Tigers vs. Saracens

[GT1]

Same again for England so no help there!
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... 77360.html

[MJ Chairman]

I think you'll see Dossers lad at 13, Tompkins is a big physical threat.

[PM76]

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/C ... z2LH62msLw


Croft and Murphy fit apparently. Deacon will be a "late call" which suggests he won't make it especially given Cockers' previous record for when people are back from injury!! Stanko out which is a blow but if Ayerza is fit he can always play the whole game. No word on Allen which probably means he is injured, that's only my interpretation of it though, hopefully he will be fit to play.

[TTRITH]

With potentially Allen out, I think Smurf has to start, just to bring a calm head to the table. Assuming Morris is still out after missing last week I'd put Tait on the wing. In the forwards, the script pretty much writes itself. I'm pretty sure we'll see:

15. Geordan Murphy
14. Mat Tait
13. Matt Smith
12. Dan Bowden
11. Adam Thompstone
10. George Ford
9. Sam Harrison (Although I'd far prefer Micky Young!)
1. Marcos Ayerza
2. Rob Hawkins
3. Logo Mulipola
4. Ed Slater
5. Graham Kitchener
6. Tom Croft
7. Julian Salvi
8. Jordan Crane

16. George Chuter
17. Keiron Brookes
18. Fraiser Balmain
19. Rob Andrew
20. Brett Deacon
21. Micky Young
22. Scott Hamilton
23. Niki Goneva/Andy Forsyth

[Tomvarndell]

I agree with the Micky Young opinion. Not sure what Sam Harrison has done to get the nod over Young time and time again. He hasn't done a lot wrong but offers very little sniping threat and I'm sure Young would bring a bit more attacking threat to the table.

[PM76]

Harrison vs. Young is a tough one but I can why Sam sneaks it, he has an excellent pass and all his basics (kicking, defence etc.) are good. If he can add a bit of sniping to his game he will be more of a threat, look at when he does snipe he tends to make yards as sides aren't expecting him to. Young is an excellent option to have coming off the bench as he can change a game, admittedly Cockers rarely changes the half-backs, but bringing Young off the bench would be a good move IMO.

Young is also likely to be leaving and for lots of reasons (suspension, injury etc.) his move hasn't really worked out which has been disappointing but with Tigers recruitment policy some will work and some will not. Harrison is sill learning the trade, if he were to leave people would be saying how he was a young guy who came through the academy but never got a chance, it's a tough situation for Cockers. There's also the possibility that Young is paying a price for being one of the players who didn't cover him in glory vs. Llanelli.

I do think bringing Young off the bench after 55/60 minutes would be a good idea though and probably the best way to manage the two scrum-halves.

[sapajo]

I believe Harrison has a better pass than Young, that said Sam has a tendency to get sucked into rucks leaving us without a no 9. On a positive note it is abundantly clear that Sam tries and gives his absolute level best every time he plays.

[rdracup]

15. Geordan Murphy
14. Mat Tait
13. Matt Smith
12. Dan Bowden
11. Adam Thompstone
10. George Ford
9. Sam Harrison (Although I'd far prefer Micky Young!)
1. Marcos Ayerza
2. Rob Hawkins
3. Logo Mulipola
4. Ed Slater
5. Graham Kitchener
6. Tom Croft
7. Julian Salvi
8. Jordan Crane

16. George Chuter
17. Keiron Brookes
18. Fraiser Balmain
19. Rob Andrew
20. Brett Deacon
21. Micky Young
22. Scott Hamilton
23. Niki Goneva/Andy Forsyth

Assuming injuries are as predicted I agree with above.. though this time it is more straight forward given the available squad. I would go with Goneva. Jumbo - can you confirm team before NOON ?

[Jumbo]

Yes I can:

Leicester Tigers (v Saracens, Welford Road, Saturday 8pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Matt Smith
12 Dan Bowden
11 Adam Thompstone
10 George Ford
9 Sam Harrison
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Tom Croft
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Kieran Brookes
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Brett Deacon
20 Richard Thorpe
21 Micky Young
22 Matt Cornwell
23 Mathew Tait

Louis Deacon, Anthony Allen, Niall Morris, Boris Stankovich and Steve Mafi are unavailable due to injury.

[rdracup]

Thank you Jumbo... we do not need to know your sources.

Scotty / Tait .. I can understand that one. Tait is good bench cover and Scotty has played well on the wing - and we need experience in regular position.

Cornwall is reserve kicker / 10 I guess so makes sense.

[sapajo]

No AA and no Deacon are massive blows we must be seriously on our metal to win this one. Come on Tigerrrssss

[tigerburnie]

Saffas team:-
Saracens: Wyles; Short, Tomkins, Powell, Strettle; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Gill, Brits, Stevens; Borthwick (c), Hargreaves; Wray, Fraser, Joubert.

Replacements: Smit, Auterac, du Plessis, Kruis, Melck, de Kock, Mordt, Taylor.

[pipkoi]

Dose know who the ref is?

[pipkoi]

Dose know who the ref is?

Answered my own question

JP Doyle

Assistant Referees: Paul Dix & Nigel Carrick.
TMO: Graham Hughes

[tigerburnie]

You just beat me to it, they seem to know this on the unoffy early in the week,guessing it is on the arghfu's site.