PRC Round 2 - Tigers vs Exeter

[Mark62]

Many people make the point that most of the Exeter team names were unfamiliar, I suggest that for an Exeter supporter the same could be said of our squad. One thing is for certain the Chiefs were not kids like the ones that turned out for us last week,
I felt we played pretty well, our front row lost out a bit on technique but eventually got to grips with it. Just think we have five guys not available to us at the moment that will boost that pack when they become available to compete for a place; the future is looking brighter than it has for some time.

Totally agree the availability of Genge, Cole, Lavanini, Taufua and Kalamafoni can only help

[fentiger]

Many people make the point that most of the Exeter team names were unfamiliar, I suggest that for an Exeter supporter the same could be said of our squad. One thing is for certain the Chiefs were not kids like the ones that turned out for us last week,
I felt we played pretty well, our front row lost out a bit on technique but eventually got to grips with it. Just think we have five guys not available to us at the moment that will boost that pack when they become available to compete for a place; the future is looking brighter than it has for some time.

Totally agree the availability of Genge, Cole, Lavanini, Taufua and Kalamafoni can only help

Also worth remembering that Boris is away at the moment, so our scrum is probably not at it's best!

[wellstiger]

Lets be honest.
Ref was learning - teams are learning - coaches are learning.
We are learning to win again. We are learning to compete again. We are learning to attack with supporting runners again.
We are learning to think heads up rugby.

I am learning to get excited again.

So please lets take the positives and move forward.

[MikeR]

Took our chances well I thought - Reid excellent and Green worked very hard . Our Scrum was in the main very poor and it looks as if No 9 will be our Achilles heal once again . Eastmond o'k in attack but his defence very flimsy.

[Mark62]

Took our chances well I thought - Reid excellent and Green worked very hard . Our Scrum was in the main very poor and it looks as if No 9 will be our Achilles heal once again . Eastmond o'k in attack but his defence very flimsy.

Eastmond one big failing defensively is when people run direct at him he’s fine side on or chasing back, thought he was better than ok in attack
Unsure on your comments regarding 9 considering how early in the season it was, box kicking was a bit flakey at times, but the service by both 9 was good

[RagingBull]

Wonder if Liebenberg and Coghlan at 6 and 8 is a sign of things to come when Taufua comes back?
Taufua been playing well at 8 in the mitre cup.

Hopefully we can see
1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Lavanini
5. Green
6. Liebenberg
7. Thompson
8. Taufua

Before Christmas.

[RagingBull]

Also thought Olowfela looked a lot more mature this game than he did last season. Hopefully learnt a lot from that rough debut season.

[fentiger]

Also thought Olowfela looked a lot more mature this game than he did last season. Hopefully learnt a lot from that rough debut season.

Think he's bulked up a little?

[Jimmy Skitz]

A performance to build on for sure, Noel Reid looked good and what an offload by Hardwick

[BFG]

Wonder if Liebenberg and Coghlan at 6 and 8 is a sign of things to come when Taufua comes back?
Taufua been playing well at 8 in the mitre cup.

Hopefully we can see
1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Lavanini
5. Green
6. Liebenberg
7. Thompson
8. Taufua

Before Christmas.

Any idea yet which position is seen as Leatigaga's strongest?

[kpj tiger]

Thought I'd go through the team with some of my observations for people who missed it

15. George Worth - Pretty assured performance, good passing and defence, needs to work on his place kicking
14. Jonah Holmes - Took his try well, good all round performance
13. Andy Forsyth - Defended well and executed well for the first try, showed some good pace too
12. Kyle Eastmond - Good in defence, some great passes and linked well with Reid
11. Jordan Olowofela - Much improved from last season, showed his speed and agility and wasn't shown up in defence
10. Noel Reid - Looks like a quality backup 10, defended really well and some of his passing and skills were impressive, goal kicking a little shaky
9. Sam Harrison - Box kicking wayward again but sharp passes and everywhere in defence

1. Greg Bateman - Poor in the scrum but carried well, not awful for his first game in a long time
2. Tom Youngs - Threw well in the lineout, carried really well in the loose and led the defence well
3. Joe Heyes - Poor in the scrum, worked hard around the pitch, still a WIP player
4. Will Spencer - Went off early, made a couple tackles and carries but not enough to get a good idea of form
5. Calum Green - Great in the lineout and mauls, worked hard around the pitch
6. Hanro Liebenberg - Won lineouts, stole ball at rucks, crunching tackles, hard carries and linked well, a new fan favourite
7. Guy Thompson - Carrying his form from last season, was everywhere, tracked well for the first try
8. Jordan Coghlan - Good in defence and effective carrying, considering he is likely to be down the pecking order I was impressed

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau - Threw well in the lineout, was destructive in defence and communicated well with the ref regarding the dodgy scrums
17. Facundo Gigena - Not a great performance, really struggled in the scrum, defended reasonably well
18. Gaston Cortes - Also seemed to struggle in the scrum, that said used his experience to win a valuable scrum penalty
19. Harry Wells - High workrate and made a mess of a couple Exeter mauls, made a couple big hits, handling a little dodgy
20. Tommy Reffell - Didn't get a chance to do much, didn't look out of his depth though
21. Ben White - Effective but not spectacular, an able scrum half
22. Tom Hardwick - Kicked really well and attacked the line, feel like he can really kick on this season when he has some experience around him
23. Freddie Steward - Took a good crossfield kick but didn't get many other opportunities, love that Geordan has this much faith in him at such a young age

[Scott1]

Thanks kpj

[Mark62]

Wonder if Liebenberg and Coghlan at 6 and 8 is a sign of things to come when Taufua comes back?
Taufua been playing well at 8 in the mitre cup.

Hopefully we can see
1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Lavanini
5. Green
6. Liebenberg
7. Thompson
8. Taufua

Before Christmas.

Back row options are certainly now intriguing and I feel for the first time in a while we can be alternating in a position of strength
If I’m right the options are
6- Liebenberg/ Taufua/ Kalamafoni/ Coghlan
7- Thompson/Reffel/Taufua
8- Taufua/ Coghlan/ Liebenberg/ Kalamafoni

Strength in depth at Lock is slightly different after Spencer, Green, Wells and Lavanini, when he gets here, we are dropping down to the younger lads as specialist locks

[Bundy]

Also thought Olowfela looked a lot more mature this game than he did last season. Hopefully learnt a lot from that rough debut season.

+1

[Jimmy Skitz]

Also thought Olowfela looked a lot more mature this game than he did last season. Hopefully learnt a lot from that rough debut season.

Certainly seemed to use his pace better