Stade Vs Tigers - Sunday 5.30pm

[FKAS]

Stade Francais Paris
15 Leo Barre
14 Kylan Hamdaoui
13 Joe Marchant
12 Jeremy Ward
11 Charles Laloi
10 Joris Segonds
9 Hugo Zabalza
1 Clement Castets
2 Mickael Ivaldi
3 Paul Alo-Emile
4 Paul Gabrillagues
5 Baptiste Pesenti
6 Sekou Macalou
7 Romain Briatte
8 Mathieu Hirigoyen

Replacements
16 Lucas Peyresblanques
17 Moses Alo-Emile
18 Francisco Gomez Kodela
19 Pierre-Henri Azagoh
20 Stephane Ahmed
21 Jules Gimbert
22 Ryan Chapuis
23 JJ van der Mescht

STARTING XV

15 Mike Brown [15]
14 Anthony Watson [16]
13 Dan Kelly [67]
12 Solomone Kata [6]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [11]
10 Jamie Shillcock [12]
9 Tom Whiteley [16]
1 James Cronin [22]
2 Archie Vanes [10]
3 Joe Heyes [131]
4 George Martin [58]
5 Sam Carter [9]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [96]
7 Matt Rogerson [11]
8 Kyle Hatherell [7]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Finn Theobold-Thomas [1]
17 James Whitcombe [43]
18 Will Hurd [33]
19 Harry Wells [184]
20 Emeka Ilione [16]
21 Joe Powell [7]
22 Charlie Atkinson [23]
23 Harry Simmons [35]

Tigers rotate a lot for this one. Good to see Simmons, Watson and Martin back from injury. Rogerson before Ilione is boiling my piss, awful selection.

[Puja]

More than a little disappointed with that XV. We should be looking to target this game as one of the eminently winnable ones and instead we've rested/rotated Montoya, Chessum, Reffell, Wiese, Youngs, Pollard, and Steward.

It's not a *bad* team and it is fantastic to see Watson and Martin back from injury, but I'd be startled if we get any match points from the game now.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

We should be looking to target this game as one of the eminently winnable ones

Puja

Stade are going well this season. They have the same win:loss as the leaders in the Top 14 but are fifth, three points back, due to bonus points.
It’s probably the most likely win, albeit La Rochelle haven’t started the season well, but I wouldn’t say eminently winnable.

[FKAS]

I don't hate the fact we're rotating players as we often used to do it under Borthwick and still did ok.

I'd make a couple of tweaks. Shillcock at 15 with Atkinson at 10 to give us dual playmakers. Ilione at 7 to offer a breakdown threat. As it is we look a bit one paced and I fear us collecting penalties and probably a team yellow when under pressure in defence.

[Puja]

We should be looking to target this game as one of the eminently winnable ones

Puja

Stade are going well this season. They have the same win:loss as the leaders in the Top 14 but are fifth, three points back, due to bonus points.
It’s probably the most likely win, albeit La Rochelle haven’t started the season well, but I wouldn’t say eminently winnable.

You're right - probably a bit enthusiastic on the turn of phrase. I still fancy it more than Leinster at home and La Rochelle away. Either way, we're stuffed with that XXIII.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

We should be looking to target this game as one of the eminently winnable ones

Puja

Stade are going well this season. They have the same win:loss as the leaders in the Top 14 but are fifth, three points back, due to bonus points.
It’s probably the most likely win, albeit La Rochelle haven’t started the season well, but I wouldn’t say eminently winnable.

You're right - probably a bit enthusiastic on the turn of phrase. I still fancy it more than Leinster at home and La Rochelle away. Either way, we're stuffed with that XXIII.

Puja

Fair enough. I’m one for occasionally invoking the *insert random reason* hyperbole clause so I can’t really criticise others!
I agree it’s your most likely away win but it’s a bit like saying you’re more likely to survive a high speed car crash than an aeroplane or helicopter crash, and, to stretch the metaphor further, McKellar seems to have decided to drive without a seatbelt.

[FKAS]

Late changes for Tigers with OHC and Simmons pulling out. Atkinson goes to 15 with Wilkinson and Cokanasiga coming onto the bench.

Re Tigers other fixtures we can always hope La Rochelle give up and concentrate on the league after their disappointing start and if Leinster win their third game they may well use the final away game to rotate their side (particularly with a number of the first 23 likely to be playing for Ireland in the 6N).

[FKAS]

Good start by Tigers but the lack of a breakdown threat isn't helping things.

Stade piling on the pressure now.

Commentator apparently has no idea what any of the Tigers players actually look like. Has called a lot of them by the wrong name so far.

[FKAS]

Ah the old French TV producer. Every replay bar the high tackle the player is getting treated for being shown.

[FKAS]

Nope we're just not calling head contacts today then.

[FKAS]

Tigers win on the road with young Archie Vanes picking up a hat trick. Showed some nice footwork for the third.

Harry Wells off the bench should be picking up man of the match. Sacked (legally) two or three rolling mauls and then got the match winning turnover. Ilione had a good cameo. George Martin back and excellent, Watson looks short on form and pace currently though.

[Puja]

Have been driving back from a trip, paused for a stop and said something very rude in surprise at the result. In McKellar we bloody trust, I guess! Very happy to've been wrong.

Did we deserve it or was it three rolling maul tries and a lot of luck?

Puja

[Banquo]

fantastic result

[FKAS]

Have been driving back from a trip, paused for a stop and said something very rude in surprise at the result. In McKellar we bloody trust, I guess! Very happy to've been wrong.

Did we deserve it or was it three rolling maul tries and a lot of luck?

Puja

It was a seesawing game. Tigers dominated a lot of the second half but Stade's back replacement also dropped a crossfield kick that really should have been the winning try.

Vanes scored two rolling mauls and then one from close range with a little side step and some power. As an aside I did like his non-celebration after scoring, difficult to generate a hard man image when your blond haired, blue eyed with the rugged features of the average 12 year old but he was going for it.

Tigers turned down a couple of easy shots at goal to attack in the 22. There were some actual phases of nice attacking play being attempted as well, which I'm hopeful is a sign of things to come. First half did have A LOT of kicking though. Second half was a better watch.

[Mikey Brown]

That Tigers backline is hilarious.

[FKAS]

That Tigers backline is hilarious.

Yeah wasn't really the plan to start a game with two fullbacks neither wearing the 15 shirt, a 10 not wearing 10. Worked alright. Brown is physically well past it at this point but he was like an onfield coach. Atkinson was a touch unlucky with his yellow.

I quite like the Kelly and Kata midfield. Very tenacious in defence though Kelly is still adapting to defending at this level in the 13 channel.

Shillcock one of the signings of the season. Consistent and has a great all round game.

[fivepointer]

Good rearguard action by Tigers to take the win. Wells certainly made a difference.

Stade inexplicably chose not to try and play much rugby.

[FKAS]

[Mellsblue]

#goldingtonroadfinishingschool #mikeyrayeralldayer #theslopeisdope