Sarries LV Cup!

[Southernsoftie]

I don't really recognise anybody in the Saffas line up is there anybody who is a ringer that we should be worried about ?

No ringers that I am aware of but as mentioned above, Sarries with a more experienced front five and a top class open side may give them a bit of an edge up front.

Backlines look quite well matched Mordt and cornwell very experienced though Mordt has been getting some AP exposure recently. Sam Stanley, a fine player whose career has been blighted by two serious knee injuries just when he looked like he might be breaking into the first team squad. Having said that, he will be outweighed by about 25kg's by Andy Symons. Duncan Taylor had a good season at Bedford a couple of years ago but hasn't yet made the breakthrough, similar to Forsyth.

Back three's also well matched. Short trumps Purdy. Maddock trumps Lewington on experience alone and Morris trumps Ransom though Ransom a fine player who has played all England age groups so far and usually as a younger player than the cut off. Much like George Ford.

Have to say, the two teams are a pretty good reflection of the relative strengths of the squads with the caveat that Tigers have to hold a few, more experienced players back for the Maori game.

Suspect the bookies (would) have Sarries as slight favourites.

[APJones]

I suppose we also have Matthew Tait - I recognise the name ! but can't recall him playing for tigers ! ! ! a problem or a blessing ?

[Iain]

Delighted to see the Maori game is taking precedence.

[waster]

Can't see tickets for sale on the club site, has anyone any idea if they are still available?

I understand tickets are still available.

Try Sarries or Bedford Club sites!

I believe that they are selling them on the gate as well!

[4071]

I don't really recognise anybody in the Saffas line up is there anybody who is a ringer that we should be worried about ?

15 Ben Ransom: ENG U20 fullback over the last couple of seasons. Poor defender, poor under the high ball, very small but an absolutely electric broken-field runner. Been playing at centre and wing for Bedford this season and scored 6 tries.

14 Joe Maddock: Former Bath winger and for a while he was an excellent Premiership performer and topped the Premiership try-scoring in 2008-9. Not at that level any more, though.

13 Duncan Taylor: Former Bedford centre/wing

12 Sam Stanley: Nephew of former All Black Joe Stanley. Another regular over at Bedford. Never stepped up after playing for England at U18 level.

11 James Short: Very fast, nuggety, aggressive winger who wears his socks round his ankles. Former ENG U20 representative and a first-team regular. 13 tries in 61 games belies his threat with ball in hand.

10 Nils Mordt (c): Dire journeyman centre who occasionally stands in at FH or FB because he's equally inept in any backline position.

9 Ben Spencer: Last year's ENG U20 scrum half. Or at least, he should have been. Kept picking Robson instead. Played a lot of rugby last season due to injuries, and really stood out. Not had any chances this season, though.

1 Nick Auterac: Former ENG U18/19 loosehead who slipped down the pecking order but is still pretty useful. Played a few first team games, including a bench appearance last week against Wasps.

2 Jamie George: Former ENG U20 hooker who has played nearly 50 first team games (at just 22) but is still stuck behind Brits and the aged Smit. Looks like a prop, but his fatness belies his use in the loose.

3 Petrus du Plessis: First team regular and experienced journeyman

4 George Kruis: Former ENG U20 lock who excelled in the 2010 season alongside Calum Green. Their career paths have diverged since, with Kruis now a first team regular for Sarries (40 appearances) and Green signed by Leeds.

5 Alistair Hargreaves: Former Springbok (though only a few caps) who is unlucky to be stuck behind Botha at Sarries, as he's certainly a better player.

6 Nick Fenton-Wells: Young South African back-rower very much on the fringes at Sarries, covering for the absence of Burger and Melck.

7 Andy Saull: Inexplicably rated openside with talent but a habit of falling off tackles. Think of Will Skinner, but with Varndell's tackling. Always bizarrely brought up as an England option whenever a pundit thinks we need a 'proper' openside, even though Dave Seymour is far better. And Will Fraser, for that matter. Experienced first team regular, though - he's played around 100 games for Sarries at just 24.

8 Jono Ross: See Nick Fenton-Wells.

[Chipster]

Been a follower of Tigers for a long time - my first post too!

+3 I'm taking my wife and daughter

In the stand being my wife wouldnt appreciate it if i made her stand up for the whole match!

[curepulp1]

I don't really recognise anybody in the Saffas line up is there anybody who is a ringer that we should be worried about ?

15 Ben Ransom: ENG U20 fullback over the last couple of seasons. Poor defender, poor under the high ball, very small but an absolutely electric broken-field runner. Been playing at centre and wing for Bedford this season and scored 6 tries.

14 Joe Maddock: Former Bath winger and for a while he was an excellent Premiership performer and topped the Premiership try-scoring in 2008-9. Not at that level any more, though.

13 Duncan Taylor: Former Bedford centre/wing

12 Sam Stanley: Nephew of former All Black Joe Stanley. Another regular over at Bedford. Never stepped up after playing for England at U18 level.

11 James Short: Very fast, nuggety, aggressive winger who wears his socks round his ankles. Former ENG U20 representative and a first-team regular. 13 tries in 61 games belies his threat with ball in hand.

10 Nils Mordt (c): Dire journeyman centre who occasionally stands in at FH or FB because he's equally inept in any backline position.

9 Ben Spencer: Last year's ENG U20 scrum half. Or at least, he should have been. Kept picking Robson instead. Played a lot of rugby last season due to injuries, and really stood out. Not had any chances this season, though.

1 Nick Auterac: Former ENG U18/19 loosehead who slipped down the pecking order but is still pretty useful. Played a few first team games, including a bench appearance last week against Wasps.

2 Jamie George: Former ENG U20 hooker who has played nearly 50 first team games (at just 22) but is still stuck behind Brits and the aged Smit. Looks like a prop, but his fatness belies his use in the loose.

3 Petrus du Plessis: First team regular and experienced journeyman

4 George Kruis: Former ENG U20 lock who excelled in the 2010 season alongside Calum Green. Their career paths have diverged since, with Kruis now a first team regular for Sarries (40 appearances) and Green signed by Leeds.

5 Alistair Hargreaves: Former Springbok (though only a few caps) who is unlucky to be stuck behind Botha at Sarries, as he's certainly a better player.

6 Nick Fenton-Wells: Young South African back-rower very much on the fringes at Sarries, covering for the absence of Burger and Melck.

7 Andy Saull: Inexplicably rated openside with talent but a habit of falling off tackles. Think of Will Skinner, but with Varndell's tackling. Always bizarrely brought up as an England option whenever a pundit thinks we need a 'proper' openside, even though Dave Seymour is far better. And Will Fraser, for that matter. Experienced first team regular, though - he's played around 100 games for Sarries at just 24.

8 Jono Ross: See Nick Fenton-Wells.

What a brilliant post!

[Ads677]

I don't really recognise anybody in the Saffas line up is there anybody who is a ringer that we should be worried about ?

15 Ben Ransom: ENG U20 fullback over the last couple of seasons. Poor defender, poor under the high ball, very small but an absolutely electric broken-field runner. Been playing at centre and wing for Bedford this season and scored 6 tries.

14 Joe Maddock: Former Bath winger and for a while he was an excellent Premiership performer and topped the Premiership try-scoring in 2008-9. Not at that level any more, though.

13 Duncan Taylor: Former Bedford centre/wing

12 Sam Stanley: Nephew of former All Black Joe Stanley. Another regular over at Bedford. Never stepped up after playing for England at U18 level.

11 James Short: Very fast, nuggety, aggressive winger who wears his socks round his ankles. Former ENG U20 representative and a first-team regular. 13 tries in 61 games belies his threat with ball in hand.

10 Nils Mordt (c): Dire journeyman centre who occasionally stands in at FH or FB because he's equally inept in any backline position.

9 Ben Spencer: Last year's ENG U20 scrum half. Or at least, he should have been. Kept picking Robson instead. Played a lot of rugby last season due to injuries, and really stood out. Not had any chances this season, though.

1 Nick Auterac: Former ENG U18/19 loosehead who slipped down the pecking order but is still pretty useful. Played a few first team games, including a bench appearance last week against Wasps.

2 Jamie George: Former ENG U20 hooker who has played nearly 50 first team games (at just 22) but is still stuck behind Brits and the aged Smit. Looks like a prop, but his fatness belies his use in the loose.

3 Petrus du Plessis: First team regular and experienced journeyman

4 George Kruis: Former ENG U20 lock who excelled in the 2010 season alongside Calum Green. Their career paths have diverged since, with Kruis now a first team regular for Sarries (40 appearances) and Green signed by Leeds.

5 Alistair Hargreaves: Former Springbok (though only a few caps) who is unlucky to be stuck behind Botha at Sarries, as he's certainly a better player.

6 Nick Fenton-Wells: Young South African back-rower very much on the fringes at Sarries, covering for the absence of Burger and Melck.

7 Andy Saull: Inexplicably rated openside with talent but a habit of falling off tackles. Think of Will Skinner, but with Varndell's tackling. Always bizarrely brought up as an England option whenever a pundit thinks we need a 'proper' openside, even though Dave Seymour is far better. And Will Fraser, for that matter. Experienced first team regular, though - he's played around 100 games for Sarries at just 24.

8 Jono Ross: See Nick Fenton-Wells.

What a brilliant post!

+1

[TigerLad]

http://www.leicestertigers.com/rugby/15293.php

Tigers lose 38-21. Thacker, Cain and Noone score trys on debuts.

[Darc Tiger]

Could have been worse. Especially at 30-0!

[Grannyman]

Con's for tonights game:

- The cold
- The score
- The fact I was driving, so no beer.

Pro's for tonights game:

- Kids tickets were free
- Good to see Tait taking good hits
- I met Rory Underwood (My childhood hero)
- John.

If you haven't heard the dinosaur growls of John at Bedford then you havn't lived.

[youngtiger]

15 Ben Ransom: ENG U20 fullback over the last couple of seasons. Poor defender, poor under the high ball, very small but an absolutely electric broken-field runner. Been playing at centre and wing for Bedford this season and scored 6 tries.

Clearly very knowledgeable as to the Saffas squad, good post!

Personally disagree with your take on Ransom under the high ball, as having seen him on multiple occasions for age groups he was always pretty safe. Plus he was particularly good at, when being closed down hard under a Gary Owen, being able to take the ball and somehow almost simultaneously bounce of the tackler and then going of on what you quite accurately describe as electric runs. How was he today anyway?

Anyone from our lot stand out?

[The Boy Dave]

Anyone from our lot stand out?

Yes everyone, especially after Sarries were 30 points up and took their foot off the gas. But look, they are a good side. Someone has to lose and today it was us. You just have to accept it and move on.

[youngtiger]

Ok, accepted. Now let's look at the positives other than Rory Underwood, free entry and a bloke called John..

Was anyone any good for more than the final 30 minutes?

[Bill W (2)]

I think the first time the squad met up was on the coach to the game.

Line out was terrible.

Matt Cornwall did OK as did M. Youngs ( supported badly by the bsck row)

On the rare occasions that the threes departed from the game plan and ran angles and popped passes they looked promising - all too often they merely went into contact.