LV Cup v Quins/Bath

[MrPartridge]

While the dust is still settling after the loss to Ulster, I wonder what approach fans think we should take towards the LV Cup for the next 2 weeks?

Clearly our best chance of silverware this year, but I'd like to see us rest as many as we can and let some of the youngsters get an opportunity. Perhaps add in a few older heads to help, e.g. TTTE, Hamilton, Lamb. etc. Two players I'd definitely like to see on the pitch are Matera and Harrison. Maybe even use the games to add a little match fitness to the likes of Mafi and Smith...

[smalldell]

We need to achieve two things and hopefully 3:-

1. Rest as many senior available players as possible. Especially the likes of Ayerza. Get their bodies ready for the AP games coming up and get injured players like Kitchener; Benjamin; Tait and Crane fit.

2. Get as many fringe players game hardened as possible so they can step in. I particularly want to see Scully and Thompstone. Give them game time and get their confidence up. I also would like to see a genuine replacement 13 given game time...we must have one..so they can play in some of the, dare I say it, less difficult AP matches.

3. Qualify for the semi finals of the LV.

Whatever, we need to come out the other side of the LV Cup with less injuries than now.

[PM76]

We need to achieve two things and hopefully 3:-

1. Rest as many senior available players as possible. Especially the likes of Ayerza. Get their bodies ready for the AP games coming up and get injured players like Kitchener; Benjamin; Tait and Crane fit.

2. Get as many fringe players game hardened as possible so they can step in. I particularly want to see Scully and Thompstone. Give them game time and get their confidence up. I also would like to see a genuine replacement 13 given game time...we must have one..so they can play in some of the, dare I say it, less difficult AP matches.

3. Qualify for the semi finals of the LV.

Whatever, we need to come out the other side of the LV Cup with less injuries than now.

Agree completely. Maybe a side like this for Quins:

Stankovich (C), Thacker, Balmain
Cain, De Chaves
Mafi, Waldrom, Matera
Harrison, Williams
Pohe, Hepeteama/ Catchpole
Thompstone, Scully, Purdy

Hawkins, Logo (if fit, if not Schuster), Bristow, Price, Wells/ Noone, Mele, Hepeteama/ Catchpole, Hamilton

With the likes of Allen, Smith, Hawkins and Mele (basically those who have not had a lot of "game time" so far this season) coming into the starting XV for the Bath game to make sure the side is in reasonable form for the away match at Worcester.

[TTRITH]

For Quins/For Bath

15. Blaine Scully/Blaine Scully
14. Henry Purdy/Niki Goneva
13. Terrance Hepetema/Matt Smith
12. Javiah Pohe/Anthony Allen
11. Adam Thompstone/Adam Thompstone
10. Owen Williams/Ryan Lamb
9. Sam Harrison/David Mele
1. Tom Bristow/Logo Mulipola
2. Harry Thacker/Rob Hawkins
3. Jerome Schuster/Fraser Balmain
4. Joe Cain/Louis Deacon (c)
5. Tom Price/Seb De Chaves
6. Harry Wells/Steve Mafi
7. Pablo Matera/Pablo Matera
8. Michael Noone(c)/Thomas Waldrom

16. George Chuter/Neil Briggs
17. Logo Mulipola/Tom Bristow
18. Fraser Balmain/Jerome Schuster
19. Seb De Chaves/Graham Kitchener
20. Steve Mafi/Jamie Gibson
21. Scott Steele/Sam Harrison
22. George Catchpole/Owen Williams
23. Perry Humphreys/Terrance Hepetema

Lots of rotation, giving the majority of the first XV a rest next weekend. Keeping people Flood, Ayerza, Kitchener, Salvi out of the LV Cup means they can recharge the batteries ahead of the Premiership. Allen and Smith to play against Bath as neither have played much this season. Hopefully Tait will be fit for Worcester; again I'd leave him out of the firing line. I think both XXIII's should be able to get the win and try and bring some much needed confidence into a side that has had two morale crunching losses both away to Sarries and at home to Ulster recently.

[RagingBull]

1. Stanko/Bristow
2. Thacker/Thacker
3. Baiman/ Logo
4. De Cheves/ De Cheves
5. Cain/ Cain
6. Wells/Wells
7. Matera/Matera
8. Noone/Gibson
9. Harrison/Harrison
10. Williams/Williams
11. Thompstone/Thompstone
12. Pohe/Pohe
13. Heptema/ Catchpole
14. Purdy/Scully
15. Hamilton/Hamilton

16. Chuter/ Briggs
17. Schuster/ Schuster
18. Logo/ Pasquali
19. Price/ Price
20. Mafi/ Noone
21. Mele/Steele
22. Scully/ Smith

Honesty I would give Allen a rest he played really well in both HC games no poin risking him in the LV. Belive we should stick to young guns with experienced heads would like to see Gibson at 8 because he will be covering 8 by the looks of things.

[tigerburnie]

As far as I can find out Pohe hasn't been playing much, injured? He played for Nottingham in the B&I cup a while back.

[tigerburnie]

Harlequins vs Leicester Tigers

Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)

Assistant referees: Roy Maybank (England), Nigel Carrick (England)

Timekeeper: Paul Stanley (England)

Assessor: Gary Welsh (England

[baz1664]

Difficult decision for cockers, play the best you have for the LV and put yourself in the picture for qualification/winning etc or save them for the league/impossible HC fixture against Clermont and be in the position of winning nothing!!!

[sapajo]

Harlequins vs Leicester Tigers

Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)

Assistant referees: Roy Maybank (England), Nigel Carrick (England)

Timekeeper: Paul Stanley (England)

Assessor: Gary Welsh (England

Never heard of any of them

[sam16111986]

I don't see the point in mass rotation over the two games, how are players supposed to adapt and show form in a single game at least give the younger and squad options both LV games to gain experience and stake a claim.

Bristow, Thacker, Balmain
Cain, de Chaves
Wells, Noone, Matera
Harrison, Williams
Pohe, Catchpole
Purdy, Humphreys, Thompstone

Bench: Stankovitch, Hawkins, Schuster, Price, Waldrom, Mele, Lamb, Smith.

Only rotation I'd like to see is Waldrom/Noone swapping for the Bath game and an Allen/Pohe centre combo trialled vs Bath. Otherwise let the players get some game time.

[kpj tiger]

For Quins i would go with
1. Bristow
2. Thacker
3. Balmain
4. Cain
5. De Chaves
6. Wells
7. Matera
8. Noone/Slater (C)
9. Harrison/Steele
10. Williams
11. Thompestone
12. Hepetema
13. Pohe
14. Purdy
15. Scully

16. Stankovich
17. Hawkins
18. Logo/Bower
19. Price
20. Noone/Guillaume
21. Mele
22. Catchpole
23. Dunn

[PM76]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leice ... story.html

So, as well as the senior players we already knew were injured, Thacker, Pohe, Cain, Price and Harrison are also all out! A massive shame after they had all impressed in the earlier rounds. The article also suggests Waldrom, Hamilton, Thompstone, Scully, Balmain, Bristow and Hepetema will play.

EDIT: Based on this injury/ team news perhaps a side of:

Bristow, Hawkins, Balmain
De Chaves, Wells
Noone, Waldrom, Matera
Steele, Williams
Hepetema, Catchpole
Thompstone, Hamilton, Scully

Briggs/ Chuter, Pasquali, Stankovich, Mafi, Owen/ Guillaume, Mele/ Tressider, Lamb, Purdy

[MrPartridge]

Particularly gutted Pohe has done his ACL - do that's his season and the start of next over...

[Noddy555]

Cockers confirmed at last night's forum that Matera would play in both LV cup matches against Quins & Bath. Thus giving him the chance to rest one or both of our flankers Gibson & Salvi who have both been outstanding this season.

[kingol22]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leice ... story.html

So, as well as the senior players we already knew were injured, Thacker, Pohe, Cain, Price and Harrison are also all out! A massive shame after they had all impressed in the earlier rounds. The article also suggests Waldrom, Hamilton, Thompstone, Scully, Balmain, Bristow and Hepetema will play.

When will it end . I hope we can get through the next 2 weeks without anymore injuries, we have to turn the corner at some point surely?