Wasps Vs Tigers

[FKAS]

The not a real midlands derby sees two teams doing their best to be the one with the most dysfunctional line up.

Wasps XV: 15 Ali Crossdale (9), 14 Francois Hougaard (6), 13 Sam Spink (11), 12 Jimmy Gopperth (139), 11 Josh Bassett (161), 10 Charlie Atkinson (18), 9 Sam Wolstenholme (25); 1 Tom West (60), 2 Tom Cruse (105), 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (56), 4 Vaea Fifita (10), 5 Elliott Stooke (11), 6 Alfie Barbeary (19), 7 Brad Shields (64) (c), 8 Tom Willis (50)

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost (8), 17 Robin Hislop (11), 18 Biyi Alo (25), 19 Tim Cardall (40), 20 Thomas Young (149), 21 Will Porter (39), 22 Ryan Mills (6), 23 Rob Miller (127)

STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [45]
14 Harry Potter [25]
13 Matt Scott [34]
12 Dan Kelly [31]
11 Guy Porter [30]
10 George Ford [117]
9 Jack van Poortvliet [32]
1 Ellis Genge (c) [99]
2 Julián Montoya [14]
3 Dan Cole [277]
4 Calum Green [73]
5 Eli Snyman [8]
6 Harry Wells [138]
7 Tommy Reffell [60]
8 Ollie Chessum [21]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [37]
17 James Whitcombe [10]
18 Joe Heyes [85]
19 Kini Murimurivalu [30]
20 Nic Dolly [13]
21 Ben Youngs [273]
22 Freddie Burns [85]
23 Matías Moroni [23]

Tigers started their run of beating every Prem team in a row with Wasps at the end of last season at the Ricoh in a high scoring game. Not sure conditions will facilitate the same again but hope springs eternal.

[Beasties]

Fingers crossed that Charlie Atkinson comes through this, he had a lot of strapping last week. Fingers crossed for Mills too. But mostly I’ll be watching the scrums from behind the sofa; Genge v JTA. Only one winner there.

[Peej]

I mean it's a bit of a sad indictment that what you see as a dysfunctional lineup is one of the best Wasps have been able to put out all season.

That Tigers pack though. Wow.

[Raggs]

I mean it's a bit of a sad indictment that what you see as a dysfunctional lineup is one of the best Wasps have been able to put out all season.

That Tigers pack though. Wow.

Nah, we had better than that near the start of the season, with Robson at 9 for starters.

[Peej]

I mean it's a bit of a sad indictment that what you see as a dysfunctional lineup is one of the best Wasps have been able to put out all season.

That Tigers pack though. Wow.

Nah, we had better than that near the start of the season, with Robson at 9 for starters.

[Raggs]

I mean it's a bit of a sad indictment that what you see as a dysfunctional lineup is one of the best Wasps have been able to put out all season.

That Tigers pack though. Wow.

Nah, we had better than that near the start of the season, with Robson at 9 for starters.

It's better on the general injury front, but I still feel a fit Robson outweighs a lot of the other names that have come back in. A Jack Willis or Launch would have similar effect. West is nice, but he's not head and shoulders above for instance. Same with Cruse, given Frost's blistering form.

[Puja]

Releasing Cyle Brink early not looking like such a great idea right about now. I'm assuming Martin's injured too now, not that Borthwick tells us such things.

Surely Ilione or Agbongbon would be a better bet for a bench spot than Muri and Dolly covering back row? Even if they're both injured, is there no academy playr available? Just looked up where Thom Smith is nowadays and discovered that we gave him an early release too in December!

Puja

[FKAS]

Is Launchbury's latest injury the same gaping hole in the engine room it used to be? Wasps have recruited well at lock in Fifitia and Stooke. Yes, Stooke isn't close to being as good as Joe but he's a good physical lock. If he had a Welsh Granny he'd probably gets a couple of caps.

As a Tigers fan I look at the Wasps pack and think the front row, particularly tighthead, and the lack of a natural openside are areas we might be able to exploit. Wasps can fix one of those two problems quite easily via the bench mind. How's the Wasps maul defence these days? I suppose that is an area where Launchbury could be missed in a significant way.

[Peej]

Robson, yes. But Launch, Willis, Odogwu haven't been fit all season. West is the clear starter in my book (and probably Lee's), so him being back regularly is a boost. Likewise Barbeary and Atkinson, and Mills too this week. The only other players we're missing are probably Fekitoa, who has missed all but what, 20 minutes of the season, and Minozzi and Kibirige? And on Matteo and Zach there's an argument his form when he has played doesn't merit selection anyway.

Second and back rows are where Wasps have actually been consistently good so far this season. It's everything around them that has moved from alright to utter dross at different, occasionally overlapping, stages.

[Peej]

Is Launchbury's latest injury the same gaping hole in the engine room it used to be? Wasps have recruited well at lock in Fifitia and Stooke. Yes, Stooke isn't close to being as good as Joe but he's a good physical lock. If he had a Welsh Granny he'd probably gets a couple of caps.

As a Tigers fan I look at the Wasps pack and think the front row, particularly tighthead, and the lack of a natural openside are areas we might be able to exploit. Wasps can fix one of those two problems quite easily via the bench mind. How's the Wasps maul defence these days? I suppose that is an area where Launchbury could be missed in a significant way.

He is definitely missed there, but occasionally our maul defence is still very good. Like most things this season, it is very inconsistent

[FKAS]

Releasing Cyle Brink early not looking like such a great idea right about now. I'm assuming Martin's injured too now, not that Borthwick tells us such things.

Surely Ilione or Agbongbon would be a better bet for a bench spot than Muri and Dolly covering back row? Even if they're both injured, is there no academy playr available? Just looked up where Thom Smith is nowadays and discovered that we gave him an early release too in December!

Puja

Yes, letting the two previously injury prone backrowers go early seems like a false economy now.

I don't know how injured Martin is given he's on the photos of the training sessions this week. Either he picked up something right at the end of training or it's a precaution.

I presume Ilione is only just back from injury since there's been nothing on him playing elsewhere, even Uni rugby that I've seen and I'd find that unusual for a player of his class if he was fit. Agbongbon other than a couple of minutes (literally) in the PRC has only played BUCS rugby. Borthwick clearly doesn't think he's ready. I did wonder if Manz might get a call up or Lewis Chessum I think they've both played for Notts this season. Lewis Chessum is apparently 6ft9 and 18 stone at just 18.

I presume Murimurivalu has a 7s background and Borthwick is backing those all court skills. His pick and gos and turnovers are pretty unusual skills in a back three player but they do make him an unusual threat.

[Raggs]

Fifita and West out due to illness. Hislop starting, Nearchou on the bench, Cardall also now starting, Gaskell on the bench.

[Raggs]

That's a 50/50 penalty try call, but I'll take it. If he's not taken out, he's a valid option, because he was already wrapped up, he can't become one.

[Mr Mwenda]

Just turned that on for a very peculiar break leading to a penalty try, pretty stupid from Leicester, rackon.

[Puja]

Wasps just been given an absolute gift by a combo of luck and bizarre refereeing. Wasps make a clear and obvious knock-on from a long kick, which wasn't given, they then kick long and Leicester get a one-hand partial charge down which deflects the ball just enough to obviate offside and drop the ball inside into Wasps hands 20m behind the Leicester defensive line. We scramble back to stop the try and Reffell absolutely takes Stooke out off the ball and gets a deserved yellow card, but the ref bizarrely decides it's a penalty try despite the fact that no-one was looking to pass to the player who was taken out. Two shocking decisions and Leicester are 7 points down.

Still, sometimes luck goes against you. We'll just have to play well enough for the rest of the game to get around it.

Puja

[Raggs]

Wasps just been given an absolute gift by a combo of luck and bizarre refereeing. Wasps make a clear and obvious knock-on from a long kick, which wasn't given, they then kick long and Leicester get a one-hand partial charge down which deflects the ball just enough to obviate offside and drop the ball inside into Wasps hands 20m behind the Leicester defensive line. We scramble back to stop the try and Reffell absolutely takes Stooke out off the ball and gets a deserved yellow card, but the ref bizarrely decides it's a penalty try despite the fact that no-one was looking to pass to the player who was taken out. Two shocking decisions and Leicester are 7 points down.

Still, sometimes luck goes against you. We'll just have to play well enough for the rest of the game to get around it.

Puja

Cruse wasn't looking to pass to a player who was on the floor before he was? No shit

If you remove reffel from the picture, then Stooke is absolutely screaming for that ball.

[Puja]

Fifita and West out due to illness. Hislop starting, Nearchou on the bench, Cardall also now starting, Gaskell on the bench.

And now Hislop's getting his knee heavily strapped, while I'm complaining about Leicester's luck. He has to stay on for Wasps - Nearchou vs Cole would be a murdering.

Puja

[Raggs]

Fifita and West out due to illness. Hislop starting, Nearchou on the bench, Cardall also now starting, Gaskell on the bench.

And now Hislop's getting his knee heavily strapped, while I'm complaining about Leicester's luck. He has to stay on for Wasps - Nearchou vs Cole would be a murdering.

Puja

There's no way Gaskell is fully fit either, otherwise he'd have been in the 23 to start with.

Wasps don't win this game regardless of a lucky try.

[FKAS]

That's a harsh blocking call. You see a lot of those never given most weeks.

[Puja]

Wasps just been given an absolute gift by a combo of luck and bizarre refereeing. Wasps make a clear and obvious knock-on from a long kick, which wasn't given, they then kick long and Leicester get a one-hand partial charge down which deflects the ball just enough to obviate offside and drop the ball inside into Wasps hands 20m behind the Leicester defensive line. We scramble back to stop the try and Reffell absolutely takes Stooke out off the ball and gets a deserved yellow card, but the ref bizarrely decides it's a penalty try despite the fact that no-one was looking to pass to the player who was taken out. Two shocking decisions and Leicester are 7 points down.

Still, sometimes luck goes against you. We'll just have to play well enough for the rest of the game to get around it.

Puja

Cruse wasn't looking to pass to a player who was on the floor before he was? No shit

If you remove reffel from the picture, then Stooke is absolutely screaming for that ball.

In slow motion, he's got all the time in the world to make his decisions. In real time, Cruse has made the dummy that suckered Reffell and then tucked the ball under his arm. He's never looking to make that pass.

Leicester get a try ruled out for blocking, but it's a fair cop. Good spot by the TMO.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

I did think Cruse was bloody lucky that the Leicester player infringed, he never looked like passing at all and my first thought was 'greedy bugger'.

[Puja]

Potter is just such a useful player. Hard running, direct, good basic skills, massive workrate and determination. Don't think he'll ever be an international (mind, I said that about Dolly too), but he's a fantastic club player.

Leicester are somehow still down on the scoreboard, despite being utterly dominant. Two unusual missed penalties from Ford, a couple of poor decisions when attacking in the Wasps 22, some poor passes and poor support - feels like we're in control, but we're 7-6 down and have just given away a penalty to give Wasps a 5m lineout.

Puja

[FKAS]

Big Dan a bit lucky there. He did look up at sir, I suspect it he'd been told to release he would have but as he wasn't he managed to get the decision.

[Peej]

Wasps just have no confidence at the minute. So wasteful

[Puja]

Montoya's bloody lucky that that try was given. 4 man overlap, Chessum three metres away screaming, "JULIAN! JULIAN! PASS! JULIAAAAN!", and he picks and goes into the only Wasps defenders on their feet. I wouldn't've complained if that'd been called held up over the line.

Puja