Castres vs Tigers

[ourla]

Happy with that.

Europe is gone but a great opportunity for players to stake their claim for the first team in the Prem games.

[ghdav27]

Happy with that.

Europe is gone but a great opportunity for players to stake their claim for the first team in the Prem games.

Yeah, its going to be a tough ask but a great opportunity for some of these lads to put some pressure on the guys who have been first choice.

[Stephen18]

It’s good to see them finally rotate some of the development boys and back ups in n but I feel the could have been a better mix with some senior players, at the very least on the bench, I feel sorry for the fans who are traveling out there to watch a team that looks a lot like our a league team, and seeing how castres are playing in the top 14 could see this being a bit of a cricket score. Which will make it very hard for any to stake a claim for a spot in the squad.

[Robespierre]

It’s good to see them finally rotate some of the development boys and back ups in n but I feel the could have been a better mix with some senior players, at the very least on the bench, I feel sorry for the fans who are travelling out there to watch a team that looks a lot like our a league team, and seeing how castres are playing in the top 14 could see this being a bit of a cricket score. Which will make it very hard for any to stake a claim for a spot in the squad.

Please don't - I'm looking forward to the match!!

[jgriffin]

What would put the cat amongst the pigeons would be a very close game or even a surprise win. However I expect the pack to be overrun (plus ca change?).

[ghdav27]

It’s good to see them finally rotate some of the development boys and back ups in n but I feel the could have been a better mix with some senior players, at the very least on the bench, I feel sorry for the fans who are traveling out there to watch a team that looks a lot like our a league team, and seeing how castres are playing in the top 14 could see this being a bit of a cricket score. Which will make it very hard for any to stake a claim for a spot in the squad.

Fair point, it is going to be a tough ask and the side probably should be balanced a bit differently. However the way our senior players are playing there's a big risk of it being a cricket score of we put a full strength side out!

[Grimlish]

Any views on the strength of the Castres team?

[Rugbyflanker]

Cannon fodder! White flag well and truly waved!

[Tiger93]

http://castres-olympique.com/wp-content ... 4x1024.jpg

Palis ; Jaminet, Combezou, Vialelle, Batlle ; (o) Urdapilleta, (m) Radosavljevic ; Babillot (cap), Tulou, Caballero ; Lassalle, Bias ; Tussac, Rallier, Tichit.
Remplaçants : Firmin, Stroe, Kotze, Moreaux, Mafi, Domenech, Le Bourhis, Dumora

[ourla]

Castres Olympique for Sunday AND THE HOW IT CHANGED FROM THEIR LAST ERC GAME AGAINST RACING

15 Geoffrey Palis - NOT IN 23
14 Kylian Jaminet - NOT IN 23
13 Thomas Combezou - PROMOTED FROM BENCH
12 Florian Vialelle - SAME
11 Armand Batlle - NOT IN 23
10 Benjamin Urdapilleta - PROMOTED FROM BENCH
9 Ludovic Radosavljevic - NOT IN 23
1 Antoine Tichit - NOT IN 23
2 Marc-Antoine Rallier - SAME
3 Damien Tussac - NOT IN 23
4 Alexandre Bias - PROMOTED FROM BENCH
5 Thibault Lassalle - NOT IN 23
6 Yannick Caballero - SAME
7 Mathieu Babillot (c) - NOT IN 23
8 Alex Tulou - SAME

16 Kevin Firmin - SAME
17 Tudor Stroe - NOT IN 23
18 Daniel Kotze - NOT IN 23
19 Victor Moreaux - NOT IN 23
20 Steve Mafi - DROPPED TO BENCH
21 Yohan Domenech - SAME
22 Yohan Le Bourhis - DROPPED TO BENCH
23 Julien Dumora - NOT IN 23

8 players in the XV that weren't in the 23 against Racing and 3 up from the bench tells the story. This is a second team game in all but name.

[Grimlish]

Cannon fodder! White flag well and truly waved!

That's both sides, right?

[Spicer]

Both sides making lots of changes, gives us a chance. First time all season that our forwards have looked stronger than our backs.
How is Malouf on the bench if he's not registered? I guess Simmonds is covering 9, 10 and possibly 15?

[LE18]

Looks like a team of soon to be EX Tigers. Feel really sorry for fans who have spent loads to travel, but might be a reasonable 2nd team game as both clubs have thrown in the towel!

[ourla]

Surely those people who buy tickets for a round 5 or 6 match know it might be a dead rubber?

[LE18]

Surely those people who buy tickets for a round 5 or 6 match know it might be a dead rubber?

Not quite as dead as this!