Gloucester vs Tigers

[Spicer]

1 Bateman 2 Youngs 3 Cole 4 Spencer 5 Wells 6 Fitzgerald 7 Reffell 8 Thompson 9 Harrison 10 Hardwick 11 Olowofela 12 Eastmond 13 Owen 14 Thompstone 15 Holmes (Or Worth)
16 Kerr 17 Fe’ao 18 Heyes 19 Kitchener 20 Evans 21 White 22 Ford 23 Worth/Forsyth

Just looking at that possible side really does enforce my opinion that playing massively important league matches during the autumn international is a complete farce. This game could go a long way to deciding who finishes fourth this season.

Imagine if Cole was away with England. We'd look very weak.

[strawclearer]

From the Merc:

Geordan Murphy said this week that he wasn't sure how long Veainu would be missing but isn't expecting an immediate return.

"Telusa has had an operation on his foot and will be out for a short period of time," Murphy said. "We will see how the operation went but it won't be in the next few weeks.

"He had a torn ligament in his foot. It's not the end of the world but not ideal so from our point of view we are stretched in that area with both him and Mat Tait having injuries. That is part and parcel of it."

"Ellis Genge is back in full training," Murphy reported. "He is still a couple of weeks off and we want to be careful with him but he is looking sharp. He is running around getting through his return to play protocols.

"David Denton has been running today (Tuesday) so hopefully he won't be too long and Brendon O'Connor trained Tuesday, too. He has his hand strapped up. Hopefully it won't be too long but he won't feature this weekend."

Mike Fitzgerald, who has fought back from a knee injury, has had no reaction following his return to action last Friday against Sale Sharks and will be in the mix for this Friday's match at Gloucester in the Premiership.

[JP14]

Good news about Genge.

[ourla]

Who are Gloucester missing to international duty?

[Mark62]

Who are Gloucester missing to international duty?

England broke Morgan, and assume Polledri is with the Italians other than that not many

[AusTiger]

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/s ... nn-2216050

[westwinds31]

Gloucester are at home and are not missing that many, so are clear favourites for Friday. We have nothing to lose.

[ourla]

So potentially Gloucester could be without Ben Morgan, Lewis Ludlum, Jake Polledri, Ruan Ackermann, Charlie Sharples, Owen Williams, Ben Vellacott.

Bit of talent there!

[ourla]

Leicester Tigers (v Gloucester Rugby, away, Friday 7.45pm)

15 George Worth
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Gareth Owen
12 Kyle Eastmond
11 Jordan Olowofela
10 Joe Ford
9 Ben White

1 Greg Bateman
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Harry Wells
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Williams
7 Guy Thompson
8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements
16 Jake Kerr
17 Facundo Gigena
18 Gaston Cortes
19 Will Spencer
20 Mike Fitzgerald
21 Sam Harrison
22 Tom Hardwick
23 Matt Smith

Gloucester Rugby: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley; 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz; 1 Josh Hohneck, 2 James Hanson, 3 Fraser Balmain; 4 Tom Savage, 5 Ed Slater (c), 6 Gareth Evans, 7 Jaco Kriel, 8 Freddie Clarke
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Henry Trinder, 23 Tom Hudson

[MikeR]

White and Ford - we must be mad !

[ghdav27]

Spencer on the bench as well?!

Half back picks seem really odd

[ourla]

Our back line looks well short of what is required.

[chewbacca]

We'll be sticking it up the jumper or kicking for field position then coz it aint going to be flung out to the backs

[strawclearer]

Surprised that Spencer and Harrison aren't starting. Very surprised that Ford is.

[Hot_Charlie]

Ford probably the pragmatic choice at 10, with Hardwick to have Shazam inside him in the second half.

Not a bad side considering the number we have injured or on international duty.