Tigers v Clermont (A) - Friday 13th January 2023 - KO 20-00

[Ian Cant]

Well with 12 players missing for next week we have to hope we get some back for Saints. Last season it was a relief when Leinster knocked us out of Europe so we could concentrate on the Premiership.
Obviously try to get a win in the next two games but to be honest Saints is the more important game.

[Caerlyr Osprey]

Friday 13th....Hmmmmm

Expect us to do a Gloucester and put a genuine 2nd string out. Then go full bore against the Sprays.

Well that plan worked out well for Glaws when they came up to Welford Road. Wiggy needs to go full bore for the next two games and then see who's left standing/not selected for England against Stains.

[wormus]

I’d be tempted to give Wolstenholme some minutes, perhaps on the bench from both matches to give some time with Pollard and Atkinson.

According to the ERC website our Wolstenholme is not registered but this might not be up to date as Tom Cowan-Dickie and Gabriel Oghre are still on the listing. It seems we are now listing all players and if I recall there used to be a limit of players and these had to be registered several days before the "Heineken" match.
https://www.epcrugby.com/club/leicester-tigers/#players

[Hot_Charlie]

I see some posters on the Newcastle thread are saying rest players for Clermont and go full bore for Ospreys. I don't know if they are guaranteeing a win v Ospreys but they won at Montpellier! It's a very dangerous game to play and could backfire!

But realistically we are only queueing up for a tonking by Leinster or one of the French teams, this year at any rate. The long term game would be to prioritise the Premiership. Get as good a place as we can for next year.

Maybe, but in the short term a home R16 fixture - and the potential for a home 1/4 final after that - would be financially very useful for the club, particularly given that finishing in the top 2 of the Prem now seems very unlikely given Sarries' and Sale's form.

[Hot_Charlie]

I’d be tempted to give Wolstenholme some minutes, perhaps on the bench from both matches to give some time with Pollard and Atkinson.

According to the ERC website our Wolstenholme is not registered but this might not be up to date as Tom Cowan-Dickie and Gabriel Oghre are still on the listing. It seems we are now listing all players and if I recall there used to be a limit of players and these had to be registered several days before the "Heineken" match.
https://www.epcrugby.com/club/leicester-tigers/#players

Normally these get changed the Tuesday/Wednesday before the round IIRC.

[Robespierre]

Damian Penaud and Tomás Lavanini are both injured and unavailable for selection on Friday.

[Bge3095]

Damian Penaud and Tomás Lavanini are both injured and unavailable for selection on Friday.

Not terrible news from a tigers point of view

[CrumblingTerrace]

Speaking pragmatically, this is the European game that you'd probably rest a few players for. Save them for Ospreys (h) and bank on 3 wins being enough for a home knock-out tie.

However, we're not in a good place at the moment. If we were to make wholesale changes and take a hiding in Clermont that could make things really difficult for Wiggy.

[sapajo]

Speaking pragmatically, this is the European game that you'd probably rest a few players for. Save them for Ospreys (h) and bank on 3 wins being enough for a home knock-out tie.

However, we're not in a good place at the moment. If we were to make wholesale changes and take a hiding in Clermont that could make things really difficult for Wiggy.

Wiggy is in place to at least the end of this season regardless of performances. As Tigers supporters we must hope that we can get back to winning ways. It is what it is

[AngusMcCoatup]

Damian Penaud and Tomás Lavanini are both injured and unavailable for selection on Friday.

Not terrible news from a tigers point of view

Oh it is a shame as we will miss playing against 14 men when Tomas Lavanini is yellow carded again.

[Big Dai]

Friday 13th....Hmmmmm

Expect us to do a Gloucester and put a genuine 2nd string out. Then go full bore against the Sprays.

Well that plan worked out well for Glaws when they came up to Welford Road. Wiggy needs to go full bore for the next two games and then see who's left standing/not selected for England against Stains.

Disagree.

Glaws played us the next week.....not the week after. Player management is crucial. 18 x 80 minutes on the bounce is a lot of rugby. Clermont away may be a bridge too far for some. Time to pick your battles.

[Mayocaz]

Definitely a game weekend to look at the larger picture. I know we won there last season but we were in mega form back then without the injury numbers we now have. Even if Wigglesworth followed the advice of people saying go full barrel this week we would probably still get beaten. As well as the obvious players who are struggling there are also a few players who’ve played a lot of rugby lately and could do with a break. Going strong next week against Ospreys in front of a good home support I can understand but ultimately we need to be looking at the Saints game as the big weekend this in this next month.

[Scott1]

Definitely a game weekend to look at the larger picture. I know we won there last season but we were in mega form back then without the injury numbers we now have. Even if Wigglesworth followed the advice of people saying go full barrel this week we would probably still get beaten. As well as the obvious players who are struggling there are also a few players who’ve played a lot of rugby lately and could do with a break. Going strong next week against Ospreys in front of a good home support I can understand but ultimately we need to be looking at the Saints game as the big weekend this in this next month.

But we havnt got 6N players for Saints have we so why can't we go strong in France? They are our players not Englands

[Robespierre]

Clermont are still a force to be reckoned with, even if Penaud and Lavanini won’t be playing. Let’s not forget that they beat Stormers last month at the Stade Michelin. After having been stuffed by Sale and Newcastle, Clermont would be one of the last places to go for Tigers to get back to winning ways.

[Tigerbeat]

Clermont are still a force to be reckoned with, even if Penaud and Lavanini won’t be playing. Let’s not forget that they beat Stormers last month at the Stade Michelin. After having been stuffed by Sale and Newcastle, Clermont would be one of the last places to go for Tigers to get back to winning ways.

Pick your battles and protect your players that will be needed during the six nations. It is a gamble, not arrogance , but home games tend to be more advantageous. Expect to see a mixed team at Clermont and full bore for Ospreys and whatever is left for Northampton.