Tigers v Saints - 3rd November

Normally the last thing this fixture, to be played out again in front of a capacity crowd, does not need the extra fireworks we will see provided after the match Last season's encounter was a humdinger. A mass punch-up, 2 red cards, a 6 week suspension for Chris Ashton and 7 tries.

However injuries and AI training camps could see two much wealened sides:

Potential Tigers Absentees

England Duty
Youngs (T), Cole, Parling, Waldrom, Youngs (B), Flood, Allen, Manu

Injuries
Mulipola, Hawkins, Croft, Crane, Salvi, Deacon (B), Thorpe, Young, Bowden, Benjamin.


Potential Saints Absentees

England/Injured/Suspended
Hartley, Lawes, Manoa, Clark, Dowson, Wood, Dickson, Foden, Wilson.



Should still be an epic encounter - but already it is feeling more like an LV match, than a sold out AP encounter.

No Ashton or Tuilagi bros will mean less spice too.

Both sides will be hurting after their losses but you never want to go to WR when you are going through a rough patch.

Myler might be injured too?

It's a shame there will be so many absentees but it's a great opportunity for the two sides to show their squad depth.

Myler went off fairly early in the game Saturday - replaced by Tom May.

My main area of concern is the back row - but croft may not be as badly hurt as he looked and Croft is due back soon.

If some of the short term in jured come back we could have a team of:

Ayerza, chuter, Castro, Kitchener, Deacon, Mafi, Croft,Crane, Harrison/Young, Ford, thompstone, Bowden, Smith, Hamilton, Murphy.

Should be good enough to win

I'd hope England see sense and leave Benny at Tigers rather than in the EPS training camp.

Sam, not sure how many players Lancaster will release for this first weekend - he will want to see as many in training as possible. Any that are released will be rather late in the week.

beshocked wrote:No Ashton or Tuilagi bros will mean less spice too.

Both sides will be hurting after their losses but you never want to go to WR when you are going through a rough patch.

Myler might be injured too?

It's a shame there will be so many absentees but it's a great opportunity for the two sides to show their squad depth.

I know you're bound to say that i'm disagreeing with you for the sake of it, but I disagree...

This is always a fairly boisterous encounter, regardless of the protaganists.

Sam, not sure how many players Lancaster will release for this first weekend - he will want to see as many in training as possible. Any that are released will be rather late in the week.

True but if he sees Benny in training until Wednesday and then releases him back to Tigers that's fine by me.

I can't see Croft coming in just yet and Crane tends to stay on unless something serious has happened. Worrying backrow injuries mounting up.

Clark the scumbag's ban finishes on Thursday. Shall we take bets on who the first Tigers player will be to stamp on him should he play?

formerly known as Sam wrote:Clark the scumbag's ban finishes on Thursday. Shall we take bets on who the first Tigers player will be to stamp on him should he play?

yeah I read that in the paper today. I would imagine there would be a few players go out of there way to "accidentally" get a cheap shot in.

It is incumbent on professional players to behave professionally.

That responsibility is not however delegated to the crowd. If (ever) Callous Clark pitches up at Welford Road, he should expect to receive a special recognition of their personal respect from Tigers' fans. For eighty minutes.

greytiger wrote:It is incumbent on professional players to behave professionally.

That duty is not however, incumbent on the crowd. If (ever) Clark pitches up at Welford Road, he should expect a special recognition of his return.

Sort of. I don't want to see any dangerous cheap shots. However, every tackle on him needs to be the hardest hit the player can put in, and every time he joins a ruck he needs to be smashed out of it. No cheap shots isn't the same as no sending out a clear message...

Players targeting a single player for special attention (however legal) would be be a distraction from the other 14 opposition players.

Let the fans vent their spleens. The players should concentrate on the now and the job in hand.

They might not target him but if he's lying in the ruck a quick old school hello will be tough to turn down.

I sincerely hope that if he plays, the players treat him with the same attention as any other Saint.

I however as a paying spectator will boo.

formerly known as Sam wrote:They might not target him but if he's lying in the ruck a quick old school hello will be tough to turn down.

Indeed Sam. And as Kenny Everett would have said:

It's done all in the possible taste

(In case you are to young)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=D5LcYT2-QTE

It's done all in the best possible taste

character named cupid stunt...

Sorry for being pedantic its been a long stressful day. On a lighter note there was a little gaff on Radio Ulster the other day with a text that was read out loud about Mr. Saville... Its worth a search

LondonTiger wrote:I sincerely hope that if he plays, the players treat him with the same attention as any other Saint.

I however as a paying spectator will boo.

I'm sure Clark will be overcome with emotion and cry.

Salvi and Crane passed fit with Castro, Mafi, Youngs and Allen returning from their international squads mid week for the game. Mulipola is out for 4 to 6 weeks.

Team of:
1. Ayerza (I presume he will be released as well)
2. Chuter
3. Castro
4. Deacon
5. Kitchener
6. Mafi
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Goneva (I presume he will be released as well)
12. Allen
13. Smith
14. Hamilton
15. Murphy

Subs: Balmain, Hawkins/Stevens, Brookes, Slater, Deacon, Harrison, Bowden, Thompstone.

Jimpy wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:I sincerely hope that if he plays, the players treat him with the same attention as any other Saint.

I however as a paying spectator will boo.

I'm sure Clark will be overcome with emotion and cry.

I await Saints' squad announcement with some interest and fully expect the fans to fully respond to any Clarke inclusion to be treated with full, due respect.

I equally expect the Tigers players to treat the opposition professionally.

Whether Kleenexes are required from the sideline is a matter for the Saints support team and Callum himself.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Salvi and Crane passed fit with Castro, Mafi, Youngs and Allen returning from their international squads mid week for the game. Mulipola is out for 4 to 6 weeks.

Team of:
1. Ayerza (I presume he will be released as well)
2. Chuter
3. Castro
4. Deacon
5. Kitchener
6. Mafi
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Goneva (I presume he will be released as well)
12. Allen
13. Smith
14. Hamilton
15. Murphy

Subs: Balmain, Hawkins/Stevens, Brookes, Slater, Deacon, Harrison, Bowden, Thompstone.

Thats a team that could do real damage to Saints.

Sam - I'm assuming that Goneva and Ayerza will not have left the squad. I thought it was only because of the EPS agreement that England get the players two weeks ahead. I would assume that others will only be joining their national sides after the Saints game.

It's fantastic news if Salvi has been passed fit - he has been missed.

Hawkins and Clark on their same corresponding team sheets?

A possibility?

Why not tip boiling oil on a spicy meal?

Hawkins surely can't be picked for this one as Saints probably would have to.

Thats a team that could do real damage to Saints.

Personally I'd like to see us rest Goneva and bring in Lewington who has been scoring tries for fun from wing and full back in the A league. That would give us three players at the back who are solid under the high ball and have good footballing skills. Saints like to plat territory and if I were their ten I'd be aiming over Goneva's head all day.

Hawkins and Clark on their same corresponding team sheets?

I think Hawkins might still be injured and Saints have got Dowson back so are only missing Wood from their backrow.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Thats a team that could do real damage to Saints.

Personally I'd like to see us rest Goneva and bring in Lewington who has been scoring tries for fun from wing and full back in the A league. That would give us three players at the back who are solid under the high ball and have good footballing skills. Saints like to plat territory and if I were their ten I'd be aiming over Goneva's head all day.

Hawkins and Clark on their same corresponding team sheets?

I think Hawkins might still be injured and Saints have got Dowson back so are only missing Wood from their backrow.

Sorry Sam. I was referring to a post by Sam

Subs: Balmain, Hawkins/Stevens, Brookes, Slater, Deacon, Harrison, Bowden, Thompstone.

That's why I put Hawkins/Stevens as Hawkins will make the bench if fit but It's more likely Stevens will get the nod.

Didn't realise this'd be Clark's first game back. Hoping to see the little Poopie get smashed (legally)!

Seeing that there is no SH rugby on today, I can pay full attention to this match. Looking forward to it.

Ford is struggling big time with the boot!

Yeah he is having a nightmare

Both teams struggling to play at the moment. Just looking to smash each other so far no real subtlety in the attack's

I get the feeling if Tigers can hang on in this half the second half will work in thier favour.

The sun is akward and he wind against them at the moment

Uuuuugly at the moment, which ever team can keep the ball in hand and work through some phases should take control of the game.

Lamb is such an average 10 though, Saints need a better fly half.

Still 3-6 to Saints at the moment and i'm nearly nodding off.

6-6 Tigers get a late penalty into half time.

They can be pretty greatful with that chance to egualise as it looked like Saints had made a legal turn over there and then Salvi came diving into the ruck with a shoulder which is usually a yellow.

Has been tight until Smiths try

Well that was a bit rubbish really. Lets hope the other games of the weekend are more entertaining.

Hmmm. Fairly stodgy match. Tigers win 16-12. Nothing to write home about. Leicester will be happy to bag the four points and move on.

A day Ford would like to forget sharpish. Single handedly handed Saints a bonus point, but good effort from the Tigers on day dominated by the forwards and the defences. They did well to eek the penalties, but Ford just couldn't convert them. He will get over it. He is quality.

yeah dull game to watch.

interestingly i thought calum clark was good today.

kitchener was also excellant, MOM.

youngs was quiet, he'll have a job getting the england 9 shirt from care..

northamton really struggled to stretch the tigers defence, they really seem to be missing ashton and foden.

I guess youngs was released to increase his game time?

Agreed good performance by the Tigers front five.

To be fair, the second half was an improvement on the first.

Biltong wrote:To be fair, the second half was an improvement on the first.

That's not saying much though is it? I can't really think of how it could have got much worse.

youngs was quiet, he'll have a job getting the england 9 shirt from care..

He should be rested until the 6N he isn't fully fit yet and not in his best form I don't see the point in promoting him above two 9s who are fit and in form. Give him until the 6N and you should be seeing the best of Benny and when he is playing to the best of his ability he's the best 9 in the NH.

Thankfully it was more entertaining live than on TV. Still poor though.

Tigers execution was poor. Saints showed no ambition. Chutes struggled to hit his man - is Tigers lineout book too complicated?

Ford did have a day he would want to forget - happens to everyone sometimes I guess.

Crowd were deperate to blame Clark for everything - even when he was 50yds away. It did feel as though the Saints were really trying to push the limits with late and high hits, but Clark seemed to play by the book.

Tigers forwards showed little (no?) dynamism when carrying - constantly failing to get over the gain line. Thorpe struggled at 8, salvi was his usual self at 7 - we have missed him recently.

Personally I thought Youngs had a decent game. Yes he did not snipe as usual but such was Tigers support that would have left him isolated. He did the basics of SH play (things people on here say he cannot do very well) excellently. His passing was sharp, his decision making accurate, tackling and cover reliable and kicking good. He needs more game time - but I firmly believe that his best is a clear step ahead of Care's best. Care is closre to his best right now (though his usual mid-season dip is due?) so should definitely be Englands 9.

I am not sure I agree on Youngs, firstly what irritated me was his habit of taking his eye off the ball whilst regulating or organising his backs at theruck, one time the ball came out and he wasn't even aware of it. once in a scrum and once in a lineout he did manage to get a penalty by showing the referee the Saints players were unbound at the scrum or coming around the maul.

But I prefer a halfback to play the game with the intent on playing rugby instead of trying to milk a penalty the whole time.

The referees are there to do a job, they don't need half backs to tell them, he might incur the wrath of a referee if he carries on with it.

Good summary that LT. Ford had a day to forget in terms of kicking but his passing was crisp and caused Saints problems. Youngs had a solid game, he struggles to snipe with Ford at 10 because of Ford's preference towards set rugby as opposed to Flood who likes to run with the ball a lot more. Youngs' kicking was excellent, particularly the box kick from his own half that ended up near the Saints 22.

Thorpe was very disappointing (3m out and scrum going forward you do NOT pick the ball up and go!) and it was a shame to see Louis go off as I think Slater would have otherwise gone to 8 and offered more grunt there.

Always likely tha the view from the stand will differ from that on the TV. Neither are better just different - on TV you can see the close up well, from the stand you can see the context of what is happening.

The reason the ball came out that he missed was it was kicked out by a prone player from the middle of the ruck (illegally). If the game is on then Youngs can attack reasonably well (as demonstrated against SA in 2nd test) if not he is starting to show he can put in a tidy performance. Surely that is the optimum - and certainly better than the headless chicken routine he has displayed in the past.

Joint funniest moment of the day:

1) One of the Touch judges sat in his big Audi trying to get into the car park from Welford Rd (the exit of the car park). attendant points to the other side on Aylestone Rd and tells him he has to "Enter via the gate".

2) the Expletive laden diatribe given by Tom May to Luther Burrell with about 30 seconds to go. May catches the ball in the Saints 22, passes the ball to Burrell opening up a chance to counter and maybe steal the win. As he loops round to support Burrell corkscrews the ball into touch and Tigers wind down the clock. Poor old Burrell looked like a little lad just told that Christmas has been cancelled.

LT I am not suggesting that he is a bad half back, but it irritates me when half backs are not focused on clean quick service, but rather stuff that slows down play.

Lee Dickson does it a lot as well and was torn a new one for it by the peeps on here. Very annoying.

Couldn't understand Burrell going on to the wing. Big boshing centre to give them go forward in attack was what they needed. Pisi was surely the better choice to move to the wing.