Sat 20th March - Exeter away

[kk20gb30]

Exeter perhaps more vulnerable than of late.That said, any away fixture is difficult and I personally believe there will be a degree of team rotation.

[JP14]

You can't give a team like Exeter anything or they will claw back into the game.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Officials for the game announced.

Referee: Jack Makepeace

Assistant Referees: Phil Watters and Rob Warburton

TMO: Keith Lewis

Citing Officer: Andy Blyth

[AngusMcCoatup]

Officials for the game announced.

Referee: Jack Makepeace

Assistant Referees: Phil Watters and Rob Warburton

TMO: Keith Lewis

Citing Officer: Andy Blyth

Thank goodness the TMO is not David Rose as he often lurks his way into the South Western matches and has been very anti Tigers in the past. Not sure on Jack Makepeace just hoping very little TMO interference but very impressed with Adam Leal last week.. Had there been no internationals I feel sure Luke Pearce would have wandered up the road to Sandy Park. Hoping for a great result!

[OakhamTiger32]

Officials for the game announced.

Referee: Jack Makepeace

Assistant Referees: Phil Watters and Rob Warburton

TMO: Keith Lewis

Citing Officer: Andy Blyth

Thank goodness the TMO is not David Rose as he often lurks his way into the South Western matches and has been very anti Tigers in the past. Not sure on Jack Makepeace just hoping very little TMO interference but very impressed with Adam Leal last week.. Had there been no internationals I feel sure Luke Pearce would have wandered up the road to Sandy Park. Hoping for a great result!

I rate Makepeace. He’s fairly new to the premiership scene but has been solid in the matches I’ve seen him officiate.

Yep we usually get the Sandy Park local who tends to favor the home side funny old thing but thankfully not this time. Should be a great game and no complaints about the officials line up.. let’s hope the same can be said come Friday lunchtime

[BG01]

I'd go with a big team, and solid replacements who can keep up the physicality. Assuming all our injuries are still injured (including Scott, but he comes straight in at 12 if fit):

1 Nephi
2 Youngs
3 Cole
4 Lavanini
5 Green
6 Liebenberg
7 Wallace
8 Brink
9 JvP
10 Henry
11 Murimurivalu
12 Kelly
13 Moroni
14 Van Wyk
15 Steward

16 Clare
17 de Bruin
18 Heyes
19 Wells
20 Chessum
21 Wigglesworth
22 McPhilips
23 Porter

[JP14]

Makepeace reffed us in the Premiership opener against Gloucester.

[GETHIN EXILE]

I'd go with a big team, and solid replacements who can keep up the physicality. Assuming all our injuries are still injured (including Scott, but he comes straight in at 12 if fit):

1 Nephi
2 Youngs
3 Cole
4 Lavanini
5 Green
6 Liebenberg
7 Wallace
8 Brink
9 JvP
10 Henry
11 Murimurivalu
12 Kelly
13 Moroni
14 Van Wyk
15 Steward

16 Clare
17 de Bruin
18 Heyes
19 Wells
20 Chessum
21 Wigglesworth
22 McPhilips
23 Porter

with George martin not named in England 23 I'd have him involved in the starting back row alongside Liebenberg and Brink

[GB72]

I'd go with a big team, and solid replacements who can keep up the physicality. Assuming all our injuries are still injured (including Scott, but he comes straight in at 12 if fit):

1 Nephi
2 Youngs
3 Cole
4 Lavanini
5 Green
6 Liebenberg
7 Wallace
8 Brink
9 JvP
10 Henry
11 Murimurivalu
12 Kelly
13 Moroni
14 Van Wyk
15 Steward

16 Clare
17 de Bruin
18 Heyes
19 Wells
20 Chessum
21 Wigglesworth
22 McPhilips
23 Porter

with George martin not named in England 23 I'd have him involved in the starting back row alongside Liebenberg and Brink

Much would depend on how match ready he is. I would guess that he would have to stay with the squad at least until Friday in case of injury and he will not have played a match for several weeks. As such I would suspect he would not be ready by the weekend even if released from the England camp.

[TigerFeetSteve]

I'd go with a big team, and solid replacements who can keep up the physicality. Assuming all our injuries are still injured (including Scott, but he comes straight in at 12 if fit):

1 Nephi
2 Youngs
3 Cole
4 Lavanini
5 Green
6 Liebenberg
7 Wallace
8 Brink
9 JvP
10 Henry
11 Murimurivalu
12 Kelly
13 Moroni
14 Van Wyk
15 Steward

16 Clare
17 de Bruin
18 Heyes
19 Wells
20 Chessum
21 Wigglesworth
22 McPhilips
23 Porter

with George martin not named in England 23 I'd have him involved in the starting back row alongside Liebenberg and Brink

Up until the team warm up is completed and nobody has picked up an injury, none of the 28 will be heading back to clubs

If any of Wilson, Earl, Vunipola or Curry get injured he's definitely in the 23.

If Itoje, Ewels or Hill are injured, either him or Ribbans go into the 23.

[KiwiTig]

I think SB will rest a few players. There has been a pattern like that. It would be fantastic to get George Martin back early but would also be a shame for him on a personal level to miss the game and match day experience that he will also gain from massively. He appears to be a modest and level-headed young man so any such additional experience should add nothing but confidence

[Jimmy Skitz]

Green needs to do training drills all week where he runs through the tackler instead of what he was doing last week of stopping to get tackled, if he can't manage it he shouldn't play until he does

[OakhamTiger32]

Green needs to do training drills all week where he runs through the tackler instead of what he was doing last week of stopping to get tackled, if he can't manage it he shouldn't play until he does

Maybe he’s sticking to the 2m SD guidance!

[BG01]

I think SB will rest a few players. There has been a pattern like that. It would be fantastic to get George Martin back early but would also be a shame for him on a personal level to miss the game and match day experience that he will also gain from massively. He appears to be a modest and level-headed young man so any such additional experience should add nothing but confidence

I think it will be more of a mixed bag this week, with the England lot coming back next week (and Genge and Martin needing game time) as well as Wiese back and so he might feel less appetite to rotate as much.

I'd quite like to see McPhillips start but think it's unlikely! I know he's young but we need to give him a proper go at some point.

[Noggs]

Teams up:

Leicester Tigers (v Exeter Chiefs, away, Saturday 2.30pm)
[club appearances in brackets]

15 Freddie Steward [23]

14 Kobus Van Wyk [9]

13 Matt Scott [15]

12 Dan Kelly [9]

11 Guy Porter [12]

10 Zack Henry [18]

9 Jack Van Poortvliet [14]

1 Nephi Leatigaga [41]

2 Charlie Clare [22]

3 Joe Heyes [59]

4 Cameron Henderson [8]

5 Tomás Lavanini [28]

6 Cyle Brink [11]

7 Tommy Reffell [38]

8 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [25]

Replacements:

16 Jake Kerr [45]

17 James Whitcombe [2]

18 Luan de Bruin [8]

19 Harry Wells [112]

20 Luke Wallace [12]

21 Ben White [69]

22 Johnny McPhillips [14]

23 Harry Potter [8]