Tigers v Saints (H) - Premiership - Saturday 18th November 2023 - KO: 15:05

[TigerFeetSteve]

Right this is 100% now an absolute must win.
Hopefully a few people are back

Steward
Bassett
Scott
Kata
Hassell-Collins
Pollard
Youngs
Van Wyk
Montoya
Cole
Martin/Henderson
Chessum
Liebenberg
Ilione
Wiese

Dolly
Whitcombe
Heyes
Henderson/Wells
Cracknell
Whiteley
Shillcock
Kelly

I'm assuming Reffell failing a HIA in the warm up means he's out next week also... In which case I think we need to start Ilione next week (exams allowing)

[Tigerbeat]

Apparently Reffell took a knock to his eye and experienced some blurred vision.

[RunTigerRun]

Not far off my guess/team TFS and agree it’s a must win, but also got to show a bit more umpffff.

I’d go something like:

15 Steward
14 Bassett
13 Scott
12 Kata
11 Hassell-Collins
10 Pollard
9 Youngs
8 Wiese
7 Reffell (Ilione if Tommy not fit)
6 Liebenberg
5 Henderson
4 Chessum
3 Cole
2 Dolly
1 Cronin

Replacements:

16 Montoya (Clare if Julian not fit)
17 Whitcombe
18 Heyes (Hurd if Joe not fit)
19 Martin (Wells if George not fit)
20 Hatherell (Ilione/Rogerson if Tommy/Kyle not fit)
21 Whiteley
22 Shillcock
23 Porter


Kelly is out of sorts so give him a week off and the thought of missing the Derby might spur him on. Brown has played well but for me we need wingers in the wing and then Shillcock and Porter offer more versatility and impact from the bench.

Defence has got to be on it against saints who have looked threatening and their defence has looked better too so the attack has to be on it and we have to take our chances as there might not be too many.

4points is a must, 5 will be a huge difference maker. Plus denying saints any would be massive.

[mightymouse]

Matt Scott needs to be in the 23 somewhere but whether it’s alongside Kata or off the bench, that’s the question.
Previously Kelly and Porter were absolutely nailed on and in great form but for some reason it’s just not clicked, this season.
Obviously Kata gives us much needed go forward but would that be better as an impact off tbe bench .. 4 good centres .. just how do you use them to get the best out of them .. other than getting Moroni back to help them!

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

Not finding a way to keep Moroni looks more daft every week.

What's is very obvious this season is how important Reffell is to us, the lack of another out & out 7 in the squad is not ideal, if Tommy isn't fit llione has to start.

The inability to catch isn't a coaching problem, picking those who continually can't or are out of form is.

Cronin is either a starter or shouldn't be in the 23, never looks the same off the bench. Whitcombe looked the part when he was playing 2nd fiddle to Genge, personally I thought he would be knocking on the international door by now.

The clubs communications need a kick up the proverbial as well, over 2 days to put up a extremely brief report of a game played, but quick to big up partnerships with a Yogurt drink.
Tiger Eyes is a step forward but the rest is still pretty poor.

[Big Dai]

Looking at Stains today I don't fancy our chances. Exeter looking a bit like we did yesterday. Dropping too much.

[Scott1]

Lose this one and the domestic season is over!

[Big Dai]

Lose this one and the domestic season is over!

I think it already is.

[Scott1]

Lose this one and the domestic season is over!

I think it already is.

Very close!

[Smudger67S]

Saints are impressive, never been a fan of Mitchell but he’s had a blinder. Long day at the office next Saturday by the look of things.

[sam16111986]

Not finding a way to keep Moroni looks more daft every week.

It was him or Scott. Scott doesn't miss the first chunk of every season on international duty and is probably cheaper. It's the problem when you have a number of younger players that are developing well and need new deals, something has to give with the salary cap.

I'd keep the same midfield as this week. We need some continuity in that area and Scott didn't do a lot after he came on whilst Kelly did some good things as well as the obvious handling error.

1. van Wyk
2. Montoya
3. Cole
4. Henderson
5. Chessum
6. Liebenburg
7. Reffell / Illione
8. Weise
9. Youngs
10. Pollard
11. OHC
12. Kata
13. Kelly
14. Bassett
15. Steward

Dolly, Cronin, Hurd, Martin / Wells, Ilione / Hatherall, Whiteley, Shillcock, Porter.

I think we're really missing Potter. His work rate and tenacity are badly missed in the backline currently. I wonder if we could deploy Shillcock on the wing.

[sapajo]

Just think that we lack serious pace across the park apart from OHC

[sam16111986]

Just think that we lack serious pace across the park apart from OHC

Harry Simmonds injury is a blow. Watson will be available to us again soon as well which will help.

The one paced backrow we started with yesterday didn't help. Well one paced pack really.

[LE18]

Our Younger daughter has ex Saints player as partner, she is now full on Saints, how am I going to cope with them next week?

[RagingBull]

Lose this one and the domestic season is over!

I swear you said this so often last season.
Yet we managed to get to the play offs