Premiership Rugby Cup

[Mikey Brown]

Wow. I hadn’t even realised this was a thing until looking at this weekends fixtures. We’re really having a separate tournament between all the same teams?

I mean it will probably be more interesting if it’s all A teams. Is anyone expected to take it seriously?

[p/d]

Is anyone expected to take it seriously?

Well Lozowski was, but apparently the disciplinary board didn't buy it

[fivepointer]

Chance for fringe players and academy lads to get a game. There's some value in it but bringing in Championship teams would have added a fresh element to it.

[Which Tyler]

Chance for fringe players and academy lads to get a game. There's some value in it but bringing in Championship teams would have added a fresh element to it.

A completely wasted opportunity t do exactly this.
Limit the number of starters used (eg, no-one who played more then 2,000 minutes last season), and bring in the Championship clubs (especially as their B&I Cup has died), job done. I may have mentioned the idea before once or twice.
Hell, if that becomes successful, whilst providing more £££ and higher quality opposition for the Champ clubs; they could look at expanding it instead year or two... Maybe drop the Prem to 10 teams and give the extra weeks to this to provide more rest for the stars, more opportunities to the champ clubs, and allow it to use a proper tournie-schedule

As it is, I vote we rename it it the "It's my ball, and no-one else can play with it" cup

[Puja]

I am unable to even find a team sheet for Leicester this weekend. Doesn't appear to be anywhere on the internet.

Puja

[twitchy]

Will wuss v sale be streamed? Doesn't seem to be on bt sport.

[Raggs]

I am unable to even find a team sheet for Leicester this weekend. Doesn't appear to be anywhere on the internet.

Puja

Isn't it only going to be announced at 12 today? Presumably they're playing saturday?

[Puja]

I am unable to even find a team sheet for Leicester this weekend. Doesn't appear to be anywhere on the internet.

Puja

Isn't it only going to be announced at 12 today? Presumably they're playing saturday?

Good point, well made. Not sure what I was thinking of.

Puja

[Tigersman]

Leicester Tigers (v Saracens, away, Saturday 3.00pm)
15 George Worth
14 Telusa Veainu
13 Matt Smith
12 Tom Hardwick
11 Jordan Olowofela
10 Joe Ford
9 Ben White (c)
1 David Feao
2 Jake Kerr
3 Joe Heyes
4 Cameron Jordan
5 Harry Wells
6 Sam Lewis
7 Tommy Reffell
8 Thom Smith

Replacements
16 Ross McMillan
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Facundo Gigena
19 Valentino Mapapalangi
20 Fred Tuilagi
21 Felipe Ezcurra
22 Gareth Owen
23 Jonah Holmes


Saracens: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Ali Crossdale, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Dom Morris, 11 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 10 Max Malins, 9 Tom Whiteley (c); 1 Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Dom Day, 5 Joel Kpoku, 6 Calum Clark, 7 Schalk Burger, 8 Sione Vailanu
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Ralph Adams-Hale, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Jack Nay, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Andy Christie, 22 Henry Taylor, 23 AN Other (tbc)
{Sarries team added in by mod for tidyness's sake}

[twitchy]

[Puja]

I'm actually interested in the Leicester vs Saracens. Want to see more of Hardwick and Smith on Leicester's side and Crossdale, Morris, and Kpoku on Saracens. Think HTS might have a hard day against Hayes in the scrums.

Puja

[Adam_P]

[fivepointer]

Newcastle Falcons team to face Exeter Chiefs (Sunday, 3pm, Kingston Park Stadium)

15 Tom Arscott
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Ben Stevenson
12 Pedro Bettencourt
11 Adam Radwan
10 Brett Connon
9 Sam Stuart
1 Trevor Davison
2 Santiago Socino
3 Jon Welsh
4 Andrew Davidson
5 Glen Young
6 Ryan Burrows (captain)
7 Tom Marshall
8 Callum Chick

Replacements
16 Jamie Blamire
17 Sam Lockwood
18 David Wilson
19 Tevita Cavubati
20 Connor Collett
21 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti
22 Tim Swiel
23 Joel Matavesi

[twitchy]

Bodilly at 15 is a relatively unknown guy who has impressed me. Lawday has come in for simmonds and done well also.

[Puja]

Is that not Barrow's debut as well? I'd forgotten about him - has he been injured?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Gloucester Rugby:
Reece Dunn; 14. Alex Morgan, 13. Tom Seabrook, 12. Dom Coetzer, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. Lloyd Evans (capt), 9. Ben Vellacott; 1. Olly Adkins, 2. Todd Gleave, 3. Ciaran Knight; 4. Callum Allen; 5. Alex Craig; 6. Cam Terry, 7. Aaron Hinkley, 8. Gareth Evans
Replacements:
Joe Mullis, 17. Kyle Traynor, 18. Jack Bartlett, 19. Harry Butler, 20. Louis Rees-Zammit, 21. Charlie Chapman, 22. Jack Reeves, 23. Jacob Morris

Wasps team to face Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm on Saturday 27 October (kick-off 3pm)

15 Owain James
14 Josh Grimes
13 Ross Neal
12 Will Simonds
11 Callum Sirker
10 Sunny Jardine
9 Will Porter (c)
1 George Thornton
2 Gabriel Oghre
3 David Langley
4 Josh Fenner
5 Tim Cardall
6 Shane Buckley
7 James Seabrook
8 Tom Willis

Replacements
16 Alfie Barbeary
17 Ben Onyeama-Christie
18 Alex Hunt
19 Jack Dickinson
20 James Tunney
21 Henry Clement
22 Cameron Anderson
23 Taju Atta

[fivepointer]

SALE SHARKS v WORCESTER
Starting XV: 15.Arron Reed; 14.Tom Roebuck, 13.Connor Doherty, 12.Luke James, 11.Paolo Odogwu; 10.Kieran Wilkinson, 9.Gus Warr; 1.Tom Bristow, 2.Curtis Langdon, 3.Alexandru Tarus, 4.George Nott, 5.Andrei Ostrikov, 6.Sam Dugdale, 7.Ben Curry (capt.),8.Josh Beaumont.

Replacements: 16.Nic Dolly, 17.Jake Pope, 18.Joe Jones, 19.Matt Postlethwaite, 20.Teddy Leatherbarrow, 21.Matt Sturgess, 22.Tom Curtis 23.Nathan Pope

Warriors: Shillcock; Heem, Lawrence, Venter, Adams; Weir, Hougaard; Black, Singleton, Mudariki, Bresler, Phillips, Cox, Lewis, van Velze (c).
Replacements: Annett, Bower, Milasinovich, Barry, Williams, Heaney, Olivier, Humphreys.

[Adam_P]

Is that not Barrow's debut as well? I'd forgotten about him - has he been injured?

Puja

No he started against Clermont and was on the bench last week. Before that he was injured though, think he may have picked up a concussion in pre season

[fivepointer]

Its a bit like the A league all over which was to be expected. Some clubs treating it quite seriously and putting out fairly strong sides (Exeter, Wuss) and some others giving their academy a chance (Wasps, Glos)
A couple of suggestions to standardise the approach.
Make international players ineligible and limit to, say, 4 or 5 the number of players in the squad who are over 25.

[Raggs]

I dislike limitations, since it's also a good opportunity to bring injured players back in, without it being a full on game.

[jimKRFC]

Bristol team for Saints:
15. Tom Pincus, 14. Charlie Powell, 13. Sam Bedlow, 12. Tusi Pisi (cc), 11. George Perkins, 10. Ian Madigan, 9. Nic Stirzaker
1. Jordan Lay, 2. Tom Lindsay, 3. Nicky Thomas, 4. Ehize Ehizode, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Jack Lam, 7. Jake Heenan, 8. Jordan Crane (cc).

Replacements:
16. Will Capon, 17. Jack Cosgrove, 18. Jake Armstrong, 19. John Hawkins, 20. James Dun, 21. Reiss Cullen, 22. Tiff Eden, 23. Ioan Lloyd.

Would have like to see more young players starting and no co-captain nonsense. Bristol do have their youngest ever player starting though in Charlie Powell.

[Renniks]

Slightly concerned by the number of 1st team players Worcester are putting out…

I'd be keeping Heem, Adams, Weir, Hougaard, Singleton, Cox, Lewis, Van Velze and maybe others well away from this competition

I can see the value of Wuss doing well, but we could absolutely tank our prem chances if we lose a few of those players

[Which Tyler]

If putting limitations on it; I'd only really favour limiting the number of players who racked up more than XXX minutes in the previous season* - and even then an allowance for those returning from injury.

If it's about player welfare, then that's really the only sensible measure. Besides, a 3rd/4th choice player who happens to be older than 25 still needs some game-time to keep himself sharp (and interested)

Mind, I'd also invite the Championship clubs to take part, so what do I know?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Is that not Barrow's debut as well? I'd forgotten about him - has he been injured?

Puja

No, he’s played a couple of games for them now.

[Warrior85]

Slightly concerned by the number of 1st team players Worcester are putting out…

I'd be keeping Heem, Adams, Weir, Hougaard, Singleton, Cox, Lewis, Van Velze and maybe others well away from this competition

I can see the value of Wuss doing well, but we could absolutely tank our prem chances if we lose a few of those players

We rested our entire first 15 for the euro games. Think naming these guys in yesterday's game was a way for them to get some game time before being back in Prem action. It would be 5 weeks between games for them otherwise. I would guess for the next 2 rounds there will be much less key players involved.

Unsuprisingly Worcester won 35 v 3. Was a pretty poor game that a ref wanted to be centre of attention in. Sales youngsters actually battled pretty well and despite the score defended well.