RugbyRebels

Bristol: Piutau; Fricker, Radradra, Bedlow, Lloyd; Sheedy, Randall; Thomas, Thacker, Sinckler, Joyce, Vui, Luatua (capt), Jeffries, Harding.

Replacements: Capon, Woolmore, Lahiff Hawkins, Heenan, Uren, O'Conor, Purdy.

Leicester: Steward; Potter, Moroni, Kelly, Nadolo; Ford, Youngs; Genge (capt), Montoya, Cole, Wells, Snyman, Martin, Reffell, Van Staden.

Replacements: Dolly, Leatigaga, Leyes, Chessum, Wiese, Wigglesworth, Hegarty, Porter.

Referee: Tom Foley.

Good strong lineup for Leicester that. The only place where you'd say it's not first choice are 5-8 and, even then, Snyman/Martin/Reffell/Van Staden isn't a kick in the backside off Chessum/Liebenberg/Van Staden/Wiese.

Interesting that Hegarty's now in possession of the 22 shirt ahead of Burns after the weekend.

Puja

I'd sell me Gran to watch this (I'd have to dig her up first!) but I'll be on the road early afternoon so will miss it! Grrrrrrr!
One would think that Tigers will continue with their unbeaten run - which'll come to an end one day, but please not against the Koala Bears!
Tigers by 20!

Big crowd expected and some big players back for Bris who have had 2 weeks off. I fancy them.

fivepointer wrote:Big crowd expected and some big players back for Bris who have had 2 weeks off. I fancy them.

The big players or a Bristol win?!!!

francoisfou wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Big crowd expected and some big players back for Bris who have had 2 weeks off. I fancy them.

The big players or a Bristol win?!!!

It's amusing to think back to pre-season. Punditry, almost unanimously, had Bristol down to be champions. Disregarding the fun in pointing out the error of their ways, I'm left still rating Lam and disliking Borthwick. Punditry was wrong and so am I, probably. If Jones went under a bus tomorrow (and I wouldn't wish for it, of course), I'd still rather have Lam as England's head-coach than Borthwick. I say that despite really wanting an English guy in charge. Logic rarely trumps prejudice, I suppose.

Think this could be a lot closer than some pundits are making out. Bristol are a bit reliant on those star names to get then going but those star names are back now. Tigers are going to have to be on the money to stop them getting fast ball to play with, Moroni doing a man marking job on Radrada. Which is probably why Tigers have gone dual opensides for maximum distribution.

Tigers scrum has been a bit average for a lot of this season but looked much improved over the European games and should be looking to get the edge here. It would be an area that if we can dominate would really help us as it would help tire Sinckler and reduce his ball carrying, ditto Thacker's.

Should be an entertaining game.

Re Borthwick and Lam I don't see either as a legitimate candidate for England currently. Lam i don't think could bring his style of rugby to the international scene as it's so involved he just wouldn't have the time with the players to make it stick and it is reliant on certain assets within the team like a big ball carrying 13. Borthwick doesn't have enough experience in the top job yet, he needs a few years at Tigers and to show he can guide them through high profile games.

Ouch stud marks down the face of Ben Youngs early doors.

Ref having some interesting calls. Call of maul swiftly changed to tackle.

Having said that I liked he didn't immediately blow up the Bristol try for what looked a knock on. Let it play through then went back and chalked it off. Good officiating.

A good try each for both sides.

Harding with a really clever finish close in after a Randall break from Wells mistake. Nadolo replies from a great grubber from Moroni.

Bristol slowing the game down a lot in the second half. Every scrum seems to have a Bristol player taking a knee needing treatment. A sub 'accidentally' kicking a ball onto the pitch as Montoya was about to throw into the lineout was very naughty and might see a little fine later.

Ball comes off Montoya's foot but Foley calls no strike and Bristol score off the freekick. Genge and Sincks square up, Sincks has had a miserable afternoon so far.

Tigers error count today has been far to high. Mostly unforced. The late change with Green coming in for the ill Snyman proved a big one as Green was a direct source for at least 6 Bristol points amongst other errors.

Bristol have been pretty clinical when given chances by Tigers. The defence from Bristol has had a renewed intensity.

What a finish from Tigers. Game looked gone. The patience and vision from Ford and the offload from Steward. Great impact from the subs as well

What a game.

Little in it and Tigers deserve a lot of credit for fashioning the winning score when they were down to 14 for the last 10.

Bris were dogged and largely defended well, but their attacking game is miles off what it was last season. Too many of their top players just arent delivering.

Though Randall and Thacker were very good.

fivepointer wrote:Little in it and Tigers deserve a lot of credit for fashioning the winning score when they were down to 14 for the last 10.

Bris were dogged and largely defended well, but their attacking game is miles off what it was last season. Too many of their top players just arent delivering.

Though Randall and Thacker were very good.

To be fair Tigers do have the best defence in the league.

Bristol didn't really use the bench to great effect which told in the last 4 minutes when they looked shattered. Thacker was asked to play a very high intensity game and scrummage a lot. He was really good but definitely faded and wasn't able to pressurise Ford at the death.

Randall was excellent and starting attacks from nothing but his kicking game was shocking.

Wiese really is a liability in the discipline department. Yes - he's a tough nut, but is it woth it?

Spiffy wrote:Wiese really is a liability in the discipline department. Yes - he's a tough nut, but is it woth it?

You try and find someone with his mobility, carrying and workrate though. If he could engage the brain cells on a more regular basis he'd be the best 8 in the league. The issue Tigers have is were we to look to move him on they'd be lots of offers but very few that could offer what he does.

He actually played really well before the yellow card with some barnstorming carries and big hits.

FKAS wrote:

Spiffy wrote:Wiese really is a liability in the discipline department. Yes - he's a tough nut, but is it woth it?

You try and find someone with his mobility, carrying and workrate though. If he could engage the brain cells on a more regular basis he'd be the best 8 in the league. The issue Tigers have is were we to look to move him on they'd be lots of offers but very few that could offer what he does.

He actually played really well before the yellow card with some barnstorming carries and big hits.

I wonder whether we do see Martin's future there actually. It seemed odd when we played him there in the cup (although hardly our oddest backrow selection), but he does have the potential to tick everything off that list if he keeps improving.

Puja

Puja wrote:

FKAS wrote:

Spiffy wrote:Wiese really is a liability in the discipline department. Yes - he's a tough nut, but is it woth it?

You try and find someone with his mobility, carrying and workrate though. If he could engage the brain cells on a more regular basis he'd be the best 8 in the league. The issue Tigers have is were we to look to move him on they'd be lots of offers but very few that could offer what he does.

He actually played really well before the yellow card with some barnstorming carries and big hits.

I wonder whether we do see Martin's future there actually. It seemed odd when we played him there in the cup (although hardly our oddest backrow selection), but he does have the potential to tick everything off that list if he keeps improving.

Puja

Considering how he ran through Sheedy off the back of that last scrum he has promise there. I think he's being moulded into a Liebenburg style option. Blindside by preference but can slot into 8 or lock if required. Given Brink is off a little positional diversity from Martin and Chessum will certainly help.

I thought Martin was quietly excellent again. Jumped at the lineout, made some big hits and then a couple of good carries. He's got a way to go to emulate the explosive carrying of Weise but quite frankly if he had that in his locker along with everything else we'd be losing him for a third of every season with England.