Team news vs Sarries

[paula123]

When is the team news announced for tomorrow??I haven't seen anything yet,isn't it usually announced on Thursday??

[Suz]

Hi Paula
Team news is usually lunchtime on a Friday, so I would assume that it would be the same for this game

[paula123]

Thank's Suz

Should be great game i can't wait!!!

Hopefully all players fully fit,would love to see Billy in the starting line up in replace of Manu.

[jonlin]

Smith to outside centre, Agulla on the wing. Could start with Cole and TTTE depending what Cockers game plan

[crateman]

I concur. The question is, will we see 36 or Danny H on the bench? 36, I suspect.

[Old Hob]

AA definitely starting according to his interview in today's Times

[BJ.]

AA definitely starting according to his interview in today's Times

No great surprise there. He's fit and the first-choice 12 at the club so nobody but the most one-eyed Twelvetrees fanatic would contemplate replacing him. However, there does appear to be a few of them ...

[GS]

Matt Smith at 13 according to O'Connor (http://www.leicestertigers.com/forum/vi ... =1&t=32312)

I would imagine Danny H will be in the stands, if he's not sunning himself on a beach somewhere. A great shame he hasn't had any game time to speak of since injury as I would love to see him in one last big game for Tigers (I bet he would too). Perhaps he will be on the bench for the psychological effect after last year.

One good thing about moving Smithy to 13 is that Aguila will be on the wing. Other than that the only decisions are which prop(s) we start with. Chuter to start at least, due to his temperament but the locks will be crucial hopefully with Deacon being fit and starting.

There, easy this management lark.

[mike]

A fit Deacon is essential to Tigers , but an almost fit Deacon could be a liability .Look what happened in Dublin .

[westwinds31]

The more I reflect on this season, the more I come back to the lock situation and the devastation of losing Richard Blaze, who I have no doubt would have been off to New Zealand for the World Cup. Not content with that, our best lock and arguably our best forward last year, Geoff Parling has also missed the entire season through injury. I'm just going through the other Premiership semi-finalists and wondering how they would have coped losing:

Sarries - Borthwick/Botha
Saints - Lawes/Day
Glaws - Attwood/Brown

I tell you how they would have coped....they wouldn't have done. Add to this the fact that Louis Deacon has only played a handful of games and you're left with Skivington, Mafi, Green and (on occasion) Croft in the second row, all of whom have played a massive part in keeping the lineout competitive and the scrum moving forward.

So, assuming (but not definite) that Deacon goes to the World Cup, we could have a very strong engine room over that period, with Skivington, Parling and Kitchener (if he comes in).

As for the team news (back on track)...Matt Smith to 13, Agulla to the wing. 12T on the bench. Castro to start as he did against Saints with Cole to come on and cause devastation and havoc.

[Rykard]

it's all gone a bit quiet on the injuries - I guess to keep sarries guessing. frustrating for us though..

[westwinds31]

If Deacon isn't starting it must be a reasonably serious or nagging injury. He was "close" (Cockers) for the semi-final...that was 2 weeks ago so if he's not mended yet, there must be something that needs sorting out. The only question remaining if he is fit is match fitness....I suspect that he would start and then Mafi/Skivington would come on after 50/60 mins.

[PM76]

A fit Deacon is essential to Tigers , but an almost fit Deacon could be a liability .Look what happened in Dublin .

The problem in Dublin was that Slater had to come on and call the lineout and although is an excellent prospect he is inexperienced. Whereas if Deacon starts we could simply bring on Mafi with Skivs calling the lineout which worked well against the Saints. Personally I would not be suprised to see Deacon out of the squad all together, similarly to the Semi where the Mercury announced that he would start and yet he was not in the squad.

[kpb]

I think TTTE should start along with Castro,we need there big impact for the first 50/60 mins.

[Rykard]

Deacs could play..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 523539.stm