Ospreys v Tigers

[TTRITH]

I fully expect:

15. Mat Tait
14. Adam Thompstone
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Anthony Allen
11. Niall Morris
10. Toby Flood
9. Ben Youngs
1. Marcos Ayerza
2. Tom Youngs
3. Dan Cole
4. Louis Deacon
5. Geoff Parling
6. Steve Mafi
7. Julian Salvi
8. Thomas Waldrom

16. George Chuter
17. Logo Mulipola
18. Martin Castrogiovanni
19. Graham Kitchener/Ed Slater, thinking it's coming down to coin toss tbh.
20. Jordan Crane
21. Sam Harrison
22. George Ford
23. Geordan Murphy

[old one eye]

For those that are going then where will the Tigers supporters be located? Are you expecting the natives to be hostile?

I expect the Tigers supporters to be split into smaller groups as is usual for European away games.

The last time we visited ospreys their supporters were spot on apart from shouting for Ospreys.

[jgriffin]

For those that are going then where will the Tigers supporters be located? Are you expecting the natives to be hostile?

I expect the Tigers supporters to be split into smaller groups as is usual for European away games.

The last time we visited ospreys their supporters were spot on apart from shouting for Ospreys.

You have to distinguish between their actual rugby supporters, who are generally a really nice bunch, and those who attend matches. some of the latter are often staggeringly foulmouthed and in-your-face;I suspect joint tickets or freebies are often responsible!

[Soggypitch]

I hope to see:-

Ayerza Youngs Cole
Parling Deacon
Mafi Waldrom Salvi
Youngs Flood
Allen Manu
Morris Murphy Tait (on wing)

Bench

Logo Hawkins Castro
Kitchener Crane/Croft
Young Bowden Smith

Really looking forward to it already!!

[Nailsworthstiger]

I would go for the strongest team from the off. We beat Ospreys then they are out of the competition, so we shouldn't give them a sniff of anything. So I would go for:

1 Ayerza
2 Youngs T
3 Cole
4 Deacon
5 Parling
6 Mafi
7 Salvi
8 Waldrom
9 Youngs B
10 Flood
11 Morris
12 Allen
13 Manu
14 Thompstone
15 Murphy

Subs
Logo
Hawkins
Castro
Kitchener
Crane
Ford
Goneva
Tait

[tigerburnie]

I would think that Tait may well start and unless his broken nose keeps him out, Smith may be in front of Goneva.

[os99]

I expect Cockers to pick:
1. Ayerza
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Deacon
5. Parling
6. Mafi
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom
9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Morris
12. Allen
13. Tuilagi
14. Thompstone
15. Murphy
16. Chuter
17. Mulipola
18. Castrogiovanni
19. Slater
20. Crane
21. Harrison
22. Ford
23. Smith

[kpb]

I'm sure Jumbo could throw some light on team selection for this Sunday

[Jay C]

I'm sure Jumbo could throw some light on team selection for this Sunday

Not until 10 mins before its announced

[jgriffin]

Nonsense, Cockers/MOC aka Jumbo must know by now......

[Tomvarndell]

I'm fairly confident both Tait and Murphy will start. We Need Taits flair and speed but also need the Murphy experience and nous. Tait, Thompstone and Murphy back 3 for me.

[leybournetiger]

In the interests of development and the future I would like to see Geoff and Kitch start in the second row with Louis on the bench.
Smurph should be captain as I see him as the best motivator in the squad.

[mightymouse]

surely Ford to start and miss all the kicks at goal and Crane to come off the bench at the end to kick the winning penalty goal in the last seconds of the game!

[TigerCam]

surely Ford to start and miss all the kicks at goal and Crane to come off the bench at the end to kick the winning penalty goal in the last seconds of the game!

Don't let Cocker's here you suggest Crane does the kicks, He wasn't happy when Crane use to practice kicking with the backs after training.

[GS]

In the interests of development and the future I would like to see Geoff and Kitch start in the second row with Louis on the bench.
Smurph should be captain as I see him as the best motivator in the squad.

At the beginning of the season Wheelbrace made it known that the board are tired of being bridesmaids and success was wanted. So for Cockers the future is the end of the season with silverware - or a really good shot at it - next season can wait. The next 2 games aren't do or die - they're more important than that.

At the moment Deacon is the nearest we've got to a 'Johnno' presence in the forwards, and that's important in these games. Parling for his nous (a la Ben Kay) and Deacs for his 'physical' presence (a la Johnno).

To be honest I can't see much beyond this, assuming Tait's out:
1. Ayerza
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Deacon
5. Parling
6. Mafi
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom
9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Morris
12. Allen
13. Tuilagi
14. Thompstone
15. Murphy
16. Chuter
17. Mulipola
18. Castrogiovanni
19. Slater
20. Crane
21. Harrison
22. Ford/Bowden
23. Smith

If Tait is fit then he should be in the squad, at the expense of Harrison or Smith. Probably Harrison. Or Morris. OK, it might not be an embarrassment of riches (internationals in every position), but that's a pretty damned good squad to have to fight to get in to.