Leicester Tigers Women 2023/24 - Vicky Macqueen in 'The Magnificent Fifteen'

[Darc Tiger]

WXV1 starts tomorrow! Early starts unfortunately, with the games in NZ, but there's some really interesting match-ups to come.
Meg Jones starts again at 13 for England's opener with Australia. Louis Deacon is set to relinquish command as John Mitchell has arrived following Japan's world cup exit. Friday, 0700, ITVX.

Rowland; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Wyrwas; Botterman, Powell, Muir, Galligan, Aldcroft, Allen, Packer, Matthews.
Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Carson, Clifford, Beckett, Hibbert-Jones, Hunt, Bridger, Sing.

In WXV2, Scotland face the USA, after a hard fought 31-17 win over hosts South Africa. Bartlett and McGhie start again, with Martin joined by Donaldson on the bench. Donaldson was a late addition to the matchday squad last week. They will face new Leicester teammates, as Brody and Feury retain their starting shirts, with Sagapolu on the bench. The USA just about squeezed past a very competitive Samoa side, 36-26. Feury managed to get on the end of a try. Friday, 1300, RugbyPassTV.

Finally, Catha Jacobs is promoted at the starting 7 shirt for their game against Italy, having come off the bench against Scotland. Friday, 1530, RugbyPassTV.

[mightymouse]

Scotland beat USA, so well done those Tigers who contributed there.

[Darc Tiger]

Scotland beat USA, so well done those Tigers who contributed there.

We're very lucky to have signed Fran McGhie. Genuine X-factor out wide. Could become a superstar. Lovely finish today in a crucial 24-14 win. Scotland continuing to build momentum this year.

Catha Jacobs played the 80 as a valiant South Africa went down 36-18 to Italy, reduced to 13 in the 2nd half.

[Darc Tiger]

Finishing the WXV round-up, Meg Jones bagged a sharp finish in England's comfortable 42-7 win over Australia. Classy operator. The one I'm most looking forward to seeing at Leicester.

Happy Birthday to Meg, by the way!

[Darc Tiger]

WXV2 wraps up with Scotland and Italy both eyeing up top spot. Scotland play Japan, Italy play USA, level on pool points and Italy +7 PD advantage. Scotland probably favourites to sneak the title. Bartlett and McGhie start for Scotland, with Martin on the bench. Friday, 1300, RugbyPassTV.

Brody and Feury start again for the USA, with Feury moving to 15. Sagapolu is promoted to start at tighthead. Tahlia Brody is currently the top tackler in all of WXV so far, with 38 across her two matches. Saturday, 1600, RugbyPassTV.

South Africa play off against Samoa to avoid bottom spot and certain relegation to WXV3. South Africa have been forced into a few changes, so Catha Jacobs shifts over to the 8 shirt. Friday, 1530, RugbyPassTV.

England face Canada for the third time in a little over a month, and make 9 changes, which Jones and Cokayne miss out on. Friday, 0700, ITVX.

Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Reed, MacDonald; Aitchison, Hunt; Carson, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, O'Donnell, Talling, Packer (capt), Matthews
Powell, Botterman, Muir, Galligan, Allen, Wyrwas, Heard, Breach

[Darc Tiger]

First match at Welford Road tomorrow at 1400!

Another tough challenge again against back-to-back competition champions, Exeter. Its the last match of the group stage, and the internationals will come in ahead of welcoming the same side for the start of the PWR on November 19th. Hoping for an improvement than the last match, be more solid defensively, and put them under some pressure.

A bit of rotation and rejigging again. Swartz into a more familiar fullback position. Katie Thicker set for a debut off the bench.

15 Amanda Swartz [2]
14 Caz Collie [3]
13 Katie Childs [20]
12 Rebecca DeFilippo [2]
11 Amelia Tutt [1]
10 Natasha Jones [20]
9 Amy Relf [18]
1 Jade Jones [13]
2 Alana Bainbridge [3]
3 Ofure Ugiagbe [21]
4 Kat Turner [18]
5 Amy Orrow [3]
6 Morgan Richardson [19]
7 Roisin McBrien (c) [19]
8 Becky Noon [18]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Tanya Bird [14]
17 Churchy Knight [21]
18 Georgie Grimes [3]
19 Zoe Warrington [15]
20 Sydney Mead [2]
21 Polly Roberts [1]
22 Katie Thicker *
23 Zoë Evans [17]

[Lutontiger]

All the best for this afternoon!

[Lutontiger]

Our scrum half needs to try a run instead of pass sometimes

[Jimmy Skitz]

what was the result?

[Darc Tiger]

7-61...

We had a really good spell in the 1st half, and should have put a couple more tries away. Didn't offer much in the 2nd besides effort.

It is as I feared. Last years squad is looking too lightweight for this level. Their pack, particularly outside the front row, looked significantly bigger and fitter than ours. Losing too many collisions, which means we're struggling to get back into shape defensively and slow the ruckspeed. And we struggled in the kicking game. Scrum just about held okay. Lineout was a pale imitation of the Exeter drills. We are going to have to rely very heavily on Meg Jones this season. The depth at 10 is just not there.

Thankfully we have a break now, and a bunch of key players will come in, which hopefully will make a difference, but I'm worried about the back 5.

[Jimmy Skitz]

I wonder if any of the women from Worcester are being looked at, must be a couple who can come in, Vicky will need to be ruthless, I can't see the few internationals that are away making that much difference

[Darc Tiger]

I really hoped we'd nab Ellie Green from Worcester, but sadly Ealing have pounced...

We should definitely be looking to add some units to the pack.

[Darc Tiger]

WXV3 and WXV2 wrapped up last weekend, with Ireland just edging out Spain for the WXV3 title, and Italy just coming up short in trying to pip Scotland to the WXV2 title.

Batlett, McGhie and Martin played their part as they came though a tight first half against Japan to eventually run away 38-7 winners. They then had a nervous wait for the conclusion of USA vs Italy. Italy took firm control of the match, but their 30-8 win came up agonisingly short of the score they needed to pip the Scots. Sagapolu and Brody had effective games, with the latter finished an excellent try for the USA, but Feury didn't see much of the ball.

And congratulations to Fran McGhie, who has been nominated for World Rugby 15s Breakthough of the Year!

South Africa put in their strongest performance yet to comfortably see off Samoa 33-7 in the battle to avoid the WXV2 wooden spoon, with Catha Jacobs getting on the scoresheet.

Just the last round of WXV1 left to go, with 3 exciting encounters, but unfortunately all at unfriendly hours. Wales were again humbled by the Black Ferns and now face Australia early Friday morning (6am, ITVX), needing a big performance to avoid a chastening bottom spot. The Wallaroos pulled off probably their best ever victory with a 29-20 win over a below-par France. A mixed French squad now have a tricky last match with Canada, very early hours Saturday (3am, RPTV).

Then its the big one. The Red Roses will be looking to exorcise some demons in the rematch against the Black Ferns, Saturday morning (6am, ITVX). England were made to work hard, before pulling away 45-12 against Canada. England mostly unchanged, with just Galligan and Heard coming in to start. Amy Cokayne, finally fit, is joined by Meg Jones on the bench.

Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Heard, MacDonald; Aitchison, Hunt; Carson, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Galligan, Talling, Packer, Matthews
Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Beckett, Allen, Wyrwas, Jones, Breach.

[Darc Tiger]

Fantastic final round of WXV1!

Wales will be disappointed to lose out to Australia, who played the 2nd half with 14. They're still too limited in attack. Good tournament for the Aussies. Strong bounce back from Canada, who overturn a 10 point deficit to a disappointing France side to finish 2nd in the pool.

But it was England who took the title, and banished some demons with a powerful victory over the Black Ferns. Really strong opening 30, and then weathered the inevitable fightback to come home comfortably. Meg Jones get involved in the last quarter, but sadly Amy Cokayne pulled out ahead of kickoff again and was seen in a boot... Could be a massive blow for us.

Big shoutout to our own Louis Deacon, who goes 5/5 as interim coach, and brings home a trophy!

[Darc Tiger]

3 Tigers playing for the Armed Forces against Bristol tonight (KO 1945). Lucy Nye and Becca de Filippo start at 9 and 12, with Orla Proctor wearing 22.

I think its being streamed on youtube on this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@forces_news