Bris v Leicester, Weds 30th, 17.30

[jimKRFC]

Bristol:
15. Ioan Lloyd; 14. Niyi Adeolokun, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Joe Joyce, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nathan Hughes.

Bench wankers: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Max Lahiff, 18. Jake Woolmore, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Harry Ascherl, 23. Semi Radradra.


Leicester:
15 Freddie Steward (vc), 14 Harry Potter, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 George Worth, 11 Harry Simmons, 10 Zack Henry, 9 Ben White (vc)
1 Facundo Gigena, 2 Jake Kerr, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Cameron Henderson, 5 Blake Enever, 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Luke Wallace (vc), 8 Thom Smith (c)

REPLACEMENTS
16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Sam Lewis, 20 Jordan Coghlan, 21 Jack Van Poortvliet, 22 Johnny McPhillips,
23 David William

Bristol looking stronger than expected and really glad Ioan is getting start!

[fivepointer]

Thought Bris would field a proper 2nd team for this one. Lot of players who were involved on Friday get another run out.

[FKAS]

Who needs player welfare hey. Play 100 minutes and then less than a week later go and start another game. I honestly don't think it's a great idea but we will see. Will certainly help Tigers if key Bristol players are feeling less than fresh and maybe leave the game a little earlier than they would normally.

The other side of the coin for Bristol is a few of those big names will be limited in terms of minutes they can play over this week long period. A few have played 100 minutes already and they are limited to 180 and no more than 2 starts. Bristol have to go away to LI at the weekend and LI will be at as close to full strength as they can manage so that could potentially be tricky. Looks like Luatua, Sheedy, Leiua, Hughes and Sinckler will be missing that one. Radrada as well if he comes off the bench.

[Mellsblue]

Two things of great importance. Firstly, Lam has final given the replacements a fitting description. Secondly, are Tigers intentionally taking the piss with three vice captains.

[jimKRFC]

Two things of great importance. Firstly, Lam has final given the replacements a fitting description. Secondly, are Tigers intentionally taking the piss with three vice captains.

That was me changing the "system players" nonsense...

There are 10 changes from the weekend and there will be at least that many for the L.I game, fairly sure Pat and the medical team are looking after the players ok. They've had ex-players coming over to do recovery when their own clubs haven't bothered in the past.

[FKAS]

Five who started on Friday remain in the starting line up of which two played the full 100 minutes. Another five who started are on the bench of which Radrada and maybe Holmes(?) played the whole game. I'm sure they are weighing up risk and reward in respect of playing the ones they are and I'm sure the players are fit enough to play. I wouldn't be surprised to see some pulled muscles or players under performing though because it's a big ask.

[Mellsblue]

Two things of great importance. Firstly, Lam has final given the replacements a fitting description. Secondly, are Tigers intentionally taking the piss with three vice captains.

That was me changing the "system players" nonsense...

There are 10 changes from the weekend and there will be at least that many for the L.I game, fairly sure Pat and the medical team are looking after the players ok. They've had ex-players coming over to do recovery when their own clubs haven't bothered in the past.

Ha! I didn’t really think he’d started calling them bench wankers.

[Raggs]

I'd love for Tigers to get the upset here!

eDIT - Which is of course why Bristol are taking it so seriously.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Two things of great importance. Firstly, Lam has final given the replacements a fitting description. Secondly, are Tigers intentionally taking the piss with three vice captains.

It is proper bullshit. And utterly pointless.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Ah, looks like a long night in the offing.

[Mikey Brown]

Two things of great importance. Firstly, Lam has final given the replacements a fitting description. Secondly, are Tigers intentionally taking the piss with three vice captains.

It is proper bullshit. And utterly pointless.

Yep. I can almost get my head around splitting responsibilities between a back and a forward, but that looks ridiculous.

If Smith goes down injured there is surely 1 of the 3 that steps forward first.

[FKAS]

Another game same poor individual discipline from Tigers players. Most of it under no pressure. Just so frustrating.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Jesus! This is shite! Our only tactic appears to be kick it and hope someone drops it.

[Raggs]

Why on earth would you take 3 points there? What's the point?

[FKAS]

Jesus! This is shite! Our only tactic appears to be kick it and hope someone drops it.

The kick and contest has worked ok when it's been on. Problem is we've kicked it when it's not on as well though.

The defensive line is coming up well but is being hampered by players stepping in unnecessarily. You've got to trust the system or you'll go nowhere.

[FKAS]

How can you say a team is playing under an advantage when you never indicated that it was so until after the TMO has proved they knocked it on so the try has to be disallowed?

[fivepointer]

Were they actually playing with a bar of soap? it was wet but the handling errors were inexcusably high.
Bris won at a canter. Their forwards were far too strong.
They are in a good position to go for top 4 but they will have to rest a number of players for the final game.

[Mellsblue]

Blimey. Imagine how poorly they’d have played with one vc.

[Mellsblue]

[FKAS]

Were they actually playing with a bar of soap? it was wet but the handling errors were inexcusably high.
Bris won at a canter. Their forwards were far too strong.
They are in a good position to go for top 4 but they will have to rest a number of players for the final game.

Sinckler in particular was immense for them this evening. He didn't look happy to be coming back on and even less happy when he came off the second time. Bristol will have everything crossed it's not a serious injury.

Tigers didn't fire a shot. Completely wasted game in terms of development. We basically made it a defence and kick chase training session. I normally look for the positives but this was pathetic, we didn't give ourselves a chance. Bristol had too much quality for our indecision and put us to the sword without being particularly good, they didn't need to be.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Makes me super excited for next season. Missing Ford for large periods and a squad that is largely average at best.

[FKAS]

Makes me super excited for next season. Missing Ford for large periods and a squad that is largely average at best.

We do get some fairly sizeable reinforcements in Weisse, Brink, van Wyk and Moroni. International period performance will depend on how many Pumas we lose. That pack won't be indicative of the one we'll use week to week. We'll need to stop playing absolute dross if we want to stay up though.

[fivepointer]

Were they actually playing with a bar of soap? it was wet but the handling errors were inexcusably high.
Bris won at a canter. Their forwards were far too strong.
They are in a good position to go for top 4 but they will have to rest a number of players for the final game.

Sinckler in particular was immense for them this evening. He didn't look happy to be coming back on and even less happy when he came off the second time. Bristol will have everything crossed it's not a serious injury.

Tigers didn't fire a shot. Completely wasted game in terms of development. We basically made it a defence and kick chase training session. I normally look for the positives but this was pathetic, we didn't give ourselves a chance. Bristol had too much quality for our indecision and put us to the sword without being particularly good, they didn't need to be.

This is what i've found disappointing about Leicester since the restart. They had nothing to lose by at least trying to play a bit. No one expected an instant upswing in their results, but playing with some adventure would surely have been better than the ponderous and timid fare they've served up.
I'm not sure how much they have moved forward in these last few weeks.

[jimKRFC]

Kids had Wall.E on (surprisingly good film actually) so didn't see it. Seems I didn't miss too much apart from Hughes having a stinker, weather was bloody horrible though so not surprised the handling (from everyone suffered).

[Puja]

Were they actually playing with a bar of soap? it was wet but the handling errors were inexcusably high.
Bris won at a canter. Their forwards were far too strong.
They are in a good position to go for top 4 but they will have to rest a number of players for the final game.

Sinckler in particular was immense for them this evening. He didn't look happy to be coming back on and even less happy when he came off the second time. Bristol will have everything crossed it's not a serious injury.

Tigers didn't fire a shot. Completely wasted game in terms of development. We basically made it a defence and kick chase training session. I normally look for the positives but this was pathetic, we didn't give ourselves a chance. Bristol had too much quality for our indecision and put us to the sword without being particularly good, they didn't need to be.

This is what i've found disappointing about Leicester since the restart. They had nothing to lose by at least trying to play a bit. No one expected an instant upswing in their results, but playing with some adventure would surely have been better than the ponderous and timid fare they've served up.
I'm not sure how much they have moved forward in these last few weeks.

Absolutely agreed. Feels like we've just turned up out of obligation rather than tried to learn something. Not impressive.

Puja