Pre Season thread ????

[Highland Shaun]

I have started this thread so that I can keep up to date with all pre season matches and scores/try scorers etc because I find it hard to find these online, especially who scored tries .

I know Leicester beat Nottingham 38-14 tonight so feel free to let me know the point scorers Leicester/Nottingham fans .

I also see Glasgow play Zebre tomorrow so again, feel free to let me know score and point scorers etc as I'll be watching US Open during the matches .

And finally, what other pre season matches have been announced that I may have missed, I think Northampton may be on this weekend too .

[formerly known as Sam]

Leicester Tigers have started season 2024/25 off with a win at home in the club’s first pre-season fixture, against Nottingham Rugby.

Four tries in the first half helped seal the victory which saw both Tigers and Notts empty their extended benches.

It was Tigers new recruit Will Wand who had the first significant touch of the game, the centre throwing a beautiful pass to send wing Josh Bassett over for the first try.

Fly-half Jamie Shillcock was receiving treatment, but scrum-half Tom Whiteley packed his kicking boots and made no mistake with the conversion.

Notts were next to cross, but it wouldn’t be long before Tigers would extend their advantage with Charlie Clare scoring off the back of a rolling maul.

Ben Volavola, now on for his first appearance for the club, converted the extras.

Volavola couldn’t find the range with his next attempt after Olly Cracknell burrowed his way over the line, but redeemed himself with his final attempt of the half following Sam Williams’ try.

Notts grabbed one back to make it 26-10 at the break.

It would take 28 minutes for the first score of the second-half but when it did, it was a beauty, as Ollie Hassell-Collins raced away off a brilliant piece of attack off the turnover.

Volavola converted well from out-wide, 33-10.

Tigers final score came from academy centre Charlie Myall, who found space on the blindside to dive over from close range.

The visitors would have the final word with a driving score on the stroke of full time to end a well-fought encounter at a score of 38-17.

With 31 Leicester players seeing invaluable pitch time, Michael Cheika's first match as Head Coach gave the Tigers family plenty to smile about ahead of the new season.

[formerly known as Sam]

Got a lot of players game time and came away with the win. Only real downside is that Jamie Shillcock was in a moon boot at the end and looking less than pleased. Significant blow that as not only is he a classy player to have in the squad but Tigers don't have a lot of depth at 10.

[Poorfour]

Quins had a decent run out against Montpellier. They lost 38-27, but this was Quins’ first warm up whlle Montpellier are only a week away from the season proper starting and this was their last game.

Quins also left most of their current England and recent Wales internationals at home, and changed the team entirely at half time, so there were a lot of back up and inexperienced players on the pitch.

There were no obvious injuries, some nice back play and some welcome aggression in defence. On the negative side, the scrum was weak and the lineout faltered a bit, they didn’t protect the ball enough in possession and need to dial down the defensive enthusiasm a notch to avoid giving away penalties.

All in all, a useful preseason game. Here’s the write up from the Quins offy:

Harlequins ended a close pre-season encounter in Corsica against Montpellier on the wrong side of a 38-27 scoreline.

There were plenty of bright sparks as Quins used over 30 players in a match which saw the West Londoners score four impressive tries.

Harlequins kicked off at a very hot and sunny Stade Armand Cesari to begin preparations for their 2024/25 campaign.

It didn’t take long for Quins to make their mark, after a promising start Tyrone Green was fed into some space in the wide channels and put away Cassius Cleaves who displayed blistering pace to score in the fourth minute. Jarrod Evans converted from out wide.

Montpellier came back and after some sustained pressure in the Harlequins 22, they found some space on the right wing with a miss pass finding Julien Tisseron who dotted down in the eighth minute. The try was converted by the Montpellier no.9 Leo Coly.

Coly added a further three points from the tee seven minutes later when Lennox Anyanwu was penalised for not rolling away after a big tackle on Billy Vunipola.

With designated drinks breaks every 20 minutes, Montpellier powered their way over just in time for the stoppage. A rolling maul saw the large French pack go over the line and French international lock Yacouba Camara claiming the score. Coly adding the extras from the touchline once more.

Four minutes before half-time Montpellier added another three points after a scrum penalty just outside the Quins 22, Coly kicking again made the score 20-7.

However it was Harlequins who were to have the last say of the half, Tyrone Green broke through and was inches from the line, Montpellier however went off their feet and Auguste Cadot was sent to the bin after the clock hit 40. Quins took a quick tap and go and after a couple of phases Will Evans powered over the line, Jarrod Evans then converted to make the half-time score 20-14.

During the break Harlequins took the opportunity to change their entire XV and some fresh legs were introduced including new signing Titi Lamositele who was facing his former club.

Harlequins began the second half brightly but Lewis Gjaltema who had intercepted a pass and was on his way to a try was brought back and Coly added a further three points from range after a Jack Kenningham infringement at the ruck.

The men from West London were looking to score tries however and they did so again in the 55th minute when Nathan Jibulu powered over from a driving maul. Jamie Benson converted to make it 23-21.

Twelve minutes later Marco Tauleigne spotted a gap from close range and powered through a couple of tackles to score. The try was converted by replacement Aurelien Barreau.

After another drinks break Quins came out firing, from the kick-off Harlequins regained the ball and it was moved wide, Bryn Bradley threw a miss pass out to Hayden Hyde who crashed over in the corner, Benson again converting to make it 30-28 in the 68th minute.

Five minutes later however the hosts showed their physicality and Vano Karkadze crashed over from close range after some nice interchanges in the wide channels and the conversion was successful.

The game ended with a Harlequins turnover on their own line, the visitors threw the ball wide and tried to play but eventually a tackle into touch saw the game come to a close, 37-28 to Montpellier.

Harlequins will look to continue their pre-season preparations against London Scottish at The Stoop on Saturday 7th September, tickets are still available at www.eticketing.co.uk/harlequins.

Harlequins First-Half: 1. Els 2. Walker 3. Kerrod 4. Launchbury 5. Lewies 6. Trenholm 7. W. Evans 8. Chisholm 9. Porter 10. J. Evans 11. Cleaves 12. Anyanwu 13. Beard 14. David 15. T. Green

Harlequins Second-Half: 1. Osborne 2. Jibulu 3. Lamositele (Hobson) 4. Herbst 5. Hammond 6. White 7. Kenningham 8. Lawday 9. Gjaltema 10. Benson 11. Zheng 12. Bradley 13. Joseph 14. Hyde 15. Slevin

[Cumbrian]

Bath are playing Munster today at 3:00pm, and I believe there is a live stream, if you have TikTok (I refuse to). I suspect there may be a decent-ish crowd because they are making a bit of an event out of it. Which makes their starting selection slightly odd.


Starting XV: 1 Arthur Cordwell, 2 John Stewart, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ewan Richards, 7 Thompson Cowan, 8 Miles Reid (c), 9 Louis Schreuder, 10 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 12 Will Butt, 13 James Short, 14 Austin Emens, 15 Ciaran Donoghue

[formerly known as Sam]

Bath have none of their English players nor du Toit who's with SA. Bench has some talent.

Replacement forwards: Niall Annett, Jasper Spandler, Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel, Archie Stanley, Mikey Summerfield, Francois van Wyk, Charlie Ewels, Will Jeanes, Quinn Roux, Jaco Coetzee, Ted Hill, Arthur Green, Ethan Staddon
Replacement backs: Tom Carr-Smith, Ieuan Davies, Finn Russell, Louie Hennessey, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville, Luke Graham, Tyler Offiah, Jack Woods

[TAFKA The Oracle]

Dragons lose 40-42 at home to Hartpury. Dragons had a very developmental/2nd string squad out….. but still

[TAFKA The Oracle]

Cardiff lose away to Ealing 45-31

[bsando]

Glasgow 0 31 Zèbre. Yikes!

[doctor_grey]

Bath have none of their English players nor du Toit who's with SA. Bench has some talent.

Replacement forwards: Niall Annett, Jasper Spandler, Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel, Archie Stanley, Mikey Summerfield, Francois van Wyk, Charlie Ewels, Will Jeanes, Quinn Roux, Jaco Coetzee, Ted Hill, Arthur Green, Ethan Staddon
Replacement backs: Tom Carr-Smith, Ieuan Davies, Finn Russell, Louie Hennessey, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville, Luke Graham, Tyler Offiah, Jack Woods

OK, not really a Bath fan, but Saints are not playing this weekend.

Bath Rugby 24-21 Munster

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