Tigers vs Worcester

[sam16111986]

Is Hardwick injured or on the naughty boy’s step?

Presume injured as one tough game Vs Wasps aside he's been good. He didn't last long after the interval Vs Wasps which would indicate he's maybe pulled something. If you wanted the tactical change then you'd do it at half time. A substitution of a back shortly into the second half looks more like he was trying to run something off.

I presume Spencer is also injured. A Lavanini and Wells partnership is pretty aggressive which is what we need Vs Worcester and if that backrow takes the field it will give us a boost.

15 Telusa Veainu

14 Jonah Holmes

13 George Worth

12 Kyle Eastmond

11 Jordan Olowofela

10 Noel Reid

9 Ben White

1 Greg Bateman

2 Jake Kerr

3 Dan Cole (c)

4 Tomás Lavanini

5 Harry Wells

6 Hanro Liebenberg

7 Jordan Taufua

8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau

17 Nephi Leatigaga

18 Joe Heyes

19 Joe Batley

20 Tommy Reffell

21 Harry Simmons

22 Johnny McPhillips

23 Joe Thomas

Looking weak in the centres and centre replacements again

Manu and Taute injured, Viljoen struggling for form. Rules out three outside centres so was always likely. Worth is a solid player with a good range of skills. Thomas on the bench looked defensively good in his European games so if he comes on then at least we shouldn't fall apart in the midfield like we did last weekend.

[OakhamTiger32]

WARRIORS: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Nick David, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Matt Moulds (c), 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Marco Mama, 8 Cornell du Preez.

REPLACEMENTS: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Kai Owen, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Andrew Kitchener, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Scott van Breda.

INJURED/ILL: Ashley Beck, Callum Black Justin Clegg, Conor Carey, Matt Cox, Michael Fatialofa, Ed Fidow, Dean Hammond, Alex Hearle, Noah Heward, Joe Morris, Melani Nanai, Francois Venter.

[OakhamTiger32]

Is Hardwick injured or on the naughty boy’s step?

Presume injured as one tough game Vs Wasps aside he's been good. He didn't last long after the interval Vs Wasps which would indicate he's maybe pulled something. If you wanted the tactical change then you'd do it at half time. A substitution of a back shortly into the second half looks more like he was trying to run something off.

I presume Spencer is also injured. A Lavanini and Wells partnership is pretty aggressive which is what we need Vs Worcester and if that backrow takes the field it will give us a boost.

15 Telusa Veainu

14 Jonah Holmes

13 George Worth

12 Kyle Eastmond

11 Jordan Olowofela

10 Noel Reid

9 Ben White

1 Greg Bateman

2 Jake Kerr

3 Dan Cole (c)

4 Tomás Lavanini

5 Harry Wells

6 Hanro Liebenberg

7 Jordan Taufua

8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau

17 Nephi Leatigaga

18 Joe Heyes

19 Joe Batley

20 Tommy Reffell

21 Harry Simmons

22 Johnny McPhillips

23 Joe Thomas

Looking weak in the centres and centre replacements again

Manu and Taute injured, Viljoen struggling for form. Rules out three outside centres so was always likely. Worth is a solid player with a good range of skills. Thomas on the bench looked defensively good in his European games so if he comes on then at least we shouldn't fall apart in the midfield like we did last weekend.

Agreed. Worth has played 13 for us before and is pretty solid so not too worried about that. Stronger bench options than last week too and great to see Kerr getting a rare start with SK and JT back in the team.

Tigers win by 5 for me although will undoubtedly be a tough game with Worcester only making 1 change from the side that pushed Bristol all the way last week.

[TigerBoy1880]

Is Hardwick injured or on the naughty boy’s step?

Presume injured as one tough game Vs Wasps aside he's been good. He didn't last long after the interval Vs Wasps which would indicate he's maybe pulled something. If you wanted the tactical change then you'd do it at half time. A substitution of a back shortly into the second half looks more like he was trying to run something off.

I presume Spencer is also injured. A Lavanini and Wells partnership is pretty aggressive which is what we need Vs Worcester and if that backrow takes the field it will give us a boost.

15 Telusa Veainu

14 Jonah Holmes

13 George Worth

12 Kyle Eastmond

11 Jordan Olowofela

10 Noel Reid

9 Ben White

1 Greg Bateman

2 Jake Kerr

3 Dan Cole (c)

4 Tomás Lavanini

5 Harry Wells

6 Hanro Liebenberg

7 Jordan Taufua

8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau

17 Nephi Leatigaga

18 Joe Heyes

19 Joe Batley

20 Tommy Reffell

21 Harry Simmons

22 Johnny McPhillips

23 Joe Thomas

Looking weak in the centres and centre replacements again

Manu and Taute injured, Viljoen struggling for form. Rules out three outside centres so was always likely. Worth is a solid player with a good range of skills. Thomas on the bench looked defensively good in his European games so if he comes on then at least we shouldn't fall apart in the midfield like we did last weekend.

I don’t think Hardwick is injured, not from the Wasps game anyway. After the game, Murphy said he was going to replace him between 50-60 minutes but decided to do it a few minutes earlier with the way the game was going.

[JP14]

Good to see Kalamafoni and Taufua back, that’s a massive difference. I reckon we have enough (home record has been good of late only lost 3 in all comps this season) to get one over our bogey team.

[Longshanks]

"Time to step up and be counted" says Kyle (on Twitter) - no kidding!

Actions speak louder, etc, etc.....

[ads]

Feeling better about the game after seeing that team. Having Taufua and Kala back is massive. Wells and Lavanini in the second row is great as well. White and Reid at half back is pretty solid.

Come on Tigers!!

[CitizenSmiff]

Kitchener's younger brother on the bench which is nice to see. He's even bigger than Graham, their poor mum!

[OakhamTiger32]

Kitchener's younger brother on the bench which is nice to see. He's even bigger than Graham, their poor mum!

I know I feel for her, must be hard having to watch Worcester play every week!

[Ian Cant]

But not as hard as Ben and Tom’s mum watching Tigers!
Come on Tigers.
Let’s make one hell of a lot of NOISE.

[Robespierre]

Dare we dream of a bp win without an lbp for Wuss? Tigers will then move one point above Wuss!

[CitizenSmiff]

It would be nice to climb up a spot wouldn't it, and the way the league is shaping up with everybody taking points off each other it's not out of the question that we might be able to squeeze into the top 6.

[Not a jock]

As Einstein never said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Whatever happens today, Tigers will be very fortunate to still be ahead of Wuss after the following two games, away to both Chiefs and Sarries. Expecting to be in the top half, or even top third, of the table by season-end is unlikely whatever the injury situation or returning internationals bolstering the squad. No sign of any change on the horizon this season so "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" would seem to be quite apt.

[Longshanks]

Referee (according to BBC Sport): Adam Leal

Not a name I'm familiar with. Anyone know his reputation?

[anz3001]

As Einstein never said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Whatever happens today, Tigers will be very fortunate to still be ahead of Wuss after the following two games, away to both Chiefs and Sarries. Expecting to be in the top half, or even top third, of the table by season-end is unlikely whatever the injury situation or returning internationals bolstering the squad. No sign of any change on the horizon this season so "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" would seem to be quite apt.

If you haven't seen any changes this season could I suggest a trip to spec savers.