Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

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OakhamTiger32
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Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by OakhamTiger32 »

Next week sees the return of the European Challenge Cup and a visit from the Cardiff Blues.

After a promising first half against Exeter, a well earned draw away to Quins and a fantastic BP win at home to Bristol, things are starting to look slightly more promising in the GP.

As for the Challenge Cup, we sit top of the table and a win next weekend will see us through to the knockout stages as pool winners. This would give us a great opportunity to try some potential pairings out prior to the 6N when we travel to Pau.

With that in mind I imagine we will see another fairly strong team for this match (with a few youngsters included) to not only continue the great momentum that is building but to secure top spot and avoid a potentially tricky trip to France.

I'm thinking:

1. Bateman
2. TPN
3. Leatigaga
4. Lavanini
5. Green
6. Thompson
7. Reffell
8. Taufua

9. Youngs
10. Ford

11. May
12. Eastmond
13. Taute
14. Olowafela
15. Worth

16. Youngs
17. Gigena
18. Cole
19. Wells
20. Kalamafoni
21. White
22. Reid
23. Veianu

If we win it would mean a fair few players could be rested for to the trip to France but this match might be a good opportunity to rest a few players like Kalamafoni, Youngs and Veianu after some big games recently. They would add considerable impact off the bench.
Last edited by OakhamTiger32 on Sun Jan 05, 2020 7:00 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Mark62
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by Mark62 »

Can’t see Cardiff sending up any more than a second team, they have nothing to gain and I would imagine the WRU will not want any of their welsh squad players involved.
Personally I would load the bench just in case, but would go with something like,

Bateman, TPN, Lady Gaga, Green, Wells, Lewis, Reffell, Thompson
White, Hardwick, Olowefela, Reid, Worth, Thompstone, Steward.

Kerr, Genge, Hayes, Lavanini, Kalamafoni, Simmons, Eastmond Veianu
ABClub
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by ABClub »

This game should be a good chance to give the players who played considerable minutes at the RWC a break whilst breaking in combinations we will rely on during the 6 Nations.

The midfield in particular is important in the latter regard. We were dismal in that area until Ford and Manu returned. I hope that 10.Hardwick 12.Reid 13.Taute starts against Cardiff as I think that's our best midfield with the England players away.

If we win this then the Pau trip could be used to give Sam Costelow and Cam Jordan first XV game time or to give debuts to loanees Joe Batley and Rory Hughes.

Sam Lewis and Tommy Reffell definitely deserve to start on the flanks. Hopefully Lewis has sufficiently recovered from illness to do so.
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by Tiglon »

I would like to see a practice run for the 6N, that period will be crucial and we have to be prepared, while also giving some of the younger guys more experience. Kalamafoni plays a ridiculous amount of minutes so maybe it's an opportunity to give him a rest. Perhaps Veainu as well, who is pretty much un-restable in league matches.

For those reasons I'd like to see:

1. Bateman
2. Youngs
3. Leatigaga
4. Lavanini
5. Green
6. Thompson
7. Reffell
8. Taufua

9. White
10. Reid

11. Hughes
12. Eastmond
13. Taute
14. Olowofela
15. Worth

16. TPN
17. Genge
18. Cole
19. Wells
20. Lewis
21. Simmons
22. Hardwick
23. Steward

I'd love to give Costelow some time on the pitch, but I feel we need Reid and Hardwick to play more and make sure they are match sharp.
JP14
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by JP14 »

1. Bateman
2. TPN
3. Leatigaga
4. Batley
5. Green
6. Lewis
7. Reffell
8. Taufua
9. White
10. Hardwick
11. Olowofela
12. Eastmond
13. Taute
14. Thompstone
15. Steward

16. Kerr
17. Gigena
18. Heyes
19. Wells
20. Thompson
21. Simmons
22. Costelow
23. Hughes
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Mark62
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by Mark62 »

JP14 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:19 am 1. Bateman
2. TPN
3. Leatigaga
4. Batley
5. Green
6. Lewis
7. Reffell
8. Taufua
9. White
10. Hardwick
11. Olowofela
12. Eastmond
13. Taute
14. Thompstone
15. Steward

16. Kerr
17. Gigena
18. Heyes
19. Wells
20. Thompson
21. Simmons
22. Costelow
23. Hughes
Like this team, my only comment would be that Taufua is becoming increasingly important and I’d rather he was rested over Thompson
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by Chobbsy »

OakhamTiger32 wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2020 9:54 pm Next week sees the return of the European Challenge Cup and a visit from the Cardiff Blues.

After a promising first half against Exeter, a well earned draw away to Quins and a fantastic BP win at home to Bristol, things are starting to look slightly more promising in the GP.

As for the Challenge Cup, we sit top of the table and a win next weekend will see us through to the knockout stages as pool winners. This would give us a great opportunity to try some potential pairings out prior to the 6N when we travel to Pau.

With that in mind I imagine we will see another fairly strong team for this match (with a few youngsters included) to not only continue the great momentum that is building but to secure top spot and avoid a potentially tricky trip to France.

I'm thinking:

1. Bateman
2. TPN
3. Leatigaga
4. Lavanini
5. Green
6. Thompson
7. Reffell
8. Taufua

9. Youngs
10. Ford

11. May
12. Eastmond
13. Taute
14. Olowafela
15. Worth

16. Youngs
17. Gigena
18. Cole
19. Wells
20. Kalamafoni
21. White
22. Reid
23. Veianu

If we win it would mean a fair few players could be rested for to the trip to France but this match might be a good opportunity to rest a few players like Kalamafoni, Youngs and Veianu after some big games recently. They would add considerable impact off the bench.
No Taufua?
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JP14
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by JP14 »

Mark62 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 9:13 am
JP14 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:19 am 1. Bateman
2. TPN
3. Leatigaga
4. Batley
5. Green
6. Lewis
7. Reffell
8. Taufua
9. White
10. Hardwick
11. Olowofela
12. Eastmond
13. Taute
14. Thompstone
15. Steward

16. Kerr
17. Gigena
18. Heyes
19. Wells
20. Thompson
21. Simmons
22. Costelow
23. Hughes
Like this team, my only comment would be that Taufua is becoming increasingly important and I’d rather he was rested over Thompson
Fair enough, do you think Boladau might play or will his cap count now?
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
Mark62
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by Mark62 »

JP14 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:11 am
Mark62 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 9:13 am
JP14 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:19 am 1. Bateman
2. TPN
3. Leatigaga
4. Batley
5. Green
6. Lewis
7. Reffell
8. Taufua
9. White
10. Hardwick
11. Olowofela
12. Eastmond
13. Taute
14. Thompstone
15. Steward

16. Kerr
17. Gigena
18. Heyes
19. Wells
20. Thompson
21. Simmons
22. Costelow
23. Hughes
Like this team, my only comment would be that Taufua is becoming increasingly important and I’d rather he was rested over Thompson
Fair enough, do you think Boladau might play or will his cap count now?
Think he’s back at Nottingham now. Coghlan possibly
LE18
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by LE18 »

I don't think we should under estimate Cardiff, don't give them a chance to win, pick the strongest team we dare, we don't want to go to Pau needing to win, 1st team can be rested fully the following week if we put Cardiff away, our very best players must be included in the 23.
Mark62
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by Mark62 »

LE18 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:14 pm I don't think we should under estimate Cardiff, don't give them a chance to win, pick the strongest team we dare, we don't want to go to Pau needing to win, 1st team can be rested fully the following week if we put Cardiff away, our very best players must be included in the 23.
I think it will be interesting to see what side Cardiff put out.i agree we shouldn’t underestimate them, which I why I did suggest loading the bench, but I would be very surprised if they sent anything like their first team up, it would be of no benefit to them
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by RagingBull »

Mark62 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:17 am
JP14 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:11 am
Mark62 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 9:13 am

Like this team, my only comment would be that Taufua is becoming increasingly important and I’d rather he was rested over Thompson
Fair enough, do you think Boladau might play or will his cap count now?
Think he’s back at Nottingham now. Coghlan possibly
he was at the Tigers game, in suit and tie.
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by LE18 »

Mark62 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:17 pm
LE18 wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:14 pm I don't think we should under estimate Cardiff, don't give them a chance to win, pick the strongest team we dare, we don't want to go to Pau needing to win, 1st team can be rested fully the following week if we put Cardiff away, our very best players must be included in the 23.
I think it will be interesting to see what side Cardiff put out.i agree we shouldn’t underestimate them, which I why I did suggest loading the bench, but I would be very surprised if they sent anything like their first team up, it would be of no benefit to them
Is there a protocol as to which side announces their team first, or is it 12.00 on Friday for a Saturday game, who knows the strength first? That was my reasoning for saying our best should be in the 23, not necessarily the starting 15, if we don't need them, don't bring them on.
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by JP14 »

Boladau was training, plus had played for the A League side last Monday.
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Re: Tigers vs Cardiff - 12th January 2020

Post by Caerlyr Osprey »

Is it me or was the game originally scheduled to be on TV ? It's not showing in the TV Guide on my Sky box and I'm sure that there was a BT Sport logo on the fixtures page on the website that's no longer there.

I'll be there on Sunday buy was looking forward to catching up with the game when I got home.
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