Tigers vs Cardiff Blues - AWC Cup

[JP14]

We needs to get some Ws and I’m sure the development players will want to rectify their performance in Castres.
1 Gigena
2 Thacker
3 Cilliers
4 Wells
5 Makysmiw
6 Reffell
7 Evans
8 Tuilagi
9 White
10 Toomua
11 Holmes
12 C Thacker
13 M Smith
14 Thompstone
15 Worth
16 Mahoney (love to see him start to be honest)
17 Rizzo
18 Bateman
19 Fitzgerald
20 Ryan
21 Simmons
22 Hardwick
23 M Tait

[Spicer]

The U20 six nations matches are on the 2nd and 9th of February. We have six players involved; Tommy Reffell, Tom Hardwick, Sam Lewis, Ben White, Joe Heyes and Jordan Olowofela.

The two rounds of the AW are on the 27th January and February 4th.

So I'm not sure about the availability of these guys.

[Leicestertinytiger]

Given where we are at, I would be tempted to put out a a very strong team and go for a win to build some confidence.

Bateman Youngs Cilliers
Wells Kitchener
Williams Evans Mapapalangi
Harrison Toomua
Smith Owen
Holmes Worth Thompstone

Gigena Mahoney Mulipola Makysmiw Kalamafoni Simmons Ford Brady

[drc_007]

I don't think Tigers have to give up players for U20 if they want to play them in AWC Cup

[JP14]

1st week we can play our U20s players definitely one would assume

[WiggoTiger]

Play full strength side only chance of silverware. Need to win something to cheer us up

[Spicer]

I don't understand why playing a close to first team would build confidence. If you were to enter a child's sports day and win everything easily, would that build your confidence? Personally no
As we don't know the situatation with the U20 I'll include them but they might not be available

Gigena
Youngs
Cillers
Wells
Makysmiw
Reffell
Evans
Tuilagi
Simmonds
Hardwick
Holmes
Owen
Worth
Brady
Olowofela

Mahoney, Hills, Muli/Bateman, Fitz, Lewis, White, Toomua, Tait


Lewis

[strawclearer]

I think it's more a case of building understanding and 'match fitness' with the players.

People like Brendan O'Connor, Toomua and Tuilagi all need both. Your open-side 'link' player and your 12/13 combination need to instinctively - almost intuitively - know what each other is thinking and that only comes from playing together.

Irrespective of whether we need the piece of silverware, we need top-flight European rugby next season!

[LE18]

Play full strength side only chance of silverware. Need to win something to cheer us up

+1 give them a bit more time to get to know each other

[Stu_F]

Play full strength side only chance of silverware. Need to win something to cheer us up

+1 give them a bit more time to get to know each other

I don't think we're going through anyway, Newcastle are a "win" ahead of us in the group and they've been fielding pretty strong sides in the tournament.

[sam16111986]

I don't think Tigers have to give up players for U20 if they want to play them in AWC Cup

I think England have to send them back to the clubs for AP games but age grade games take precedent over AWC. I'm fairly certain we had that with George Ford years ago.

I'd play the young international players whilst they're available they were so good against Bath they deserve another chance to stake a clam. If they play with as much commitment as last time then it also sets the standard fr the fringe players who replace them the week after when they go away with the under 20s.

[BFG]

Apparently Bristol beat a Cardiff side 68-0 last week.

[JP14]

Apparently Bristol beat a Cardiff side 68-0 last week.

That was in the B&I Cup, Bristol would have fielded their strongest side, Cardiff wouldn’t with the Challenge Cup the following week

[JP14]

Play full strength side only chance of silverware. Need to win something to cheer us up

+1 give them a bit more time to get to know each other

I don't think we're going through anyway, Newcastle are a "win" ahead of us in the group and they've been fielding pretty strong sides in the tournament.

There’s still a chance of qualifying at 2nd we just need 10 points from the next two games. We qualified last year as 2nd

[WhitecapTiger]

+1 give them a bit more time to get to know each other

I don't think we're going through anyway, Newcastle are a "win" ahead of us in the group and they've been fielding pretty strong sides in the tournament.

There’s still a chance of qualifying at 2nd we just need 10 points from the next two games. We qualified last year as 2nd

Pretty sure it's pool winners only, straight into knockout semi-final....same as last year.

www.premiershiprugby.com/anglo-welsh-tables/

The pool winners will qualify for the knock-out stage. The pool winners will be ranked 1 – 4 by reference to the number of Match Points earned in the pools.

We won our group last year. Beat Sarries in semi final then Exeter in final.