Tigers vs Wasps - 15th Feb

[anz3001]

Dunno about anyone else but I love the look of that pack.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

Not entirely convinced that's a balanced back row, but should be an interesting battle between the 2 back rows.

A close game to call.

[OakhamTiger32]

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Marcus Watson (41)

14 Zach Kibirige (15)

13 Michael Le Bourgeois (29)

12 Jimmy Gopperth (92)

11 Josh Bassett (115)

10 Jacob Umaga (17)

9 Dan Robson (cc) (111)

1 Simon McIntyre (165)

2 Tommy Taylor (62)

3 Kieran Brookes (32)

4 Will Rowlands (83)

5 Thibaud Flament (12)

6 Jack Willis (50)

7 Thomas Young (cc) (110)

8 Nizaam Carr (52)



Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (16)

17 Zurabi Zhvania (33)

18 Biyi Alo (7)

19 Brad Shields (22)

20 Sione Vailanu (15)

21 Sam Wolstenholme (8)

22 Billy Searle (20)

23 Sam Spink (4)

[MCC1964]

Not entirely convinced that's a balanced back row, but should be an interesting battle between the 2 back rows.

A close game to call.

What in your opinion would be a balanced back row then?

[OakhamTiger32]

Dunno about anyone else but I love the look of that pack.

Me too.. have been waiting to see these 3 starting together.. looks like a very strong pack

[longlivethecrumbie]

The only other way you could slice and dice that back row would be to switch one of Hanro or Kala to the bench and move Reffell to the openside and then Taufua to 8. I'm not sure that's more or less balanced as Taufua has been awesome at openside when he's played there since he arrived. The guy is a heavy duty limpet! If there was one player I'd want to sign up to a lifetime contract it would be Taufua

[loretta]

I reckon we've got it in the forwards, and they have the backs. Fortunately, we've also got Dennis to determine the style of play.
Optimistic about this one

[Chobbsy]

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Marcus Watson (41)

14 Zach Kibirige (15)

13 Michael Le Bourgeois (29)

12 Jimmy Gopperth (92)

11 Josh Bassett (115)

10 Jacob Umaga (17)

9 Dan Robson (cc) (111)

1 Simon McIntyre (165)

2 Tommy Taylor (62)

3 Kieran Brookes (32)

4 Will Rowlands (83)

5 Thibaud Flament (12)

6 Jack Willis (50)

7 Thomas Young (cc) (110)

8 Nizaam Carr (52)



Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (16)

17 Zurabi Zhvania (33)

18 Biyi Alo (7)

19 Brad Shields (22)

20 Sione Vailanu (15)

21 Sam Wolstenholme (8)

22 Billy Searle (20)

23 Sam Spink (4)

Wasps side isn't too shoddy

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

Not entirely convinced that's a balanced back row, but should be an interesting battle between the 2 back rows.

A close game to call.

What in your opinion would be a balanced back row then?

A 7 at 7 maybe, Taufua is not a natural 7.
You need a grafter, a dynamic carrier & a fetcher.
I just think we won't get the best out of Taufua at 7.

[ourla]

Given the weather and relative forward packs I am thinking we can grind a low scoring win. No TBP.

Might not be a pretty game

[Smudge]

I hoped Joe Batley would be on the bench at least. He is massive and very quick. A loanee I know but I think he is good enough, given the chance.

[longlivethecrumbie]

I hoped Joe Batley would be on the bench at least. He is massive and very quick. A loanee I know but I think he is good enough, given the chance.

He played well in the two appearances he made, IMHO

[Chobbsy]

Not entirely convinced that's a balanced back row, but should be an interesting battle between the 2 back rows.

A close game to call.

What in your opinion would be a balanced back row then?

A 7 at 7 maybe, Taufua is not a natural 7.
You need a grafter, a dynamic carrier & a fetcher.
I just think we won't get the best out of Taufua at 7.

He is most definitely a grafter, but not a 7, he said himself he is a 6 or 8, we need a proper 7 in, GM is trying to get his 3 best 6/8 in to 2 slots

[JP14]

I reckon we have the edge in the pack, which will be crucial in the conditions Storm Dennis will inflict tomorrow.

That back five is quite something, I would argue the best back five Tigers have fielded since the days of Mafi, Parling, Croft, Salvi and Waldrom I hope I haven’t given us the “commentator’s curse”

[CitizenSmiff]

I fancy us everywhere except the half backs, where Wasps definitely have the edge. With rain forecast our scrum should give us all the platform we need, should be a good old arm wrestle!