Saracens vs Tigers Saturday 15/09/12 3:30

[Bill W (2)]

Tragically, yes. I do not know which of our teams will turn up - a thing that could never be said of Tigers in times past.

Me, I am on record as going for the TNP win and a cricket score!!

[Nailsworthstiger]

Keep that faith going Bill. I hope your right.

Some how I don't think you will be!

[h's dad]

Tragically, yes. I do not know which of our teams will turn up - a thing that could never be said of Tigers in times past.

Me, I am on record as going for the TNP win and a cricket score!!

The only thing I am sure of is that neither side will score four tries (I assume Bill's N should be a B, if not please enlighten me). Saracens have a good defence but don't know where the other end of the pitch is. They do like to score penalties and Tigers all too often like to concede them.

As OH says it depends on which Tigers side turns up but if the right one does they must play for the whole match to secure the win.

[kpj tiger]

Official teams from Leicester website
Leicester Tigers (v Saracens, Wembley Stadium, Saturday 3.30pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood
9 Sam Harrison
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom

Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Rob Andrew
20 Jordan Crane
21 Patrick Phibbs
22 George Ford
23 Matt Smith

Saracens recall Carlos Nieto, Jackson Wray, Neil de Kock, Owen Farrell and James Short to the starting line-up, with Petrus du Plessis, Will Fraser, Richard Wigglesworth, Charlie Hodgson and Chris Wyles switching to the replacement's bench.

Saracens
15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Brad Barritt
11 James Short
10 Owen Farrell
9 Neil de Kock
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Schalk Brits
3 Carlos Nieto
4 Steve Borthwick (c)
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Kelly Brown
7 Jackson Wray
8 Ernst Joubert

Replacements
16 John Smit
17 Rhys Gill
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Alistair Hargreaves
20 Will Fraser
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Chris Wyles

[Smurphswillgetya]

After seeing their team it looks like they will want to kick us to death! Shut out Brits and Goode and we could win this at a canter!

[jgriffin]

Agree - Saffas kick-chase squad in evidence.

[Will S]

There will be some great battles across the park. The ones I am really interested in are:

Youngs v's Brits - both great in open play
Manu v's Tomkins - will be a very physical battle!
Allen v's Barritt - England selectors will be watching this one
Flood v's Farrell - time for Flood to put the young pretender in his place
TTT v's Joubert - Joubert about to be English qualified and will want to prove a point

Both look good teams and it will be tight. Hodgson must feel a bit hard done by as he has been on great form for the opening two weeks.

[Jose]

I actually think it's a bonus for us that they've put Farrell back in for Hodgson. Perhaps stronger defensively but it has been very well demonstrated that Farrell Barritt is a turgid 10-12 combo with virtually zero creativity. Here's hoping they don't change that tomorrow!

[kingol22]

Farrell at 10 is definitely better for us. If we turn up and play for 80 minutes i expect a good win.

[Will S]

I actually think it's a bonus for us that they've put Farrell back in for Hodgson. Perhaps stronger defensively but it has been very well demonstrated that Farrell Barritt is a turgid 10-12 combo with virtually zero creativity. Here's hoping they don't change that tomorrow!

Totally agree! Tomkins, Ashton, Short and Goode are all dangerous with ball in hand but will spend their afternoon chasing kicks. Hamilton and Geordan will serve us well with their reliability under the high ball. Let's hope Goneva is as comfortable in this department as he is with ball in hand!

[silverfish]

Hmm, lots of optimism here....got to admit I don't fancy us tomorrow. We'll be playing on a large (relative to WR) pitch against a team that usually kicks excellently (and a lot), whereas Flood's tactical kicking has been imho not great so far this season. We won't have the physical domination that we did against Welsh and Worcester by any means. And our defence has been leaky.

But my heart says Tigers by 20 as usual...

[Sussex John]

OMG , Tigers by 20 I hope but doubtfull.I am told that many South Africans leave London at this time of year for spring down south . How many season tickets do they sell ? What local support can they expect for Wembly and can we out do them ?

[kpj tiger]

Looks like a classic sarries kicking team, but as long as goneva can catch well he will be a massive threat on the counter if their chasers aren't on the ball, I expect tigers to be down at half time by 5-7 points but to win by 10-14 by full time

[parkerd68]

I want 50!

[Bill W (2)]

I want 50!

A cricket score even!!

KEEP THE FAITH!