Tigers Vs Gloucester

[physiodan]

So two games down and two losses.

Not the best start we could have hoped for but we need to be patient. Saints away is always a game I expect to be difficult and a potential loss.

So from the first two games here is my team for Gloucester.

1. Genge - continues to scrum well and always a threat.
2. Thacker - Line out is better at present and needs to start. This is no disrespect to Youngs as I thinks he is a great player and a brilliant man.
3. Cole - solid and no better option
4. Williams - needs to start somewhere. We are missing something in the engine room and his abrasiveness needs to be on the field from the beginning. Big ball carrier who goes over the gain line as he runs from depth.
5. Barrow - would be Fitzgerald if fit but he to me is performing better than Kitchener at the moment.
6. Croft - if fit then he is a threat and brings a shed load of experience
7. O'Connor - one of the few shining lights
8. Kalamafoni - starting to carry well
9. Youngs - partnership starting to build, don't break it now
10. Ford - as above
11. May - playing well and workload is good
12. Tomua - looking solid but needs someone outside that can play off of him
13. Owen - needs to be someone who can interplay with Tomua
14. Tait - I known just said Tait but he gives another option under the high ball barrage I expect us to face
15. Veainu - no one near him at the moment but needs to use his boot a little more as player just expect him to run it back. Keep them honest

16. Youngs
17. Bateman
18. Mulipola
19 Kitchener
20. Hamilton
21. Harrison
22. Ford
23. Malouf

[Stephen18]

So two games down and two losses.

Not the best start we could have hoped for but we need to be patient. Saints away is always a game I expect to be difficult and a potential loss.

So from the first two games here is my team for Gloucester.

1. Genge - continues to scrum well and always a threat.
2. Thacker - Line out is better at present and needs to start. This is no disrespect to Youngs as I thinks he is a great player and a brilliant man.
3. Cole - solid and no better option
4. Williams - needs to start somewhere. We are missing something in the engine room and his abrasiveness needs to be on the field from the beginning. Big ball carrier who goes over the gain line as he runs from depth.
5. Barrow - would be Fitzgerald if fit but he to me is performing better than Kitchener at the moment.
6. Croft - if fit then he is a threat and brings a shed load of experience
7. O'Connor - one of the few shining lights
8. Kalamafoni - starting to carry well
9. Youngs - partnership starting to build, don't break it now
10. Ford - as above
11. May - playing well and workload is good
12. Tomua - looking solid but needs someone outside that can play off of him
13. Owen - needs to be someone who can interplay with Tomua
14. Tait - I known just said Tait but he gives another option under the high ball barrage I expect us to face
15. Veainu - no one near him at the moment but needs to use his boot a little more as player just expect him to run it back. Keep them honest

16. Youngs
17. Bateman
18. Mulipola
19 Kitchener
20. Hamilton
21. Harrison
22. Ford
23. Malouf

I think that won't be far off the team but I'm hope Hamilton is swapped for kalamfoni, as I think he offers more go forward, kalamfoni carried a lot but didn't really go anywhere and when Hamilton took over 8 whilst Williams was off he got go forward even off a scrum that went backwards, and I swap tait and veainu, tait is better under the high ball and can also help as a link man in the line to help give veainu a bit of space. I'd also like to see Evans bought in if O'connor isn't available we need to start bring young players through.

[wellstiger]

Cannot afford another loss.
Cherry whites have a game plan. They are hit and miss at times throughout a season. If Ed Slater is fit he'll have us on toast at the breakdown.
Please explain - on recent evidence What's our game plan ????
Win we must.

[Mark62]

I think Veianu needs moving back to the wing he is becoming too predictable at 15 and teams have learnt how to defend against him. Putting him on the wing gives him more ability to drift.

Back row agreed changes are required. The 2 back rows we have been beaten up by have been big abrasive ones, agree Croft needs to be there for leadership and line out especially if Williams in the row, with maybe Hamilton at 7 and Mapalanga at 8, he has played 5 tests for Tonga after all

[Spicer]

I think Tom Youngs and O'Connor may be injured. Thus it probaly will be Thacker and Evans in for them.
Don't agree with you on Kalamafoni, I think he's been poor and whilst carrying has rarely beat the first tackler.
Put Wells in for Kitch on the bench.
As for B Youngs and G Ford "partnership starting to build"? They've played for England together the last few years

[Leicestertinytiger]

I would definitely go with a massive pack and try to attack them in the backs

Genge, Thacker, Cole
Wells, Barrow
Williams, Kalamafoni, Hamilton
Youngs, Ford (C)
Toomua, Owens
May, Veainu, Brady

McGuigan, Bateman, Mulipola, Kitchener, Mapapalangi, Harrison, Smith, Tait

[BFG]

Saints had no special 9/10 partnership yesterday and won, I am yet to be convinced that human telepathy exists, and if it did it wasn't meant for rugby union purposes and definitely not above other senses!
Harrison easily in for me, and I'd seriously consider a new 10.
If you can play badly and retain your starting place then what message does that send out!
Team for me assuming BOC and OTY might be injured...
Genge
McGuigan (can't return soon enough for me)
Cole
Williams
Barrow
Croft
Evans
Kalamafoni
Harrison
Joe Ford
May
Toomua
Tait
Smith (wing)
Veaniu

Mahoney
Mulipola (LH)
A tight head
Wells
Hamilton
Youngs
George Ford
Holmes

[Scott11]

What happened to Baumann?

[JP14]

1. Ellis Genge - Very good yesterday in set-piece and ball-carrying
2. Harry Thacker - Good yesterday don't think we will lose too much in set-piece
3. Dan Cole - Solid in set piece yesterday
4. Dom Barrow - Quiet but consistent yesterday
5. Mike Williams - We need the power in the Tight 5
6. Tom Croft - Lineout ability is crucial
7. Will Evans - A really nice prospect
8. Valentino Mapapalangi - Has looked good in A League
9. Ben Youngs - Could Improve
10. George Ford - goal-kicking (sighhhhhh) needs to improve
11. Jonny May - First-class finisher
12. Matt Toomua - Needs to show so more dynamism
13. Mathew Tait - Smith was consistent but Tait has better footwork
14. Nick Malouf - We k about his defence, needs to show his attacking ability now
15 Telusa Vieanu - Needs to be more differential when receiving the ball
16. Harry Mahoney - has been very good in A League and I think McGuigan is still out
17. Greg Bateman - One of our most underrated players
18. Logo Mulipola - An impact player
19. Harry Wells - I really like the look of this guy
20. Dominic Ryan - Ryan was better yesterday
21. Sam Harrison - Very good with quick ball
22. Joe Ford/Tom Hardwick
23. Matt Smith - One of the club's most loyal servants.

[RagingBull]

Sounds like BOC, Kitchener, Youngs, Youngs, Ryan might all be touch and go anyway.

Assuming worse comes to worst and they are all out along with McGuigan and Fitz i would go with.
1. Genge
2. Thacker
3. Cole
4. Williams
5. Barrow
6. Croft
7. Evans
8. hamilton
9. Harrison
10. G.Ford
11. May
12. Toomua
13. Smith
14. Veainu
15. Tait

16. Mahoney
17. Bateman
18. Mulipola
19. Wells
20. Kalamafoni
21. White
22. J.Ford
23. Holmes

[BFG]

What happened to Baumann?

I don't know, Betts and Heyes were the A league tight heads yesterday.
Heyes far too young IMO especially given the current issues, Betts also still young and not had much exposure.
If Leicester had stronger depth at hooker these lads might be able to get more exposure, it needs addressing IMO, a strong leader of Hartley's type would be advantageous.

[Tiglon]

Genuinely think that the backs are not the problem - if our pack can get them on the front foot they will score a lot of points.

Hamilton and Williams are the only players 4-8 that have looked like they are capable of competing physically.

1 Genge
2 Thacker
3 Cole
4 Wells
5 Williams
6 Kalamafoni
7 Evans
8 Hamilton
9 Youngs
10 Ford
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Smith
14 Malouf
15 Veainu

[BFG]

Genuinely think that the backs are not the problem - if our pack can get them on the front foot they will score a lot of points.

Hamilton and Williams are the only players 4-8 that have looked like they are capable of competing physically.

1 Genge
2 Thacker
3 Cole
4 Wells
5 Williams
6 Kalamafoni
7 Evans
8 Hamilton
9 Youngs
10 Ford
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Smith
14 Malouf
15 Veainu

I'd be inclined to agree regarding your comment on the backs however all this talk of special playing relationships is concerning and I am yet to see any sign of it, they need to get real!
The forwards have been very average but the half backs management of this has been absolutely shocking!
What use a squad of players if certain individuals are undroppable!

[JP14]

Kalamafoni will carry the ball but I always knew he wasn't going to break the gainline big time for us, Hamilton is very good but not a gainline breaker so it's Mapapalangi for me at 8

[strawclearer]

Kalamafoni will carry the ball but I always knew he wasn't going to break the gainline big time for us, Hamilton is very good but not a gainline breaker so it's Mapapalangi for me at 8

I know size isn't everything but, in the squad thread, you mention Nathan Hughes - tongue in cheek, no doubt! However, although only 1" taller, Hughes is over 2 stone heavier than Mapapalangi. A telling difference when it comes to breaking lines.