Teams Up v Wasps

[Hot_Charlie]

Smith at 12??!! At least its a strong bench!!

Just hope for decoy lines and miss passes straight to Betham!

[RagingBull]

IF i was to choose a team of the 2 i would go
1) Mullan, 2) Youngs, 3) Cole
4) Launchbury, 5) Williams
6) Croft, 7) Smith, 8) Hughes,
9) Harrison, 10) Williams
12) Downey, 13) Tie
11) Halai, 14) Wade, 15) Tait

[PAW]

Bell not on the bench. Hopefully not a long term problem.
Logo on the bench. Cant see he wouldn't have been picked if 100%
Bai on the bench. Maybe rotation, but risk that he isn't 100% either after his early exit last week.
Still no Gonzo or YBY

Have to trust the coaches, they know far more than us, but I cant see this would be a team of choice if circumstances were otherwise.

[RagingBull]

Have to trust the coaches, they know far more than us,

Nonsense who told you that.

[4071]

Bell not on the bench. Hopefully not a long term problem.
Logo on the bench. Cant see he wouldn't have been picked if 100%
Bai on the bench. Maybe rotation, but risk that he isn't 100% either after his early exit last week.
Still no Gonzo or YBY

Have to trust the coaches, they know far more than us, but I cant see this would be a team of choice if circumstances were otherwise.

Bai on the bench is likely to be Tigers ensuring that there is FH cover. It's a bit of a risk to start both FHs when Bell and Burns are out (and we don't know for how long).

[jgriffin]

Blimey, bit of a surprise package with Kitto and Barrow!
BTW not surprised at Smith - apparently Mauger thinks he's under-rated and will have a late blossoming under the new regime. Since he will tackle a train if needed, suspect he's the organiser.
Personally, will be lucky to shade this one unless our back row is on top - would've liked to see Pearce on the bench.

[L Smith]

Bell not on the bench. Hopefully not a long term problem.
Logo on the bench. Cant see he wouldn't have been picked if 100%
Bai on the bench. Maybe rotation, but risk that he isn't 100% either after his early exit last week.
Still no Gonzo or YBY

Have to trust the coaches, they know far more than us, but I cant see this would be a team of choice if circumstances were otherwise.

Bai on the bench is likely to be Tigers ensuring that there is FH cover. It's a bit of a risk to start both FHs when Bell and Burns are out (and we don't know for how long).

Indeed: and both fly half options are decent 12's as well.

[PAW]

Have to trust the coaches, they know far more than us,

Nonsense who told you that.

[JackFlashJonny]

IF i was to choose a team of the 2 i would go
1) Mullan, 2) Youngs, 3) Cole
4) Launchbury, 5) Williams
6) Croft, 7) Smith, 8) Hughes,
9) Harrison, 10) Williams
12) Downey, 13) Tie
11) Halai, 14) Wade, 15) Tait

Harrison over Robson that is an interesting one...Is Tie Elliot Daly I take it?

[PaleoTiger]

This could be a separate topic but Balmain at LH! He came on as LH at the weekend for the first time that I can remember. I fully appreciate that we had no idea when the England or other front row options would return to Tigers, but I feel a little annoyed that with all the pre-season time that we had, Brugnara who played at LH can't get a game and we move FB to LH? Why didn't we try him there in "safer" games? Was Brugnara not good enough in all those games that he is now not worth the risk in the AP?

I love FB, think he is a great player who really developed last year in the absence of Cole, that I have no issue with at all. I'm just annoyed that we have wasted time apparently playing Brugnara and now have to resort to playing another player out of position to accommodate an injury.

I could be eating my words and FB could be a great LH, but unless I've missed it, he's always played TH for us. FB is a great prop and I'm sure that Cockers / Blaze knows what they're doing but I hope this works out. More importantly, where does this leave Brugnara?

Pulling this back onto topic, Wasps is a massive game for us to see where we are this year, if we want to get top 4, then we need to take points off the likes of Quims, Wasps, Exeter & Gloucester, we did well to get the points last weekend but this will be a stricter test for us. I can't wait to see Fonua smash some Wasps out the way. Come on Tigers!!

[sapajo]

Thought Cockers said mid week that Lowermanu was supposed to be fit? Oh well smoke and mirrors.

[ourla]

Thought Cockers said mid week that Lowermanu was supposed to be fit? Oh well smoke and mirrors.

Maybe he's just not been picked.

[ourla]

We seem to be in pre-season part 2 trying to integrate new combinations and players in meaningful matches. How much of that is within our control I'm not sure. Gotta say I'm expecting more of the same that we had last week. Unless things start to click.

[mike]

Its a comfort to know that 2/3 rds of our starting back row starred for London Welsh last year .

[4071]

Its a comfort to know that 2/3 rds of our starting back row starred for London Welsh last year .

I like a back row who know how to compete on the back foot.