Preseason games etc.

[Tigersman]

Holmes pushed out to the loosehead. I might have to rename the Jerome Schuster as he is clearly the worst signing brought to the Prem.

Good to see Devoto back fit.

Puja

Would love for Tigers to try and sign Devoto as a Toomua replacement. Obviously not same class but would free up a marquee spot.

[fivepointer]

Saracens team to face Bedford:
15 Matt Gallagher
14 Alex Lewington
13 Nick Tompkins
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Sean Maitland
10 Max Malins
9 Henry Taylor
1 Richard Barrington
2 Christopher Tolofua
3 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
4 Dom Day
5 Will Skelton
6 Mike Rhodes
7 Joel Conlon
8 Jackson Wray ©

Ralph Adams-Hale
Tom Woolstencroft
Titi Lamositele
Joel Kpoku
Ben Earl
Sione Vailanu
Sean Reffell
Tom Whiteley
Dom Morris
Viliami Hakalo
Reuben Bird-Tulloch
Dave Strettle
Alex Goode

Hayden T-S at tight head i see. A permanent switch? Nice to see see Henry Taylor get a game.

[Puja]

Holmes pushed out to the loosehead. I might have to rename the Jerome Schuster as he is clearly the worst signing brought to the Prem.

Good to see Devoto back fit.

Puja

He's been pretty poor I reckon, and can't imagine that an international tighthead (even an australian) came cheap.

To come in as a current international tighthead and end up behind 2 signings from the Championship within 3 months of signing is frankly ridiculous. He should be ashamed of the pay cheque that he's getting.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Glos at Ulster

Gloucester Rugby:

15.Tom Hudson; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Jack Reeves, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Owen Williams, 9. Ben Vellacott; 1. Alex Seville, 2. Henry Walker, 3. Ciaran Knight; 4. Tom Savage (capt), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler; 6. Freddie Clarke, 7. Jake Polledri, 8. Will Safe
Replacements:

Franco Marais, Val Rapava Ruskin, Fraser Balmain, Mariano Galarza, Ruan Ackermann, Callum Braley, Lloyd Evans, Jason Woodward, Todd Gleave, Ed Slater, Lewis Ludlow, Ben Morgan, Billy Twelvetrees, Henry Trinder, Matt Banahan, Henry Purdy

[Tigersman]

Interested to see how Seville gets on at Senior level, because I thought he was the worst player in the U20 (Being harsh here but I do think it), Walker on the other hand I reckon is a really good prospect.

[fivepointer]

I reckon Seville is really a bit small for a top class prop. He might develop as he gets a touch older. Agree on Walker, who looked first rate for the u20s.
Good to see them, along with Knight, getting a run out.

[Tigger]

Sale team Vs Castres



1. Ross Harrison
2. Rob Webber
3. Will Griff John
4. Bryn Evans (c)
5. Andrei Ostrikov
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Josh Beaumont
9. Will Cliff
10. Sam James
11. Marland Yarde
12. Luke James
13. Denny Solomona
14. Byron McGuigan
15. Chris Ashton

Replacements: M.Jones, Neild, Langdon, Tarus, J.Jones, Nott, Philips, Postlethwaite, Strauss, Ross, Moore, Sturgess, Warr, Macginty, Doherty, Odogwu, Reed

[Bloggs]

Harlequins squad to play Glasgow Warriors (kick-off: 14:00)

15. James Lang (22)
14. Nathan Earle (-)
13. Joe Marchant (56)
12. Ben Tapuai (-)
11. Gabriel Ibitoye (7)
10. Marcus Smith (28)
9. Danny Care (244)

1. Nick Auterac (-)
2. Dave Ward (c) (143)
3. Phil Swainston (9)
4. Stan South (17)
5. Matt Symons (-)
6. Dino Lamb (10)
7. Luke Wallace (162)
8. Renaldo Bothma (6)

Game changers
Elia Elia (16)
Max Crumpton (-)
Mark Lambert (234)
Will Collier (126)
Hugh Tizard (-)
Ben Glynn (20)
Archie White (21)
Dave Lewis (17)
Charlie Mulchrone (18)
Tim Visser (61)
Henry Cheeseman (14)
Charlie Walker (87)
Ross Chisholm (90)



Good to see Lang at 15, think that's a smart idea

[Adam_P]

Sleightholme's getting a good bit of time in pre-season. Do we think he's caught the eye of the new coaches?

Puja

Hope so, he looked good at the 7s and finished his try well last week. Definitely another good option on the wing. I do hope the new coaching set up values Collins more than the last.

We look quite lightweight in the backs this week with Francis and Dingwall in the centres, but that's not really a concern for me when we've got Naiyaravoro to come in

[Mellsblue]

Saracens team to face Bedford:
15 Matt Gallagher
14 Alex Lewington
13 Nick Tompkins
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Sean Maitland
10 Max Malins
9 Henry Taylor
1 Richard Barrington
2 Christopher Tolofua
3 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
4 Dom Day
5 Will Skelton
6 Mike Rhodes
7 Joel Conlon
8 Jackson Wray ©

Ralph Adams-Hale
Tom Woolstencroft
Titi Lamositele
Joel Kpoku
Ben Earl
Sione Vailanu
Sean Reffell
Tom Whiteley
Dom Morris
Viliami Hakalo
Reuben Bird-Tulloch
Dave Strettle
Alex Goode

Hayden T-S at tight head i see. A permanent switch? Nice to see see Henry Taylor get a game.

Oh dear, that is a strong team. It could get ugly.
Bedford's team just for the lols:

Starting line-up:

15. Rich Lane
14. Ed Coulson
13. Jamie Elliott
12. Lewis Robling
11. Dean Adamson
10. Will Hooley
9. Lee Dickson (c)

1. Sean McCarthy
2. Charlie Clare
3. Alex Penny
4. Will Carrick-Smith
5. Mark Flanagan
6. Alex Rae
7. Jack Nay
8. Jarad Williams

Replacements:
Tadgh McElroy, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Hayden King, Ben Cooper, Ed Taylor, Oli Curry, Josh Buggea, Huw Worthington; Fin Creighton, Harry Sheppard, Chris Czekaj, Joe Green.

That's probably our first choice team.

[Mellsblue]

DRAGONS v NORTHAMPTON
Preseason Friendly
Friday 17 August, 2018
Kick-off: 7.30pm


15 Tom Collins
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Piers Francis (capt)
11 Ken Pisi
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Francois van Wyk
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Ehren Painter
4 Api Ratuniyarawa
5 James Craig
6 James Haskell
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
Alex Waller, Will Davis, James Fish, Joe Gray, Ben Franks, Courtney Lawes, David Ribbans, Jamie Gibson, Heinrich Brüssow, Mitch Eadie, Alex Mitchell, James Grayson, Nafi Tuitavake, Rory Hutchinson, Matt Worley, Tom Emery

I think the dream of Dingwall coming to Bedford on loan as just died.

[Mellsblue]

Viliami Hakalo

As in ex Bedford and Nottingham centre?!?!?!

Having done some research, yes it is. Must be professional tackle bag holder. He looked very much a Championship player when with us and he's now the wrong side of 30.

[francoisfou]

Castres 17 - Sale 20, and apparently a red card for Chris Ashton. No more details for the moment.

[Tigger]

Red card was for fighting....and the Castres player was also red carded. Taurus was also red carded toward the end for leading with the head we think....overall looked S good effort....

[fivepointer]

Bit of a ding dong at Castres. That is a good result, though. Winning in France is never straightforward.

[Raggs]

Tigers Treviso in HD here:

16 minutes in and Tigers are going MOCball so far, plenty of kicking, and taking the 3 points at 7:7 in a pre-season game...

[Puja]

Couldn't bear to watch much of that. Terrible performance and really poor result. I think I might reassess my predictions for this season as something is definitely not clicking.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Good result for Newcastle in Dublin last night. Admittedly Leinster put out a 2nd string side but 42-17 isnt to be sniffed at.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Tom Penny, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Zach Kibirige, 10 Toby Flood (captain), 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Santiago Socino, 3 Jack Payne, 4 Will Witty, 5 Calum Green, 6 Simon Uzokwe, 7 Connor Collett, 8 Callum Chick.

Replacements: Sami Mavinga, George McGuigan, Trevor Davison, Tevita Cavubati, Glen Young, Mark Wilson, Will Welch, Tom Marshall, James Elliott, Joel Hodgson, George Wacokecoke, Johnny Williams, Chris Harris, Adam Radwan, Simon Hammersley.

Falcons scorers - Tries: Tom Penny, Zach Kibirige, Simon Uzokwe, Adam Radwan, James Elliott, Johnny Williams. Conversions: Toby Flood 3, Joel Hodgson 3.

[twitchy]

Exe lost to the pirates last night with a mix team (they play with another team today vs cardiff) 29-21.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Exe lost to the pirates last night with a mix team (they play with another team today vs cardiff) 29-21.

https://cornish-pirates.com/match-repor ... chiefs-21/

[Scrumhead]

Saracens team to face Bedford:
15 Matt Gallagher
14 Alex Lewington
13 Nick Tompkins
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Sean Maitland
10 Max Malins
9 Henry Taylor
1 Richard Barrington
2 Christopher Tolofua
3 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
4 Dom Day
5 Will Skelton
6 Mike Rhodes
7 Joel Conlon
8 Jackson Wray ©

Ralph Adams-Hale
Tom Woolstencroft
Titi Lamositele
Joel Kpoku
Ben Earl
Sione Vailanu
Sean Reffell
Tom Whiteley
Dom Morris
Viliami Hakalo
Reuben Bird-Tulloch
Dave Strettle
Alex Goode

Hayden T-S at tight head i see. A permanent switch? Nice to see see Henry Taylor get a game.

I’m interesting to see how a few of the fringe players at Saracens get on this season.

I posted a quote from Richard Barrington about Henry Taylor a few weeks ago talking about how good he is (he rated him as the best 9 he’s played with!) which suggested he might (at long last) make a proper breakthrough this season.

I’m really hoping to see more of Malins and Earl this season and I’m interested to see how Conlon could do if given a decent run. He’s always looked good whenever I’ve seen him play.

Tolofua has Brits’ huge shoes to fill, but he’s a big guy who is a good carrier and I think he could surprise a few people this season.

[Mellsblue]

Saracens team to face Bedford:
15 Matt Gallagher
14 Alex Lewington
13 Nick Tompkins
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Sean Maitland
10 Max Malins
9 Henry Taylor
1 Richard Barrington
2 Christopher Tolofua
3 Hayden Thompson-Stringer
4 Dom Day
5 Will Skelton
6 Mike Rhodes
7 Joel Conlon
8 Jackson Wray ©

Ralph Adams-Hale
Tom Woolstencroft
Titi Lamositele
Joel Kpoku
Ben Earl
Sione Vailanu
Sean Reffell
Tom Whiteley
Dom Morris
Viliami Hakalo
Reuben Bird-Tulloch
Dave Strettle
Alex Goode

Hayden T-S at tight head i see. A permanent switch? Nice to see see Henry Taylor get a game.

I’m interesting to see how a few of the fringe players at Saracens get on this season.

I posted a quote from Richard Barrington about Henry Taylor a few weeks ago talking about how good he is (he rated him as the best 9 he’s played with!) which suggested he might (at long last) make a proper breakthrough this season.

I’m really hoping to see more of Malins and Earl this season and I’m interested to see how Conlon could do if given a decent run. He’s always looked good whenever I’ve seen him play.

Tolofua has Brits’ huge shoes to fill, but he’s a big guy who is a good carrier and I think he could surprise a few people this season.

Henry Taylor was quality when at Bedford in 16-17. One of the Sarries players who just stood out as being a cut above. Imo, he and Kruis are easily the two best Sarries players to go through the finishing school. I think he was injured for most of last season and will hopefully get more game time this season.

[Raggs]

Couldn't bear to watch much of that. Terrible performance and really poor result. I think I might reassess my predictions for this season as something is definitely not clicking.

Puja

I'm going to probably dribble through it. Want to see Eastmond. From there little ive see benneton look much mote cohesive but it's their second run out.

[Tigersman]

Couldn't bear to watch much of that. Terrible performance and really poor result. I think I might reassess my predictions for this season as something is definitely not clicking.

Puja

I'm going to probably dribble through it. Want to see Eastmond. From there little ive see benneton look much mote cohesive but it's their second run out.

Too save you time Eastmond only played in the first 10.

[Raggs]

I've watched 16 and I'm fairly sure he's still on?