Champions Cup Pool 4: Leicester Tigers v Stade Francais, 13 November

                
Leicester Tigers v Stade Francais
Friday 13 November 2015
KO: 19:45
Welford Road, Leicester

Live on BT Sport / beIN Sports

Referee John Lacey (Ireland)
Touch Judge 1 David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Touch Judge 2 Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Fourth Official Ian Tempest (England)
TMO Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Citing Commissioner Maurizio Vancini (Italy)

A. Head to Head

8 Played 8
4 Wins 4
4 Losses 4
0 Draws 0
164 Points 199

B. Form

01 Apr 2007
Leicester Tigers 21 - 20 Stade Francais

15 Jan 2006
Leicester Tigers 29 - 22 Stade Francais

29 Oct 2005
Stade Francais 12 - 6 Leicester Tigers

30 Jan 2004
Leicester Tigers 13 - 26 Stade Francais

06 Dec 2003
Stade Francais 26 - 15 Leicester Tigers

C. Teams

Leicester Tigers

15 Matthew Tait (capt)
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Matt Smith
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs

1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Mike Williams
5 Michael Fitzgerald
6 Tom Croft
7 Brendon O'Connor
8 Lachlan McCaffrey

16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Matias Aguero
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Dom Barrow
20 Jordan Crane
21 Sam Harrison
22 Seremaia Bai
23 Telusa Veainu

Stade Francais

15 Hugo Bonneval
14 Julien Arias
13 Paul Williams
12 Herman Meyer Bosman
11 Jérémy Sinzelle
10 Morné Steyn
9 Julien Dupuy

1 Zak Taulafo
2 Laurent Panis
3 Adrien Oleon
4 Paul Gabrillagues
5 Pascal Papé
6 Patrick Sio
7 Sylvain Nicolas
8 Sergio Parisse (capt)

16 Dany Priso
17 Zurabi Zhvania
18 Rabah Slimani
19 Alexandre Flanquart
20 Jonathan Ross
21 Julien Tomas
22 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu
23 Josaia Raisuqe

Now this is early.

Stade struggling so far in the T14, so I wonder on their mindset for a Friday night game in what could be a wet East Midlands.


Will be interesting if any of the following can get some game time this weekend ahead of this fixture:

Ayerza, Ghiraldini, Kitchener, Slater, O'Connor, Youngs, Burns, Manu

Yes, Stade are eating it at the moment - 12th in the league, won 2 lost 5 and their injury list is massive.

A lot of guys (like Parisse) are still broken post-World Cup. I would expect a lot of these injuries to come good before the game but the Stade players will hardly be hitting that game on form.

I'm quite excited about this game.

Key will be if Ayerza and /or Mulipola is fit.

Cockers has said a key to Tigers might be to get Veainu chanes. Which suggests he might well be our number 1 winger, which isn't a surprise looking @ his game against Exeter.

Would hope for a team of
1) Ayerza, 2) Youngs, 3) Cole
4) Fitzgerald, 5) Williams
6) Croft, 7) McCaffrey, 8) Crane
9) Harrison, 10) Williams
12) Bai, 13) Betham
11) Veainu, 14) Goneva, 15) Tait

16) Ghilrandini, 17) Mulipola, 18) Balmain
19) Slater, 20) O'Connor
21) Youngs, 22) Bell/Smith, 23) Thompstone

Hope being key word.

I think most fans I've spoken to were impressed with Veainu against Exeter Welly. His versatility combined with his pace is making him look like a top signing.

From your side named there I wouldn't be surprised to see O'Connor put straight in at 7. He is clearly very well considered by Mauger and Hansen plus there would be the option to rest him again a week later against Treviso. Whichever starts I expect the other will be on the bench however.

I'd also be tempted to go with Smith over Bai and Thompstone over Goneva. Thompstone especially has looked really good this season and Niki offers lots of impact from the bench.

1.Ayerza
2.Youngs
3.Cole
4.Williams
5.Fitzgerald
6.Croft
7.O'Connor
8.Crane

9.Harrison
10.Williams

11.Veainu
12.Smith
13.Betham
14.Thompstone
15.Tait

16.Ghirildini
17.Mulipola
18.Balmain
19.Slater
20.McCaffery
21.Youngs
22.Bai
23.Goneva

Like our back three options this year. Some really strong players there and a nice range if skills. We know Goneva doesn't go well in wet conditions but is powerful and electric at the start and end of a season. Betham, Tait and TV all being able to play 13, wing and full back is helpful. Power and pace in Thompstone and Benjamin should get us over the gain line in rain or shine.

For Stade I'd like to see us prepare for the inevitable aerial bombardment and go with a back line of;

10. Williams
11. TV
12. Bai
13. Smith
14. Betham
15. Tait

Have Goneva and Thompstone on the bench to unleash as the game drifts on and the French start to tire. A small risk having no replacement 10 on the bench but we'll manage.

Up front it's got to be the big boys where possible.

Ayerza, Youngs, Cole - picks itself as pound for pound the best club front row going.
Kitchener, Williams - not the game to risk Slater who hasn't played since last season and I think Fitzgerald will bring an athletic impact from the bench where as we'll need Kitchener's bulk early doors.
Croft, McCaffery, Crane - O'Connor waiting in the wings for his debut as it would be a bit harsh to throw him in the deep end straight away.

Can someone tell me a bit about Brendon O'Connor and how he has been playing?

I'd never heard of him and then I realised he was the EQ loosie everyone was talking about from Auckland.

Auckland Blues player of the season, playing alongside Kaino and Luatua. Captained his ITM side to win the final. Likes to get stuck into the breakdown in defence and in attack has a dangerous offloading game. Also played at 8 during the ITM.

Leicester Tigers (v Stade Francais Paris, Welford Road, Friday 7.45pm)
15 Mathew Tait (c)
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Matt Smith
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Mike Williams
5 Mike Fitzgerald
6 Tom Croft
7 Brendon O'Connor
8 Lachlan McCaffrey

Replacements
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Matias Aguero
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Dom Barrow
20 Jordan Crane
21 Sam Harrison
22 Seremaia Bai
23 Telusa Veainu

OP updated. Good luck, Tigers.

A shame that Slater or Kitchener couldn't make it back in time as their experience on the bench would have been very useful.

Other than that I'm happy with it though. Aguero having to come straight onto the bench obviously isn't ideal but with Leo and Marcos also back it makes our front row options look so much stronger.

Two open sides is exciting to see in terms of the options this squad possesses. Especially if BOC can bring the carrying we saw in SXV and the ITM as well as his break down work.

That back row looks considerably more formidable than in prior seasons. There's a lot of breakdown skill across all three.

Think we might see Kitch and Slater back for the Treviso game. We've rotated the squad pretty well so far so I'd like to see us keep doing that. Treviso away would be a good chance to give the Youngs bros a rest for instance.

Agree completely on rotation.

With Leo fit and Harrison playing very well it would be an excellent chance to rest OTY and YBY.

I wouldn't be adverse to a complete change of front rows in fact. Depending on how Aguero does from the bench (and how Ayerza does starting) I'd be tempted to give him a start. It would also allow us to ease Marcos back in slightly. Balmain would also be deserving of a start at TH having deputised at LH recently!

If Slater and/or Kitch are back it would also be a good opportunity to give Williams a chance in the back row.

If Tigers can deal with the kicking game from Stade's 9&10 then they should win this one at a canter.

If Stade can't get points early heads will drop and that Tigers team looks ok too

Shame they've put Slimani on the bench, him against Ayerza would have made for an interesting scrum contest

It's even more of a shame Kubriashvili isn't playing - injured I guess?

There's definitely an argument that Ayerza vs Kubriashvili would be the battle of the best scrummaging LH and TH in the world!

Tom Croft a late withdrawal. Dom Barrow promoted and Ed Slater on the bench.

Will be interesting to see how our front row goes

Not a surprise Croft went off at half time last weekend. Slightly worried it's Slater on the bench and not Kitch, how bad is that rib injury?

We lose some pace with the change at 6 but we gain some extra power which isn't a bad thing against a big French pack.

Ugh, lacey

He's showing his complete incompetency early. How can you be offside from your own knock on?

What a Poopie ref

Cole looking hungry for work

Said previously Lacey is woeful and he's just proved it again with that bizarre offside call - how did this guy get any matches at the RWC - he's not even good enough at club level ...

Hmm, thinks that's a fair decision.

Well we're playing much better than last weekend. Far more physical and that adventure ball in hand is coming but isn't quite there yet.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Well we're playing much better than last weekend. Far more physical and that adventure ball in hand is coming but isn't quite there yet.

Yeah I think we are progressing nicely

I like McCaffery and O'Connor combining at the breakdown but what McCaffery doesn't offer is that perfect ball control at the base of the scrum we get with Crane.

Yeah noticed that a few times already

Bugger!

Ar$e gifted Stade an undeserved lead.

Then blown a simple overlap.

I fear this is going to be a game of nearly tries for us

We're playing too much. Need to start pushing them back towards their line and forcing the old multiple 5m line outs.

Also Betham's error count is far too high. He's really a winger not a centre.

Complete Hollywood, get up you idiot.

Pen right decision though

formerly known as Sam wrote:Ar$e gifted Stade an undeserved lead.

Then blown a simple overlap.

Looked like a possible forward pass early in that try?

Are we scared of taking the ball into contact?

Didn't see a forward pass in the Stade try to be honest though it was all pretty close and flat.

Nice turnover try for us. Clinical for once this game. O'Connor doing what we're paying him for he's been a menace at the breakdown.

Crikey, the forwards didn't take that on..

Bod is a pretty good commentator, good signing by bt

What he says makes a lot of sense and he has a good insight into the game. Like the BOD/Kay combo.

O'Connor is very good at appearing where the ball will be. He's going to be an excellent signing.

Kicking has been crap tonight by owens

That was an interesting call. Clearly the back was in a normal trailing position. But he did technically obstruct the defender though he didn't go out of his line to do so. I agree it is a try (great play by the way). Good call (or non-call) by the officials.

No knock on there. Lacey missed an offside for Leicesters first try...you lads are getting the rub of the green....

ME-109 wrote:No knock on there. Lacey missed an offside for Leicesters first try...you lads are getting the rub of the green....

About 50/50 really, Lacey has been Poopie for both teams

Few question marks on Bethams defence

Shocking line speed as we take our foot off the gas and Stade get their offloading game going.

ME-109 wrote:No knock on there. Lacey missed an offside for Leicesters first try...you lads are getting the rub of the green....

Any mention of the forward pass for that try?

forward pass in both Stade's tries ...

Just need to win this now then...