Gallagher Premiership - End of Season run-in (Play-Offs)

You may well be right Sam.

Saracens team to face Worcester Warriors in the final round of the Gallagher Premiership season (KO 16H00): 

FORWARDS: Juan Figallo (93), Joe Gray (10), Christian Judge (19), Nick Isiekwe (62), Dom Day (31), Calum Clark (39), Schalk Burger (77), Ben Earl (39).

BACKS: Matt Gallagher (32), David Strettle (154), Marcelo Bosch (132), Nick Tompkins (98), Alex Lewington (27), Manu Vunipola (3), Tom Whiteley (29). 

REPLACEMENTS: Tom Woolstencroft (20), Hayden Thompson-Stringer (33), Billy Walker (8), Joel Kpoku (9), Andy Christie (1), Henry Taylor (14), Tom Griffiths (4), Rotimi Segun (11).

Brendon O'Connor runs out as a Tigers player for the final time this weekend
Graham Kitchener ends his eight-year career with Tigers with a starting role against Bath this Saturday
Mike Fitzgerald has made more than 90 appearances for the club in the last four seasons

Leicester Tigers will say some fond farewells in the final game of the season at Welford Road on Saturday.
As Tom Youngs returns from suspension to captain Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership Round 22 fixture against Bath Rugby, seven of his team-mates will be making a final appearance in the club’s colours, including Matt Smith who retires after 228 appearances in 14 seasons in the senior squad to become head coach at the club’s academy.
Graham Kitchener, Mike Fitzgerald and Brendon O’Connor all start in the forward pack for a final time as Tigers players, while Clayton Blommetjies ends his short spell at the club with a starting role on the wing. Valentino Mapapalangi and Leonardo Sarto, who are also leaving the club, are named among the replacements.
With Jonny May and Telusa Veainu ruled out, George Worth comes in at full-back to join Sam Aspland-Robinson and Blommetjies in the back three, with Smith joined by the returning Kyle Eastmond at centre.
George Ford, who this week added the supporters’ Player of the Year Award to the Players’ Player honour, is at fly-half.
Tom Hardwick, one of 10 graduates of the Tigers academy in the matchday squad, is called up to join the replacements.
Head coach Geordan Murphy said: “We’ve been carrying a few bumps and bruises, but this is an opportunity to go out there and try to put on a performance that the crowd and the players can take pride in after a disappointing season.
“The supporters have been fantastic for us in tough times and we want to end the season on a positive note.”

Leicester Tigers (v Bath Rugby, Welford Road, Saturday 4.00pm)

15 George Worth
14 Sam Aspland-Robinson
13 Matt Smith
12 Kyle Eastmond
11 Clayton Blommetjies
10 George Ford  
9 Sam Harrison

1 Ellis Genge
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Will Spencer
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Fitzgerald
7 Brendon O’Connor
8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Facundo Gigena
18 Joe Heyes
19 Harry Wells
20 Valentino Mapapalangi
21 Ben White
22 Tom Hardwick
23 Leonardo Sarto

Bath Rugby: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Max Wright, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Will Chudley; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Levi Douglas, 5 Charlie Ewels (c), 6 Tom Ellis, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Zach Mercer.

Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Sam Nixon, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Francios Louw, 21 Kahn Fotuali’I, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Semesa Rokoduguni.

We're going to get cheesed. It's like getting creamed but it lasts longer.

Still some strength for Sarries even down to 3rd and 4th choice players. With Mako and Lamisotele out for the rest of the season, they are taking no chances in the front row - Figallo plays at LH (pretty sure he is a TH) and Walker will make his first premiership appearance if he comes off the bench, just before he leaves the club.

First start for Manu Vunipola and a bench that makes you go who da hell are they.

formerly known as Sam wrote:We're going to get cheesed. It's like getting creamed but it lasts longer.

They are going to make us squeal like stuck pigs.

Chiefs side to face Saints. Nice to see Simmonds returning:

15 Jack Nowell
14 Alex Cuthbert
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Nic White

1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Harry Williams
4 Dave Dennis
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Don Armand
8 Matt Kvesic

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Ben Moon
18 Tomas Francis
19 Sam Skinner
20 Sam Simmonds
21 Jack Maunder
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Sam Hill

EXETER CHIEFS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 22
Saturday 18 May, 2019
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 4pm

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Tom Collins
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (c)
2 Reece Marshall
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements
16 James Fish
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 David Ribbans
20 Tom Wood
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Luther Burrell

Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Mikey Haywood (knee), Paddy Ryan (knee), Heinrich Brüssow (concussion), James Haskell (toe), and George Furbank (concussion).

Harlequins squad to face Wasps in Round 22 of the Gallagher Premiership (Saturday 18th May, Ricoh Arena, kick-off: 16:00)

15 Mike Brown (321)
14 Ross Chisholm (102)
13 Joe Marchant (79)
12 Ben Tapuai (21)
11 Gabriel Ibitoye (18)
10 Marcus Smith (58)
9 Danny Care (261)

1 Joe Marler (192)
2 Rob Buchanan (122)
3 Kyle Sinckler (138)
4 Matt Symons (25)
5 James Horwill (Co Captain, 67)
6 Semi Kunatani (11)
7 Chris Robshaw (Co Captain, 274)
8 Jack Clifford (97)

Game Changers

16 Elia Elia (34)
17 Lewis Boyce (36)
18 Will Collier (151)
19 George Merrick (99)
20 Alex Dombrandt (23)
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (4)
22 James Lang (47)
23 Alofa Alofa (71)

Not considered for selection

Front Row

Mark Lambert
Josh McNulty

Second Row

Ben Glynn
Dino Lamb

Back Row

James Chisholm

Half Backs

Dave Lewis
Charlie Mulchrone
Calum Waters

Centres

Henry Cheeseman
Paul Lasike
Francis Saili

Wingers

Nathan Earle
Aaron Morris
Cadan Murley

SHARE

Wasps squad to face Harlequins
Wasps: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Marcus Watson, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Gaby Lovobalavu, 11 Josh Bassett; 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Joe Simpson; 1 Simon McIntyre, 2 Tom Cruse, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4. Joe Launchbury (c), 5 James Gaskell, 6 Brad Shields, 7 Nizaam Carr, 8 Nathan Hughes

Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Ashley Johnson, 21 Craig Hampson, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Juan de Jongh

Falcons v Bristol

15 Alex Tait
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Chris Harris
12 Johnny Williams
11 Adam Radwan
10 Joel Hodgson
9 Michael Young (captain)

1 Sam Lockwood
2 George McGuigan
3 Logovi’i Mulipola
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson
6 Callum Chick
7 Gary Graham
8 Nemani Nagusa

Replacements
16 Santiago Socino
17 Trevor Davison
18 David Wilson
19 Evan Olmstead
20 Jamie Blamire
21 Sam Stuart
22 Toby Flood
23 Josh Matavesi

Damn that is such a good Harlequins side on paper but I just dont fancy our chances against Wasps. Their side looks strong too.

We've lacked the ability to finish off moves, and have been guilty of switching off in defence. If we can change that then perhaps we could win. Also a hooker who throws well would bw useful and I worry Buchanan is still too rusty to be starting.

We'll loan you a hooker if you can loan us a backrow player that's doesn't play 7 but can compete at the breakdown. That Quins backrow looks awesome.

Wow JP Doyle may aswel just put a Bristol shirt on.

Appaling refereeing performance.

Half time 5-0 Bristol

Chiefs 21-14 up on the scoreboard and Saints down to 13. Chiefs camped in the 22 only matter of time for another try just no one expected it to be a Reinach interception 5m out and near length of the field run in.

Well we looked like what we are....a mid table championship side .

Dean has to shake it up or he should go. .

Adam radwan only ray of light. Inagine him in a decent side. Wow...try machine.

Tigers led for most of the game but conceded in the dying seconds to lose by a point. Typical.

Quins finish 5th, 2 minutes left on the clock and we go for a 50+ meter penalty, which lands short.

Daft decision, Buchanan was off the pitch so our lineout was working. Our forwards had a good rumble on wasps most of the game so chances of another maul going over were good.

Still, not a bad first season from Gustard. Still some issues to fix, especially at hooker, but a good solid team to build with, especially with Brown, Robshaw, Marler out of the England picture but playing as well as ever.

Thank God the season is now over.

LondonTiger wrote:Thank God the season is now over.

+1

Abysmal rugby to watch as well as results to put up for Tigers fans.

At least your not as bad as us...big problems up here i think.

If we play like that we wont be back up again next season

mid_gen wrote:Quins finish 5th, 2 minutes left on the clock and we go for a 50+ meter penalty, which lands short.

Daft decision, Buchanan was off the pitch so our lineout was working. Our forwards had a good rumble on wasps most of the game so chances of another maul going over were good.

Still, not a bad first season from Gustard. Still some issues to fix, especially at hooker, but a good solid team to build with, especially with Brown, Robshaw, Marler out of the England picture but playing as well as ever.

I dont understand the obsession the coaches have with Buchanan. He was pretty average pre injury, and after such a long lay off seemed rushed back into the starting line up for some big games where hes been really poor. He may as well have just not played this season and come back next actually able to throw in and tackle.

Otherwise that game summed up the season. Some good, some bad, too many silly errors and then stupid penalties inc back chat Frak us over.

Looking forward to next season though. And tbh Saints deserved that 4th spot they've been pretty awesome in the run-in.

JP Doyle should be sacked as a referee on that performance today. ( and that's not me excusing ournhorror performance) the guy is inept.

Ranking the premiership refs:

Wayne Barnes
v
v
v
Matthew Carley
v
v
v
Sara Cox
v
v
v
v
v
Most of the rest
v
v
v
v
Craig Maxwell-Keys
v
v
v
v
v
Zippy from Rainbow
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
JP Doyle

Pretty accurate LT.

At one stage Alex Tait dropped a ball that went about a foot backwards....and doyle gave a knock on!!!! The entire stadium was in disbelief...even the Bristol fans around us said he was simply awful.

But that's not the reason we're down.

I just think the prem need to get to grip with the refs

46 tries yesterday!!!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Pretty accurate LT.

At one stage Alex Tait  dropped a ball that went about a foot backwards....and doyle gave a knock on!!!! The entire stadium was in disbelief...even the Bristol fans around us said he was simply awful.

But that's not the reason we're down.

I just think the prem need to get to grip with the refs

I've worked on a few committees trying to improve reffing numbers and standards across grassroots rugby. I genuinely believe that rugby is now reaping the damage of fans and players steadily being less respectful of refs.

1. Standards at the top are average as grassroots reffing is often terrible. Hence there isn't the numbers to be particularly selective going up through the levels.

2. Standards at grassroots level are terrible as there is no uptake for reffing. Numbers are critically low with many grassroots games reffed by parents/teachers/coaches that haven't any reffing qualifications.

3. Uptake is never going to improve when all most refs get is grief for their work.

On one of the committees a former pro, turned ref suggested that all Premiership players should have to take the England Rugby Refereeing Award (needed to coach the 15-a-side game and takes 2 days) to be registered in the salary cap and hence eligible to play in the Prem.

I thought it was a brilliant idea as it would hopefully lead to more respect from Pros which might rub of on juniors watching their idols.

Rugby is a ridiculously difficult game to ref at times and very few have any understanding of it due to how low participation in reffing is across all levels of rugby.

king_carlos wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Pretty accurate LT.

At one stage Alex Tait  dropped a ball that went about a foot backwards....and doyle gave a knock on!!!! The entire stadium was in disbelief...even the Bristol fans around us said he was simply awful.

But that's not the reason we're down.

I just think the prem need to get to grip with the refs

I've worked on a few committees trying to improve reffing numbers and standards across grassroots rugby. I genuinely believe that rugby is now reaping the damage of fans and players steadily being less respectful of refs.

1. Standards at the top are average as grassroots reffing is often terrible. Hence there isn't the numbers to be particularly selective going up through the levels.

2. Standards at grassroots level are terrible as there is no uptake for reffing. Numbers are critically low with many grassroots games reffed by parents/teachers/coaches that haven't any reffing qualifications.

3. Uptake is never going to improve when all most refs get is grief for their work.

On one of the committees a former pro, turned ref suggested that all Premiership players should have to take the England Rugby Refereeing Award (needed to coach the 15-a-side game and takes 2 days) to be registered in the salary cap and hence eligible to play in the Prem.

I thought it was a brilliant idea as it would hopefully lead to more respect from Pros which might rub of on juniors watching their idols.

Rugby is a ridiculously difficult game to ref at times and very few have any understanding of it due to how low participation in reffing is across all levels of rugby.

Thats really interesting to read.

Do you think numbers and quality will improve? And is it the same in most countries?

I understand the pressures that they are under, and the complications of the game etc.

But when a ball is dropped and goes BACK a foot, and a knock on is given...thats simply bad refererring. And the game was littered with situations like that.

I believe we should respect the role of the ref, but that should not protect them from any and all criticism. 

My father, having retired from playing at 24 having damaged his neck in the Army/Navy game, refereed for 16 years to a pretty high level (County Championship final) and continued reffing for schools for another 20 years. At college I played for the University team on Wednesdays and reffed on Saturdays. Clubs were so grateful to have refs and I remember one occasion where the home team (who had lost) insisted I accompany them on their post match night out putting me into a prepaid black cab at the end of the night. 

I had the opportunity to discuss reffing with older guys who had done internationals (Quittenden and Norling among them) and they loved it I am not so sure that too many of the current breed enjoy it to the same degree. The game is quicker, more physical with cheating coached into players. The law book is complicated, refs have just the one view off a situation and often one of the worst views in a stadium. Then we have the plethora of cameras and endless replays.

At grass roots level abuse of refs is on the increase, but not a new thing (my father once sent off a spectator - the club chairman, while I stopped reffing due to physical abuse from spectators and zero support from the club responsible). The lack of respect shown by pro players and coaches has to have played a part in this. There is far too much challenging of decisions on the field now and too much ref blaming by players and coaches in post match interviews. This does need to be clamped down upon but the authorities could help themselves by being more open on the referee review and assessment process.

My one concern with the referees of today is that so few of them have ever played much before refereeing and end up very pedantic with little feel for the game. The more pedantic a ref is (Tim Wigglesworth say) the worse any obvious errors look.

Agreed LT. I always like to see a ref march a team back 10m for backchat even when it's Tigers. It's not done enough and more should be done to clamp down on the back chat and constant questioning of decisions. I see no problem with persistent offenders being put into the bin, particularly those (such as Dan Biggar) who run up to officials to bemoan decisions. A hard-line stance is needed at the top of the game to set the tone to grass roots level.

Referee standards are slipping but often I feel that the biggest problem is the TMO who seemingly jump in and out of games as they feel like it. Their inconsistencies irk me far more than refs.

yappysnap wrote:Do you think numbers and quality will improve? And is it the same in most countries?

I honestly couldn't comment on it that accurately from elsewhere.

I know that the ref situation in NZ grassroots is better but their grassroots has a completely different setup to any other nation. The ref situation there is likely representative of the health of rugby in NZ, where it is practically a religion. In Australia on the otherhand the shortage is similarly critical to Scottish rugby but that is likely indicative of the financial struggles of Australian rugby as a whole.

The committees I've worked on have been in either English grassroots rugby of Scottish lower league rugby. In both cases things are fairly dire with many grassroots games in England reffed by people with no qualifications. In Scottish rugby the ref shortage is being mirrored by a huge drop of in playing numbers at amateur mens level. Concerning for the club game on both counts.

Attempts to improve numbers and quality have focused on trying to get more coaches and senior players onto reffing courses. For instance Edinburgh University trialed a scheme of intramural sides needing two players to have taken their level 1 reffing course for the side to register for their University league.

Frankly it had very limited success. Simply put, with the grief that refs get now it's very difficult to convince potential young refs that it's any fun to take up.

LondonTiger wrote:My one concern with the referees of today is that so few of them have ever played much before refereeing and end up very pedantic with little feel for the game. The more pedantic a ref is (Tim Wigglesworth say) the worse any obvious errors look.

With how much rules have changed since the game went Pro this has become a more frequent problem with those who did play the game in a previous era. Their feel for the game came at a time when scrums were far less powerful, defences far slower and fitness levels much lower. The game has changed completely and with it players are now 'coached to cheat' as you say. Making a refs role much harder.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I understand the pressures that they are under, and the complications of the game etc.

But when a ball is dropped and goes BACK a foot, and a knock on is given...thats simply bad refererring. And the game was littered with situations like that.

I'm not defending any individual reffing performance - there have been times this season (Olowofela having a great try unjustly disallowed in particular) when I've been screaming at the TV as a Tigers fan. I'm more commenting on why there's a trend towards poor reffing standards across rugby.

Fans often say that X needs to kicked off the IRB elite panel or X shouldn't ref a Pro game again. Reality is that to replace refs you need high quality ones coming through. Whilst there are some very talented refs working through the ranks, there simply aren't as many as the game needs.

LondonTiger wrote:I believe we should respect the role of the ref, but that should not protect them from any and all criticism. 

My father, having retired from playing at 24 having damaged his neck in the Army/Navy game, refereed for 16 years to a pretty high level (County Championship final) and continued reffing for schools for another 20 years. At college I played for the University team on Wednesdays and reffed on Saturdays. Clubs were so grateful to have refs and I remember one occasion where the home team (who had lost) insisted I accompany them on their post match night out putting me into a prepaid black cab at the end of the night. 

I had the opportunity to discuss reffing with older guys who had done internationals (Quittenden and Norling among them) and they loved it I am not so sure that too many of the current breed enjoy it to the same degree. The game is quicker, more physical with cheating coached into players. The law book is complicated, refs have just the one view off a situation and often one of the worst views in a stadium. Then we have the plethora of cameras and endless replays.

At grass roots level abuse of refs is on the increase, but not a new thing (my father once sent off a spectator - the club chairman, while I stopped reffing due to physical abuse from spectators and zero support from the club responsible). The lack of respect shown by pro players and coaches has to have played a part in this. There is far too much challenging of decisions on the field now and too much ref blaming by players and coaches in post match interviews. This does need to be clamped down upon but the authorities could help themselves by being more open on the referee review and assessment process.

My one concern with the referees of today is that so few of them have ever played much before refereeing and end up very pedantic with little feel for the game. The more pedantic a ref is (Tim Wigglesworth say) the worse any obvious errors look.

I remember being reffed by Roger Quittenden at colts level and then beyond, the guy was amazing, no matter how fast you were or your wingers, he was always ahead of the game and usually under the posts or before your fastest guy could get there. I never understood how he did it, Great ref.

Apparently the first semi will be the 3000th Premiership rugby match

Just can't see anything other than Exeter and Saracens.

Saints should not be able to turn over Exeter. The Chiefs have been a little heavy legged in recent weeks as Baxter was beasting them in training. However they are now tapering for the crunch games.

It is interesting that Glaws have gone with a 6/2 bench. They will need a big shift from their pack in the face of a brutal Sarries team.

Saints trying to put right what went wrong last week (apart from the penalty count) beefing up the pack to try and stop the Chiefs driving game. Hell of a bench on both sides, possibly better than the starters in a lot of cases.

Funny how LCD hardly gets a start for Chiefs but Jones prefers him over Yeandle. Perhaps Yeandle would be a better bet bring his captaincy experience to the squad, with Hartley out, it is something we are badly missing.

If Saints can get the game into a loose mode, they can run rings around anyone, but getting Chiefs to play a loose expansive game is not easy

Nice to see the Allianz dominated by Glaws fans. Soulless Sarries!

Gloucester struggling on the pitch. They seem to have lost all structure in attack an defence and being bullied out of this game.

Sarries just kicking and it's working tbf. We need to do a Scotland and blitz this 2nd half with our attacking game.

LondonTiger wrote:Gloucester struggling on the pitch. They seem to have lost all structure in attack an defence and being bullied out of this game.

Slater going off hit Glaws hard. They were well in it at that point and just started making errors and poor choices after that.

Has Slater ever lasted 80 minutes at Alliance?

Based on the playing style, I would like Sarries to win the final.

LondonTiger wrote:Has Slater ever lasted 80 minutes at Alliance?

That plastic pitch was always going to be tough on his knees. I just think he's the leader of that Gloucester pack and he runs the lineout he was just too key to start from the bench so they gambled.

Doesn't Mostert call the Gloucs lineout?

I agree on Slater being a big loss for Gloucester. He always has been a very good leader. The sort of player who makes those around him play better. Saracens ludicrous strength at lock has a tendency to make their opposite numbers look lacklustre in comparison and that's what happened with Savage on.

Gloucester have recruited so well in the pack. Since 2017 they've added Mostert, Slater, Grobler, Polledri, Ackerman, Kriel, Hanson, Marais, Balmain and Rapava-Ruskin. Pretty outstanding all round recruitment.

It will be interesting seeing Simpson pair up with Cipriani behind that pack next season.

Interesting rumours that Henry Purdy and Gareth Evans are being released. Both are good Prem players who could add to most squads whilst not commanding big salaries.

Nick Tompkins apparently the only Saracen to have featured in all 23 GP matches so far. 15 starts, 8 bench and 11 tries. Pretty damned good.

king_carlos wrote:Doesn't Mostert call the Gloucs lineout?

I agree on Slater being a big loss for Gloucester. He always has been a very good leader. The sort of player who makes those around him play better. Saracens ludicrous strength at lock has a tendency to make their opposite numbers look lacklustre in comparison and that's what happened with Savage on.

Gloucester have recruited so well in the pack. Since 2017 they've added Mostert, Slater, Grobler, Polledri, Ackerman, Kriel, Hanson, Marais, Balmain and Rapava-Ruskin. Pretty outstanding all round recruitment.

It will be interesting seeing Simpson pair up with Cipriani behind that pack next season.

Interesting rumours that Henry Purdy and Gareth Evans are being released. Both are good Prem players who could add to most squads whilst not commanding big salaries.

Certainly Purdy looks a class act, looking at Tigers current backs, a trip back to Leicester would be a decent signing.