RugbyRebels

Leicester Tigers (v Munster Rugby, Welford Road, Sunday 5.30pm)

15 Mathew Tait

14 Adam Thompstone

13 Manu Tuilagi

12 Matt Toomua

11 Jonny May

10 George Ford

9 Ben Youngs

1 Kyle Traynor

2 Tom Youngs (c)

3 Dan Cole

4 Mike Fitzgerald

5 Graham Kitchener

6 Valentino Mapapalangi

7 Mike Williams

8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau

17 Logovi’i Mulipola

18 Chris Baumann

19 Dom Barrow

20 Luke Hamilton

21 Sam Harrison

22 Joe Ford

23 Nick Malouf

Munster: 15 Simon Zebo; 14 Darren Sweetnam, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Alex Wootton; 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Dave Kilcoyne, 2 Kevin O’Byrne, 3 Stephen Archer; 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Billy Holland; 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 7 Chris Cloete, 8 CJ Stander.

Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Brian Scott, 18 John Ryan, 19 Darren O’Shea, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Keith Earls.

That back row does not suggest that we have understood why Munster gubbed us last week. Williams at 7 - this might be painful.

My only thought is that they've given him a Haskell role of doing nothing but hitting the first ruck. I suspect that's an optimistic interpretation though.

Puja

Good to see Tigers aren't just going to throw Manu back in at the deep end.

Puja wrote:That back row does not suggest that we have understood why Munster gubbed us last week. Williams at 7 - this might be painful.

My only thought is that they've given him a Haskell role of doing nothing but hitting the first ruck. I suspect that's an optimistic interpretation though.

Puja

I have a feeling that the aim of that back row is to keep the ball at all costs, and when they get the ball just run hard into that munster defence to try and give Toomua and Ford a bit of space to put people in holes.

bitts wrote:Good to see Tigers aren't just going to throw Manu back in at the deep end.

That's all well and good, but he's been injured most times when he's been eased back on a couple 30 min performances then 80 mins. I doubt it would make any difference. Just get as many minutes out of him as possible and hope for the best.

(Especially with the salary he's on)

Ideally, Tigers need not only a win, but also a bp and to deprive Munster of a point.
Is it possible? Why not, but it's likely to be pissing down on Sunday afternoon which could make it even more unlikely.

Puja wrote:That back row does not suggest that we have understood why Munster gubbed us last week. Williams at 7 - this might be painful.

My only thought is that they've given him a Haskell role of doing nothing but hitting the first ruck. I suspect that's an optimistic interpretation though.

Puja

I've said from the start of the season that the back 5 of your pack is pretty average - nowhere to go, bar maybe Evans.

Tigersman wrote:

Puja wrote:That back row does not suggest that we have understood why Munster gubbed us last week. Williams at 7 - this might be painful.

My only thought is that they've given him a Haskell role of doing nothing but hitting the first ruck. I suspect that's an optimistic interpretation though.

Puja

I have a feeling that the aim of that back row is to keep the ball at all costs, and when they get the ball just run hard into that munster defence to try and give Toomua and Ford a bit of space to put people in holes.

Mind, if there's one thing we can say about Williams, it's that he'll work hard, which was something in short supply last week. I'd prefer it if his hard work was more shoulder-to-the-wheel rather than shoulder-to-someone's-face, but beggars can't be choosers.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Tigersman wrote:

Puja wrote:That back row does not suggest that we have understood why Munster gubbed us last week. Williams at 7 - this might be painful.

My only thought is that they've given him a Haskell role of doing nothing but hitting the first ruck. I suspect that's an optimistic interpretation though.

Puja

I have a feeling that the aim of that back row is to keep the ball at all costs, and when they get the ball just run hard into that munster defence to try and give Toomua and Ford a bit of space to put people in holes.

Mind, if there's one thing we can say about Williams, it's that he'll work hard, which was something in short supply last week. I'd prefer it if his hard work was more shoulder-to-the-wheel rather than shoulder-to-someone's-face, but beggars can't be choosers.

Puja

Does remembering when Leicester had a terrifying pack make me old?

That Tigers backline stays fit and it's pretty impressive.

Nice to see Croft get to say goodbye.

16th man wrote:That Tigers backline stays fit and it's pretty impressive.

With Veanu fit, it'd be genuinely scary, though needing an upgrade on the worthy Thompstone

Keatley not quite so shiny today so far

Banquo wrote:Keatley not quite so shiny today so far

lol, then a great kick!

lovely run from Tait. That lad could have had a really great career, rather than a good one.

bit of a flashback moment from Matt Tait.

Banquo wrote:lovely run from Tait. That lad could have had a really great career, rather than a good one.

Eddie needs to find a spot for him. Pure class

p/d wrote:

Banquo wrote:lovely run from Tait. That lad could have had a really great career, rather than a good one.

Eddie needs to find a spot for him. Pure class

Its not too late for Phil, either

Banquo wrote:lovely run from Tait. That lad could have had a really great career, rather than a good one.

Got screwed over by the English obsession with forcing on bulk and the desperation for a 13.

Banquo wrote:

p/d wrote:

Banquo wrote:lovely run from Tait. That lad could have had a really great career, rather than a good one.

Eddie needs to find a spot for him. Pure class

Its not too late for Phil, either

Back 3 of Tait, Strettle and Abendanon for the 6ns?

16th man wrote:

Banquo wrote:lovely run from Tait. That lad could have had a really great career, rather than a good one.

Got screwed over by the English obsession with forcing on bulk and the desperation for a 13.

lots of things; imo he should have settled on wing, plus he's had a lot of injuries.

16th man wrote:

Banquo wrote:

p/d wrote: Eddie needs to find a spot for him. Pure class

Its not too late for Phil, either

Back 3 of Tait, Strettle and Abendanon for the 6ns?

Poor old Banahan can't get a break, or Ashton come to that

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing an Irish team on the wrong side of a choke tackle.

broken rib for May?

May-be not