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)

Welly wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:If we could turn to the scrum and the lineout for superiority then yes. However, unless we turn up and play for 80 like we did in the final 40 against Wasps I can see us taking a kicking. 

No Smith in the midfield means we have no defensive general and no and hard ball carrier in attack.

Smith in the midfield didn't help us v Wasps or Racing defence wise.

Roberts was fine V Munster at home.

I thought Smith's defensive interventions were pretty significant in putting off the inevitable to be honest. I'd have had a Smith/ Roberts midfield and given Betham a go at 15 where he has experience in Super 15.

LondonTiger wrote:I can envisage us getting a thrashing that will make the Scotstoun experience seem like a happy memory.

Stop it.

Down with that sort of thing. This defeatist talk is a surefire way to undermine any and all Scottish sides. In any and all sporting contexts.

So, I used the quote function and the emoji button and I pretty much predicted the 23 ( Puafisi obviously is still hor's de combat as they say in Germany), have I been taken over by aliens?

I think if we picked a composite 15 there would be quite a preponderance of Glasgow accents to be heard.
We're doomed. Doomed.

A composite team you'd see Slater in for Swinson and Cole in at 3 then just recite the Glasgow side.

No sure about that. Fagerson is playing well and Cole seemed to be struggling a bit for form. Swinson has been excellent this season as well so unless Slater is in form...

As for who else maybe Williams could sneak in ahead of Harley, Thompstone is probably better than L Jones and both Youngs it depends on form. Burns and Russell are both capable of being unplayable in both senses of the word but Russell is better on average (though I rate Burns as well).

Not Available due to Injury:

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)

Both Youngs are in questionable form. Cole has been exceptional at the scrum and did some real damage to two international looseheads in the last two weeks, though his discipline is still a bit iffy. Big Ed is a cracking lock and leader and I'd make room for him in most teams.

Thompstone I rate highly but he does have certain tactical weaknesses and I remember your back three tearing us apart up north.

I'd take Cole, Slater, McCaffrey, B Youngs and Thompstone ahead of Fagerson, Swinson, Wilson, Price and Jones.

Also it might be worth noting that Tom Youngs "lost it" (per Ed Slater) at half time last week so I would assume there's been some pretty frank exchanges in training. Our defence coach, who's not known for his easy temper as a player, has also told players they will be accountable for their actions on the field. Might be a more fires up Tigers team, well that or they'll all retreat into their shells.

Random aside, what does the thanks button do? Is it purely a darker shade of blue? I meant to click on LT for the injury/emotional list for Tigers.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Also it might be worth noting that Tom Youngs "lost it" (per Ed Slater) at half time last week so I would assume there's been some pretty frank exchanges in training. Our defence coach, who's not known for his easy temper as a player, has also told players they will be accountable for their actions on the field. Might be a more fires up Tigers team, well that or they'll all retreat into their shells.

Does this mean genge will probably hospitalise someone

Maybe when he gets on Nathan. I just hope Bateman can keep the scrum together until he does. Bit much asking a hooker who used to play tighthead a bit to convert to that position at the start of the season and then at the mid point to start a HEC game at loosehead against international opposition.

Waaaaaait, so Bateman is playing loosehead for Leicester, yet Batman is playing openside for Glasgow.

This is going to get mighty confusing, Bruce.

Isn't the Glasgow Openside called Robin?

Come on Glasgow, da Frak this up now.

Owen Williams out George Worth in

Sorry Leicester buds but yiz are out so I am hoping for a Glasgow win, be nice to have 3-4 Pro-12 sides in the 1/4 finals

eirebilly wrote:Sorry Leicester buds but yiz are out so I am hoping for a Glasgow win, be nice to have 3-4 Pro-12 sides in the 1/4 finals

So Glasgow need 2 points?

Looking like it now. Capitulate ye Tigers, capitulate FFS

eirebilly wrote:Looking like it now. Capitulate ye Tigers, capitulate FFS

If we lose then it was deliberate.

eirebilly wrote:Looking like it now. Capitulate ye Tigers, capitulate FFS

You can have a LBP and a try scoring bonus. Can't say fairer than that.

God I'm nervous.

Please don't be a thrashing.

Sam/Welly,

Ye two are up there with the fairest and top posters on this Rugby forum. Always wish yiz the best but not today, ye understand

Well time to start drinking.

Some Poopie decisions going against tigers. We can't get a lucky break at the minute

Poopie decisions usually go against poopie teams for a reason.

Welly wrote: Poopie decisions usually go against poopie teams for a reason.

Completely agree

Russell needs to stop missing kickable penalties!

Tait isn't a flipping 15.

Rather Worth started.

Tait is getting binned here. There was definitely a completed tackle in where the player gets back up and carries on. Terrible decision by the ref but Tait deserves to go he's been moronic and Poopie so far.

Lol, you have to be kidding me

We've got to get the ref onside were not getting any 50/50s at the minute.

What did I just say.

Penalty Try!

Burns head gone.

Game over

Poopie pack. Poopie backs. Poopie coaches. Massive changes needed to rebuild.

Why is tom youngs the captain? He doesn't have a cool head anymore

Anymore when has he ever had a cool head.

We need genge on

What's the point.

Lol

Tigers are an absolute disgrace. Glasgow are good but they aren't this good. The boys should be ashamed of themselves.

I almost feel sorry for the Leicester faithful, almost!

Good night guys.

Welly wrote: What's the point.

Very true.

This is tough to watch.

Glasgow are playing excellently against some heartless defence.

Genge on at loose head to put a rocket up them. To be honest I'd happily see Bateman to hooker and Thacker on in the back row throwing in to see how the front row goes with some real bulk.

The crowd don't seem interested in refereeing either!

Here's to a very very bad hangover tomorrow. What a half from Glasgow.

Thank God the poor, delicate players don't have to suffer a rant from Cockerill any more. Instead nice man Mauger will put his arm around them and whisper softly that they are doing a good job.

Tigers have been neutered in some foolish quest to play like a NZ team without even a shred of the required skill. The board have more to answer for than the acting DOR.

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?