Wasps Vs Tigers

[wellstiger]

Warps have line speed which on occasion leaves them offside. Sirs have let them get away with this for the sake of letting the game run. Notably Falcons were off side on more than a couple of occasions.
Has there been a new directive???

To beat the rush defense we will have to either move the ball quicker,find gaps or hope Sirs penalise offside rule.

[Not a jock]

For those that didn’t see it really nasty collision with the Exeter 9s Head.

Hughes has to be a doubt for them next week too

As Scotty used to say on Star Trek, "Shields down, Captain."

[strawclearer]

Hughes is fit apparently - a minor strain.

Wasps squad heading into Leicester Tigers game

Fit backs (15): Josh Bassett, Ambrose Curtis, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson, Lima Sopoaga, Christian Wade, Marcus Watson, Elliot Daly, Billy Searle, Ross Neal, Gabby Lovobalavu, Michael Le Bourgeois, Rob Miller, Juan de Jongh, Craig Hampson

Fit forwards (18): Joe Atkinson, Kieran Brookes, Tom Cruse, James Gaskell, Zurabi Zhvania, Ben Morris, Kearnan Myall, Will Rowlands,Will Stuart, Tommy Taylor,Tom West, Ben Harris, TJ Harris, Ashley Johnson, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Matthews, Nathan Hughes, Nizaam Carr.

Injured (9): Marcus Garratt, Matt Mullan, Alex Rieder, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Jimmy Gopperth, Simon McIntyre, Brad Shields, Jack Willis, Thomas Young

Unavailable on international duty (1): Willie le Roux

Smurf's view today on injuries:

Brendan O'Connor - unavailable
Kyle Eastmond - hopeful
Mat Tait - touch and go
Mike Fitzgerald - in contention
Matt Toomua / Tatafu Polota-Nau - on international duty

[kpj tiger]

Hughes is fit apparently - a minor strain.

Wasps squad heading into Leicester Tigers game

Fit backs (15): Josh Bassett, Ambrose Curtis, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson, Lima Sopoaga, Christian Wade, Marcus Watson, Elliot Daly, Billy Searle, Ross Neal, Gabby Lovobalavu, Michael Le Bourgeois, Rob Miller, Juan de Jongh, Craig Hampson

Fit forwards (18): Joe Atkinson, Kieran Brookes, Tom Cruse, James Gaskell, Zurabi Zhvania, Ben Morris, Kearnan Myall, Will Rowlands,Will Stuart, Tommy Taylor,Tom West, Ben Harris, TJ Harris, Ashley Johnson, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Matthews, Nathan Hughes, Nizaam Carr.

Injured (9): Marcus Garratt, Matt Mullan, Alex Rieder, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Jimmy Gopperth, Simon McIntyre, Brad Shields, Jack Willis, Thomas Young

Unavailable on international duty (1): Willie le Roux

Smurf's view today on injuries:

Brendan O'Connor - unavailable
Kyle Eastmond - hopeful
Mat Tait - touch and go
Mike Fitzgerald - in contention
Matt Toomua / Tatafu Polota-Nau - on international duty

I thought I saw Mike Fitzgerald on crutches at the Newcastle game, that'd be one hell of a recovery

[Grimlish]

I saw that too kpj

[strawclearer]

Mercury reporting Smurf:

"Murphy added that versatile back Mathew Tait, who has been struggling with an Achilles injury, is back running and was "touch and go" for the Wasps game. Second row forward Mike Fitzgerald, who missed the Newcastle match, is also in contention."

[sam16111986]

Hughes is fit apparently - a minor strain.

Wasps squad heading into Leicester Tigers game

Fit backs (15): Josh Bassett, Ambrose Curtis, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson, Lima Sopoaga, Christian Wade, Marcus Watson, Elliot Daly, Billy Searle, Ross Neal, Gabby Lovobalavu, Michael Le Bourgeois, Rob Miller, Juan de Jongh, Craig Hampson

Fit forwards (18): Joe Atkinson, Kieran Brookes, Tom Cruse, James Gaskell, Zurabi Zhvania, Ben Morris, Kearnan Myall, Will Rowlands,Will Stuart, Tommy Taylor,Tom West, Ben Harris, TJ Harris, Ashley Johnson, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Matthews, Nathan Hughes, Nizaam Carr.

Injured (9): Marcus Garratt, Matt Mullan, Alex Rieder, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Jimmy Gopperth, Simon McIntyre, Brad Shields, Jack Willis, Thomas Young

Unavailable on international duty (1): Willie le Roux

Smurf's view today on injuries:

Brendan O'Connor - unavailable
Kyle Eastmond - hopeful
Mat Tait - touch and go
Mike Fitzgerald - in contention
Matt Toomua / Tatafu Polota-Nau - on international duty

I thought I saw Mike Fitzgerald on crutches at the Newcastle game, that'd be one hell of a recovery

Could have just been bruising and soft tissue. On crutches to keep the weight off as a precaution.

I'd rather we continued with the three lock options Spencer, Williams and Wells.

Big concern if BOC is unavailable. Reffell or Evans in to the bench? Might be a bit much to ask Thompson to play a full 80 on the openside.

[RagingBull]

Evans?

[sam16111986]

Evans?

Is he fit? If Will Evans is fit then there must be a temptation to bring him onto the bench against Wasps who are so competitive at the breakdown.

[Leicestertinytiger]

I would like to see Murphy stick with the Williams and Spencer combination. Feel Williams smashes loads of rucks which he always doesn’t get the credit for which produces quick ball for the backs.

Could see the temptation to stick Fitzgerald on the bench if fit, bit more experience than Wells which may be needed away from home.

[RagingBull]

Evans?

Is he fit? If Will Evans is fit then there must be a temptation to bring him onto the bench against Wasps who are so competitive at the breakdown.

even if he is fit he hasn't played a game since Bath and he had to spend a reasonable amount of time off his legs.

[sam16111986]

Evans?

Is he fit? If Will Evans is fit then there must be a temptation to bring him onto the bench against Wasps who are so competitive at the breakdown.

even if he is fit he hasn't played a game since Bath and he had to spend a reasonable amount of time off his legs.

Who needs preseason. BOC and Bateman had injury issues over the summer and didn't play before the first game and they both started.

We don't know what the state of play is at training. He could be pulling up trees this week for all we know. Reffell played plenty of preseason and played pretty well, I'd quite like to see him involved.

[RagingBull]

Is he fit? If Will Evans is fit then there must be a temptation to bring him onto the bench against Wasps who are so competitive at the breakdown.

even if he is fit he hasn't played a game since Bath and he had to spend a reasonable amount of time off his legs.

Who needs preseason. BOC and Bateman had injury issues over the summer and didn't play before the first game and they both started.

We don't know what the state of play is at training. He could be pulling up trees this week for all we know. Reffell played plenty of preseason and played pretty well, I'd quite like to see him involved.

Both still trained for the first half of pre-season though.

[dunc]

How did the first game work out for them?

[markharbtiger]

Having watched the Wasps-Chiefs game on the box, this game will be an early season barometer on what needs fixing for Tigers...ignoring our own game v Chiefs...
I was impressed with what I saw in Wasps who for much of the game were trading tries with Exeter. Think they have a few injuries incl. Shields but I think Hughes is due to play looking at press reports. Here’s hoping we play well.