Teams up v Treviso

[tigercaspian]

Manu still trying to break out the line early......and missed his target. Old habits die hard......

[tigerburnie]

47-7 comfortable win, Barrow MOTM.

[Spicer]

Good job, good win. Roll on Stade.

[Bill W (2)]

An excellent win.

[Tigerbeat]

If Racing Metro win tomorrow, Tigers need to secure a win against Stade next weekend to secure being seeded second for the quarter finals. if the first and second seeds win there respective quarter finals, the semi finals will be played in the country where the teams are from......on a normal ground.

[jgriffin]

Never looked threatened and the tempo in the first 15 was ferocious. The Treviso try was a playground lineout move off back ball, 4 sheltering 14. Tigers were missing a defender and Kitchener was baulked by Sir, but didn't stand much chance.
My MOTM was YBY who provided tremendous go forward and lots of danger, back to his best this last few weeks having shook off the england hoodoo.
Felt that we missed McCaffrey and BOC for pilfering ball, several opportunities were set up but not turned over.
Fred had lots of fun with their retreating defence and Thompstone had another excellent game.
Only worry for me was WoolyPully having a big icepack on his big left knee.

Finally, Sir wasn't bad for a young 'un and at least carded after warning, eventually. TMO did an efficient job calling a couple of attentions, and the TJs (Iassume) called a few scrum offences while studiously ignoring offside as usual.

May I offer thanks to the 75% of MetRx stand STs who left before the end and did not stay for Dan's presentation (unlike the Crumblies, beloved of Roly); my drive home was awesomely efficient and serene due to lack of traffic, despite the closure of the A5.

[Bill W (2)]

If Racing Metro win tomorrow, Tigers need to secure a win against Stade next weekend to secure being seeded second for the quarter finals. if the first and second seeds win there respective quarter finals, the semi finals will be played in the country where the teams are from......on a normal ground.

KEEP THE FAITH Tigerbeat

[Tigerbeat]

23 Point group winner now guaranteed home quarter.

Make that 22. Ospreys have 16 points from 5, so maximum 21. Exeter have 10 from 4 so maximum 20. Clermont 14 from 5 and Bordeaux 6 from 4.

Indeed. And Munster have done the business. Win today and rest a few next weekend perhaps.

Can't afford to rest our best players next week if Racing win tomorrow. Tigers need to secure one of the top two seeds for the quarter finals to have a chance of home country advantage in the semis.

The only way to secure a home semi for Tigers is to finish second seeds

If the clubs ranked 3 and 2 win their QFs, the club ranked 2 will have home country advantage

If the clubs ranked 3 and 7 win their QFs, the club ranked 7 will have home country advantage

If the clubs ranked 6 and 2 win their QFs, the club ranked 6 will have home country advantage

If the clubs ranked 6 and 7 win their QFs, the club ranked 6 will have home country advantage

[Big Dai]

OK there were a few holes in the performance, in the post match gospel according to St Cockers..........BUT.......when the filthy weather came we did tighten the game up and stopped playing pass the handbag? Plan B did come out to play, unlike the Saints game?

[Stu_F]

If Racing Metro win tomorrow, Tigers need to secure a win against Stade next weekend to secure being seeded second for the quarter finals. if the first and second seeds win there respective quarter finals, the semi finals will be played in the country where the teams are from......on a normal ground.

That's what my predictive maths suggests too, even a bonus point next week probably won't make any difference to seeding. Win next week takes us to #2 anything else #3. Remember,Racing drew at Northampton so would have less wins.

[DickyP]

If Racing Metro win tomorrow, Tigers need to secure a win against Stade next weekend to secure being seeded second for the quarter finals. if the first and second seeds win there respective quarter finals, the semi finals will be played in the country where the teams are from......on a normal ground.

What in this case is a normal ground? neutral?

[Christophelp]

If Racing Metro win tomorrow, Tigers need to secure a win against Stade next weekend to secure being seeded second for the quarter finals. if the first and second seeds win there respective quarter finals, the semi finals will be played in the country where the teams are from......on a normal ground.

That's what my predictive maths suggests too, even a bonus point next week probably won't make any difference to seeding. Win next week takes us to #2 anything else #3. Remember,Racing drew at Northampton so would have less wins.

A bonus point win would make a difference:
A 4 point win would take us to 27 points which Racing can match with two BP wins.
The first tie-breaker is points difference.
Racing are likely to notch big wins against Scarlets and Glasgow, so might finish up with a better points difference than us (we're currently +109 vs their +71).

So I think we'll probably need a bonus point win next weekend to secure a top 2 seeding.

[Darc Tiger]

I think you underestimate Glasgow in particular.

[Soggypitch]

Cockers is well aware of the new EC rules I think and made it clear last night that we would be playing our best team v Stade next week.

Personally I hope McCaffrey plays 7 as he's the closest we have (with BOC injured) to a proper open side.

We should have a few options in the backs next week and it will be interesting who is picked in the centre. My guess is Smith at 12 and Manu at 13, with either Tait or Betham to replace Manu after 60 mins.

I would go with; Cole, Youngs, Ayerza, Kitchener, Fitzgerald, Croft, McCaffrey, Pearce, Youngs, Burns, Smith, Manu, Betham, Goneva, Veainu.
Bench; Balmain, Thacker, Logo, Barrow, Harrison, Tait, Bell, - not sure about the final forward!

[The Boy Dave]

I hope they never remove relegation from the Premiership.
I would not wish to see that level of oompetition most weeks.
Possibly why he Irish have struggled a bit in the ECC.