The 2014/15 pre-season general news/discussion thread

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Think Barbieri could be one of the best signings for tigers I rate Crane very much but sometimes he can run to upright imo, Barbieri has more power, and I also a handy 7.

Could see Ghiraldini starting over time.

Imagine

Youngs and Mulipola coming on with 30 left.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Think Barbieri could be one of the best signings for tigers I rate Crane very much but sometimes he can run to upright imo, Barbieri has more power, and I also a handy 7.

Could see Ghiraldini starting over time.

Imagine

Youngs and Mulipola coming on with 30 left.

Barbieri will probably start at 8, though I don't know what he's like on the ground and Cockerill likes to have a poacher. He is a stocky little guy so he wont run upright and off the base of the scrum 5m out he will get 4/5 tries. Youngs, Mulipola and Kitchener all adding ridiculous pace and power to the game. I said before that i think Tigers will win the European cup as the depth they have is scary, that forward pack is as good as Toulons i believe. The league is between Tigers/Saracens as Saints haven't really improved the back row. I mean Wood-Dickinson-Clark is not near Croft-Barbieri-Salvi or Fraser-Vunipola-Burger

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale vs Worcester sides:

Sale:
Luke McLean, Tom Brady, Will Addison, Sammy Tuitupou, Mark Cueto, Danny Cipriani, Chris Cusiter, Alberto de Marchi, Marc Jones, Vadim Cobilas, Nathan Hines, Michael Paterson, Magnus Lund, Dan Braid (Captain), Mark Easter

Replacements Cameron Neild, Ross Harrison, Eifion Lewis-Roberts, Jonathan Mills, Andrei Ostrikov, David Seymour, Will Cliff, Joe Ford, Nick Macleod, Mark Jennings, Tom Arscott

Worcester:
15 Ben Howard
14 Josh Drauniniu
13 Max Stelling
12 Ravai Fatiaki
11 Sam Smith
10 Tiff Eden (VC)
9 Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier

1 Val Rapava Ruskin
2 Dan George
3 Mike Daniels
4 James Percival
5 Christian Scotland-Williamson
6 Mike Williams
7 Sam Betty
8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze (C)

Replacements
16 Niall Annett
17 Jack Cosgrove
18 Joe Rees
19 Dan Sanderson
20 Richard de Carpentier
21 Matt Cox
22 Jonny Arr
23 Ignacio Mieres
24 Andy Symons
25 Alex Grove
26 Josh Watkins

Strong Sale side. With the exception of a 50/50 call between Seymour/Lund and Easter/Fihaki (as in: flip a coin for who's starting) I think that'll be our XV for Bath.

 

[Peat]

Exeter just sealed a late comeback against a fairly suspect looking Ulster side in Ravenhill, believe final score 22-21. Tries for Jess (2) and Slade - think Slade and Steenson were on the pitch at the same time. Arguably lucky to survive a last minute long ranger attempt plus two sin-bins, as the sides had agreed to just sub sin-binned players and stay at 15. Sounds like both sides can take things away from that though.

 

[Geordie]

Some interesting lineups for tomorrow games:

Newcastle Falcons v Rotherham ***ans Kingston Park Stadium – 3pm Kick Off
1.Eric Fry
2. Scott Lawson
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Callum Green
5. Josh Furno
6. Ulli Kolo'ofai
7. Andy Saull
8. Ally Hogg ©

9. Ruki Tipuna
10. Rory Clegg
11. Noah Cato
12. Juan Pablo Socino
13. Danny Barnes
14. Sinoti Sinoti
15. Simon Hammersley

Replacements Rob Vickers, Rob Hawkins, Oliver Tomasczyzk, Scott MacLeod, Mark Wilson, Will Welch, Warren Fury, Phil Godman, Craig Willis

Doncaster Knights v Newcastle Falcons Castle Park Stadium – 2:30pm Kick Off
1.Alex Rogers
2. George McGuigan
3. Scott Wilson
4. Glen Young
5. Dom Barrow
6. Brian Tuilagi
7.Dan Temm
8. Richard Mayhew ©

9. Mike Blair
10. Tom Catterick
11. Sean Brown
12. Jamie Helleur
13. Adam Redman
14. Tom Small
15. Lee Smith

Replacements Jake Elwood, David Nelson, Mark Irving, Will Witty, George Hedgley, Dan Grange Dan Marshall, Dan Taylor, Callum Burn

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Are Newcastle looking at using one of Vickers/Hawkins as prop cover?

 

[Patchey]

Yeah, I guess long term Spencer has probably learnt a lot from his seasons developing on the fringes of the squad. It's just frustrating, when we can't seem to have a consistently good nine for more than a season in the England jersey, that he's been kicking about (no pun intended) in the LV and A league.

"Wrigglesworth"
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhg

But are he and Tim related? :0

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The worst is when commentators say it. IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU YOU BELLEND!

 

[Geordie]

Are Newcastle looking at using one of Vickers/Hawkins as prop cover?

Vickers couldn't throw for toffee as a hooker...and converted last season to loosehead where he became our first choice...he was outstanding(probably the first name on the teamsheet every week) and will be our first choice again this season. He is just returning from surgery though so its great to see him on the bench.

Hawkins will be challenging Lawson and young McGuigan for the spot this season. McGuigan could be a dark horse, only a young lad but he's a big powerful boy and Dean is a big fan. He played quite a few games last season but he needs to sort his lineout throwing out.

A front row of Vickers, McGuigan, Brookes will give all the teams a good battle that's for sure...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fair play!
I didn't follow team-other-than-Sale as much as I normally would've last season, so must've missed the Vickers conversion!

 

[big ginger 8]

Vickers couldn't throw for toffee as a hooker...and converted last season to loosehead where he became our first choice...he was outstanding(probably the first name on the teamsheet every week) and will be our first choice again this season. He is just returning from surgery though so its great to see him on the bench.

Hawkins will be challenging Lawson and young McGuigan for the spot this season. McGuigan could be a dark horse, only a young lad but he's a big powerful boy and Dean is a big fan. He played quite a few games last season but he needs to sort his lineout throwing out.

A front row of Vickers, McGuigan, Brookes will give all the teams a good battle that's for sure...

Good to hear McGuigan is doing well, captained the 20's a few years ago. I wonder if any province is looking at him.

 

[welshglory]

Was impressed by Mark Atkinson of Gloucester at 12 as well. Seems to have a lot more going for him than Twelvetrees.

 

[ratsapprentice]

http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/18073/i-can-be-the-new-harlequins-enforcer-says-charlie-matthews/

[url]http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/young-gun/18063/young-gun-joe-marchant-harlequins-and-england-u18s-centre/

[/URL]I think Marchant is going to be really good in the future.

 

[Patchey]

http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/18073/i-can-be-the-new-harlequins-enforcer-says-charlie-matthews/

[url]http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/young-gun/18063/young-gun-joe-marchant-harlequins-and-england-u18s-centre/

[/URL]I think Marchant is going to be really good in the future.

Aye, got some lovely looking young centres at the moment.

Matthews is going to have a bumper season if he stays fit. Really exciting stuff.

 

[Geordie]

Aye, got some lovely looking young centres at the moment.

Matthews is going to have a bumper season if he stays fit. Really exciting stuff.

I don't care what they look like...can they play rugby

 

[Geordie]

Good to hear McGuigan is doing well, captained the 20's a few years ago. I wonder if any province is looking at him.

I wouldn't be surprised if they were. He made huge strides this season and if he can sort out the lineout then he'll be quite a force in that hooker spot.

Dean Richards doesn't often show his feelings but he constantly raves about this lad and a couple of our other academy lads like David Nelson another young English hooker who is probably a year or so behind McGuigans development.

 

[Patchey]

I don't care what they look like...can they play rugby

Hur hur hur


Quins team to face Glasgow today as is follows, one or two players aside the starting XV is, I think, going to be our first choice.

15. Mike Brown
14. Marland Yarde
13. Matt Hopper
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler©
2. Joe Gray
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Charlie Matthews
5. George Robson
6. Luke Wallace
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Nick Easter

Replacements from:
Rob Buchanan, Mark Lambert, Paul Doran Jones, George Merrick, Sam Twomey, Joe Trayfoot, Jack Clifford, Karl Dickson, Ben Botica, Ross Chisholm, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Charlie Walker.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Link to watch Leicester play v Edinburgh KO now Some big names in the tiger team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP90di4zu7A

Leicester Tigers team
15. Morris/Scully
14. Scully/Smith
13. Manu
12. Bai
11. Goneva
10. Burns
9. Youngs
8. Barberi
7. Salvi
6. Croft
5. Parling
4. De Cheves
3. Mulipola
2. Ghilrandi
1. Sio

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

big backline ther

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Manu passing well so far.

Edinburgh 7 having a very good game.

really good coverage for this match imo.