Pre-season games.

[Tigersman]

Just so we can talk about the pre-season frendlies if anyone wants to.

Leicester Tigers squad (v Ospreys, at Bridgend, Friday 7.30pm)

Forwards: Chris Baumann, Ben Betts, Tom Croft, Will Evans, Mike Fitzgerald, Sam Grahamslaw, Luke Hamilton, Owen Hills, Sam Lewis, Joe Maksymiw, Harry Mahoney, Michele Rizzo, Dominic Ryan, Harry Thacker, Fred Tuilagi, Harry Wells

Backs: George Catchpole, Joe Ford, Tom Hardwick, Jonah Holmes, Jono Kitto, Nick Malouf, Jordan Olowofela, Harry Simmons, Matt Smith, Mathew Tait, Charlie Thacker, Ben White, George Worth

So interesting academy lads in there.
Grahamslaw - 18 years old LH, Was Out junior academy Number 8 but after a talk with an England coach he was told he could have the potnetial at LH prop. Interestingly that this was the same England coach who told Genge that he should move from Number 8 to LH prop at the same age so could be an interesting prospect.
Fred Tuilagi Jnr - 20 year old Number 8, I think he might have potential. Last season though he was carrying a bit too much puppy fat IMO but from reports i have heard he has worked very hard on his fitness this off-season so we will find out.
Tom Hardwick - Reports coming out of Tigers that they think he might be the real deal at 10, the 18 year old feature in the Preseason last year and also in the A league and from what i gather is likely to feature in the AWC this season.
Ben White - Tigers youngest ever Prem player at 17 years old now 19 and i reckon he will have a big chance at ousting Kitto for the 3rdf choice 9 position.
Harry Simmons - Very talented rugby players like Healey he plays all over the park but is prob best at 9, the 19 year old certainly has shown some x factorness in the A league games i have seen.


What this selection does for me is give me hope that MOC will be looking at more youngsters, he named checked the 2 9 Simmons and White a couple weeks ago.


Hoping Evans, Croft, Catchpole and Wells have big games. Esp Evans to put pressure on the older 7's.

[Puja]

Very interesting squad - feels like it's a shootout amongst the fringe players.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Has Thacker converted to the backs or is that the other one?

[Puja]

Has Thacker converted to the backs or is that the other one?

The other one, Charlie. I'm hopeful that Harry will be a 7 still, although I'm losing hope now.

Puja

[Timbo]

Tell me there's no issue with Toomua and he's going to be ok for the new season?

[Tigersman]

Has Thacker converted to the backs or is that the other one?

The other one, Charlie. I'm hopeful that Harry will be a 7 still, although I'm losing hope now.

Puja

Tell Harry to play 7, as he seems to be the one that wants to play 2.

Tell me there's no issue with Toomua and he's going to be ok for the new season?

From what i hear yes he is fine for the start of season.

[Tigersman]

Starting XV - Fwds: 1 Kyle Traynor, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Ben Betts, 4 Joe Maksymiw, 5 Harry Wells, 6 Tom Croft, 7 Will Evans, 8 Fred Tuilagi
Starting XV - Backs: 15 George Worth, 14 Nick Malouf, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Charlie Thacker, 11 Jonah Holmes, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Ben White

[Puja]

Has Thacker converted to the backs or is that the other one?

The other one, Charlie. I'm hopeful that Harry will be a 7 still, although I'm losing hope now.

Puja

Tell Harry to play 7, as he seems to be the one that wants to play 2.

Someone really should. I sympathise, cause 2 is much more fun, but he will never rise above being a Premiership reserve if he stays there.

Puja

[rowan]

Saracens just beat US Islanders 92-0 in Bermuda. I'm putting the story and video up on the North American thread now.

[Scrumhead]

Quins squeeze past London Irish with a 29-31 win.

Luke Wallace dislocated his hip though so will be out for the foreseeable future. No idea on the recovery time for that?

[Adam_P]

Lewis Ludlam showed up very well for Saints today, and Ribbans played at 6 and also looked good. Tom Stephenson and Tom Collins both also good and scoring, and both Francis and Grayson did well at 10

[bitts]

Lewis Ludlam showed up very well for Saints today, and Ribbans played at 6 and also looked good. Tom Stephenson and Tom Collins both also good and scoring, and both Francis and Grayson did well at 10

Pretty sure I remember Ludlam looking good last preseason, sadly doesn't mean it will translate into game time.

[Tigersman]

Tom Croft was apprently very impressive in the first pre-season game.
I think tigers have missed his ability in the maul and lineout alot.
Could see him starting at 6 if he can get a run of fitness with Ryan at 7 to bring the aggression.

Joe ford kicked 100% in crap weather two of them where on the touch line.
Jonah holmes looks a handy finisher.

[Mikey Brown]

[Scrumhead]

Some stand-out moments from Marcus Smith in there.

I'm not sure what the deal is with Catrakilis? I assumed he would be our starting 10 but he's yet to feature in pre-season and AFAIK, he's not injured?

Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited by Smith, but I don't want us to be relying on an 18 year old!

[Puja]

I'm not sure what the deal is with Catrakilis? I assumed he would be our starting 10 but he's yet to feature in pre-season and AFAIK, he's not injured?

Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited by Smith, but I don't want us to be relying on an 18 year old!

I wouldn't read too much into it. It's very early in pre-season still; Leicester haven't started most of our big names yet.

Speaking of which:



Hard to tell much from limited highlights, but Holmes took his try well and Ford the Lesser looked comfortable. Nice to see a Croft break again - it would be fantastic to have him back to his best. What is with the music on the official video though? I don't know anyone who thinks rugby is improved with random electronic plinky noises behind it. Just give us crowd noise.

Puja

[Tigersman]

Leicester Tigers (v Benetton Treviso, Welford Road, Friday 7.45pm)
15 Mathew Tait
14 Tom Brady
13 Matt Smith
12 Charlie Thacker
11 Jonah Holmes
10 Joe Ford
9 Sam Harrison
1 Greg Bateman
2 George McGuigan
3 Logovi’i Mulipola
4 Mike Fitzgerald
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Williams
7 Dominic Ryan
8 Sione Kalamafoni
Replacements from
Tom Youngs
Ellis Genge
Chris Baumann
Dom Barrow
Brendon O’Connor
Fred Tuilagi
Ben White
Tom Hardwick
Matt Toouma
Telusa Veainu
Michele Rizzo
Harry Thacker
Ben Betts
Joe Maksymiw
Harry Wells
Luke Hamilton
Harry Simmons
George Catchpole
Nick Malouf

[Puja]

Interesting selection again - giving a lot of time to the wider squad while keeping Ford, May, BYoungs away even from the subs bench. Presumably there's a method to the madness, but I'm not sure one game is going to be enough to shake off the ring-rustiness before the season starts.

Nice to see Toomua back after his Jerome Schuster award last year. Good to see him fit and firing and looking forward to him making an actual positive impression this season.

Puja

[Tigersman]

Interesting selection again - giving a lot of time to the wider squad while keeping Ford, May, BYoungs away even from the subs bench. Presumably there's a method to the madness, but I'm not sure one game is going to be enough to shake off the ring-rustiness before the season starts.

Nice to see Toomua back after his Jerome Schuster award last year. Good to see him fit and firing and looking forward to him making an actual positive impression this season.

Puja

They shouldn't really be ring rusted, may and Ford certainly shouldn't.

Youngs we know what he can do, so why not give white and simmons game time, both of whom have been involved in both game so far this season.

[Puja]

Interesting selection again - giving a lot of time to the wider squad while keeping Ford, May, BYoungs away even from the subs bench. Presumably there's a method to the madness, but I'm not sure one game is going to be enough to shake off the ring-rustiness before the season starts.

Nice to see Toomua back after his Jerome Schuster award last year. Good to see him fit and firing and looking forward to him making an actual positive impression this season.

Puja

They shouldn't really be ring rusted, may and Ford certainly shouldn't.

Youngs we know what he can do, so why not give white and simmons game time, both of whom have been involved in both game so far this season.

Really? It will have been over 11 weeks since either May or Ford played a game and longer still for Youngs. I'd prefer them to be a bit more match-fit before chucking them in against Bath.

Puja

[Tigersman]

They will play next week.

an extra 30 mins wouldn't do anything?

[Adam_P]

Saints, like Tigers, have for some reason put stupid electronic noise over the highlights. Collins looks dangerous as ever, but will still probably see no proper game time for the first team this season... I live in hope. Stephenson showed some good footwork and strength for his try, and there were some nice touches from Grayson in the first half. Foden's lack of pace in his old age got shown up, which gives even more reason for Collins to get some time.

[Raggs]

Wasps Ulster available on Ulster facebook. 2nd half still to come.

[Tigersman]

Anyone know why Newport decided to play 2 games back to back?

[Scrumhead]

Saints, like Tigers, have for some reason put stupid electronic noise over the highlights. Collins looks dangerous as ever, but will still probably see no proper game time for the first team this season... I live in hope. Stephenson showed some good footwork and strength for his try, and there were some nice touches from Grayson in the first half. Foden's lack of pace in his old age got shown up, which gives even more reason for Collins to get some time.

Some nice stuff from Saints there. Mallinder looked like he was involved in a lot of their best attacking moves.

I really hope Tom Stephenson can put his injuries behind him and live up to his potential.