Quins v Tigers

Who do you think will win?

Personally I think the Tigers will win at a canter.

All the momentum and Tigers' form can't help the Toffs at nearly-home.

Well if they're going to get anywhere near Dublin Athletic next year, they'd best start laying down a few markers.

Should be a good game. Not a great game, but a good game.

I agree with you Portnoy. I expect the Tigers to win the Premiership comfortably enough. Quins are good but despite a slow start the Tiggers are purring.

red_stag wrote:I agree with you Portnoy. I expect the Tigers to win the Premiership comfortably enough. Quins are good but despite a slow start the Tiggers are purring.

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stupid world cup and international windows

I'm hoping for a tigers win, it will only be the second time i've attended the final and those pesky sarries won last year

caoimhincentre wrote:

red_stag wrote:I agree with you Portnoy. I expect the Tigers to win the Premiership comfortably enough. Quins are good but despite a slow start the Tiggers are purring.

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stupid world cup and international windows

I voted for Tigers.

But after reading you're comment I'd just like to say that the European season should be structured more like the southern one. Domestic league (play everyone once not twice), then HC (expanded to more teams), then 6 Nations at the end of the season before the summer tour.

nathan wrote:I'm hoping for a tigers win, it will only be the second time i've attended the final and those pesky sarries won last year

Where are you sat?

I think it will be a great game, although I think Tigers will just edge it due to the fact that they are on form and have been in this situation many times.

LondonTiger wrote:

nathan wrote:I'm hoping for a tigers win, it will only be the second time i've attended the final and those pesky sarries won last year

Where are you sat?

not 100% sure, need to find those tickets! think we're in one of the corners, second tier at the front. Going with t'otherhalf and taking my dad and his awful girlfriend. Might chuck her off! (for the purpose of now being put in prison for what you write online, i'm kidding! )

How about you?

EDIT: South Stand, Upper Tier

I've said Tigers by 10 so that I can only be pleasantly surprised

I went with Tigers edging it...



....but secretly I voted Quins by 10+...




Believe!!

Quins in hope rather than expectation. They played poorly against Saints yet somehow found a way to win. I don't think they'll play so poorly again, in fact I think (read that as hope) that having got that display out of their system, and as the undoubted underdog, They come out and give Leicester the hiding every neutral (read that as me!) so desperately wants to see .

C'mon the Mighty Quins!!!

Seconded that man!

Good boys those Quins supporters.

There's nowt better than to go down to the posh end darn sarf feelin' all 'ated an' pleb-loik.

All we need is a birruv hoity-toity (see Leinster) over-confidence and the Tigers will be riled. Where's Mooro when yer need 'im gobbin' off?

Really - I don't care much. So long as it's not the Fez-heads or the insects.

Quins are already (albeit skewed) champions.

Cheers Portney, that's the nicest thing anyone has said to us.

I think Tigers will win this. Probably quite comfortably too.

Portnoy wrote:Really - I don't care much. So long as it's not the Fez-heads or the insects.

Quins are already (albeit skewed) champions.

You'd better believe it, the result of this year's final is almost academic in most people's minds since the finalists were decided. At least the protaganists will be attempting to play actual rugby this time out.

Should be a good game. Not a great game, but a good game.

The last meeting between the two sides was the game of the year so far. If this game is half as good as that it will be a good final. I hope Care is fit so that the game is a proper end to end spectacle, if Dickson plays and Quins go narrow I think it will be dull and Tigers will comfortably take it but as a Tigers fan I'd rather it be a proper all action game!

Come on you TIGERS!

nathan- south stand upper

Enjoy the spiral walk, its a long way up!

nathan wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

nathan wrote:I'm hoping for a tigers win, it will only be the second time i've attended the final and those pesky sarries won last year

Where are you sat?

not 100% sure, need to find those tickets! think we're in one of the corners, second tier at the front. Going with t'otherhalf and taking my dad and his awful girlfriend. Might chuck her off! (for the purpose of now being put in prison for what you write online, i'm kidding! )

How about you?

EDIT: South Stand, Upper Tier

Probably similar here. My dad, brother and nephews have th2 £40 tickets in south stand - only place Tigers had 5 together. My mum and daughters are going shopping - that will be expensive

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Should be a good game. Not a great game, but a good game.

The last meeting between the two sides was the game of the year so far. If this game is half as good as that it will be a good final. I hope Care is fit so that the game is a proper end to end spectacle, if Dickson plays and Quins go narrow I think it will be dull and Tigers will comfortably take it but as a Tigers fan I'd rather it be a proper all action game!

Come on you TIGERS!

Was going to say the exact same thing. The last game had everything; a grizzling encounter between the forward packs, but lovely back moves as well. Cannot wait for this one!!!!

I cannot wait for Saturday- though getting to Twickers could be a Bar Steward

Wayne Barnes is ref, that doesn't bode well for Tigers at the scrum. The Tigers front row were unimpressed with how he called the scrums at the Stoop (they and I felt the Quins were walking round or crabbing sideways after the hit rather than pushing straight) where the majority of the scrummaging decisions went the Quins way. That should make it interesting as Barnes won't change his view so Tigers will have to find a way with coping as the like absorb the hit and then use Ayerza and Cole's excellent technique to turn the screw but that won't work if the opposition are going sideways.

HQ matt wrote:nathan- south stand upper

Enjoy the spiral walk, its a long way up!

crumbs!

Those spiral ramps do seem to go for ever, I was ecpecting snow as I neard the top last time out!

Wayne Barnes doesn't bode well for Quins as he loves pinging us for pedantic things.

Yappy

I don't think either side is happy with Barnes being "in charge", I just hope he isn't talked about too much after the game and the rugby is

True Killer, I'd have preferred either Pearson or Rose as the man 'in charge' though. They both manage the set pieces better (which will be fiercely fought over) and they tend to be more consistent and communicative with the players as to what they expect at the breakdown. Barnes doesn't explain enough for me.

I haven't seen much of Rose at Tigers games recently actually, always seems to do a decent job, maybe an outside referee could have been used, one that isn't so used to refereeing the two teams.

Perhaps, but after my favourite foreign ref (Poite) did his best to give every decision to Ulster out at Ravenhill so I'm willing to go with the old saying of 'better the devil you know'. Pearson, Barnes etc are not normally bias one way or the other, they may have short falls that can hurt your team at a given moment but it could be worse. I just think there are better English refs than Barnes.

ChequeredJersey wrote:I cannot wait for Saturday- though getting to Twickers could be a Bar Steward

we drove down most of the way and got a train in. It was no hassle for us so i'm assuming that's what we'll be doing again.

Just leave early and get the train to Richmond, then it's a leasurely walk via various pubs to Twickers. Rather nice and scenic too

So boys and girls let's have some team predictions. I'd imagine Tigers will go:

1.Ayerza*
2.Chuter*
3.Cole*
4.Skivington
5.Parling*
6.Mafi*
7.Salvi*
8.Waldrom
9.B Youngs*
10.Flood*/Ford
11.A Tuilagi*
12.Allen*
13.M Tuilagi*
14.Agulla*
15.Murphy*

Subs 16.T Youngs, 17.Mulipola*, 18.Castro*, 19.Kitchener, 20.Newby*, 21.Harrison, 22.Twelvetrees, 23.Hamilton*.

* = capped international.

Yep, can't see it being anything other than that Sam, as long as everyone is fit, its the team that has got us this far so why change it?

I can't wait- project over, this weekend is going to be great!

That's a strong Tigers side. Ours should be:

Brown *
Monye *
Lowe (in tour squad to SA)
JTH *
Smith
Evans *
Care *

Marler (tour)
Gray (tour)
Johnston
Robson (tour)
Kohn
Maurie F *
Robshaw (c.) *
Easter *

Lambert, Buchanan, Fairbrother, Vallejos*, Guest, Dickson, Clegg, Hopper or Chisholm

So pretty much as strong on the field but as ever a considerably weaker bench.

I have to say that the influence of Deano is enormous on the Quins' side is more than significant.

Yep, can't see it being anything other than that Sam, as long as everyone is fit, its the team that has got us this far so why change it?

Well quite. Newby will step up with Woods coming onto the bench if Salvi doesn't make it and Ford will come in if Flood doesn't make it otherwise no changes needed. I hope they let Mulipola loose later in the game the man is a monster!

CJ if we are including touring players then T Youngs, Kitchener and Waldrom will be in that category.

What are the Quins home grown numbers like? Tigers have got Cole, Youngs x2, Tuilagi x2, Murphy, Harrison and Twelvetrees so that's 8 and Ford if he plays from the Tigers academy but with Deacon and Croft out who would have added two more to the list if fit. I'm not counting Ayerza as, although, Tigers were his first club he has already played international rugby as a semi pro.

Regarding acadamy I'd say Brown, Monye, Lowe, Turner-Hall, Smith, Care(joined at 19?), Marler, Robson, Robshaw, Buchanan, Chisholm and Lambert (not entirely sure about all of them but there's 12

And Guest

Very impressive for the Quins academy.

Probably be Hopper or Williams at 23 (is williams injured?) Chisholm doesn't seem in favour for the big games.

Either will be a nice attacking option off the bench when the game breaks apart a bit in the beautiful weather on firm ground

I think this is the more likely Quins lineup:

Brown *A
Monye *A
Lowe (in tour squad to SA) A
JTH *A
Williams A
Evans *
Care *

Marler (tour) A
Gray (tour)
Johnston * (capped for Samoa)
Robson (tour) A
Kohn
Maurie F *
Robshaw (c.) *A
Easter * (sort of A, as he hadn't played professionally before Quins)

Lambert A, Buchanan A, Fairbrother, Vallejos*, Guest A, Dickson, Clegg, Hopper or Chisholm A

I think Hopper will probably get the nod over Chisholm (and Smith) for the bench, but that's a guess. If Fairbrother isn't fully fit, we might see Collier - another academy lad - on the bench (though I hope we don't have to call on him).

So, in all likelihood 10 internationals and 12 academy products in the XXIII

Either will be a nice attacking option off the bench when the game breaks apart a bit in the beautiful weather on firm ground

Should be a cracker with both teams keen to contest each facet of play and most importantly of all happy to attack on the firm ground. I expect it to be high scoring and close.

I'd like to point out that if our lineups are correct, there will be 31/46 English players in the match (67%) of the 15 non-EQ players, 14 will be capped internationals

ChequeredJersey wrote:I'd like to point out that if our lineups are correct, there will be 31/46 English players in the match (67%) of the 15 non-EQ players, 14 will be capped internationals

Just to be clear CJ, would one of these 'English players' you talk of be the one who has on his wiki account

My agent came round and he brought the pamphlet with the International Rugby Board's rules regarding qualifying after residency. My wife was going through the criteria. She saw the line about being able to qualify immediately if one of your grandparents was born in the respective country. I remembered reading somewhere that my grandmother was English. I rang up my mum in New Zealand, where it was four o'clock in the morning. I apologised for waking her up and asked if nana was born in England. She said yes, and that she also had the birth certificate to prove it.[

?

Portnoy that makes him as English as Cuthburt the Cardiff winger is Welsh.

My personal view on nationality is that if a person is living an contributing to this country, thinks of themselves as British, wishes to be British and is willing to commit themselves to the Nation then in my eyes they are British. So yes, I view Waldrom as English

Wayne Barnes - Nooooooooow
Middle tier around the 22 - I'm hoping for a good game and not a penalty fest.

Can we get Mo to accidentally collide with Barnes?

Actually to be fair he reffed the last matchup and it was still a good game and he was consistent. Ish