Here we go again.. can't wait for this one. Lots of game time for players during pre-season. Still missing some big names like Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese and Moroni (all first choices for me) but we have far better strength in depth this year so I think we have every chance. Exeter missing a few key players too (Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds, Stuart Hogg).
Much like the suggestion by RB in a previous topic, I imagine we will go for something like this:
Scott1 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:25 am
I'll go with a home loss
No LCD, J Hill and S Simmonds for Chiefs though. Unsure what their injury situation is either given their lack of pre season games. Could be a good chance to catch them cold and get us off to a flyer.
Scott1 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:25 am
I'll go with a home loss
No LCD, J Hill and S Simmonds for Chiefs though. Unsure what their injury situation is either given their lack of pre season games. Could be a good chance to catch them cold and get us off to a flyer.
Last night has deflated me I'm afraid. Chiefs for one thing will know exactly what they are doing from 1-23 and I think they will just have too much for us in most aspects. Chiefs by 11-20.
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
Scott1 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:25 am
I'll go with a home loss
No LCD, J Hill and S Simmonds for Chiefs though. Unsure what their injury situation is either given their lack of pre season games. Could be a good chance to catch them cold and get us off to a flyer.
Last night has deflated me I'm afraid. Chiefs for one thing will know exactly what they are doing from 1-23 and I think they will just have too much for us in most aspects. Chiefs by 11-20.
Pre season games are not like normal games. Would we really take Reffell off in a normal game bar injury against a side like Scarlets? They scored one early doors try with him on the field and we pretty much dominated for the rest of the first half. I don't think it'll be a polished display next weekend but I'm expecting us to keep it with a 7pts that should be a minimum for any home game irrelevant of who we play.
JP14 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:45 am
Is Hogg unavailable? The 10 week break only applies to English players, does it not?
There was a 5 week stand down for non-EQ Lions (I think) but that has probably passed now so he could be in the mix. Chiefs won't struggle at fullback without him though. The losses to the pack are more impactful.
I’d start with JVP: then Youngs can come on to add experience if it’s close. JVP is such a threat he needs to be starting games.
I’m not confident we have as strong a squad as some think as we lack pace on the wings, Clare out will be a blow and let’s not forget the players missing were the ones who performed so well at Wasps. Lavanini, McPhillips and Henry showed v
Wasps what we will miss.
I also hope that Borthwick DOESN’T take players off after 45-50 minutes this season.
Saracens will along with Exeter, Bristol, Quins be favourites for top 4: Sale will be pushing to get there is too! Gloucester and Saints should cause all teams problems at Kingsholm and Franklin’s then there’s Irish, Worcester, Newcastle the teams that are least affected by call ups.
I just hope we can somehow get a couple of wins from the first 4 games.
It will be great to be at Welford Road again and if the fans can perform like we did v Bristol and Wasps in the last two games anything is possible.
The reaction to last night needs some perspective. Borthwick said afterwards that they pushed themselves hard prior to the game, they will be well rested for next week. The purpose of pre season is fitness and combinations, not much else.
Exeter will be a tough game but I’m very optimistic given the players they are missing up front.
We were away for both friendlies and so I am relying on the comments that have been written and I have to say that they have unnerved me. I'm not sure from the suggested teams above, that we are at all in a good position at the start? I think our strengths from the end of last year are missing and the adverse comments regarding scrums lineouts and defence worry me.
I would like to think that we are in a good position but can we hold out until our SA and Pumas show up, or will we find ourselves struggling to catch up? Hopefully not, but there were not enough positive posts, also loads of excuses, and or theories, they leave me wondering.
Ian Cant wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:51 am
I’d start with JVP: then Youngs can come on to add experience if it’s close. JVP is such a threat he needs to be starting games.
I’m not confident we have as strong a squad as some think as we lack pace on the wings, Clare out will be a blow and let’s not forget the players missing were the ones who performed so well at Wasps. Lavanini, McPhillips and Henry showed v
Wasps what we will miss.
I also hope that Borthwick DOESN’T take players off after 45-50 minutes this season.
Saracens will along with Exeter, Bristol, Quins be favourites for top 4: Sale will be pushing to get there is too! Gloucester and Saints should cause all teams problems at Kingsholm and Franklin’s then there’s Irish, Worcester, Newcastle the teams that are least affected by call ups.
I just hope we can somehow get a couple of wins from the first 4 games.
It will be great to be at Welford Road again and if the fans can perform like we did v Bristol and Wasps in the last two games anything is possible.
Surely JVP against a tired fringe defence is far more dangerous than JVP against a set defence.
Lavanini ended up the third choice lock due to his lack of mobility. I liked Henry and McPhillips but Burns is an upgrade, considerable upgrade at that. So I'm not sure that I'd be worried about those loses from the Wasps game.
The subs on 45ish mins tended to be the older members of the front row. Youngs and Cole stated injury free and played well over the course of the season, better than the previous couple of years. I strongly suspect the reason for that is they were kept fresh and the extra minutes saw Clare and Heyes develop nicely. I doubt we'll see Montoya come off after half a game when he's back but the rotation of Cole and Heyes suits us perfectly. If you've got strong squad options then surely it's best to use them?
