Unchanged Team vs Racing

[Jumbo]

Leicester Tigers (v Racing 92, The City Ground, Nottingham, Sunday 3.15pm)
15 Mathew Tait (c)
14 Telusa Veainu
13 Peter Betham
12 Manu Tuilagi
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Harry Thacker
3 Dan Cole
4 Dom Barrow
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Fitzgerald
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Opeti Fonua

Replacements
16 Greg Bateman
17 Logovi'i Mulipola
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Ed Slater
20 Tom Croft
21 Sam Harrison
22 Owen Williams
23 Adam Thompstone

[kpj tiger]

Not picking BOC is certainly an interesting shout unless he hasn't fully recovered form his illness, otherwise a strong team, still puzzled by Tait being named captain when Ben Youngs clearly does the job

[watsonjm]

Disapointed not to see O'connor in there.

[watsonjm]

Not picking BOC is certainly an interesting shout unless he hasn't fully recovered form his illness, otherwise a strong team, still puzzled by Tait being named captain when Ben Youngs clearly does the job

Maybe something to do with Youngs already having been told off a few times by Ownes? Maybe Tait built a good repour with him in the Stade match?

[trendylfj]

Disapointed not to see O'connor in there.

ditto but still a strong team

[JackFlashJonny]

Disappointing to see no O'Connor..back row is not ideal just hope it is enough

Fonua needs to show some big busting runs a lorry like him can..

[Iain]

O'Connor must have had a right old dose of tonsilitis to still be out.

Fonua played well last week. If he can play a similar role and set the tone for physicality he could be important in the first half.

The message we are seeing is that Slater isn't at this time seen as part of our best XV. You wonder if this raises a question over whether he will keep the captaincy.

Otherwise, I maintain my excitement over our all Pacific Island 'bro-town' three quarters.

[trendylfj]

No Castro either - hope he has travelled and enjoys the crac

[TigerCam]

Disappointing to see no O'Connor..back row is not ideal just hope it is enough

Fonua needs to show some big busting runs a lorry like him can..

Fonua also needs to block tackle the Racing big runners that will be coming down the 10 channel. Take care of their big ball carriers and there will be more than a chance of the Tigers being in Lyon on May 14

[Jay C]

The message we are seeing is that Slater isn't at this time seen as part of our best XV.

Cockers was quoted yesterday as saying Barrow has been arguably our best lock this season & IMO it's hard to disagree with him. With Fitzgerald playing brilliantly at 6, that leaves Kitch & Slats to take the other lock and bench spot. I think its the right call, as we may need Slats physicality at 8 when Fonua tires around 50 mins, so its a good option to have, alongside recognised back row replacement Croft.

[RagingBull]

Wouldn't be surprised if BOC is a late call up, unless he is actually still ill.

[Pellsey]

Maybe using the Toulon tactics on Dan Carter, with Fonua and Manu double tackling him.. haha..

[Iain]

Racing 92:
15 Brice Dulin,
14 Joe Rokocoko,
13 Johannes Goosen,
12 Alexandre Dumoulin,
11 Juan Imhoff,
10 Dan Carter,
9 Maxime Machenaud (c);
1 Eddy Ben Arous,
2 Virgile Lacombe,
3 Ben Tameifuna,
4 Luke Charteris,
5 Francois van der Merwe,
6 Wenceslas Lauret,
7 Bernard Le Roux,
8 Chris Masoe

Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Khatchik Vartanov, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Louis Dupichot

I'm sure you'll excuse me being excited at the prospect of watching the great Dan Carter play.

[Pellsey]

On a serious note, I think Fonua played well last week. I think however he could be better used in the last 30 when Racing are tiring. Although Lachie has been great for ball retention and turnovers, BOC would be loss for this. However he was pinged a couple of times by Owens in the last game for borderline turnovers...

[Darc Tiger]

Its a side that is certainly good enough to win. Give 'um hell, boys!