Tigers v Newcastle - Starting 15?

[RagingBull]

also scott steele is starting for Irish.

[MurphysLaw]

I get nervous about our defence when Ant Allen is unexpectedly missing from our back line. Not helped by me recalling the try fest we had against Montpellier when Bai was playing for them last season.
Other than that, good luck to Bai, Burns, Ghiraldini, Barbieri, and young Pasquali (if the latter two get on) on their Tigers Aviva bows...it should be interesting...

[RagingBull]

Bai was Castres last season also did Pasquali play aginst sarries at WR in the last game of the regular season, last year?

[GS]

The team looks good but I always fret when Allen is missing. He seems to be the only one in the team who understands the word 'defence', without him we tend towards the 'headless chicken' end of the spectrum. Still, be positive, perhaps the new guy has drilled some defensive thinking into them. This and given that it's the first game of the season, remember Exeter a few years ago, and the prospect of Alex making an appearance at some stage I can't say I'm totally confident. Should win though.

Not happy that we're starting the season with what is, as some have pointed out, a pretty good premiership team cluttering up the treatment room already.

[MurphysLaw]

[quote="RagingBull"]Bai was Castres last season also did Pasquali play aginst sarries at WR in the last game of the regular season, last year?[/quote]

Oops, apologies to Mr Bai. I hope that his defence is good in AA's absence.
Also Mr Pasquali - yep, according to his Biog he has already made 4 appearances. Here was me thinking that academy players didn't get picked

[TigerLad]

I am slightly worried that we might be heading towards a repeat of the last few seasons in terms of injury after seeing that list. I am very happy with our hooker situation. I really like the look of Ghiraldini and think he's a quality player so imagine how opposing hookers will feel when they see TY and Ghiraldini rotating after 60 minutes! Come to think of it I think our bench will be a lot more explosive next year. With a fully fit team we could bring on Logo, Loamanu, Ghiraldini, Barbieri and Kitch. That will be deadly against tiring defenses if we can get them all fit.

[JerryGas]

Don't think the absence list is too much to worry about at this stage. The only long term are Cole, Camacho, Matera and possibly Ed Slater.
Agree with others that there is just a more dynamic look, particularly on bench - looking forward to the drive up - God I have missed this lark!!!

[Smurphswillgetya]

Bring it on the dogs of war are salivating.

[tigerburnie]

COME ON YOU TIGERRRRrrrssssss

[jgriffin]

Sod the starting line-up, the weather forecast has taken a change for the worse. So much for the suncream.

[amazing tiger]

think we will win and its actually not a bad side for the start of the season just would like to see tait and allen in there

[drc_007]

I expect Newcastle to be obdurate, and would hope that Tigers organisation without Allen should be up to the task. Should also have enough firepower to score a few tries

[L Smith]

I would say that a win is likely and a bonus point is unlikely. I hope, if we win, that we don't start to compare ourselves against Saints. They have kept an entire squad together with no significant 'ins' or 'outs' and no injury worries so you would expect them to hit the ground running. I expect that by the Autumn internationals, we'll be playing catch up but still think we'll finish ahead in the long run.

[Smurphswillgetya]

I would say that a win is likely and a bonus point is unlikely. I hope, if we win, that we don't start to compare ourselves against Saints. They have kept an entire squad together with no significant 'ins' or 'outs' and no injury worries so you would expect them to hit the ground running. I expect that by the Autumn internationals, we'll be playing catch up but still think we'll finish ahead in the long run.

Sensible and realistic post.

[Big Dai]

Just don't know what to expect! Will be keeping pace from darkest Wales via Bleddyn, twitter and anything else I can get my hands on.

Bleddyn beckons!