Away vs Bath 18th April

[TigerFeetSteve]

Back to Premiership Rugby this weekend.

Tricky away trip to the Rec.

Will be intresting to see what Borthwick does in terms of Ford and Genge for their second week off.

[Old Hob]

This could also be a rehearsal for a semi/ final in the Challenge Cup.

[sam16111986]

I'd have thought Sale away would be the one where Genge and Ford get their second rest week.

I'd expect us to go strong, especially up front against Bath's England props (Dunn the hooker still banned?). Rotate round to allow some of those that have put a shift in recently to get a breather.

Genge, Youngs, Cole
Wells, Green
Chessum, Wallace, Weise
Youngs, Ford
Kelly, Moroni
Murimurivalu, Potter
Steward

Clare, de Bruin, Heyes, Lavanini, Reffell, JVP, Henry, Scott.

This is on the basis that Liebenburg needs some time to recover after the foot to the chops yesterday. Henderson and Martin are rotated out for a rest after two very good performances. Chessum has looked good when he's played so bring him back in and that also helps our lineout. Henry on the bench as he also covers 15, McPhillips a player I couldn't wait to be rid of last year has been fantastic the last few games so bit unlucky for him to miss out. Reffell gets a few less minutes in the legs from the bench.

We can then rotate some of the rested players back in for the Saints game the week after.

[RunTigerRun]

I'd have thought Sale away would be the one where Genge and Ford get their second rest week.

I'd expect us to go strong, especially up front against Bath's England props (Dunn the hooker still banned?). Rotate round to allow some of those that have put a shift in recently to get a breather.

Genge, Youngs, Cole
Wells, Green
Chessum, Wallace, Weise
Youngs, Ford
Kelly, Moroni
Murimurivalu, Potter
Steward

Clare, de Bruin, Heyes, Lavanini, Reffell, JVP, Henry, Scott.

This is on the basis that Liebenburg needs some time to recover after the foot to the chops yesterday. Henderson and Martin are rotated out for a rest after two very good performances. Chessum has looked good when he's played so bring him back in and that also helps our lineout. Henry on the bench as he also covers 15, McPhillips a player I couldn't wait to be rid of last year has been fantastic the last few games so bit unlucky for him to miss out. Reffell gets a few less minutes in the legs from the bench.

We can then rotate some of the rested players back in for the Saints game the week after.

Quite like that team Sam! Could potentially see JVP and Youngs swapped as I do like the look of JVP and Ford together - but not unhappy with JVP coming on in the last 20 either! I’d love to see McPhillips retained in the 23 as he has been brilliant these last few weeks and particularly yesterday his kicking and passing game really came to the fore in the first 20mins - and he can cover 12/13/15 as well as 10 so don’t see that as too much of an issue. Shame if Porter missed out again as he’s also been good but we have some great backs in form so hard to leave anyone out. Hoping Nemani isn’t too far away either - be good to give him some time off the bench if he’s ready.

How nice is it to have genuine selection headaches again?!

[sam16111986]

I agree. Selection headache is a welcome change from name the best 23 and then cross fingers all are fit because squad depth isn't there.

I've very much been convinced by McPhillips at 10. Definitely wasn't the case before this last run of games but I'm always happy to see a player improve and produce performances that make us re-evaluate them. Well done Johnny. He could do a job for us at 15 but it would be an emergency job. We are unlikely to sub Ford unless we have to so it doesn't offer much in the way of tactical options. At no point do I want McPhillips playing centre Vs Bath and the likely combination or Redpath and Joseph as they are a real handful and McPhillips hasn't got the defensive skills a specialist centre will have. That's why I had Scott at 23.

Henry will have seen McPhillips leapfrog him and I'm sure will be chomping at the bit to get out there and remind Borthwick what he's got plus he played well at 15 Vs Connacht. Not as secure as Steward but he's the most dependable fullback we've had since Murphy retired so that's a touch comparison. If we need some attacking flair later in the game Henry would be a good option to introduce. A benefit of competition is that we are seeing the players try and better themselves to push their way back into the side.

[sapajo]

Sorry but for me Henry is not a 15, against Connaught his tackling was suspect at best. Reminds of Telusa in that regard but unlike Henry, his unrivalled attacking prowess made up for it.

[ay2oh]

Steward is our no 1 and Muri 2nd choice fullback.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Steward is our no 1 and Muri 2nd choice fullback.

I'd also like to see Potter given a game there.

He's great under the high ball, got serious gas & has looked solid defensively too.

[JP14]

I disagree, Potter is a winger and probably could deputise at fullback in an emergency or the final 20, but not from the off.

[JP14]

I used to love speculating about selections pre-match, but now under Borthwick the consistency of team performance regardless of selection plus rotation means I don’t mind not bothering.

However I think Genge should be starting most games for the remainder of the season to show Gatland of his worth if he wants to go on the Lions tour this year.

[ay2oh]

Don’t care about the Lions just the Tigers

[Scott1]

Genge
Youngs
Cole
Wells
Lavinini
Chessum
Wallace
Weise
Youngs
Ford
Muri
Kelly
Moroni
Potter
Steward

De Bruin,Clare,Heyes,Henderson,Martin,JVP,McPhillips,Porter

But who knows?! It’s nigh on impossible now to pick our starting XV,which is great!

[Scott1]

Green could be in there somewhere and it’s going in The Berg being out

[OakhamTiger32]

I reckon Liebenberg will miss out after the knock to the head. Personally I don’t think Martin needs a rest. He got very little game time with England and hasn’t actually played a huge amount this season. Might be another appearance for Wells at 6 but I hope not. I would go:

1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Wells
5. Lavanini
6. Martin
7. Wallace
8. Weise

9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Muri
12. Kelly
13. Moroni
14 . Potter
15. Steward

Clare, De Bruin, Heyes, Green, Chessum, JVP, McPhillips, Porter

[Scott1]

I reckon Liebenberg will miss out after the knock to the head. Personally I don’t think Martin needs a rest. He got very little game time with England and hasn’t actually played a huge amount this season. I would go:

1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Wells
5. Lavanini
6. Martin
7. Wallace
8. Weise

9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Muri
12. Kelly
13. Moroni
14 . Potter
15. Steward

DeBruin, Clare, Heyes, Green, Chessum, JVP, McPhillips, Porter

Nice! Almost identical