Niki out for 4-6 weeks?

[BJ.]

According to Planet Rugby and the Leicester Mercury.

[Rykard]

but Tombstone has played a bit at centre...

[Bundy]

It has got to the point you just shrug your shoulders and get on with it! A case of laugh or cry?!!

[Rykard]

it sounds like we'll have to settle for the first 23 fit bodies out there...

[wardy]

I'll take my boots to High Wycombe just in case!!!

[4071]

9. Mele
10. Williams
11. Scully
12. Bowden
13. Thompstone
14. Benjamin
15. Morris

20. Harrison
21. Hepetema
22. Purdy

Is that everyone we have available now, or are we getting the likes of Tait and Hamilton back yet?

Oh, it would be great to have Lewington and Forsyth available. This is the sort of situation they spent years waiting for - a mass of injuries to force the coaches into giving them a chance - and it happens the moment they leave.

[baz1664]

James O'Connor coming to euro club on a short term contract, would by ideal for tigers with all the injury problems and can play in a variety of positions.

[PM76]

9. Mele
10. Williams
11. Scully
12. Bowden
13. Thompstone
14. Benjamin
15. Morris

20. Harrison
21. Hepetema
22. Purdy

Is that everyone we have available now, or are we getting the likes of Tait and Hamilton back yet?

I think Tait is meant to be back for the LV, not heard any news about Smith, Hamilton etc.

Best wishes to Niki for a speedy recovery.

London Irish being linked with O'Connor, I think there is a limit on how much a club can spend on injury dispensations and with Matera, Scully and Hepetema Tigers maybe close to it, or at least close enough to it not to afford a high profile player like JOC.

[youngtiger]

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premier ... meoK_lJOPs

"The application must be made while the player is still injured and the replacement player must be:

-The same position as the injured player; not be deemed to be more experienced than the injured player (i.e. same or less);
-Given a salary which is either comparable or lower than the injured player."

Personally don't think O connor would work here, but even ignoring that, I seriously doubt O Connor (44 Wallaby caps) would be deemed less experienced than anyone we've lost.

[Grimlish]

On that basis Youngtiger, where in the Premiership could O'Connor play as injury cover as is rumoured? Cant think of anyone at NotNots....

[PM76]

On that basis Youngtiger, where in the Premiership could O'Connor play as injury cover as is rumoured? Cant think of anyone at NotNots....

Would be surprised if Not Nots current squad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Irish#Current_squad) was at the cap limit!

[youngtiger]

As PM76 has implied, they could probably fit him in within the normal salary cap whereas we're probably pretty close to, if not on, the limit anyway.

[falkie002]

Matt tait said to me last week that he is back for the LV that what he is planning for

[cidermark]

Time to 'blood' Hepetema?

Leave Thompstone on the wing, Scully as a utility back on the bench.

Otherwise, still a great three-quarter line sadly lacking in bench cover!

[DickyP]

Must admit that I thought, as did most people around me at WR last Friday, that Hepetema showed pretty well for a complete newcomer thrown in at the deep end. In particular I though that he, and Bowden whom I have criticised for it in the past, showed pretty well in defence against Treviso.

On a slightly different note I couldn't see that if the money was OK we'd have a problem justifying O'Connor on the other requirements if we wanted him. Manu has 21 England caps, 1 Lions cap and is a fully established international! You'd be pushed to find a "better" English centre at present; probably similar salary level. Also Ant Allen must be one of the best and most experience centres in England even if he only has 2 caps. On the other had, personally, I'd not be keen.