Leicester vs Glasgow, 17:30 KO Saturday 21st January 2017

First topic message reminder :

Tigers vs Warriors
17:30 KO
Saturday 21st January
Welford Road, Leicester

BT Sport 2/beIN Sports

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FIR)

Last 3 Tigers Matches             Last 3 Glasgow Matches

Racing 34 - 3  Cubs              Glasgow 12 - 14 Munster
Tigers 18 - 16 Munster         Glasgow 23 - 7  Racing
Munster 38 - 0 Cubs             Racing   14 - 23 Glasgow

   Head to Head
6      Played     6
4        Win       2
2      Losses     4
28     Tries     17
228   Points    159

Leicester's closest away match so far was the tight 42-13 match up at Scotstoun. At home they have won both matches in relatively tight battles and are a completely different animal. Glasgow have played excellently against Racing and Leicester but have lacked a clinical edge against Munster. With Leicester out and Glasgow probably in need of a victory to avoid Sarries in the quarters, it will be fascinating to see what teams show up. Will Leicester go for young guns who give it their all (a la Racing last week)?


Glasgow

15. Stuart Hogg (95) (29)
14. Tommy Seymour (96) (25)
13. Mark Bennett (63) (13)
12. Alex Dunbar (93) (23)
11. Lee Jones (46) (22)
10. Finn Russell (58) (17)
9. Ali Price (36) (8)

1. Gordon Reid (108) (20)
2. Fraser Brown (58) (12)
3. Zander Fagerson (46) (11)
4. Tim Swinson (91) (41)
5. Jonny Gray CAPTAIN (68) (19)
6. Rob Harley (152) (31)
7. Ryan Wilson (124) (28)
8. Josh Strauss (103) (22)

Replacements:

16. Pat MacArthur (147) (35)
17. Alex Allan (40) (12)
18. D’arcy Rae (16) (1)
19. Brian Alainu'uese (6) (1)
20. Chris Fusaro (117) (25)
21. Henry Pyrgos (116) (25)
22. Nick Grigg (10) (2)
23. Peter Murchie (111) (17)

Not available due to injury: Simone Favaro (ankle), Peter Horne (knee / ankle), Rory Hughes (knee), Sean Lamont (back), Greg Peterson (shoulder), Sila Puafisi (head), Leonardo Sarto (shoulder) and Tjiuee Uanivi (shoulder).

Leicester

15 Mathew Tait
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Jack Roberts
11 Tom Brady
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs

1 Greg Bateman
2 Tom Youngs
3Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater
5 Michael Fitzgerald
6 Mike Williams
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Luke Hamilton

16 Harry Thacker
17 Ellis Genge
18 Patrick Cilliers
19 Dom Barrow
20 Will Evans
21 Sam Harrison
22 Owen Williams
23 Matt Smith

Ayerza (Leg), Mulipola (Knee), Kitchener (Back), O'Connor (Head), Teamwork (Head), Tuilagi (Knee), Toomua (Knee), Spirit (Heart), Veainu (Head), Pietersen (Leg), Worth (Leg), Bryant (something), Catchpole (Leg), Skills (Hands)

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers are an absolute disgrace. Glasgow are good but they aren't this good. The boys should be ashamed of themselves.

Yes they are - that's Racing demolished twice and Leicester demolished today as well as in the first match - they really are that good.  speed speed speed.  Watch the glasgow forwards - no wandering back into position or lying on the ground - straight back up and at pace to the next ruck.  Watch the linespeed in defense - watch the way they organise the defensive line.  Watch the offloads and how there is always a supporting player there.

Cockers wasn't the answer either the decline has been happening gradually over the last 5/6 years.

since we lost our most experienced players it turned to a sharp decline.

eirebilly wrote:Thanks for supporting the Pro-12 sides there Tigers.

Just messing with yiz. Not watching this game but are the Tigers that bad or Glasgow that good?

Both really, tigers making it easier for glasgow

Glasgow very good, some of the offloads out the back of the hands by the forwards have been awsome

TightHEAD wrote: Glasgow very good, some of the offloads out the back of the hands by the forwards have been awsome

They can play high risk because they've built the lead already

nathan wrote:

TightHEAD wrote: Glasgow very good, some of the offloads out the back of the hands by the forwards have been awsome

They can play high risk because they've built the lead already

They always play high risk right from the start as they have done in this game. Its the Glasgow way. sometimes it gets you beat but recently its earned them the wins

TJ wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers are an absolute disgrace. Glasgow are good but they aren't this good. The boys should be ashamed of themselves.

Yes they are - that's Racing demolished twice and Leicester demolished today as well as in the first match - they really are that good.  speed speed speed.  Watch the glasgow forwards - no wandering back into position or lying on the ground - straight back up and at pace to the next ruck.  Watch the linespeed in defense - watch the way they organise the defensive line.  Watch the offloads and how there is always a supporting player there.

Glasgow are a high quality team. No doubts about that. Tigers are however abysmal. Line speed, tackling, cohesion, handling skills and lines in attack are all missing. I've seen amateur sides play better.

Glasgow are good but Tigers look in disarray at the moment.

Ok. Who made Glasgow angry?

The Tigers (currently under the alias "Stripey Kittens") have been blown off the park since the start when Glasgow went through 27 phases to then scored under the posts and have never looked back.

Glasgow have their tails up smelling blood, Leicester have their tails between their legs and whimpering.

Jeas Andy Nicol is ruining my enjoyment of this game.

tigertattie wrote:Ok. Who made Glasgow angry?

Munster ;-)

TJ wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Ok. Who made Glasgow angry?

Munster ;-)

Well, greetin face Nancy pants Murray

How can we not even organise a   lineout. The ref is whistling and telling them to sort it and they are there looking vacant.

They should be donating their salary for this week to charity  by way of apology.

Tigers have completely collapsed now for sure. time to get Russell, Fagerson, Gray all off the pitch. No need to risk them

TJ wrote:Tigers have completely collapsed now for sure.  time to get Russell, Fagerson, Gray all off the pitch.  No need to risk them

I'd want similar if I was a Glasgow fan. Empty the bench. There's not enough time to lose the game. 

Especially when the ref won't ping you for collapsing a scrum. He's really not given us much. Poopie teams don't get decisions.

I'm watching Snow White and the huntsman instead of rugby.

That is how bad it is.

Goodbye
Cohen
Glynn
Mauger
Blaze
And a fair amount of players.

Maybe we could offer Glasgow Defence coach a Poopie load of cash, and offer Wasps attack coach a head coach gig bring in an experiance old school forwards coach as DOR and a new CEO with experiance of running a sporting team.

That should have been a penalty try Glasgow tackled that Tigers maul.

CEO certainly needs to go. Glynn I'd keep for now, he inherited a mess and has been slowly sorting it. Mauger will be lucky to see February. 

Nicol on the commentary is a real tit.

How the Tigers turned up


How the Warriors tuned up

Well played Glasgow, Russell needs to be subtitled on BT! What did he say?

Congratulations Glasgow you were aggressive in defence and full of flair in attack. I hope you go on to win the thing.

Tigers well they are lucky Welford Road has emptied out as otherwise there's a fair chance they wouldn't have made it to the changing rooms. That pathetic attempt at a performance won't be forgotten anytime soon. I hope we've got some good negotiations ongoing for next season because on that performance there's an awful lot to do, especially at half back (Burns is second choice at best for me).

This will be my last post in the thread.

Well done Glasgow wish you all the best.

BUT I hope you understand if I don't want to see you ever again.

Jeez, that was one-sided!! Well done Glasgow, brutal!

Fantastic performance from Glasgow, a depressing one from Leicester. Hard to believe that was the club of Johnson, Back, White, Corry, Rowntree etc. Leicester are a club I've never supported but always respected. Tom Youngs looked lost out there, there seems to be a huge gap from the way these stalwarts were taught to play and want to play and the way they have been told to play.
Glasgow were brilliant, I can't decide whether Russell is the best international fly-half in Lions contention or the worst it seems to change every thirty seconds. Jonny Gray is a player that Glasgow need to hold on to, he could reach a status no Glasow player ever has before.
If nothing else European Rugby for both our pro teams after Christmas should boost our chances of a high Lions turnout. The one issue that's European rugby needs to look into is the Italian teams, Connacht, Wasps and Toulouse were gifted 10 points that have screwed the qualification system.

I have never seen a Leicester match like that.

Good thing Leicester got rid of Cockers.............

Well that was fun. The Leicester supporters at the game was resigned to defeat after 10 mins. So sad to see such a great club like that


Glasgow played with such speed it was awesome to watch

First time I have ever been to a match as a Scotland supporter and felt relaxed after 20 mins

Well done Warriors. That was some win. Enjoy your first QF in Europe (hopefully, we don't see you in Thomond Park - as our luck is bound to run out )

Leicester - chin up. Munster were in a heap this time last year and look at us now.

Great performance from Glasgow

Yes Leicester were poor, but when this Glasgow side click, there's something quite special about them, and boy did they click tonight.

I think Price is a bit of an unsung hero of this team, a lot of the good work starts with him, he played a key part in three of the tries tonight, and his service is sharp and accurate. Anyone think he should start for Scotland? I know Laidlaw's valued for his kicking and leadership, but as a SH Price is a better player IMO.

Welly wrote: This will be my last post in the thread.

Well done Glasgow wish you all the best.

BUT I hope you understand if I don't want to see you ever again.

Fairy snuff! I don't want to see munster again but we get them twice a year!

123456789 wrote:.........................I can't decide whether Russell is the best international fly-half in Lions contention or the worst it seems to change every thirty seconds. ...........................

That finn for you - one game he looks a worl beater - the next he would barely make Melrose seconds. Still the best 10 we have had in Scotland since I started watching in the 70s

Mad for Chealsea - he is only keeping the shirt warm for Pyrgos who is on his way back from injury.

TJ wrote:Mad for Chealsea - he is only keeping the shirt warm for Pyrgos who is on his way back from injury.

I know that's the theory, but I've been really impressed by Price over the last few months, and I wonder if he's done enough to keep the shirt for now. I'd be tempted to say that it's now up to Pyrgios to show enough to take the shirt back from him.

On Russell, I agree, I fancy he'll always be mercurial to a degree, though his game management has improved this year I feel. Just a great player to watch though, so exciting whenever he gets the ball.

Has anyone worked out who Glasgow will get?

TJ wrote:

123456789 wrote:.........................I can't decide whether Russell is the best international fly-half in Lions contention or the worst it seems to change every thirty seconds. ...........................

That finn for you - one game he looks a worl beater - the next he would barely make Melrose seconds.  Still the best 10 we have had in Scotland since I started watching in the 70s

The thing is having played in the English system and the Scottish he would never have made it in England, in Scotland the fly-halves job is primarily to create in England it is to steer the ship. They sound very similar but as a centre they are completely different, it's much more stressful in Scotland and a bit more testing on your skill set but on the right day a lot more fun. Not that I ever played at a particularly high level. But in England I suspect he'd have been shifted to 15 or 13 in his mid teens.

He is still quite young for a fly-half when you look at the ages Sexton and Biggar came through, he is developing in the very public eye. And unlike the other fly-halves of his age of his profile he never had the luxury of an older mentor. Farrell had Hodgson, Ford had Flood, Russell had Weir...

It could be that over the years toward the next World Cup his rough edges are smoothed over but with him part of me doubts it.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Has anyone worked out who Glasgow will get?

Depends on the Connacht result tomorrow but I think likely to be munster or sarries away

Assuming Toulouse win which will it be?

Numbers - I think if you tried to smooth him out too much you would lose his game changing ability. One thing Townsend has done is allow them the space to make mistakes and to play whats in front of them. He is still not the man for the lions tho- he makes too many mistakes and he needs familiar players around him

According to the Guardian if Toulouse win by fewer than 22 points and Connacht don't get two BPs, then Glasgow play Saracens away.

In a way I hope Glasgow do get Sarries - that will be some matchup. would Sarries be able to deny Glasgow the ball? could sarries defend against the pace of Glasgow. Will Russell outplay Fareell? could be a crack. NOt Munster please. Bored of getting beaten by them.

As it stands, the teams still in play:

1. Clermont 26
2. Munster 24
3. Saracens 24
4. Leinster 23 pd+140
5. Connacht 18 pd+79
6. Glasgow 19 pd+74
7. Wasps 17 +84
8. Toulon 16 +20
9. Toulouse 14 +64

Pool 2
Connacht p18 pd+79
Wasps p17 pd+ 84
 Toulouse p14 of+64

Wasps will beat Zebre with a bonus point so by my reckoning the most likely opponent will be Munster away but there's an almighty number of permutations depending on bonus point and points difference. If Zebre beat Wasps it's even more complicated, but I suspect we'll all be too preoccupied by the pigs in the sky to care. It could be any of Munster, Connacht, Saracens or Leinster. Zebre's continued place is becoming a joke. Any of the Ospreys, Blues, Edinburgh or even the Dragons would at least pose a challenge.

TJ wrote:In a way I hope Glasgow do get Sarries - that will be some matchup. would Sarries be able to deny Glasgow the ball?  could sarries defend against the pace of Glasgow.  Will Russell outplay Fareell?  could be a crack.  NOt Munster please.  Bored of getting beaten by them.

If Finn Russell can guide Glasgow to victory against the Wolf pack defence on the plastic pitch he'll jump up the Lions pecking order. Sarries are a stifling team to play against, a relentless pragmatic machine. You ideally want to avoid them, though the other options are pretty tough anyway. 

I'd have liked to see Sarries vs Munster and Wasps vs Leinster but unfortunately not likely in the next round.

Leicester fans were poor today. Booing your team at the first penalty is never good.

formerly known as Sam - thats one of the key things but its not Russell - its can the Glasgow forwards get any ball off the sarries.  Can sarries defend against Russell.  the way to beat Glasgow is to deny them the ball. Glasgow play on a plastic pitch at home as well remeber.

TJ wrote:formerly known as Sam - thats one of the key things but its not Russell - its can the Glasgow forwards get any ball off the sarries.  Can sarries defend against Russell.  the way to beat Glasgow is to deny them the ball

When is Billy back. Sarries miss him bigtime.

Just back from a very enjoyable day out in Leicester. We sat in the South stand and had a very nice chat with the Leicester fans around us, most of whom it had to be said were fairly resigned to the result before the start.

I thought we would win and even fancied us getting the BP, but never in a month of Sunday's did I see us winning like that. It really was a master class, watching Leicester was like watching Scotland so many times over the years, could not really fault them for effort, but never really at the races.

Despite the joviality and graciousness of the fans near us, a whole crowd just behind us clearly could not bear it and walked out with 20 mins to go. Not good, but I guess they are just not used to it.

We had to shoot off straight after the game and we walked back down to the football stadium where we parked the car. All the way down, all you could hear was the chants from the Glasgow fans. They really made a big presence in the ground and made an awful lot of noise. Must have been around 1000 in the ground, it was not that long ago Glasgow would have struggled to get that crowd for a home game.

They really have come an awful long way.

Last point to make is a word of praise for Toonie, who gave them the license to go and play like that and ensured that they possessed the skills and attitude to do so. Yes we are going to miss VC as the Scotland coach, he has made a big difference but watch how Toonie does in his shot, he may just be able to bring something special to the party as well!

Just seen the result......wow.

TJ wrote:formerly known as Sam - thats one of the key things but its not Russell - its can the Glasgow forwards get any ball off the sarries.  Can sarries defend against Russell.  the way to beat Glasgow is to deny them the ball.  Glasgow play on a plastic pitch at home as well remeber.  

If you want to beat Sarries you have to control territory. The forwards will need to be in Sarries half if the brilliant offloading stuff is going to happen. Glasgow try and go from their 22 and they won't make it out their half, Sarries have the best defence in Europe. Keep pushing Sarries into their half and they'll always be pragmatic and kick. Thats when Glasgow need to get bodies behind the ball and counter and bring their offloading game. Sarries are often happy to play without the ball they are not happy to play in their third of the pitch. 

Good point about Billy though, Sarries will need him back.

The full game is on YouTube - several links available

So we did quite well in the end then.