Exeter team
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Exeter team
From the merc.
Tigers remain without Guy Thompson (knee), Gareth Owen (calf) and Graham Kitchener (hip) but O'Connor said all were progressing well.
Flanker Brendon O'Connor will be available to face Exeter in Saturday's Premiership opener, while centre Matt Toomua and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau return from the Australia camp this week and are in line to play some part at Exeter.
Polota-Nau started in the Wallabies' 40-12 defeat by New Zealand on Saturday in the second Bledisloe Cup Test, while Toomua was a second-half replacement.
"They will be back at Oval Park on Monday so we will see how they go," said O'Connor.
Tigers remain without Guy Thompson (knee), Gareth Owen (calf) and Graham Kitchener (hip) but O'Connor said all were progressing well.
Flanker Brendon O'Connor will be available to face Exeter in Saturday's Premiership opener, while centre Matt Toomua and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau return from the Australia camp this week and are in line to play some part at Exeter.
Polota-Nau started in the Wallabies' 40-12 defeat by New Zealand on Saturday in the second Bledisloe Cup Test, while Toomua was a second-half replacement.
"They will be back at Oval Park on Monday so we will see how they go," said O'Connor.
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Re: Exeter team
One of the big indicators for this season is who sits on the bench if one of GF or MT are not available, if its Joe Ford over Worth or Hardwick then we have an even bigger problem with our coaching team.
To win is not as important as playing with style!
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Re: Exeter team
I would start both TPN and Matt on the bench. My dilemma is with BOC. Could he last say 60 minutes? Do we risk starting him or do we play Reffell with BOC as cover if he struggles? Kalamafoni and Denton are nailed on starters for me at 6 and 8 and given the Chiefs back row abilities at the breakdown I think we need a genuine 7 so Mike Williams misses out.
My preferred 23 is therefore:
Faieo
Tom Youngs
Cole
Fitzgerald
Spencer
Denton
Reffell
Kalamafoni
Ben Youngs
George Ford
May
Eastmond
Tuilagi
Thompstone
Veainu
Polata-Nau
Bateman (if not fit then Maafu)
Cortes
Williams
O'Connor
Harrison
Toomua
Olowofela or Worth (to give cover at wing, outside centre or full back)
Holmes unfortunately misses out but I have picked on a "horses for courses" basis preferring Thompstone's defensive strength and Olowifela/Worth because they cover centre as well as wing/fullback. Against other opposition I would give Holmes a go. I see him in rotation with Thompstone this season and sharing cover for Jonny May with Olowofela when Jonny is absent.
My preferred 23 is therefore:
Faieo
Tom Youngs
Cole
Fitzgerald
Spencer
Denton
Reffell
Kalamafoni
Ben Youngs
George Ford
May
Eastmond
Tuilagi
Thompstone
Veainu
Polata-Nau
Bateman (if not fit then Maafu)
Cortes
Williams
O'Connor
Harrison
Toomua
Olowofela or Worth (to give cover at wing, outside centre or full back)
Holmes unfortunately misses out but I have picked on a "horses for courses" basis preferring Thompstone's defensive strength and Olowifela/Worth because they cover centre as well as wing/fullback. Against other opposition I would give Holmes a go. I see him in rotation with Thompstone this season and sharing cover for Jonny May with Olowofela when Jonny is absent.
Tigers for the premiership and European Cup. Get behind the team and make some noise!!
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Re: Exeter team
I would play BOC considering Kvesic started last game for Chiefs to combat him. Faeo to start instead of Maafu who is a very poor scrummsger from first viewing. TPN and Toomua on bench,only dilemma are Reffell or Williams and Holmes or Olowefela on bench,for me I'd go Williams and Holmes
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Re: Exeter team
Faeo
Youngs
Cole
Wells
Spencer
Denton
BoC
Kalamafoni
Youngs
Ford
May
Eastmond
Tuilagi
Thompstone
Veainu
Cortes,TPN,Bateman, Fitzgerald,Williams,Harrison,Toomua,Holmes
Youngs
Cole
Wells
Spencer
Denton
BoC
Kalamafoni
Youngs
Ford
May
Eastmond
Tuilagi
Thompstone
Veainu
Cortes,TPN,Bateman, Fitzgerald,Williams,Harrison,Toomua,Holmes
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Re: Exeter team
Don't forget May can play 11,13,14,15 and Eastmond can play 13 too. Holmes can cover FB too.
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Re: Exeter team
Cortes called up by Argentina.......
Re: Exeter team
Pretty sure it was Maafu who won 2 scrummage penalties on Friday night.Rugbyflanker wrote: ↑Mon Aug 27, 2018 3:04 pm I would play BOC considering Kvesic started last game for Chiefs to combat him. Faeo to start instead of Maafu who is a very poor scrummsger from first viewing. TPN and Toomua on bench,only dilemma are Reffell or Williams and Holmes or Olowefela on bench,for me I'd go Williams and Holmes
I think you have to have Toomua and TPN on the bench they are only here for the week so need to build partnerships.
If Bateman is fit he has to start ahead of the 2 south sea islanders and O’Connor nailed on to start at 7 with Williams and Mapapalanga on the bench to cover the back 5
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Re: Exeter team
Did he? I thought we struggled then Feao came on and destroyed their TH in his first scrum. No Fitzgerald? Mapapalangi although a very good talent doesn't have the workrate Fitzy does and we will be lucky to get a third possession,our tackle count will be huge.
Re: Exeter team
Toomua and TPN are back and have been training today!
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Re: Exeter team
I still wouldn't start both of them,Fridays backs deserve to start Saturday imo and Youngs is captain
Re: Exeter team
I think Bateman is fit judging by social media and I don’t think it’s fair to start TPN and Toomua...
Fe’ao
Youngs
Cole
Wells
Spencer
Denton
Reffell
Kalamafoni
Youngs
Ford
May
Eastmond
Tuilagi
Holmes
Veainu
TPN, Bateman, Heyes, Williams, O’Connor, Harrison, Toomua, Olowofela
Fe’ao
Youngs
Cole
Wells
Spencer
Denton
Reffell
Kalamafoni
Youngs
Ford
May
Eastmond
Tuilagi
Holmes
Veainu
TPN, Bateman, Heyes, Williams, O’Connor, Harrison, Toomua, Olowofela
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
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Re: Exeter team
No Thompstone JP? And a rule of thumb (ie BoC) is always start your 50/50 players. If he's struggling he can be replaced,if he's on the bench and Reffell gets injured in minute one for example he's gotta play 79 minutes. So BoC starts for me or misses out.
Re: Exeter team
Certainly 2 scrum penalties before Feao came on and I thought both were against their tighthead. It matters not now.Rugbyflanker wrote: ↑Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:46 pm Did he? I thought we struggled then Feao came on and destroyed their TH in his first scrum. No Fitzgerald? Mapapalangi although a very good talent doesn't have the workrate Fitzy does and we will be lucky to get a third possession,our tackle count will be huge.
I like Fitzgerald just think Williams and Mapapalanga offer better coverage
Re: Exeter team
Thompstone looks to have had a decent game vs the Exiles but I will always go for Holmes, fair point re O’Connor but Reffell certainly has showed us in preseason, against Bath in AWC and for Wales that he is definitely the real deal. However I imagine, O’Connor would probably go with O’Connor, he is better in the loose and better over the breakdown.Rugbyflanker wrote: ↑Mon Aug 27, 2018 6:47 pm No Thompstone JP? And a rule of thumb (ie BoC) is always start your 50/50 players. If he's struggling he can be replaced,if he's on the bench and Reffell gets injured in minute one for example he's gotta play 79 minutes. So BoC starts for me or misses out.
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni