This is shaping up to be quiet a game with Tigers probably feeling a little hard done by against Treviso and LI being badly hurt by Gloucester in the Amlin, cockers has some interesting selection decisions on his hands, Personally i would go with
1. Ayerza
2. Youngs
3. Balmain
4. Kitchener
5. Parling
6. Thorpe
7. Salvi
8. Slater
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Lewington
12. Bowden
13. Tuilagi
14. Thompestone
15. Tait
All you can be sure of is that the team won't look much like that - I guess Balmain, Slater, Lewington and Bowden are punts. I reckon it will be the strongest team available although I would like to see Slater at 8!
Leicester Tigers 1995-
Nottingham 1995-2000
Swansea (Whites) 1988-95
A game played on grass in the open air by teams of XV.
Really looking forward to this game as it is the first live tigers game of the season for me. Heres hoping for some decent weather and a 7 try smashing
jgriffin wrote:All you can be sure of is that the team won't look much like that - I guess Balmain, Slater, Lewington and Bowden are punts. I reckon it will be the strongest team available although I would like to see Slater at 8!
The reason for Lewington & Balmain were they both tore LI apart in the LV cup, and i think Bowden should play because he can kick if ford is missing the majority of kicks again plus if we get front foot fast ball he will be better in attack than Allen
What I do not understand from this team is why Balmain would get a game in front of our three best tighthead props. When Cole came onto the scene he had White and Castro sat in the driving seat and he would come on with 20 minutes to go. Those 20 minutes allow for you props to learn the game against weakened or weaker props. I understand that castro and cole may benefit a rest game everynow and then but Balmain needs to warm the bench in those games rather than being thrust into the AP. Excluding Duncan Bell, porps get better with age as they learn all the tricks of the trade and Balmain is only just starting that journey to greatness so lets not rush him.
Now this raises a few points come the weekend, the last line is a vote of confidence in their players.
Here's hoping we add to the not nots woes by inflicting even more pain .
COME ON YOU TIGERRRRrrrsssss
"If you want entertainment, go to the theatre," says Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill. "Rugby players play the game to win.15/1/21.
15. Mat Tait
14. Adam Thompstone
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Anthony Allen
11. Niall Morris
10. Toby Flood
9. Ben Youngs
1. Marcos Ayerza
2. Tom Youngs
3. Dan Cole
4. Louis Deacon
5. Geoff Parling
6. Brett Deacon
7. Julian Salvi
8. Jordan Crane
16. Rob Hawkins
17. Logo Mulipola
18. Fraiser Balmain
19. Graham Kitchener
20. Ed Slater/Richard Thorpe
21. Sam Harrison
22. George Ford
23. Geordan Murphy
[quote="physiodan"]What I do not understand from this team is why Balmain would get a game in front of our three best tighthead props. When Cole came onto the scene he had White and Castro sat in the driving seat and he would come on with 20 minutes to go. Those 20 minutes allow for you props to learn the game against weakened or weaker props. I understand that castro and cole may benefit a rest game everynow and then but Balmain needs to warm the bench in those games rather than being thrust into the AP. Excluding Duncan Bell, porps get better with age as they learn all the tricks of the trade and Balmain is only just starting that journey to greatness so lets not rush him.[/quote]
Excluding Duncan Bell,..... you forgot Tim Payne in the ****
physiodan wrote:What I do not understand from this team is why Balmain would get a game in front of our three best tighthead props. When Cole came onto the scene he had White and Castro sat in the driving seat and he would come on with 20 minutes to go. Those 20 minutes allow for you props to learn the game against weakened or weaker props. I understand that castro and cole may benefit a rest game everynow and then but Balmain needs to warm the bench in those games rather than being thrust into the AP. Excluding Duncan Bell, porps get better with age as they learn all the tricks of the trade and Balmain is only just starting that journey to greatness so lets not rush him.
Excluding Duncan Bell,..... you forgot Tim Payne in the ****
16. Chuter
17. Mullipola
18. Balmain
19. Thorpe
20. Crane
21. Harrison
22. Ford
23. Murphy
I expect to see Parling, Youngs and Crane start with Chuter, Stankovich and Kitchener on the bench. I'd be surprised if Slater made the 23 which says a lot about the options that Cockers has to pick from, I can't think of a better fourth choice lock in the Premiership. I think rotation over the next three weeks will be important but I think we all know how Cockers will rotate, if he does at all!! As long three or more key players aren't injured in this period I don't mind.
I don't have a problem with Balmain getting on the bench - so long as he gets some game time.
However Castro is still not sharp & Cole didn't get any game time last week.
