Irish V Tigers Sat 3:00PM BT Sports

[Tigersman]

London Irish: 15 Tommy Bell, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 12 Greig Tonks, 11 Topsy Ojo, 10 James Marshall, 9 Ben Meehan, 1 Ben Franks, 2 David Paice (c), 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 Franco van der Merwe, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Josh McNally, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 Jake Schatz

Replacements: 16 Todd Gleave, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Teofilo Paulo, 20 Lasha Lomidze, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Theo Brophy Clews, 23 Tom Fowlie

Leicester Tigers (v London Irish, away, Saturday 3.00pm)
15 Telusa Veainu
14 Nick Malouf
13 Gareth Owen
12 Matt Toomua
11 Jonny May
10 George Ford (c)
9 Sam Harrison
1 Greg Bateman
2 George McGuigan
3 Dan Cole
4 Dan Tuohy
5 Dom Barrow
6 Sione Kalamafoni
7 Will Evans
8 Valentino Mapapalangi

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Ellis Genge
18 Patrick Cilliers
19 Harry Wells
20 Luke Hamilton
21 Ben Youngs
22 Joe Ford
23 Mathew Tait

[Peej]

The 13 shirt tombola continues for Tigers

[Puja]

Now that is an interesting back row from our side. Looking forward to seeing that one go.

Glad to see that Genge is getting an extended rest; we should be fine without him, especially with the way Bateman's been playing and he needs as many days off as we can give him to make sure he's still fit in 3 years' time.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Why is Harry Wells, who has shown up very well over last 2 weeks, dropped for a journeyman brought in for injury cover?

On the plus side its very good to see Will Evans get a start.

Irish have settled look and have a shout of a BP at least.

[Puja]

Why is Harry Wells, who has shown up very well over last 2 weeks, dropped for a journeyman brought in for injury cover?

On the plus side its very good to see Will Evans get a start.

Irish have settled look and have a shout of a BP at least.

Hadn't noticed that in my interest in the back row. Poor show - it's hardly as though he's likely to be overplayed.

Puja

[Tigersman]

Why is Harry Wells, who has shown up very well over last 2 weeks, dropped for a journeyman brought in for injury cover?

On the plus side its very good to see Will Evans get a start.

Irish have settled look and have a shout of a BP at least.

Hadn't noticed that in my interest in the back row. Poor show - it's hardly as though he's likely to be overplayed.

Puja

Doubt Wells has been dropped, We have racing next week away against a monster pack wouldn't be surprised if he is being rested.
Tuohy needs game time.
I mean look who else is on the bench with Wells, Youngs 1 and 2 and Genge i doubt those have been dropped too. (well i hope not)

Same with Smith who needs a rest after last weeks big defensive effect.

[Timbo]

A lot of teams resting and rotating a few this weekend by the looks of it with 2x Europe coming up.

[Puja]

Why is Harry Wells, who has shown up very well over last 2 weeks, dropped for a journeyman brought in for injury cover?

On the plus side its very good to see Will Evans get a start.

Irish have settled look and have a shout of a BP at least.

Hadn't noticed that in my interest in the back row. Poor show - it's hardly as though he's likely to be overplayed.

Puja

Doubt Wells has been dropped, We have racing next week away against a monster pack wouldn't be surprised if he is being rested.
Tuohy needs game time.
I mean look who else is on the bench with Wells, Youngs 1 and 2 and Genge i doubt those have been dropped too. (well i hope not)

Same with Smith who needs a rest after last weeks big defensive effect.

Hmm. I hope you're right. With his age and inexperience, I'd've thought he'd benefit more from another game than a rest.

Puja

[Tigersman]

Hmm. I hope you're right. With his age and inexperience, I'd've thought he'd benefit more from another game than a rest.

Puja

Maybe but with only 3 locks fit we need to give Tuohy some game time and Wells has played the most of the other 3 in recent weeks.

[Tigersman]

Ben White comes in on the Bench for Ben Youngs.

Hopefully nothing more than percatuions. That being said really hope Ben White can get on him and Simmons are huge prospects for Tigers.


edit Youngs and Veainu ill, so Tait at 15 smith on bench, White in at 21.

[twitchy]

It's not worth even watching this as a neutral is it.

[Mellsblue]

It's not worth even watching this as a neutral is it.

Bedford v Rotherham on the RFU's Facebook page and championshiprugby.co.uk

[Scrumhead]

Gareth Owen has been excellent so far at 13

[Mikey Brown]

It's not worth even watching this as a neutral is it.

I can confirm you're correct.

[Banquo]

Gareth Owen has been excellent so far at 13

he was until binned. Tigers attrition rate high.

[Banquo]

Ford and May are worth watching for the neutral...

[Mikey Brown]

Big shot on Evan's on the floor there form the LI replacement with the big hair. Looks like a twat.

[Oakboy]

Ford and May are worth watching for the neutral...

I like Ford as captain. It makes him run the game. He was especially commanding in the yellow card period. Shame about his inaccurate line-kicking.

May for England? Not sure.

[Timbo]

I thought that was a more than decent game. Both teams played some good stuff overall.

Jonny May for England? Yes please.

[Banquo]

I thought that was a more than decent game. Both teams played some good stuff overall.

Jonny May for England? Yes please.

Yes it was pretty decent, and May was excellent.

[Timbo]

I thought Will Evans had a very promising game, especially considering it was his first for a long while. Still just 20.

[TheNomad]

I thought Will Evans had a very promising game, especially considering it was his first for a long while. Still just 20.

Agreed. We have a lot of promising flankers now, but it's questionable how many will be ready and/or have enough opportunity to get a chance for the WC squad.

Mercer, Evans, Simmonds, Curry - debatable if any will get anywhere near. Underhill will, though he's a bit one dimensional at present

[Banquo]

I thought Will Evans had a very promising game, especially considering it was his first for a long while. Still just 20.

Agreed. We have a lot of promising flankers now, but it's questionable how many will be ready and/or have enough opportunity to get a chance for the WC squad.

Mercer, Evans, Simmonds, Curry - debatable if any will get anywhere near. Underhill will, though he's a bit one dimensional at present

..if they don't, who will??

[Mikey Brown]

I thought Will Evans had a very promising game, especially considering it was his first for a long while. Still just 20.

Agreed. We have a lot of promising flankers now, but it's questionable how many will be ready and/or have enough opportunity to get a chance for the WC squad.

Mercer, Evans, Simmonds, Curry - debatable if any will get anywhere near. Underhill will, though he's a bit one dimensional at present

..if they don't, who will??

It seems that the idea is we just keep plodding along with the steady, experienced Haskell because of his mesmerising ability to secure first-phase ball most of the time. Doesn't seem to matter how inadequate he is in multiple other areas of the game.

If 2016 wasn't just a purple patch for him then great, but looks to me he's currently playing in the same underwhelming manner he has for most of his 70 England caps.

I get that wasn't really what you were asking, buts it's been nagging me for a while.

[fivepointer]

Will Evans was good. A couple of errors aside he looked really at home. Now he needs a run of games.

Credit to Irish for plugging away to get the BP. McNally was mentioned on commentary and he put in another very strong performance.