Tigers v Newcastle (A) - Premiership - Friday 29th March 2024 - KO: 19-45

[OakhamTiger32]

So here we go again, 3rd Fri night fixture in a row. Have to say I don’t like them but hey ho, it is what it is. We need a response as we have been found wanting in most respects last 2 weeks. Rest week for Cole and Chessum.

I hope Kata is fit but I’m fearing the worst after he went off yesterday. My thoughts are similar to what RB suggested on another post but something like this fitness dependent:

1. Whitcombe
2. Montoya
3. Heyes
4. Martin
5. Wells
6. Hatherall
7. Ilione
8. Wiese
9. JVP
10. Pollard
11. OHC
12. Cokanasiga (Kata if fit)
13. Scott
14. Bassett
15. Steward

16. FTT
17. Cronin
18. Hurd
19. Carnduff
20. Liebenberg
21. Youngs
22. Shillcock
23. Porter (if fit)

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Thats a long while ago!

[TigerFeetSteve]

We have played our best this season in "must win" games...

This is 100% a must win

[TigerFeetSteve]

Ok so here's my thinking a bit torn in places.

Steward
Bassett
Porter (Scott if fit)
Kelly (Kata if fit)
Hassell-Collins
Pollard
Van Poortvliet
Whitcombe
Montoya
Heyes
Martin
Hatherall
Rogerson
Illione
Wiese

Dolly (if fit)/Theobold-Thomas
Cronin
Hurd
Wells
Liebenberg
Youngs
Shilcock
Cokanasiga/Porter/Kelly (depending on who's fit above)


Depends a bit on if there was a bug or just out of it, but I'd give Liebenberg a go from the bench

[OakhamTiger32]

Ok so here's my thinking a bit torn in places.

Steward
Bassett
Porter (Scott if fit)
Kelly (Kata if fit)
Hassell-Collins
Pollard
Van Poortvliet
Whitcombe
Montoya
Heyes
Martin
Hatherall
Rogerson
Illione
Wiese

Dolly (if fit)/Theobold-Thomas
Cronin
Hurd
Wells
Liebenberg
Youngs
Shilcock
Cokanasiga/Porter/Kelly (depending on who's fit above)


Depends a bit on if there was a bug or just out of it, but I'd give Liebenberg a go from the bench

Fitness dependant looks very similar thinking

[RagingBull]

If Kata and Scott are fit this might be a game to play Kata on the wing.

[Ian Cant]

Chessum will want to play as sadly his indiscipline last night probably cost us a try then gave the momentum back to Gloucester!
I’d like to have Martin and Chessum playing if fit as we’ve not seen much of them due to injury and England call ups.
I’m always worried when Scott isn’t playing as our defence with Kata and Kelly is never as good. I’d put Steward on the wing with Mike Brown at full back so these two can interchange. Yes, Mike Brown started with a mistake v Gloucester in the final but then he was the one player who was trying to make things happen.
Whoever plays please just go out and play with energy, passion and brains!
Be brave to change game plans if they don't work!

[OakhamTiger32]

Chessum will want to play as sadly his indiscipline last night probably cost us a try then gave the momentum back to Gloucester!
I’d like to have Martin and Chessum playing if fit as we’ve not seen much of them due to injury and England call ups.
I’m always worried when Scott isn’t playing as our defence with Kata and Kelly is never as good. I’d put Steward on the wing with Mike Brown at full back so these two can interchange. Yes, Mike Brown started with a mistake v Gloucester in the final but then he was the one player who was trying to make things happen.
Whoever plays please just go out and play with energy, passion and brains!
Be brave to change game plans if they don't work!

Energy starting at 12, passion in the front row and brains at full back I’m thinking

[Ian Cant]

Newcastle pushing Exeter all the way: 22-16

[LE18]

Thats a long while ago!

I was only 2, what was the result or had rugby not restarted yet after WW2?

[tigerburnie]

I think that not only were none of those in that squad were around in '45, but their dads were most likely not around either. a quarter to eight is quite late lol.

[sam16111986]

I'd be inclined to rest Kata this week if it's actually an injury. If it was only cramp then he starts. Otherwise Cole and Chessum take their rest weeks this week to get them out the way. Reffell looked out on his feet last night. I'd give him a week off, he took some big contacts in the last two rounds of the 6N.

Cronin, Montoya, Heyes
Martin, Wells
Liebenburg, Weise, Ilione
Youngs, Pollard
Kelly/Kata, Scott
OHC, Steward, Bassett

Dolly, Whitcombe, Hurd, Hatherall, Cracknell, JvP, Shillcock, Porter/Kelly

That should be enough to see off Falcons. Pace outside, experience in each area, carrying threats, breakdown threats.

[voice of the crumbie]

That should be enough to see off Falcons. Pace outside, experience in each area, carrying threats, breakdown threats.

The team we had out on Friday night should have been enough to see off Gloucester but it didn't.

[sam16111986]

That should be enough to see off Falcons. Pace outside, experience in each area, carrying threats, breakdown threats.

The team we had out on Friday night should have been enough to see off Gloucester but it didn't.

Once Pollard dropped out last minute I had concerns. Glaws are a better team then they've been given credit for. Skivington was invited to coach the England A team for a reason.

[Scott1]

That should be enough to see off Falcons. Pace outside, experience in each area, carrying threats, breakdown threats.

The team we had out on Friday night should have been enough to see off Gloucester but it didn't.

It’s the second easiest fixture of the season and very worrying to lose like that!