Gallagher Premiership 2019/20

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Table

Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Pts Difference	Bonus	Points
1	Northampton Saints	7	5	2	0	194	146	48	3	23
2	Exeter Chiefs	6	4	2	0	142	97	45	4	20
3	Gloucester Rugby	7	3	4	0	149	121	28	6	18
4	Bristol Bears	7	3	3	1	157	165	-8	4	18
5	Bath Rugby	7	4	3	0	139	145	-6	1	17
6	Worcester Warriors	7	4	3	0	122	144	-22	1	17
7	Sale Sharks	7	3	4	0	144	105	39	5	17
8	Harlequins	7	3	3	1	158	169	-11	3	17
9	London Irish	7	2	4	1	128	179	-51	2	12
10	Wasps	7	2	5	0	134	191	-57	3	11
11	Leicester Tigers	7	1	5	1	118	191	-76	0	6
12	Saracens	6	5	1	0	158	87	71	-32	-13

Bath
Last Season - 6th

Players in: Lewis Boyce (Prop), Christian Judge (Prop), Will Stuart (Prop), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Josh McNally (Second Row), Ollie Fox (Scrum Half)
Promoted from Academy: Miles Reid, Will Vaughan, Sam Nixon, Tom de Glanville, Will Britton, Jack Davies, Tom Doughty, Levi Davis promoted (X Factor permitting)

Players Out: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Paul Grant (Back Row), Luke Charteris (Second Row), James Wilson (Utility Back), Kahn Fotuali'i (Scrum Half), Jacques van Rooyen (Prop), Jack Wilson (Wing), Cooper Vuna (Wing), Anthony Perenise (Prop), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker), Max Lahiff (Prop)


Bristol Bears
Last Season - 9th

Players in: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Nathan Hughes (Back Row), Nicky Thomas (Prop), Max Lahiff (Prop), Tyrese Johnson-Fisher (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Sam Bedlow, John Hawkins, Toby Fricker

Players out: Nick Haining (Back Row), George Smith (Back Row), Nick Fenton-Wells (Back Row), Joe Latta (Second Row), Tusi Pisi (Fly Half), Sione Faletau (Prop), Jack Lam (Back Row)


Exeter Chiefs
Last Season: Runners Up

Players in: Stuart Hogg (Full Back), Will Witty (Second Row), Tom Price (Second Row), Stan South (Utility Forward), Jannes Kirsten (Utility Forward), Jacques Vermeulen (Utility Forward)

Players out: Santiago Cordero (Wing/FB), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Moray Low (Prop), Ollie Atkins (Second Row), Mitch Lees (Second Row)


Gloucester
Last Season: 3rd

Players in: Joe Simpson (Scrum Half), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), Chris Harris (Centre), Corne Fourie (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Charlie Chapman, Alex Seville, Alex Craig, Ciaran Knight, Tom Seabrook, Henry Walker

Players out: Paddy McAllister (Prop), Gareth Denman (Prop), Kyle Traynor (Prop) Tom Savage (Second Row), Gareth Evans (Back Row), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Henry Purdy (Centre/Wing)


Harlequins
Last Season 4th

Players in: Santiago Garcias Botta (Prop), Martin Landajo (Scrum Half), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Scott Baldwin (Hooker), Stephan Lewies (Second Row), Glen Young (Second Row), Will Evans (Flanker), Simon Kerrod (Prop), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Travis Ismaiel (Wing), Veriniki Goneva (Wing), Tevita Cavubati (Second Row)

Players out: Alofa Alofa (Utility Back), George Merrick (Second Row), Lewis Boyce (Prop), James Horwill (Second Row), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop), Tim Visser (Wing), Charlie Walker(Wing), Demitir Catrakilis (Fly Half), Mat Luamanu (Back Row), Luke Wallace (Flanker), Stan South (Second Row), Dave Ward (Hooker), Dave Lewis (Scrum Half), Ben Glynn (Second Row)


Leicester Tigers
Last season 11th

Players in: Jordan Taufua (Back Row), Noel Reid (Fly Half/Centre), Calum Green (Second Row), Jaco Taute (Centre), Tomas Lavanini (Second Row), Nephi Leatigaga (Prop), Charlie Clare (Hooker), Joe Thomas (Centre), Johnny McPhillips (Fly Half), EW Viljoen (Utility Back), Hanro Liebenberg (Back Row), Jordan Coghlan (Back Row)
Promoted from Academy: Tom Hardwicke, Joe Heyes, Sam Lewis, Jordan Olowefela, Tommy Reffell, Sam Aspland Robinson, Harry Simmons, Ben White

Players out: Matt Toomua (Centre), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Mathew Tait (Utility Back), Will Evans (Flanker), Tom Varndell (Winger), James Voss (Second Row), Matt Smith (Centre), Gareth Owen (Centre), Michael Fitzgerald (Second Row), Brendon O'Connor (Back Row), Valentino Mapapalangi (Back Row), Fred Tuilagi (Back Row), Leonardo Sarto (Wing),  Joe Ford (Fly Half), David Feao (Prop), David Denton (Back Row), Ross McMillan (Hooker), Campese Ma'afu (Prop), Charlie Thacker (Centre)


London Irish
Last Season: Promoted

Players in: Allan Dell (Prop), Nick Phipps (Scrum Half), Curtis Rona (Wing), Sean O'Brien (Back Row), Sekope Kepu (Prop), Paddy Jackson (Fly Half), Waisake Naholo (Wing), Adam Coleman (Second Row), Ruan Botha (Second Row), Steve Mafi (Utility Forward), George Nott (Utility Forward)

Players Out: Josh McNally (Second Row), Ian Keatley (Fly Half), Brendan McKibbin (Centre), Mike Coman (Back Row), Tommy Bell (Utility Back), Topsy Ojo (Wing), Fergus Mulchrone (Centre), Luke McLean (Full Back), Sebastian de Chaves (Second Row), Ofisa Treviranus (Back Row), Greig Tonks (Utility Back),  Napolioni Nalaga (Wing), Sam Twomey (Second Row), Filo Paulo (Second Row), Manasa Saulo (Prop)


Northampton Saints
Last Season: 4th

Players in: Matt Proctor (Utility back), Owen Franks (Prop), Ryan Olowofela (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker)
Promoted from Academy: Ehren Painter, Fraser Dingwall,  James Grayson,  Alex Mitchell,  Alex Moon

Players Out: Luther Burrell (Centre), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), James Craig (Utility Forward), James Haskell (Back Row), Dominic Barrow (Second Row), Nafi Tuitavake (Wing), Ken Pisi (Centre)


Sale Sharks
Last Season: 7th

Players in: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Robert du Preez (Fly Half), Akker van der Merwe (Hooker), Lood de Jager (Second Row), Coenie Oosthuizen (Prop), Dan du Preez (Utility Forward), Jean-Luc du Preez (Back Row), Simon Hammersley (Full Back), Mark Wilson (Back Row)

Players Out: Andrei Ostrikov (Second Row), Mark Jennings (Centre), Alexandru Țăruș (Prop), Johnny Leota (Centre),  Paolo Odogwu (Wing), James O'Connor (Utility Back), Josh Strauss (Back Row), George Nott (Utility Forward)


Saracens
Last Season: Champions

Players in: Elliot Daly (Utility back), Rhys Carré (Prop), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Alistair Crossdale, Dominic Morris

Players out: Christopher Tolofua (Hooker), Sione Vailanu (Back Row), Hayden Thompson-Stringer (Prop), David Strettle (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half) Dominic Day (Second Row), Marcelo Bosch (Centre), Schalk Burger (Back Row)


Wasps
Last Season: 8th

Players in: Malakai Fekitoa (Centre), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Prop), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Matteo Minozzi (Utility back), Sione Vailanu (Back row), Biyi Alo (Prop), Paolo Odogwu (Wing), Zach Kibirige (wing)
Promoted from academy:  Will Porter,  Callum Sirker,  Sam Spink,  Tom Willis,  Tim Cardall,  Gabriel Oghre,  Owain James, Jacob Umaga

Players out: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Nathan Hughes (Back row), Will Stuart (Prop), Elliot Daly (Centre), Joe Simpson (Scrum half), Willie le Roux (Full Back), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Kearnan Myall (Second Row), Gabiriele Lovobalavu (Centre), Matt Mullan (Prop)


Worcester Warriors
Last Season 10th

Players in: Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Jono Kitto (Scrum Half), Melani Nanai (Wing), Ed Fidow (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Andrew Kitchener,  Ted Hill

Players out:  Bryce Heem (Wing), Josh Adams (Wing), Darren Barry (Second Row), Wynand Olivier (Centre), Dewald Potgieter (Back row), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Jonny Arr (Scrum half), Carl Kirwan (Back row), Luke Baldwin (Scrum Half), Ben Te'o (Centre), Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Back row)

Sarries were allowed to get away with a bit at the maul. Kpoku in particular was pretty much in at the side at every opportunity. Whether he was bound in to the Tigers side before the maul was formed very touch and go. It was better than last season but we need to be a lot tighter if it's going to be a weapon for us this season.

Completely skipped my mind but Andy Forsyth is available for Tigers. Against the Gloucester outside backs I'd definitely like to see him at 13 if Taute isn't fit to start.

9.Simpson 10.Cipriani 11.Thorley 12.Atkinson 13.Twelvetrees 14.Marshall 15.Woodward

They'd have a field day against the abject kicking and handling mistakes from the first two rounds. Forsyth has the experience to offer some more solidity at least.

9.Harrison 10.Hardwick 11.Holmes 12.Reid 13.Taute/Forsyth 14.Thompstone 15.Veainu
21.Simmons 22.Olowofela 23.Worth

I'd be far more optimistic with that back line.

Nice to see that Jonny McPhillips is getting really good reviews from his time on loan. I'm happy to see him playing fullback as well. I've thought Worth is best suited to centre for a while so it'd be nice if McPhillips could offer fullback cover and Worth move into midfield a bit more over the course of the season.

To be fair to Worth he did really well under the kicking barrage from Sarries. Only one he didn't take was for their try. Everything else was safe in the breadbasket. I doubt Viljoen and White will be dropped from the 23 man squad completely. More likely Worth or Owolfela will drop out to make room for TV.

Does anyone know what's wrong with Eastmond he made one good turnover and seemed to be doing well then went off and we didn't really adjust until the second half.

Wasps side to play Bath at the Ricoh this afternoon:

Minozzi, Kibirige, Fekitoa, Gopperth, Odogwu, Sopoaga, Robson
Zhvania, Taylor, Brookes, Gaskell, Rowlands, Shields, Carr, Vailanu
Reps: Cruse, Harris, Toomaga-Allen, Flament, Johnston, Wolstenholme, Searle, Le Bourgeois

Massive game for us, almost a must-win. Gopperth at 12 has been seen as the missing link, so hoping it makes a big difference. Also hoping he doesn't get crocked... again.

Minozzi coming in is exciting. Hoping he can bring both some razzle-dazzle going forwards, and some much needed solidity in defence.

Welcome back Will Rowlands in the pack too, hopefully he can bring some grunt to the engine room. Gaskell is the line-out king, but doesn't make too many yards in traffic. Vailanu is up there in the stats, but I don't think he's playing near his best yet.

Gloucester midfield will do some damage if Tigers don't improve massively on back play from rounds 1 and 2. If we kick as poorly as against Sarries then Thorley will have plenty of space to run as well.

From a Tigers perspective I'm hoping that Harrison adds pace, Forsyth some more structure and just looking forward to seeing Veainu in a Tigers shirt again.

Youngs, Polota-Nau and Lavanini add 140 odd international caps between them so hopefully they play to that pedigree. Lavanini in particular could have a huge impact if well utilised.

Hopefully TPN, Boladau and Lavanini can bring some serious power in the second half. We'll need all the help we can get against that Gloucester side. Hopefully we can get into Cipriani early, if he goes off the boil early then we'll be able to get at them. If Cipriani starts ticking behind that platform it could get messy quickly.

Boladau did add to the back row when I've seen him play. There was some predictable grumbling when we signed a 33-year old from Nottingham as cover instead of Picamoles but if players add something I couldn't give a **** to be honest.

Tigers have had plenty of young number 8 projects over the last few years who didn't develop much. If Boladau can add to the squad in the short term then so be it I say.

It's a shame that Reffell picked up an injury though. I really rate him as a much needed leader in this squad as well as a talented openside.

Only got the radio commentary as I could get to Welford Road due to work. Sounds like the crowd are in better spirits though and Tigers showing a bit more shape.

Slightly surprised that Reid took the shot to goal. He's a solid goal kicker for a player who hasn't kicked too much in his pro career but Hardwick is an excellent goal kicker.

It's been mostly Tigers so far. The lads looks really fired up and are winning the physical aspects of the game and playing like a cohesive team. Glaws have defended for their lives and managed to just deny a couple of Tigers chances that could have given a significant lead. Glaws only chances have been the two penalties. Tigers need to be more clinical but the Tigers fans in attendance will feel this is very much more like it.

Second half is a different picture. Cips pulled at half time with Twelvetrees now at 10. Glaws are now playing very direct and they are in the game more. Scored a great try from pretty much nothing.

Tigers have probably got more territory again but aren't doing anywhere enough damage.

That was a tough watch.

It's been a long time since I've seen a Tigers defence that good. Clock in the red and Gloucester just past the Tigers 10 metre line and they drove them back phase after the phase to the Glaws 22. Ref gave a questionable penalty that put Glaws back in the Tigers half but the defence smashed them back again.

If that's how we're going to play this season a lot of the fans will be back. Really nice intensity, physicality and aggression. So much better than anything we've seen possibly in years. Attack still needs work and there's things to work on but so much more Tigers esque.

Tom Hardwick man of the match. Interchanged a lot with Reid and when Reid was subbed (tactically) for Worth then Hardwick stepped in at 10 fulltime and looked perfectly assured. Owolfela had probably his best game in a Tigers shirt as well. Forwards were immense, seems a bit harsh not to pick a forward for man of the match because all of them were huge. Lavanini and Kalamafoni double tackles did make an impact.

LondonTiger wrote:That was a tough watch.

Not compared to the last 18 months it wasn't.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:That was a tough watch.

Not compared to the last 18 months it wasn't.

Not sure I managed to breath through those last 6 minutes

I may have been shouting at the TV a little and also trying to teach my 2 year old to sing "Tigeeerrrrrsss, Tigeeerrrrrsss".

Even if we'd lost it then the level of improvement would have been refreshing compared to the crap of last season.

LI frustratingly came with 2 minutes of beating Sarries then suddenly a penalty, a kick to the corner, another pen and yellow card, a try to Sarries, two goes at the conversion and finally a penalty for holding on when apparently the player trying to take the ball was lying on his side - must try to see what's shown in the highlights ... been a frustrating day all around

Good for Tigers to get points on the table, especially important going into the next few weeks. Tigers should have a lot of players back by the time we play Saints after the first two Challenge Cup games. Genge, Cole, Taufua, Youngs, Ford, Manu, May and Taute all to return. Hopefully the majority of that list can line-up against Saints.

I was really happy to see Olowofela have a good game in a strong back three. I've been vocal about my frustration with young Tigers been thrown into scratch sides and then criticised by fans. Often this has felt like the case with Olowofela given the weakness at fullback last season. Having Veainu back made the young man look a completely different player.

Also great to see Green and Wells play so well against a good pack. Lavanini made a promising cameo.

Tigers scrum is looking a weapon without Genge or Cole back yet. Great work by Stankovich!

Bobo is the only one of our coaches I feel is good enough.

Heaf wrote:LI frustratingly came with 2 minutes of beating Sarries then suddenly a penalty, a kick to the corner, another pen and yellow card, a try to Sarries, two goes at the conversion and finally a penalty for holding on when apparently the player trying to take the ball was lying on his side - must try to see what's shown in the highlights ... been a frustrating day all around

Just seen the last penalty awarded to give Sarries the win - and looks like a complete shocker from the ref, if anything should have gone the other way for not realising the tackled player - don't recognise him so he must be new so maybe needs to go back to ref school ... Even a Chiefs' fan posted on the LI board about it.

So a good win for Wasps at home to Bath. Better performance, signs that we're moving in the right direction. Well, we definitely are in terms of the league table, but a tough trip to Sale coming up on Friday night.

Major plusses: Jimmy Gopperth lasting the game, and bringing some cohesion to the backline, Minozzi looking like genuine star in the making, Will Rowlands barrelling try on his return to fitness.

Injury concerns: Brad Shields got a bang on his shoulder, as did James Gaskell. Nothing too serious, I gather.

Onwards and... upwards?

A lot of noise about Exeter's "Ladder" ruck (looks like the old caterpillar)



I would argue though that the above is not a ruck. While I know that the law was changed a few years back so that the absence of any Wuss players does not matter, but Harry Williams is not bound onto anyone.

Heaf wrote:

Heaf wrote:LI frustratingly came with 2 minutes of beating Sarries then suddenly a penalty, a kick to the corner, another pen and yellow card, a try to Sarries, two goes at the conversion and finally a penalty for holding on when apparently the player trying to take the ball was lying on his side - must try to see what's shown in the highlights ... been a frustrating day all around

Just seen the last penalty awarded to give Sarries the win - and looks like a complete shocker from the ref, if anything should have gone the other way for not realising the tackled player - don't recognise him so he must be new so maybe needs to go back to ref school ... Even a Chiefs' fan posted on the LI board about it.

Sorry but a clear release from Duncan Taylor before he goes after the ball, he even puts his hands in the air first. Earl who is also involved in the tackle is not stopping the LI ball carrier from playing the ball and is on teh Sarries side.

I'll have to look again but it looked to me like he was cleared out/off his feet almost instantly ... and Earl still had his arms wrapped around the LI player's arms. Could be wrong though, but even the commentators were saying it was a big call - which is normally code for they think it was iffy ...

It was a very fast call of holding on. As you say Taylor was cleared out pretty quickly. For me a homer decision, but not blatantly wrong.

Still haven't rechecked it, or whether Earl was interfering or just enjoying spooning the LI player However if it was technically correct it wasn't correct in the context of what had gone on before at the breakdown throughout the match - it's the usual inconsistency that gets me. Maybe the ref was looking to invest with Nigel or maybe he knew they'd need all the points they can get ...

Not seen the rest of the game so unable to comment on the consistency.

Talking about young refs did anyone see Christophe Ridley who ran the Bristol/Sale game. Looks too young to shave.

Yep another sign of getting old

Finally got to look again and it's still a shocker in my view - he's cleared out so quickly I've never seen a holding on pen given in that timescale and it's not even technically a penalty as if we're being 100% correct there was no way he was supporting his own weight as his feet were well back from his backside and the laws of physics make it impossible ...

It was a shockingly bad call. It was our 'live' game over here on Saturday and even though I was a neutral I was really angry at the call, so much so I actually shouted out loud that it was bulls***. Even if you completely ignore the fact the tackler never released it was a ridiculously quick holding call, at least half the time as any others he'd given before that. Feel the ref got caught up in the moment as the game went down to the wire and cost LI the game. Rough for Irish fans.

Thanks mate - good to know it's not just my green-tinted specs as I know I can be guilty of that

JP Doyle will be referee for Leicester's visit to LI.

Jeez - I'm going to have to tie my hands behind my back - never forgiven him for red carding a LI player for what was shown to be a perfectly legal tackle - cost us the match against LW but luckily not relegation ... he seems to miss a lot but ref on other stuff he imagines he's seen.

Will be interesting to see if Naholo features this weekend ...

Heaf wrote:Will be interesting to see if Naholo features this weekend ...

Tigers will be missing Veainu but might have Taufua available.

Are Kepu, Coleman and Mafi in the frame for selection soon?

Interesting that Hobbs-Awoyemi and Hoskins are keeping Dell and Cilliers out the starting line-up for the first 3 rounds.

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Will be interesting to see if Naholo features this weekend ...

Interesting that Hobbs-Awoyemi and Hoskins are keeping Dell and Cilliers out the starting line-up for the first 3 rounds.

Yes I rather hope that remains the same for this weekend. I fancy a Gigena and Leatigaga combo getting a result against them this weekend in the scrum. Particularly if Lavanini is adding his weight in behind. Taufua will be on the bench at best, I'd expect us to go again with Leibenburg, Thompson, Kalamafoni in the backrow as they did so well last weekend.

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Will be interesting to see if Naholo features this weekend ...

Tigers will be missing Veainu but might have Taufua available.

Are Kepu, Coleman and Mafi in the frame for selection soon?

Interesting that Hobbs-Awoyemi and Hoskins are keeping Dell and Cilliers out the starting line-up for the first 3 rounds.

I assume Kepu and Coleman will be here in a few weeks, rumour has it Mafi may be carrying an injury ...

Jeez I didn't realise the season has started already!

And Quins are already 2 losses down too! Any one shed any light on what's going on there? I've seen the influx of new players used a reason for our poor start, does it seem that way or are there any other issues?

Oh and btw, great to see Sarries getting punished for all their cheating, better late then never I guess. Be good if their silverware was taken off them too though, perhaps in some kind of ceremony...

king_carlos wrote:

Heaf wrote:Will be interesting to see if Naholo features this weekend ...

Tigers will be missing Veainu but might have Taufua available.

Are Kepu, Coleman and Mafi in the frame for selection soon?

Interesting that Hobbs-Awoyemi and Hoskins are keeping Dell and Cilliers out the starting line-up for the first 3 rounds.

Hoskins has been the best TH at the club for several seasons now and has been a big success story as far a low profile signings go. Tends to always be first choice when fit (at least before Kepu arrives anyway).

Situation at loosehead is more fluid. Danny's been starting, but it may just be Dell being eased into the team post RWC. Would expect to see something like the following at the weekend:

Dell
Fainga'a
Hoskins
Botha
van der Merwe
Cowan
Ioane
Tuisue
Meehan
Jackson
Loader
Stephenson
Rona
Naholo
Parton

Hobbs-Awoyemi, Matu'u, Chawatama, Nott, Rogerson, Steele, Myler, Williams

If the weather is looking terrible again, we may see Jackson shifted to FB again with Myler at 10 as that seemed to go okay in the conditions against Sarries. Also a chance Veitokani could come back in at 15

Well I fancy our pack over yours but your backline looks to have a lot more firepower than ours will given the injuries and internationals unavailable. We've really struggled for backline penetration.

If you guys can get parity up front you should do very well.

Ironically it's our forwards that have been firing more than the backs so far. Botha has been a cracking signing and it's a shame we've not got him for the full season. Tuisue has taken well to playing at 8 too and scored a couple of powerful tries.

Big game for both clubs. Two wins from four would be above par for LI and would be a comfortable place from which to move into the European games. Lose and we'll start getting a few flashbacks from the last time we were up and won the first game before failing to pick up another until Christmas time iirc. Sure Leicester would wat to put a little distance between themselves and the wrong end of the table too.

Glad the first bloc of GP is only 4 games. Should give a little more time to integrate a few more players. I see Mafi has rocked up to training this week, although not due to feature at the weekend.

Feel the same about the first block of prem games. We are really desperate to get back the likes of Ford and Manu. Ford really carried the team last season, prem top points scorer, and Manu will give us some back line direction other than trying to get on the outside. Genge and Cole will add nicely to what looks a very good stable of props. Been really impressed with Gigena the young(ish) Puma loosehead, really good at the set piece and combative around the park, Leatigaga has slimmed down to his fighting weight of just over 20 stone and looks a very hand acquisition in tight and loose.

Gigena, Youngs, Leatigaga
Lavanini, Green
Liebenburg, Kalamafoni, Thompson
Harrison, Hardwick
Reid, Forsyth
Thompstone, Holmes, Owolfela

Bench: TPN, Bateman, Heyes, Wells, Taufua, White, Worth, Viljoen.

Unsure about the fitness of Viljoen so we might be going for a 7/2 split. Taute won't be available. At this rate McPhillips will be recalled from his loan. We could add Boladu the British Army Fijian number 8 to the bench instead of the third back. Him and Taufua both off the bench would be some impact. As it is Thompstone will be relied upon to do the heavy carrying.

Taufua likely to feature then? Looking forward to seeing how he goes in the GP

Holmes will score against us. He always does.

Margin_Walker wrote:Taufua likely to feature then? Looking forward to seeing how he goes in the GP

Holmes will score against us. He always does.

Murphy said that Taufua will "travel with the matchday squad" earlier this week. So he may be available. Whilst I can't wait to see him in a Tigers shirt, it hasn't been the forwards where our issues have been.

I really like the LI back three options. Loader and Parton are great talents.

I hope Tom Stephenson stays fit for most of the season. Such a shame that injury stalled his progress. Saints have produced some serious centre talent in recent years between Stephenson, Mallinder, Hutchinson and Dingwall.

Stephenson was superb last season before he broke his leg (again). He's recovered quickly though and had a decent 1st game back against Sarries at the weekend. Just hope he gets through the season without any serious setbacks as he is a talent.

Loader is a really well rounded wing and I think he'll make the step up fairly comfortably. Parton is very talented, but he's pretty slight and can be overpowered as the last line of defence. Will be interesting to see if he can nail down the 15 shirt as he'll have pretty strong competition from Veitokani who can be unplayable with ball in hand, but a bomb scare defensively at times.

Not really that familiar with either of your props (other than Sam's rundown above), so will be interesting to see how the scrum goes.

Stephenson has been so unlucky with injury, must be so frustrating for him. I thought Loader looked a cracking player at age grade level, I was rather hopeful Tigers could acquire him when LI went down.

Everyone is aware of Tigers first choice props Genge and Cole but our scrum coach Boris Stankovitch has done a wonderful job with some of the others, it really was one of the only crumbs of comfort from last season that our scrum was good. Of the other four;

Bateman - former hooker who Boris converted to a loosehead, average scrummager but extremely good ball carrier (check the try Vs Quins on YouTube). Bit of a journeyman but solid and reliable.
Leatigaga - new acquisition, think Mulipola but less massive. Not quite the same ball carrier though he is effective but better in defence and at the scrum. Tigers have leaned him down, he's got some Samoa caps and more will likely follow.
Gigena - arrived having appeared in the lowest of low key Argentina friendly and having been used sparingly by the Jags. Has developed nicely, was good in the scrum last season but seems to have kicked on again this summer, liked by the fans for his on field passion and tendency to damage the opposition tighthead.
Heyes - Only 20 but was backed to be Cole's understudy last season whilst still a teenager. Bit different to the usual age grade props who tend to be like converted numbers 8s in that he's happier in the tight. Quite mobile and in a couple of years is likely to be seen as the natural successor to Cole, he loves a scrum.

I remember when Dragons signed Stankovich as a forwards coach, but he just ended up playing for us instead... He was still good too.

mikey_dragon wrote:I remember when Dragons signed Stankovich as a forwards coach, but he just ended up playing for us instead... He was still good too.

Always loved a scrum did Boris. Very technical, Ayerza took his scrummaging game to the next level around when Boris joined, they worked well together. Our scrum was starting to look wobbly unless Cole played just before Boris joined. Can't be having an under powered Tigers scrum, doesn't go down well.