Tigers Vs Glaws - Welford Rd Friday Night

[FKAS]

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [81]
14 Josh Bassett [13]
13 Dan Kelly [76]
12 Solomone Kata [13]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [15]
10 Handré Pollard [27]
9 Ben Youngs [312]
1 James Cronin [28]
2 Julián Montoya [53]
3 Dan Cole [317]
4 Harry Wells [192
5 Ollie Chessum [53]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [101]
7 Tommy Reffell [109]
8 Jasper Wiese [72]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [9]
17 James Whitcombe [48]
18 Joe Heyes [138]
19 Kyle Hatherell [16]
20 Olly Cracknell [36]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [66]
22 Jamie Shillcock [21]
23 Phil Cokanasiga [13]

Gloucester Rugby team news
15. Lloyd Evans
14. Jonny May*
13. Max Llewellyn
12. Seb Atkinson*
11. Josh Hathaway*
10. Santi Carreras
9. Stephen Varney*
1. Mayco Vivas
2. Seb Blake*
3. Kirill Gotovtsev
4. Freddie Clarke*
5. Cam Jordan*
6. Ruan Ackermann (C)
7. Jack Clement*
8. Zach Mercer

Replacements

16. Adam McBurney**
17. Harry Elrington
18. Jamal Ford-Robinson
19. Arthur Clark*
20. Freddie Thomas
21. Albert Tuisue
22. Charlie Chapman*
23. Chris Harris

After last Friday's dire display the same teams meet to do it again. Some returning internationals hopefully increases the quality on display and if TNT ditch the vomit inducing camera angle with the RFU assigning a ref not more at home with social rugby this might actually be good (fingers crossed).

[FKAS]

Also the long awaited return of JvP is great to see. Still no Clare and Dolly at hooker though which is concerning.

[Banquo]

Also the long awaited return of JvP is great to see.

that is good news, and a turnaround from the last I heard

[FKAS]

Also the long awaited return of JvP is great to see.

that is good news, and a turnaround from the last I heard

I'd heard some mixed news but as he was playing waterboy last Friday night I was hopeful that was an indication he was pretty close to a return. Might take him a few games to get back up to match fitness after so long out so I'm not expecting much.

[Puja]

Slightly different lineup from last week! Great to see JVP back obviously, but even aside from that good news, it's a strong XV.

Any news about Watson's return?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Any news about Watson's return?

Puja

Yes. It will last less than five matches.

[FKAS]

Any news about Watson's return?

Puja

Ha, as if. Porter is back in training after a 3 month stand down for concussion. Dolly is a couple of weeks out. Simmonds the poor sod had some sort of eye surgery following the injury Vs Leinster.

[Puja]

See this is the problem that I always had with central contracts - the RFU have laid out money to keep Watson from leaving the country and there's a distinct possibility that, by the time he comes back, he might not even make the XXIII.

Puja

[fivepointer]

JvP's return is very good news.

[FKAS]

See this is the problem that I always had with central contracts - the RFU have laid out money to keep Watson from leaving the country and there's a distinct possibility that, by the time he comes back, he might not even make the XXIII.

Puja

I dunno Bassett is his competition and he's been fairly average this season.

[Puja]

See this is the problem that I always had with central contracts - the RFU have laid out money to keep Watson from leaving the country and there's a distinct possibility that, by the time he comes back, he might not even make the XXIII.

Puja

I dunno Bassett is his competition and he's been fairly average this season.

I meant the England XXIII. He'll be in real trouble if he can't make the Leicester one!

Puja

[FKAS]

See this is the problem that I always had with central contracts - the RFU have laid out money to keep Watson from leaving the country and there's a distinct possibility that, by the time he comes back, he might not even make the XXIII.

Puja

I dunno Bassett is his competition and he's been fairly average this season.

I meant the England XXIII. He'll be in real trouble if he can't make the Leicester one!

Puja

fair. He could slot into the 23 shirt ahead of Daly if he's back in form with Tigers. Opens up the ability to move Freeman into center if required. Could cover 15 as well though unless we change the system again Marcus would probably drop into 15 if we needed to change there.

[Timbo]

See this is the problem that I always had with central contracts - the RFU have laid out money to keep Watson from leaving the country and there's a distinct possibility that, by the time he comes back, he might not even make the XXIII.

Puja

I’ve seen this said, but I’m not convinced he is on a central/hybrid type contract. My understanding is that his Tigers contract ended for 22/23 & they were reluctant to give him a new deal when he would be away with England until post World Cup. Leicester wanted to contract him from around December, which he obviously was not happy about. So England stepped in and paid to bridge the gap from June-Nov, as his only other alternative was to go abroad.

[Mellsblue]

See this is the problem that I always had with central contracts - the RFU have laid out money to keep Watson from leaving the country and there's a distinct possibility that, by the time he comes back, he might not even make the XXIII.

Puja

I’ve seen this said, but I’m not convinced he is on a central/hybrid type contract. My understanding is that his Tigers contract ended for 22/23 & they were reluctant to give him a new deal when he would be away with England until post World Cup. Leicester wanted to contract him from around December, which he obviously was not happy about. So England stepped in and paid to bridge the gap from June-Nov, as his only other alternative was to go abroad.

That’s what I read.

[p/d]

See this is the problem that I always had with central contracts - the RFU have laid out money to keep Watson from leaving the country and there's a distinct possibility that, by the time he comes back, he might not even make the XXIII.

Puja

I dunno Bassett is his competition and he's been fairly average this season.

I meant the England XXIII. He'll be in real trouble if he can't make the Leicester one!

Puja

[FKAS]

He might not get many mentions from the commentary in game but Seb Blake has been fantastic for Glaws. Solid at set piece, played the full 80 and his line breaks have led your two of Glaws three tries.

[ilovelamp]

I said a few weeks back that Seb Blake will play for England. He was PoTM for me. Great, and unexpected, win for us tonight.

[FKAS]

I said a few weeks back that Seb Blake will play for England. He was PoTM for me. Great, and unexpected, win for us tonight.

He was definitely my PoTM as well. Mercer got the official award but he got hammered on contact bar one very nice step. All his metres were made further out in the 15m channels. Felt like a vote on reputation. Seb Blake does look like he has the makings of a future international. He's a big lad, light on his feet, seems solid at the set piece and has an engine on him. He's deserved his call up to the England A squad, unlucky not to make the 23.

I thought Seb Atkinson was everywhere for Glaws, glue that held the side together. Clement was a thorn in the side. Hatherall looked good but needs to learn to look for work, try saving intervention tracking back brilliantly to spoil the pass from Steward to Kelly.

Tigers side. Well Reffell looked knackered and was anonymous. Ref didn't allow a scrum contest so Cole was redundant. Cracknell off the bench was worse than Reffell which again highlights Tigers glaring need to back Ilione or sign an alternate openside. The Tigers attack was improved but the final pass often let us down. Losing Pollard late on due to illness didn't help, Shillcock is a good skillful player but isn't a natural 10. Steward seemed to have a point to prove and it anything took on too much. Did look good in attack though. Kata going off hurt Tigers massively. JvP looked pretty good when he came on, little rusty in places but a simply exquisite slight of hand created a try.

[R3dders]

Mercer made half the ground of the entire team, seems very odd to suggest it was a reputation pick. He carried more than both sebs combined. He was involved 3 or 4 times in the first try and scored the second.

[twitchy]

I said a few weeks back that Seb Blake will play for England. He was PoTM for me. Great, and unexpected, win for us tonight.

Looks great. Hathaway looks very sharp as well. Well done glos.

[FKAS]

Mercer made half the ground of the entire team, seems very odd to suggest it was a reputation pick. He carried more than both sebs combined. He was involved 3 or 4 times in the first try and scored the second.

He stood in the backfield to take the kicks of course he made lots of ground and carries. He was everywhere in attack but largely anonymous in defence except he had a very pleasing habit of joining mauls at the side and not disrupting them which allowed Tigers some free plays.

Mercer played well, had more effect on the game than Weise did who also carried a lot and defended hard. Mercer's footwork really stood out. I was just impressed with Blake as his break sets up all the momentum for the first try, he doesn't break the tackle of Kelly and get in behind. There's no way Mercer is getting the ball a metre out to step his way over if Blake doesn't make the break. Mercer had nowt to do with the second try as that was first phase Harris running over Shillcock. Third try is again a break by Blake who then offloads to Varney to run it in. I'm not sure there's many hookers who having played the full 80 make that break and set up the score.

[FKAS]

I said a few weeks back that Seb Blake will play for England. He was PoTM for me. Great, and unexpected, win for us tonight.

Looks great. Hathaway looks very sharp as well. Well done glos.

Hathaway looks very quick but needs to go looking for work.

[Mellsblue]

Look, against Wales Steward ran ball in hand more than any other player in terms of metres made, came second in number of overall carriers and joint second for number of players beaten (joint highest for England) and had a great game.
Mercer made half the ground of the entire Glos team the and carried more than both sebs combined but of course it is easy to do from the backfield, unlike a fullback.

[FKAS]

Look, against Wales Steward ran ball in hand more than any other player in terms of metres made, came second in number of overall carriers and joint second for number of players beaten (joint highest for England) and had a great game.
Mercer made half the ground of the entire Glos team the and carried more than both sebs combined but of course it is easy to do from the backfield, unlike a fullback.

Very good. Mercer (as I've already said played well) having been hyped before the game as soon as he played well and his side won he seemed destined man of the match.

Mercer's footwork was really impressive. When he tried to take the ball through contract he got little joy but when he threw some steps he squeezed through some very small gaps for a big bloke. Nevermind Earl for 12, Mercer for 12. He's not got the physicality of an international 8 (particularly in defence) but his skillset is exceptional.

[Puja]

Disastrous result for Leicester's season. Regardless of Gloucester's qualities, that was a must-win game if we have pretensions of a successful season and I was expecting a much better performance given 7 weeks in camp with the majority of the squad and a near 1st XV.

I said a few weeks back that Seb Blake will play for England. He was PoTM for me. Great, and unexpected, win for us tonight.

Fair play - he did make me eat my words last night.

Puja