grindal
1. Marcos Ayerza
2. George Chuter
3. Martin Castrogiovanni
4. Geoff Parling
5. Ben Kay
6. Craig Newby
7. Lewis Moody
8. Jordan Crane

Replacements:

16. Joe Duffey
17. Boris Stankovich
18. Dan Cole
19. Louis Deacon
20. Brett Deacon
21. Harry Ellis
22. Sam Vesty
23. Billy Twelvetrees

That would be a lovely team.