Scarlets visit - Thursday 09th September 2021

[JP14]

for the Exeter game i'm hoping of a team
1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Wells
5. Snyman
6. Martin
7. Reffell
8. Liebenberg
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Saumaki
12. Scott
13. Porter
14. Potter
15. Steward

16. Dolly, 17. Leatigaga, 18. Heyes, 19. Henderson, 20. Chessum, 21. JVP, 22. Burns, 23. Hegarty/Murimurivalu.

Don’t think you’re far off at all, although I reckon Scott will be at 13 with Kelly at 12 and Porter on the wing perhaps?

[TigerFeetSteve]

Are we in any way worried if Wells is carrying an injury, seems strange our best 2nd row hasn't been seen in either of the last 2 squads, I know he played in the Jersey game, but not seen him since.

[sam16111986]

Are we in any way worried if Wells is carrying an injury, seems strange our best 2nd row hasn't been seen in either of the last 2 squads, I know he played in the Jersey game, but not seen him since.

Probably less concerned than I thought I would be. Chessum looked really good Vs Dragons, Henderson ended last season well and Snyman has been tidy so far.

[sam16111986]

for the Exeter game i'm hoping of a team
1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Wells
5. Snyman
6. Martin
7. Reffell
8. Liebenberg
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Saumaki
12. Scott
13. Porter
14. Potter
15. Steward

16. Dolly, 17. Leatigaga, 18. Heyes, 19. Henderson, 20. Chessum, 21. JVP, 22. Burns, 23. Hegarty/Murimurivalu.

Don’t think you’re far off at all, although I reckon Scott will be at 13 with Kelly at 12 and Porter on the wing perhaps?

Agreed Kelly and Scott midfield with Nadolo in the 23 shirt otherwise I agree with the selections. Bit harsh on Porter but against the best team in the country I think that's our best combination. Scott also looked better when at 13 last season.

[JP14]

Are we in any way worried if Wells is carrying an injury, seems strange our best 2nd row hasn't been seen in either of the last 2 squads, I know he played in the Jersey game, but not seen him since.

It’s something I had noticed, but given the good form of Chessum and Henderson in preseason, I’m not too worried if Wells has indeed picked up some form of injury.

[Dokie]

Strong side.. missing the obvious absentees of Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese and Moroni which shows our great strength in depth this season.. Will be interesting to see how Steward gets on on the wing again.. 2 tall wingers with Nadolo and Steward. Guess that's what pre-season matches are for to try a few things out and with 3 wing options on the bench (Muri, Saumaki and Porter) it's perhaps something SB is looking at a bit more seriously this season.

Can't wait for this one.. should be a good test

When will this selection madness stop. One reason why we don’t have a multi faceted attack is because of a lack of pace on the wings. I’m sitting here thinking Borthwick just doesn’t get it. Porter is a talented centre but not a wing at prem level. If he doesn’t make selection at centre, he’s not of a level where you shoehorn him in on the wing because you can’t leave him out. Freddie’s an outstanding full back but the one attribute he doesn’t have is pace. I think it’s only the second time but why pick him there when there are genuine wings in need of game time. If Hegarty has trained well, it’s concerning that this might happen more.

[kk20gb30]

Must admit, quite looking forward to the opportunity of seeing Sam Costelow again.A warm welcome too I believe awaits Sione Kalamafoni.Wish them well come the season proper - tonight though looking for a Leicester win , as always.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

Must admit, quite looking forward to the opportunity of seeing Sam Costelow again.A warm welcome too I believe awaits Sione Kalamafoni.Wish them well come the season proper - tonight though looking for a Leicester win , as always.

Kalamafoni deserves a good reception this evening, Scarlets more "open" game has worked well for him.
As for Costelow it will be interesting to see how he gets on this season, I would expect him to play more often than not, it is disappointing we won't see his development in a Tigers shirt (He probably would of played a lot for us last season he he hadn't left)

Think Genge might be our quickest player, Steward is a 15, Porter & Moroni are centres pick them there.
Does anyone know what is happening with Thom Smith?

[TigerFeetSteve]

Does anyone know what is happening with Thom Smith?

No but the only other Senior Squad players who won't have played during preaseason are

Brink - confirmed injured
Clare - confirmed injured
Taute - not played since a knee injury, likely not fully match fit (though not confirmed)

So unless Smith is injured then the fact a short term back row signing is getting a lot of preseason friendly game time ahead of him is concerning. That said Evans could have been signed given Brink & Smith are injured...

[fortysix]

Hi all, is this being streamed please ?

[GB72]

Hi all, is this being streamed please ?

Looks like it, I had updates from the app etc telling me it will be.

[MurphysLaw]

[quote=TigerFeetSteve post_id=791520 time=1631179019 user_id=34255]
[quote="Wayne Richardson Fan Club" post_id=791516 time=1631173283 user_id=4125]
Does anyone know what is happening with Thom Smith?
[/quote]

No but the only other Senior Squad players who won't have played during preaseason are

Brink - confirmed injured
Clare - confirmed injured
Taute - not played since a knee injury, likely not fully match fit (though not confirmed)

So unless Smith is injured then the fact a short term back row signing is getting a lot of preseason friendly game time ahead of him is concerning. That said Evans could have been signed given Brink & Smith are injured...
[/quote]

I spotted Thom Smith listed amongst the replacements for Donny Knights v Falcons. He has apparently gone to Donny on loan.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Does anyone know what is happening with Thom Smith?

No but the only other Senior Squad players who won't have played during preaseason are

Brink - confirmed injured
Clare - confirmed injured
Taute - not played since a knee injury, likely not fully match fit (though not confirmed)

So unless Smith is injured then the fact a short term back row signing is getting a lot of preseason friendly game time ahead of him is concerning. That said Evans could have been signed given Brink & Smith are injured...

I spotted Thom Smith listed amongst the replacements for Donny Knights v Falcons. He has apparently gone to Donny on loan.

Well spotted

[GB72]

Strong side.. missing the obvious absentees of Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese and Moroni which shows our great strength in depth this season.. Will be interesting to see how Steward gets on on the wing again.. 2 tall wingers with Nadolo and Steward. Guess that's what pre-season matches are for to try a few things out and with 3 wing options on the bench (Muri, Saumaki and Porter) it's perhaps something SB is looking at a bit more seriously this season.

Can't wait for this one.. should be a good test

When will this selection madness stop. One reason why we don’t have a multi faceted attack is because of a lack of pace on the wings. I’m sitting here thinking Borthwick just doesn’t get it. Porter is a talented centre but not a wing at prem level. If he doesn’t make selection at centre, he’s not of a level where you shoehorn him in on the wing because you can’t leave him out. Freddie’s an outstanding full back but the one attribute he doesn’t have is pace. I think it’s only the second time but why pick him there when there are genuine wings in need of game time. If Hegarty has trained well, it’s concerning that this might happen more.

I could be very much mistaken, I often am, but I had always thought that this was done pre season simply because you cannot cover all eventualities on the bench. With that in mind, there will be matches were somebody may have to play out of position on the wing as I think it is one of the few places on the pitch where we do not have someone who is able to double up with their usual postion. We have some that can cover full back (guessing Burns will be on the bench and can do a job) and so an injury to a winger could necessitate Steward taking a wing.

[bendy]

When will this selection madness stop.

Hopefully when we're back to only having one half-decent (if that) option for each position and there will be no more selection headaches for Borthwick, c.2018/19 season.

I know I for one will be much happier then!