Toulon away leg

[Big Dai]

Head says "Toulon by two clear scores!"

Heart says "I don't :censored: know! You were WAY wrong last week and you put me through such pain that I skipped several beats. Anything is possible."

[WhitecapTiger]

Head says "Toulon by two clear scores!"

Heart says "I don't :censored: know! You were WAY wrong last week and you put me through such pain that I skipped several beats. Anything is possible."

Head out of the misery trough please

[baz1664]

Strong looking team, going to take a massive effort to turn Toulon over on their own patch, with Halfpenny back they have a near 100% kicking machine so we need to keep pens down to a min. If we get a dominant pack and field position you never know, good to see Crofty back in the squad, nice to bring Youngs, Crane and Croft on after 60 mins. Tigers need to keep it tight and not make any silly handling mistakes like last week.

[Big Dai]

Head says "Toulon by two clear scores!"

Heart says "I don't :censored: know! You were WAY wrong last week and you put me through such pain that I skipped several beats. Anything is possible."

Head out of the misery trough please

Heart attack it is then!

[GS]

Essentially its more of the same, and quite right too, assuming there's a huge helping of attitude in with that selection. The rotation at 2 and 8 a little surprising but not that worrying. Croft on the bench is a tough call. Undoubted class so he must have shown good form and fitness at Oval Park unless it's another withdrawal just before the game.

Like Big Dai and quite a few others, including the Toulon team, I was taken aback by the way we played last week and if anything it will need even more of the same at theirs. But as we know from history we can do it against all the odds. We need to keep our heads and let the French lose theirs, which they may well do if we can contain them early on.

My prediction is that there will be a few beers drunk in the pubs showing the game and my hope is that there will be a good few beers and wine drunk in celebration afterwards by our lads (and lasses) who are out there shouting for us. Here's hoping for a good hangover Sunday.

[iceman_19]

The Toulon teamsheet just looks a cut above ours in terms of established quality (for the most part) and they'll be fired up - but if you take away the set-piece base, then it's anyones game. It's fascinating how they've gone with Levan Chilachava over Carl Hayman - perhaps because the Georgian is shorter and so in theory can deal with Ayerza's low body position to better effect. The opening 20 minutes will be critical - if we can ride out the storm, anything is possible.
My full preview is up at http://www.ruckedover.blogspot.com

[fentiger]

Some great comments in this article from Brad:
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Europ ... story.html

[amazing tiger]

toulon will be very fired up but if we take and most of their backs and armitage out of the game and make sure we use the ball effectivly its anyones game to be honest. lets hope our forwards are immense like they were last week and our set peice is good it could be a game winner.

[Hinckley Bob]

What was the saying?

Keep the faith!

[Spicer]

Dropping Kitchener, Youngs and Crane is very harsh. In-fact why would you change a side that just beat Toulon at all? I would keep the same side.

[ourla]

Dropping Kitchener, Youngs and Crane is very harsh. In-fact why would you change a side that just beat Toulon at all? I would keep the same side.

They've not been dropped. Not in the sense of they've been deselected on form. There is a suspicious Kitch took a bit of a battering last week. Youngs is only just back from injury so it's probably part of his return program to start on the bench this week. Crane has played a lot of rugby this season. As others have mention there may be a tactical element to that decision.

The fundamentals of the team certainly hasn't changed.

[Rykard]

kitch looked very uncomfortable after the double hit,the others are just rotation I would say.

[MrPartridge]

They are certainly going to be fired up - let's hope we can frustrate them early and see if they lose their heads again. We must keep our and not give penalties or yellow cards away.

Lovely day here in Toulon - slight breeze, sunny and dry. Bring it on!

[Soggypitch]

kitch looked very uncomfortable after the double hit,the others are just rotation I would say.

I agree Kitch must be injured not to be in the 23, let's just hope not seriously!

Barbieri offers something different to Crane and I'm pleased to see him get a chance.

Not so sure about OTY on the bench, however Leo is an international hooker and has played very well for the most part this season. He will not let us down and Youngs will come on after 55 or 60 mins and make a real impact.

Youngs should also be nice and fresh for Saints next week and the battle with Hartley!!

[L Smith]

kitch looked very uncomfortable after the double hit,the others are just rotation I would say.

Yes: we've probably forgotten about un-forced rotation!