Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
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Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
Big month coming up. Balancing act giving players game time and maintaining momentum.
Falcons at home needs to be tbp win.
Personally I would be tempted to rotate some off the bench with a view to going stronger against the Stormers before rotating away to Stade.
I would go
Steward
Watson
Scott
Kelly
OHC
Shilcock
Youngs
Van Wyk
Montoya
Cole
Wells
Chessum
Rogerson
Reffell
Wiese
Claire, Whitcombe , Heyes, Henderson, Liebenberg, Whitely, Pollard, Kata
Falcons at home needs to be tbp win.
Personally I would be tempted to rotate some off the bench with a view to going stronger against the Stormers before rotating away to Stade.
I would go
Steward
Watson
Scott
Kelly
OHC
Shilcock
Youngs
Van Wyk
Montoya
Cole
Wells
Chessum
Rogerson
Reffell
Wiese
Claire, Whitcombe , Heyes, Henderson, Liebenberg, Whitely, Pollard, Kata
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
Personally I can't see Watson being drafted straight in.
1. Is he fit
2. If we believe his contract announcement, he's contracted to join us in December, i.e. he won't be fully insured etc to practice with us till Friday....
I'd definitely recommend going pretty full strength for this game. With the top 3 all playing 4th to 6th in the table, at least 3 of the 6 teams above us will lose points. So 5 points next weekend will leave us on the cusp of top 4.
1. Is he fit
2. If we believe his contract announcement, he's contracted to join us in December, i.e. he won't be fully insured etc to practice with us till Friday....
I'd definitely recommend going pretty full strength for this game. With the top 3 all playing 4th to 6th in the table, at least 3 of the 6 teams above us will lose points. So 5 points next weekend will leave us on the cusp of top 4.
Used to run around with an 11, 14 or 15 on my back.
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
My feelings were that if we agreed to start his contract on December 1st he was likely to be fit, also he knows a number of the players in the back line I suggested it would only be OHC he hadn’t played with before.TigerFeetSteve wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:49 pm Personally I can't see Watson being drafted straight in.
1. Is he fit
2. If we believe his contract announcement, he's contracted to join us in December, i.e. he won't be fully insured etc to practice with us till Friday....
I'd definitely recommend going pretty full strength for this game. With the top 3 all playing 4th to 6th in the table, at least 3 of the 6 teams above us will lose points. So 5 points next weekend will leave us on the cusp of top 4.
I could well be wide of the mark but would hope to see him ASAP
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
Watson for me depends on 2 things. 1 as others have said is he fully fit, and contact fit. Fitness is one thing but he has to have done decent amount of contact training before being thrown in. 2 if he’s been completely training alone or has been kept in the loop with moves and plays etc.
I’d be tempted to have him on the bench vs Stormers if fully fit, then same again vs Stade and look to start vs Chiefs.
For Newcastle I’d go fairly strong as they looked decent against Chiefs today, but try and rest a few where we can. Something like:
Steward, Kata, Scott, Kelly, OHC, Pollard, Youngs, Wiese, Reffell, Rogerson/Hatherell, Wells, Chessum, Heyes, Montoya, Van Wyk
Dolly/Clare, Whitcombe, Cole, Henderson/Carter, Ilione/Hatherell, Whiteley, Shillcock, Porter
Gives Bassett and Liebenberg a full break. Potentially Henderson too. Brings back Hatherell/Dolly hopefully and if not give Ilione a good run out. I’d look to bring Reffell off for either at around 60mins. Porter to cover back 3 but I’d be looking to try Shillcock, Steward and OHC in the back 3 at some point when Kata might have used his power to good effect in the Nadolo big winger looking for work role.
I’d be happy with the same team again, but wouldn’t mind seeing something a bit different without losing much of the key plays to put us at risk at home.
I’d be tempted to have him on the bench vs Stormers if fully fit, then same again vs Stade and look to start vs Chiefs.
For Newcastle I’d go fairly strong as they looked decent against Chiefs today, but try and rest a few where we can. Something like:
Steward, Kata, Scott, Kelly, OHC, Pollard, Youngs, Wiese, Reffell, Rogerson/Hatherell, Wells, Chessum, Heyes, Montoya, Van Wyk
Dolly/Clare, Whitcombe, Cole, Henderson/Carter, Ilione/Hatherell, Whiteley, Shillcock, Porter
Gives Bassett and Liebenberg a full break. Potentially Henderson too. Brings back Hatherell/Dolly hopefully and if not give Ilione a good run out. I’d look to bring Reffell off for either at around 60mins. Porter to cover back 3 but I’d be looking to try Shillcock, Steward and OHC in the back 3 at some point when Kata might have used his power to good effect in the Nadolo big winger looking for work role.
I’d be happy with the same team again, but wouldn’t mind seeing something a bit different without losing much of the key plays to put us at risk at home.
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
I'd look to rotate a little for the Falcons game. Maybe load the bench and use it if we need to.
1. Whitcombe
2. Montoya
3. Hurd
4. Wells
5. Chessum
6. Rogerson
7. Reffell
8. Wiese
9. Youngs
10. Atkinson
11. OHC
12. Kata
13. Scott
14. Watson
15. Shillcock
Dolly, van Wyk, Cole, Henderson, Hatherall, Whiteley, Pollard, Steward.
Plenty in that team to get the job done and plenty on the bench if it doesn't go to plan and we need some reinforcements. Possibly rest Reffell and bring in Ilione but that'd be a big test for him.
1. Whitcombe
2. Montoya
3. Hurd
4. Wells
5. Chessum
6. Rogerson
7. Reffell
8. Wiese
9. Youngs
10. Atkinson
11. OHC
12. Kata
13. Scott
14. Watson
15. Shillcock
Dolly, van Wyk, Cole, Henderson, Hatherall, Whiteley, Pollard, Steward.
Plenty in that team to get the job done and plenty on the bench if it doesn't go to plan and we need some reinforcements. Possibly rest Reffell and bring in Ilione but that'd be a big test for him.
Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
Whatever we do we must not underestimate Falcons.- They gave a good showing against Chiefs and could easily have won. Lets make sure that we can get another 5pts and then bring on the bench to rest important players.
Hehehehehehehehe
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
If we were currently top 4 in the prem we could afford to rest some of our key players, but not where we currently are!
I hope I am proven wrong but I feel Europe might be beyond us this year.
I hope I am proven wrong but I feel Europe might be beyond us this year.
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
Nothing decided just yet , your points are more than justifiable though for me , at least.markharbtiger wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 7:53 am If we were currently top 4 in the prem we could afford to rest some of our key players, but not where we currently are!
I hope I am proven wrong but I feel Europe might be beyond us this year.
Lets just try to keep collecting points - strongest side available and go for a win.
Seemingly heading rapidly toward senility .....Not long or far to go now , in fact, getting worse daily.....
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
The other variable is we don’t really know Mckellars attitude to player rotation. Both Borthwick and Wigglesworth were content to send less experienced sides to away European games. Dan may be more of the strongest team available for each match mindset
Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
For me its not worth risking our key players in Europe this season especially given our position in the premiership. I feel due to the draw and given the calibre of our opponents it really is a bridge to far. I have always believed it should be premiership first everything else is secondary and its not worth dying in a ditch for especially in the farcical unlevel Champions Cup playing field
Without hope we are nothing, keep the faith, a Tiger for eternity
Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
I agree we need 5 points against Falcons, sadly though it wont raise us up the division as we are 6 points adrift of Saints, yes it might close the gap but we will still only be 7th in table. Lose and Bristol or Gloucester could go above us, winning is essential so go strongest team poss and especially in the pack, Falcons have some big heavy lads and our front row were not at their best v Gloucs.
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
I would also go with a very strong team.
But would play Watson if fully fit and would give Shillcock a run at 15.
I might also rest Hanro and play Rogerson or Hatherell if back fit.
Would stick with Kelly & Scott in the centres with Kata on the bench.
But would play Watson if fully fit and would give Shillcock a run at 15.
I might also rest Hanro and play Rogerson or Hatherell if back fit.
Would stick with Kelly & Scott in the centres with Kata on the bench.
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
5 points will bring us right up close. Excepting draws 3 of the 6 teams above us will lose next weekend so a 5 point win will leave us within a win of top 4.LE18 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 12:45 pm I agree we need 5 points against Falcons, sadly though it wont raise us up the division as we are 6 points adrift of Saints, yes it might close the gap but we will still only be 7th in table. Lose and Bristol or Gloucester could go above us, winning is essential so go strongest team poss and especially in the pack, Falcons have some big heavy lads and our front row were not at their best v Gloucs.
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Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
I would see how we go against Stormers and Stade. Imo we are capable of getting results in both those 2 games and re evaluate after that. Because of the weird format anything becomes possiblesapajo wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 11:57 am For me its not worth risking our key players in Europe this season especially given our position in the premiership. I feel due to the draw and given the calibre of our opponents it really is a bridge to far. I have always believed it should be premiership first everything else is secondary and its not worth dying in a ditch for especially in the farcical unlevel Champions Cup playing field
Re: Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (H) - Premiership - Sunday 3rd December 2023 - KO: 3-00pm
Falcons scrum seemed to do quite well if intermittently against Exeter so going to inexperienced in the front row could be costly. Suggestion by some was out performance in the scrum on Saturday was down to the synthetic pitch so making sure we at least have a very strong scrummaging bench would seem to be prudent.