QF cancelled - Castres forfeit match!

[RagingBull]

If Porter is out I would go with Potter or Murimurivalu at 13 with either Williams or Simmons on the wing.

[ABClub]

What about

9 Youngs
10 Ford
11 Potter
12 Nadolo
13 Scott
14 Murimurivalu
15 Steward

??

Nadolo did make around 15 Fiji appearances at 12 but that was a good few years ago now. His last centre appearance was before the 2015 RWC. He moved back to wing for the RWC and all his later Fiji caps were on the wing.

Personally I'd tend towards Taute at 12 and Scott at 13 if Porter is injured. Keep the same back three as the Saints game and Potter probably pips the bench spot over Williams.

I really like the Nadolo, Murimurivalu and Steward back three. Veainu, May and Holmes are all losses but that back three has a lot more balance to it than any we've fielded for a long time. Nadolo adds a lot of what we've missed with his physicality.

[ABClub]

If Porter is out I would go with Potter or Murimurivalu at 13 with either Williams or Simmons on the wing.

I really rate Simmons as a back three option. With JvP, Law and Edwards all in the development squad I hope Harry keeps getting opportunities as a wing/fullback. Since the restart I think it's fair to say he has shown more than Worth or Olowofela.

[Tiglon]

I'm an advocate of playing people in their best positions. For me that means leaving Scott at 12 and Nadolo on the wing. I'd rather have Taute at 13 in the absence of Porter than start changing everything around and breaking up what are already very new partnerships (i.e. Scott & Ford).

I don't think Worth is good enough at that level so I wouldn't put him in at 13. Does Murimurivalu have any experience playing there? If not I wouldn't risk that either.

Taufua might make a good outside centre...

[OakhamTiger32]

16 Charlie Clare
17 Facundo Gigena
18 Nephi Leatigaga
19 Blake Enever
20 Luke Wallace
21 Ben White
22 Zack Henry
23 Harry Potter

THAT is a tasty looking bench!

With Brink, Wiese, Moroni and Mamu all still to arrive it's great to see we finally have some strength in depth!

[OakhamTiger32]

"Scottish official Mike Adamson has been appointed as referee for the European Challenge Cup quarter-final between Leicester Tigers and Castres Olympique.

Tigers host their French visitors on Sunday, September (3.00pm) in the last eight of the tournament. A semi-final against Toulon or the Scarlets is the prize for the winners.

Former Scotland Sevens international Adamson will be assisted by Gallagher Premiership officials Craig Maxwell-Keys and Adam Leal.

The television match official is Graham Hughes and the citing officer is Italian official Francesco Grillo"

[OakhamTiger32]

If Porter is out I would go with Potter or Murimurivalu at 13 with either Williams or Simmons on the wing.

Hoping Porter passed his HIA but if not I'd like to see the back 3 remain the same with Potter slotting in to midfield alongside Scott and Simmons/Williams on the bench

[DingDong]

16 Charlie Clare
17 Facundo Gigena
18 Nephi Leatigaga
19 Blake Enever
20 Luke Wallace
21 Ben White
22 Zack Henry
23 Harry Potter

THAT is a tasty looking bench!

With Brink, Wiese, Moroni and Mamu all still to arrive it's great to see we finally have some strength in depth!

...add Kobus Van Wyk in the centres then game on!

[ABClub]

I'm an advocate of playing people in their best positions. For me that means leaving Scott at 12 and Nadolo on the wing. I'd rather have Taute at 13 in the absence of Porter than start changing everything around and breaking up what are already very new partnerships (i.e. Scott & Ford).

I don't think Worth is good enough at that level so I wouldn't put him in at 13. Does Murimurivalu have any experience playing there? If not I wouldn't risk that either.

Taufua might make a good outside centre...

Agree about playing players in their best position. That's why it's vital to play Taute at 12 rather than 13 in my opinion though.

2016/17 - 16 starts at 13, 2 starts at 15, 2 starts at 12
2017/18 - 3 starts at 12, 1 start at 13, 1 bench appearance (where he replaced Bleyendaal at 10 with Scannell moving to FH and Taute playing 12)
2018/19 - 2 starts 12, 1 start at 13, 6 bench appearances (replaced players across the backline but more often than not lined-up at 12 with versatile players moving to accommodate that)

Injuries meant that he made a lot more bench appearances in those later 2 seasons. A clear shift from him being first choice 13 to predominantly a 12 after the knee injuries.

I don't want to sound negative about Taute as I still think he can be a valuable squad member. I just think he needs to be played at 12 rather than 13 to perform these days.

[Noggs]

Does anyone have an insight into how Mike Adamson refs the scrum. Having a Sevens background doesn't bode well

[JP14]

I think Nadolo has played a bit at 12 for Montpellier, could be wrong though?

[RagingBull]

Does anyone have an insight into how Mike Adamson refs the scrum. Having a Sevens background doesn't bode well

Would imagine he starts off near the 9's

[fentiger]

Does anyone have an insight into how Mike Adamson refs the scrum. Having a Sevens background doesn't bode well

Would imagine he starts off near the 9's

[Tiglon]

I'm an advocate of playing people in their best positions. For me that means leaving Scott at 12 and Nadolo on the wing. I'd rather have Taute at 13 in the absence of Porter than start changing everything around and breaking up what are already very new partnerships (i.e. Scott & Ford).

I don't think Worth is good enough at that level so I wouldn't put him in at 13. Does Murimurivalu have any experience playing there? If not I wouldn't risk that either.

Taufua might make a good outside centre...

Agree about playing players in their best position. That's why it's vital to play Taute at 12 rather than 13 in my opinion though.

2016/17 - 16 starts at 13, 2 starts at 15, 2 starts at 12
2017/18 - 3 starts at 12, 1 start at 13, 1 bench appearance (where he replaced Bleyendaal at 10 with Scannell moving to FH and Taute playing 12)
2018/19 - 2 starts 12, 1 start at 13, 6 bench appearances (replaced players across the backline but more often than not lined-up at 12 with versatile players moving to accommodate that)

Injuries meant that he made a lot more bench appearances in those later 2 seasons. A clear shift from him being first choice 13 to predominantly a 12 after the knee injuries.

I don't want to sound negative about Taute as I still think he can be a valuable squad member. I just think he needs to be played at 12 rather than 13 to perform these days.

Not denying Taute is better at 12 than 13. My opinion, perhaps poorly explained, is that Scott is a better player than Taute and is also better at 12 than 13 - therefore we should prioritise playing him in his best position. The Ford/Scott partnership seems critical to me and it could be risky to change it for a big game.

I'm not saying I'm right and you're wrong, it's completely a matter of opinion.

[kk20gb30]

I believe we will win , but it wont be easy on the eye....
Ironic really ,unlike the other games post re-start ,here it is the result rather than the performance that counts.