Leicester Tigers V Exeter Chiefs (KO Sunday 3.00pm)

[Tigersman]

Leicester Tigers
15 Mathew Tait
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Manu Tuilagi
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Jono Kitto
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Harry Thacker
3 Logovi'i Mulipola
4 Mike Fitzgerald
5 Dom Barrow
6 Tom Croft
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Ed Slater (c)

Replacements
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Riccardo Brugnara
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Mike Williams
21 Sam Harrison
22 Owen Williams
23 Telusa Veainu


Exeter Chiefs
15 Phil Dollman
14 Matt Jess
13 Ian Whitten
12 Sam Hill
11 James Short
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Dave Lewis
1 Moray Low
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Ollie Atkins
5 Geoff Parling
6 Dave Ewers
7 Julian Salvi
8 Don Armand

Replacements
16 Elvis Taione
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Harry Williams
19 Lewis Stevenson
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Will Chudley
22 Will Hooley
23 Max Bodilly

[skidger]

I wonder if Eddie has politely asked if Manu could have 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced. I am sure Cockerill would love that.

[Oakboy]

The last time Tuilagi played at Exeter Slade gobbled him up so it will be interesting to see how Hill copes. I bet Parling and Salvi are up for it.

[fivepointer]

Looking forward to this.

Manu V Hill should tell us a lot.

Croft V Ewers should be interesting offering 2 very different ways to play 6.

[Digby]

I wonder if Eddie has politely asked if Manu could have 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced. I am sure Cockerill would love that.

That's part of the deal when you have star players who are wanting to play test rugby, it's not like they don't know it

[Oakboy]

Looking forward to this.

Manu V Hill should tell us a lot.

Croft V Ewers should be interesting offering 2 very different ways to play 6.

How highly do you rate Ewers, 5P? Based only on occasional TV viewing, I have been more impressed by Armand. He seems to add more skill to a similar level of power.

[fivepointer]

I like him a lot. Really strong carrier and tackler with a big engine. Pretty good over the ball and decent enough hands. Good player I reckon.

Armand has been excellent this season for Chiefs.

[Puja]

I wonder if Eddie has politely asked if Manu could have 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced. I am sure Cockerill would love that.

Wouldn't surprise me. It's his right under the EPS and Leicester have taken the money for that, so they can't really be aggrieved.

Very interested to see Slater playing 8 - he could be our answer there and it'll be fascinating to see him playing against a good team there.

Puja

[Renniks]

I wonder if Eddie has politely asked if Manu could have 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced. I am sure Cockerill would love that.

I wonder if Manu politely asked if he could play 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced…

If Manu, Slade*, Joseph, Daly (and any other up and coming centres) are all fit and in form at the same time, I wouldn't want that headache!

*Still hoping Slade ends up a world class 10, but as time goes on I think it might not happen

[Digby]

*Still hoping Slade ends up a world class 10, but as time goes on I think it might not happen

He's still only 22 and whilst mainly playing in the centres has already played a number of games at 10, which would be similar at the same age to a well known 10 from the recent World Cup final. He may not end up at 10, but I don't think time is a concern at this point.

[Tigersman]

I wonder if Eddie has politely asked if Manu could have 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced. I am sure Cockerill would love that.

Wouldn't surprise me. It's his right under the EPS and Leicester have taken the money for that, so they can't really be aggrieved.

Very interested to see Slater playing 8 - he could be our answer there and it'll be fascinating to see him playing against a good team there.

Puja

Actually it isn't his right.

Manu only really fit player with 12 experience, Smith injured, JDV being eased back in, Williams just coming back from injury.

[Puja]

I wonder if Eddie has politely asked if Manu could have 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced. I am sure Cockerill would love that.

Wouldn't surprise me. It's his right under the EPS and Leicester have taken the money for that, so they can't really be aggrieved.

Very interested to see Slater playing 8 - he could be our answer there and it'll be fascinating to see him playing against a good team there.

Puja

Actually it isn't his right.

Manu only really fit player with 12 experience, Smith injured, JDV being eased back in, Williams just coming back from injury.

It isn't? I thought the EPS agreement included clauses allowing the coach to request rest periods for players and also to request that they be played in a particular position?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

It does have that clause, and has been used a few times (Banahan at centre). Manu is a named member of thee EPS and Eddie has the right to request he be played at 12 if he so wishes. Leicester can refuse, but that means that Manu risks forfeiting his place on the EPS. I believe Leicester also forfeit their EPS payment for Manu if they do that too, though PRL would immediately smooth that for them anyway.

[Mellsblue]

I wonder if Eddie has politely asked if Manu could have 60 minutes at 12 and then be replaced. I am sure Cockerill would love that.

Wouldn't surprise me. It's his right under the EPS and Leicester have taken the money for that, so they can't really be aggrieved.

Very interested to see Slater playing 8 - he could be our answer there and it'll be fascinating to see him playing against a good team there.

Puja

Actually it isn't his right.

Pretty sure it is.

[Tigersman]

Tigers changes
LEO OUT Van Vurren on the bench (change was yesterday)
Harrison out Tresidder on the bench
Tait injured in the warm up Bell starting @15

[Banquo]

Tigers changes
LEO OUT Van Vurren on the bench (change was yesterday)
Harrison out Tresidder on the bench
Tait injured in the warm up Bell starting @15

why on earth not Veainu to fb??

[Adam_P]

Is there any reason that Veainu is on the bench? Especially as Tait has withdrawn? He's been one of the most dangerous looking players in the premiership most times I've seen tigers this season

[Banquo]

Is there any reason that Veainu is on the bench? Especially as Tait has withdrawn? He's been one of the most dangerous looking players in the premiership most times I've seen tigers this season

yeah I just asked that.

Why on earth Tigers are persevering with Croft and sometimes McCafferty out wide, when they are being forced tight by Chiefs, and or kicking it. Croft is just trotting up and down the 5m line pointlessly at the moment. Dunno if I've mentioned this before

[Banquo]

penalty try imo

[Banquo]

great score, Croft gets involved at last!

[Banquo]

great score, Croft gets involved at last!

yay, he's tracking the ball now

[Spiffy]

Tuilagi looking quite sharp. Easy try for him, but he did mangle a good move earlier on with a terrible head-high pass when he wasn't under much pressure.

[Mikey Brown]

great score, Croft gets involved at last!

yay, he's tracking the ball now

You think this might be a good use of Croft?

[Banquo]

great score, Croft gets involved at last!

yay, he's tracking the ball now

You think this might be a good use of Croft?

maybe, jury's still out

[Epaminondas Pules]

Hopefully Cockers has put a rocket up Kitto's arse at half time. He's been so slow on our ball.

Other than that forwards been pretty good. Kicking and chase good. Stifled Exeter well.