Tigers strongest 15?

[os99]

If Tigers had everyone fit and available, what would the best 15 be?

Mine would be something like this:

1. Ayerza
2. Hawkins
3. Castrogiovanni
4. Deacon
5. Skivington
6. Croft
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom

9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. Tuilagi
12. Allen
13. Tuilagi
14. Agulla
15. Murphy

[chinnjamie]

This thread comes up every now and then, but its a good chance of a debate so il post what would be MY best team:
1. Ayerza
2. Hawkins
3. Castro
4. Parling
5. Skivington
6. Croft
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom
9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. A Tuilagi
12. Allen
13. M Tuilagi
14. Hamilton
15. Murphy
Reps:
16. Cole
17. Stanko
18. T Youngs
19. Mafi
20. Crane
21. Harrison
22. Twelvetrees
23. Tait

Granted, the chance to get a fully fit squad is unrealistic but that is the team i would love to see one day. Tait is probably never going to be fully fit again ever, but his talent is huge if we ever can manage a miracle and get him fully fit. Also you could argue for people ive missed out like Deacon, Chuter, Agulla etc but each to their own .

[Granby]

Parling.
Best player season before last and best player since return from injury.

[WiggoTiger]

This is what I believe to be our strongest team when available:

1. Ayerza
2. T Youngs
3. Castro
4. Parling
5. Deacon
6. Croft
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom
9. B Youngs
10. Flood
11. A Tuilagi
12. Allen
13. M Tuilagi
14. Hamilton
15. Murphy
Reps:
16. Cole
17. Stanko
18. Hawkins
19. Mafi
20. Skivington
21. Harrison
22. Twelvetrees
23. Agulla

[Darc Tiger]

Got to say on current form, Agulla is streets ahead of Bubbles for me. Quick, strong, solid, intelligent. Pretty much agree with everyone elses choices though. Deacs and Parling is our best 2nd row combo. Skivs and Slater are excellent though. When everyone is fit, it is scary the depth we have in a number of positions. If only, if only...

[norfolkexpat]

Quite a few mentioned have lost an awful lot of what they once possessed...
Age and the constant batterings eventually take their toll.
In MHO --the following are virtually redundant -- IF ---Tigers wish to keep up with the Joneses..

Murphy
Hamilton
Chuter
Deacon
Tait
Grindal

PLUS a lot of the Squad are second team at best and will never make it to the big time. OK for the majority of Clubs but not the standard we should expect at Welford Road

Bucknall
Forsyth
Lewington

Pienaar
Robinson
Slater
M Smith

Lets hope I'm wrong.!!!
Tigers are in dire need of a proper World wide professional Scouting System
In fact this should be priority No 1

[tigerburnie]

Isn't Salvi only a tempory signing to cover for injuries,when does he leave?
Is Allen fit ,didn't think he'd played recently?Ditto YBY,Crane,Tait and 36.
Castro coming back from a knock,will he start a game yet?Ditto Deacs
Not quite our strongest yet,but things can and will only get better.

[kingol22]

Isn't Salvi only a tempory signing to cover for injuries,when does he leave?

Think he was brought in as cover for Newby so should leave when he returns, unless we can use him as cover for crane as well.

[Kit]

Actually, Salvi's signed for two years - his salary won't count for this year, because of the injury dispensation.

[Darc Tiger]

Can't believe you are saying Slater is sub-standard. He has been excellent this season. A real hard edged worker.

Murphy and Deacon are still 2 of our best players despite their advancing years. Murphy seemed to have a great game on Friday, and Deacon is a huge cog in our wheel. Hamilton is off form, but form is temporary, class is permanent and all that.

Bit harsh to write off Lewington and Forsyth too. Though they may find it tough to break into the current squad.

Also, I wasn't there but Radio Leicester said Matt Smith had a great game on friday. Particularly defensively, calling him an unsung hero.

Chuter (getting old bless him), Bucknall (how far down the order is he anyway!), Grindal (ditto Bucknall), Robinson and Pienaar you may have a point with. Though I thought Pienaar was one of the few to put in a reasonable performance against the Scarlets.

[Chobbsy]

[quote="chinnjamie"]This thread comes up every now and then, but its a good chance of a debate so il post what would be MY best team:
1. Ayerza
2. Hawkins
3. Castro
4. Parling
5. Skivington
6. Croft
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom
9. Youngs
10. Flood
11. A Tuilagi
12. Allen
13. M Tuilagi
14. Hamilton
15. Murphy
Reps:
16. Cole
17. Stanko
18. T Youngs
19. Mafi
20. Crane
21. Harrison
22. Twelvetrees
23. Tait

Granted, the chance to get a fully fit squad is unrealistic but that is the team i would love to see one day. Tait is probably never going to be fully fit again ever, but his talent is huge if we ever can manage a miracle and get him fully fit. Also you could argue for people ive missed out like Deacon, Chuter, Agulla etc but each to their own .[/quote]
I go with this choice

[Chobbsy]

[quote="norfolkexpat"]Quite a few mentioned have lost an awful lot of what they once possessed...
Age and the constant batterings eventually take their toll.
In MHO --the following are virtually redundant -- IF ---Tigers wish to keep up with the Joneses..

Murphy - Disagree
Hamilton - Disagree
Chuter - Agree
Deacon - Agree
Tait - Strongly disagree
Grindal - Strongly agree

PLUS a lot of the Squad are second team at best and will never make it to the big time. OK for the majority of Clubs but not the standard we should expect at Welford Road

Bucknall - Has never done anything to impress
Forsyth - Don't know enough about him.
Lewington - Don't know enough about him.

Pienaar - Agree
Robinson - Should have stayed at Plymouth Albion
Slater - A future in the back row but not the second, still very young
M Smith - Still has something to offer but not a starting 15 when all are fit.

Lets hope I'm wrong.!!!
Tigers are in dire need of a proper World wide professional Scouting System
In fact this should be priority No 1[/quote]

[sam16111986]

Can't believe some people are writing off Louis Deacon. It was noticeable how much better the team looked when he was available last season to when we were missing him and until we find a top quality enforcer to replace him with he will remain key.

Ayerza, Youngs, Castro
Deacon, Parling
Croft, Crane, Salvi
Youngs, Flood
Allen, Manu
Tuilagi, Murphy, Tait

Bench; Stanko, Chuter, Cole, Mafi, Waldrom, Young, Staunton, Twelvetrees.

[Will S]

The way forward IMO is the following 15:

1. Ayerza
2. T Youngs
3. Castro
4. Parling
5. Kitchener
6. Croft
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom
9. B Youngs
10. Flood
11. A Tuilagi
12. Twelvetrees
13. M Tuilagi
14. Morris
15. Tait

[Duncan B]

I think 12t vs Allen is a very tight call, and I would like to see Billy and Manu play together, as I really think it could be a future England combo. I hope Jordan Crane gets back to his best after such a long injury but there has to be some risk he wont which is a great shame. I really like our squad at the moment and I agree Parling is in cracking form, a fit and on form Tait on Agulla/Hamiltons wing would make things very interesting!