All Black Maori game

[Southernsoftie]

As PM76 says in the Sarries LV thread. I think we will se a strong team out for the All Black Maori (!). As mentioned in that thread, losing at WR unacceptable at any time so against what will be a very strong Maori side full of Super XV players, we will have to put something close to our best side out knowing we have another LV game the following weekend to rehab the usual bumps and bruises.

Agree though, some players are closer to irreplaceable than others while the EPS players are away. Castro, Chuter, Salvi, Ford, Smith, to name a few. I suspect some of them will have to be risked though.

[PM76]

As mentioned I'd pick the strongest possible side:

Stanko, Chuter, Brookes/ Balmain
Slater, Kitchener (presuming louis is injured)
Thorpe, Crane/ B. Deacon/ Jooste (fitness dependant), Salvi
Harrison, Ford
Allen/ Forsyth, Smith
Morris, Murphy, Hamilton

With the only question mark being over Salvi who is IMO now Tigers only player without decent back up. Admittedly loosing Youngs and playing Harrison or loosing Youngs and playing Chuter weakens Tigers but nobody is as crucial as Salvi now IMO.

[Will S]

These fixtures are great for the club, the players and the fans. If, however, we start fielding weak teams you may soon find that touring teams are no longer interested in Tigers as a fixture. Doing well in these games keeps the profile of the club high which is good for morale and helps with keeping and attracting high quality players both foreign and domestic.

[Southernsoftie]

+1

[tigerburnie]

I agree, it would be nice to see a strong team with a good crowd, as you say we have a very long history of touring sides at Welford road,mostly against Midland sides,but Tigers go back quite a few years. The first Tigers v a national team I recall was a mid week game against Romania,though I can't remember when it was,late 1970's early 80's I think.

[boon]

i inherited a shirt combining the saints and tigers colours - a combined side played a touring samoan side, must have been mid-80's.

re the maori - i'll be seeing them play,going to see a friend up in doncaster for the championship game - good seats at a tenner and the best stadium food i ever known.

[drc_007]

As mentioned I'd pick the strongest possible side:

Stanko, Chuter, Brookes/ Balmain
Slater, Kitchener (presuming louis is injured)
Thorpe, Crane/ B. Deacon/ Jooste (fitness dependant), Salvi
Harrison, Ford
Allen/ Forsyth, Smith
Morris, Murphy, Hamilton

With the only question mark being over Salvi who is IMO now Tigers only player without decent back up. Admittedly loosing Youngs and playing Harrison or loosing Youngs and playing Chuter weakens Tigers but nobody is as crucial as Salvi now IMO.

Allen should probably be given a rest (as long as he promises not to do some DIY at home) and if fit it would be good to include Tait.

[Maximus66]

Mathew Tait will indeed be starting according to the Merc!

[BJ.]

Mathew Tait will indeed be starting according to the Merc!

And for those of us outside the distribution area of the Leicester Mercury, here's the link.

[Maximus66]

Good to know we can always rely on you BJ; though in fairness to moi, I popped to the shop early this fine morning for my copy.
I prefer my news in print, not on the pc.

[tigerburnie]

All very well but they don't sell the "mockery" in Montrose

[Jimmy Skitz]

All very well but they don't sell the "mockery" in Montrose

they will if you ask for it, we get the Notts Post, Coventry/Warwickshire/Nuneaton Telegraph, Derby Telegraph & Northampton weekly titles + Daily Record, Irish Independent & Irish Times and a whole load more foreign titles delivered to us at the Newspaper depot in Leicester

[vin rouge]

I'm really quite excited about seeing some of Tait in the next few games. i really think he could be the player we have missed to inject that little something into our backline, feels like a new signing!

and please no "if he stays fit" comments!

[tigerburnie]

All very well but they don't sell the "mockery" in Montrose

they will if you ask for it, we get the Notts Post, Coventry/Warwickshire/Nuneaton Telegraph, Derby Telegraph & Northampton weekly titles + Daily Record, Irish Independent & Irish Times and a whole load more foreign titles delivered to us at the Newspaper depot in Leicester

Hmmm that takes me back to when I asked a news agent to get me the "Morning Star" when I lived in Leicestershire, he point blank refused.

[Isambard]

Maoris not for me. silly fixture in my lowly and humble opinion.