Toulon away leg

[johnthegriff]

Having seen every match this season including all (?) the appearances of Loamanu I cannot help wondering what some fans have seen that I missed. How can people suggest that Matt Smith be dropped after that defensive performance and replaced by someone we frankly know little about in a Tigers team set up.

[GS]

And your evidence for this allegation would be?

Essentially it's the old 'If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck - it's a duck'. If that wasn't enough the way the forum works confirmed it last week.

[Soggypitch]

Having seen every match this season including all (?) the appearances of Loamanu I cannot help wondering what some fans have seen that I missed. How can people suggest that Matt Smith be dropped after that defensive performance and replaced by someone we frankly know little about in a Tigers team set up.

I agree. Yes if Manu were fit bring him in, otherwise leave well alone.

[northerntiger]

Having seen every match this season including all (?) the appearances of Loamanu I cannot help wondering what some fans have seen that I missed. How can people suggest that Matt Smith be dropped after that defensive performance and replaced by someone we frankly know little about in a Tigers team set up.

I agree. Yes if Manu were fit bring him in, otherwise leave well alone.

I agree, some people see a player play one game then want him in.
See Bell for Tait, Thacker for Youngs

[4071]

Having seen every match this season including all (?) the appearances of Loamanu I cannot help wondering what some fans have seen that I missed. How can people suggest that Matt Smith be dropped after that defensive performance and replaced by someone we frankly know little about in a Tigers team set up.

I agree. Yes if Manu were fit bring him in, otherwise leave well alone.

I agree, some people see a player play one game then want him in.
See Bell for Tait, Thacker for Youngs

There's a difference there. Both Bell and Thacker have played 4 games, including 3 starts. Thacker won 2 MOTM awards and is our second-highest try-scorer. Both played well in multiple appearances.

Loamanu got a 6-minute cameo in the first game of the season and didn't even touch the ball.

[JackFlashJonny]

Loamanu scored against the Babarians...But granted has barely played any rugby and would definitely be a risk I just think Toulon will target Smith at home and with them having a lot more ball I expect we could have some issues there..

I imagine Cockerill will stick with exactly the same XV bar maybe Croft on the bench and hopefully Barberi at 8 instead of JC but that isn't ever going to happen.

[Qbec]

To bring anyone into the match day 23 would depend on them already being named in the squad for the European Rugby Champions Cup.

[SPIKE@srufc]

Castro has been suspended and will not take part so say "French media"

[Rykard]

any news on DA?

[jgriffin]

I hope Toulon do target Smith. He is one Tigers player I would rely on to repel all boarders.

[RagingBull]

So O'Connor and Halfpenny fit for the weekend.

Suspect Halfpenny will start and O'Connor bench.

[TigerLad]

So O'Connor and Halfpenny fit for the weekend.

Suspect Halfpenny will start and O'Connor bench.

Just makes it more of an achievement when we win there.

[RagingBull]

Cockers on RL
No new injuries Croft available

cockers waiting on:
Manu
Bai
Loamanu
Logo
might be fit for the weekend. (Wouldn't bet on it though also he has said that loads of times) but all should be fit in 3-4 weeks defiantly.

Also
Slater out whole season
Deacon Back problem
Heptema and Hamilton both still got knee problems out till into the new year

[Doghashadhisday]

If Croft is fit I would start with him and after 50 minutes bring Gibson on to run amok.

[MrPartridge]

If Croft is fit I would start with him and after 50 minutes bring Gibson on to run amok.

Sorry - I can't agree with that. Other way round maybe yes, but Croft is going to have no match fitness. Starting him would be a monster gamble IMO. Would have been the same if Parling had started last week. Players need time to get proper match fitness so 20 mins for Croft at the end would be a decent option for me. The good thing is the 23 are getting stronger by the week now as players return.

Double bad news for us: would prefer Castro playing for them and Halfpenny/O'Connor will improve them. I thought their half-backs were poor last week and Halfpenny will give them a much better kicking option.

I still think we have them in the scrum, line-outs and forwards… so we need to use that to our advantage and build the platform from there. All in all… I was expecting a weekend break to Toulon a few weeks ago with not much emphasis on the rugby… now it is game on and I'd love to be throwing my newspapers up in the air surrounded by all the Frenchies with 5 minutes to go...