Connacht vs Leicester - Sat 3.15pm

[Puja]

CONNACHT: 15. Tiernan O'Halloran, 14. John Porch, 13. Sam Arnold, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Matt Healy, 10. Jack Carty (c), 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Matthew Burke, 2. Shane Delahunt, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Oisin Dowling, 5. Niall Murray, 6. Cian Prendergast, 7. Conor Oliver, 8. Jarrad Butler.

Replacements: 16. David Heffernan, 17. Tietie Tuimauga, 18. Jack Aungier, 19. Ultan Dillane, 20. Paul Boyle, 21. Caolin Blade, 22. Conor Fitzgerald, 23. Tom Farrell

LEICESTER TIGERS: 15. Bryce Hegarty, 14. Freddie Steward, 13. Matt Scott, 12. Juan Pablo Socino, 11. Kini Murimurivalu, 10. Freddie Burns, 9. Richard Wigglesworth, 1. Ellis Genge (c), 2. Nic Dolly, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Harry Wells, 5. Calum Green, 6. Ollie Chessum, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: 16. Charlie Clare, 17. James Whitcombe, 18. Nephi Leatigaga, 19. Tom Manz, 20. Francois van Wyk, 21. Jack van Poortvliet, 22. Dan Kelly, 23. Hosea Saumaki

[Puja]

A *lot* of rotation there. No Ford or Youngs, no Cole, no Montoya, no Potter - there's no denying that all of those players need a rest, but doing it all in one game leaves the feeling that we're putting less priority on this game and instead targetting Bordeaux at home (presumably on the plan that they will be doing the opposite). Still, we've had worse XVs get results, so IBWT, I guess. At least we're back up to two available back rows again, even if we do now have a prop covering flanker from the bench.

Be interested to see Tom Manz get a go - he's a big lad at 6'8 and 18st4 and is quite highly rated, so quite pleased to see him getting a run out.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

It’s interesting how quietly Potter has become a nailed on starter. He’s looked very impressive in the little I’ve seen. Seems to have Jack Nowell’s ability of escaping situations where he’s got 6 defenders around him and seemed to have been stopped dead.

I must admit I sort of wanted him to fail just so we didn’t have to hear 10 years of “wing wizardry from Potter Roflmaolol” etc. from commentators, but he’s great to watch.

[fivepointer]

Not the easiest place to go and get a result. Quite a big test for Tigers, who are missing a number of key players.
Chessum seems to be developing really well and its good to see another young forward on the bench.

[Puja]

It’s interesting how quietly Potter has become a nailed on starter. He’s looked very impressive in the little I’ve seen. Seems to have Jack Nowell’s ability of escaping situations where he’s got 6 defenders around him and seemed to have been stopped dead.

I must admit I sort of wanted him to fail just so we didn’t have to hear 10 years of “wing wizardry from Potter Roflmaolol” etc. from commentators, but he’s great to watch.

He must've been sick of the jokes before he even left school. I don't think I've watched a single game where the commentators haven't felt the need to show off a clever quip, even if it's just to use praeteritio and say that they're not going to make a clever quip. If I were him, I'd've changed my name, or seen if I couldn't try bringing "Hal" back as a diminutive.

He is just such a solid player though. Not lightning quick or ridiculously evasive, but just very, very competent at what he does. Best thing Rob Taylor did for the club in his short stint, bringing in him and Porter.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

He must've been sick of the jokes before he even left school. I don't think I've watched a single game where the commentators haven't felt the need to show off a clever quip, even if it's just to use praeteritio and say that they're not going to make a clever quip. If I were him, I'd've changed my name, or seen if I couldn't try bringing "Hal" back as a diminutive.

He is just such a solid player though. Not lightning quick or ridiculously evasive, but just very, very competent at what he does. Best thing Rob Taylor did for the club in his short stint, bringing in him and Porter.

Puja

Hypocrite.

[Puja]

He must've been sick of the jokes before he even left school. I don't think I've watched a single game where the commentators haven't felt the need to show off a clever quip, even if it's just to use praeteritio and say that they're not going to make a clever quip. If I were him, I'd've changed my name, or seen if I couldn't try bringing "Hal" back as a diminutive.

He is just such a solid player though. Not lightning quick or ridiculously evasive, but just very, very competent at what he does. Best thing Rob Taylor did for the club in his short stint, bringing in him and Porter.

Puja

Hypocrite.

Not intentional, I assure you. If I could wave a magic wand and take it back, I would.

Puja

[FKAS]

Yeah agree in Taylor's good call on bringing the pair to us. They are both solid in what they do with no real weakness but the commitment and workrate is top notch. Potter exemplifies this particularly, most of his highlight reel tries are ones where he's in a tight spot and just fights harder to get out than the defenders are willing to, to stop him. Very handy acquisitions and EQ as well.

I suspect this may be the second loss of the season. A LBP away at Connacht would do nicely. Hopefully we can put lots of pressure on at the set piece to force our way into the game. Having an actual backrow should help and three fullbacks in the back three should hopefully provide some protection against Carty's kicking game (classy performance from him at WR). Burns gets another chance but he really needs to grasp this one as Hegarty has looked the better option so far.

Glad for Manz, I think he's had some tough luck since coming through from the academy with Martin. They were the established lock pairing for the academy and I believe he was the one calling the lineout and at 6ft8 he should be a pretty handy target. He did look quite light in the academy days but Tigers website has him at north of 18 stone so perhaps it's taken an extra year for him to physically fill out and adapt to senior rugby. If he comes good the list of young locks at Tigers is going to be quite hefty, might not need to sign anyone for a while at lock or 6.

[Puja]

Glad for Manz, I think he's had some tough luck since coming through from the academy with Martin. They were the established lock pairing for the academy and I believe he was the one calling the lineout and at 6ft8 he should be a pretty handy target. He did look quite light in the academy days but Tigers website has him at north of 18 stone so perhaps it's taken an extra year for him to physically fill out and adapt to senior rugby. If he comes good the list of young locks at Tigers is going to be quite hefty, might not need to sign anyone for a while at lock or 6.

While this may be a bit of a silly question given the black hole of information that is the Leicester injury statuses, but do you know what the latest on Cameron Henderson is? I'm assuming injured given we've had Kini in the 19 shirt, but one never knows.

Puja

[Banquo]

He must've been sick of the jokes before he even left school. I don't think I've watched a single game where the commentators haven't felt the need to show off a clever quip, even if it's just to use praeteritio and say that they're not going to make a clever quip. If I were him, I'd've changed my name, or seen if I couldn't try bringing "Hal" back as a diminutive.

He is just such a solid player though. Not lightning quick or ridiculously evasive, but just very, very competent at what he does. Best thing Rob Taylor did for the club in his short stint, bringing in him and Porter.

Puja

Hypocrite.

Not intentional, I assure you. If I could wave a magic wand and take it back, I would.

Puja

10 points for Gryffindor

[FKAS]

Glad for Manz, I think he's had some tough luck since coming through from the academy with Martin. They were the established lock pairing for the academy and I believe he was the one calling the lineout and at 6ft8 he should be a pretty handy target. He did look quite light in the academy days but Tigers website has him at north of 18 stone so perhaps it's taken an extra year for him to physically fill out and adapt to senior rugby. If he comes good the list of young locks at Tigers is going to be quite hefty, might not need to sign anyone for a while at lock or 6.

While this may be a bit of a silly question given the black hole of information that is the Leicester injury statuses, but do you know what the latest on Cameron Henderson is? I'm assuming injured given we've had Kini in the 19 shirt, but one never knows.

Puja

I'd heard that Henderson has smashed his knee up. Just a rumour as Borthwick doesn't talk injuries but Henderson was in one of the promo videos they send the younger players off to playing darts. No sign of a leg brace or anything so hopefully he's not far off a return to action.

I don't know what's happened with George Martin either, couldn't see him in the training video. There's someone in a headguard packing down in the training vid but couldn't tell whether it was the lad from Loughborough University or Ilione, I was hoping we'd see Ilione get his chance this week. Manz is right at the start next to Wells who looks noticeably shorter than Manz. Wells isn't the biggest but he ain't small so Manz must be some unit.

[FKAS]

Connacht playing patient and considered rugby. Tigers are not. Tigers discipline has been awful. Dolly is having an absolute mare and Genge looks tired. A change at halfback and hooker for Tigers is surely imminent for Tigers.

[Banquo]

Tigers awful this half so far.

[Banquo]

great try tho!!

[FKAS]

Tigers awful this half so far.

After the first 11 mins we've been pretty poor until that try.

[Banquo]

so inaccurate

[Banquo]

1st good execution= try

[Banquo]

great finish. kudos to tigers

[Banquo]

fantastic effort in the last 20. Connaught not taking it well- try was fine.

[fivepointer]

Tigers 2nd best for most of the game but put in a stirring last quarter to nick it.

Not sure why Connacht were arguing with ref. The winning try was perfectly good and was set up by an absolute peach of a long pass from Kelly. Be nice to see more of that from him.

[Spiffy]

Connacht gave that game to Leicester on a plate by kicking possession straight back to them at every opportunity. All they had to do t 28-10 was keep the ball in hand or at least bang it into the corners and contest the line out. Thought Carty was supposed to be a smart fly half, but the lack of rugby smarts by Connacht was unbelieveable. They deserved the defeat for being plain stupid. Well done Leicester for keeping at it.

[FKAS]

For me that game turned on two substitutions. Bealham goes off for Connacht, he'd been maybe fortunate to get away with a couple at scrum time but he was painting all the right pictures to the ref so who cares. He'd stopped Tigers turning the screw at scrum time. His replacement got marmalised. Unless there was an injury I don't understand why he was hooked fairly early in the second half.

The second one was JVP. He gave the Tigers so much more momentum ball in hand. The passing was snappy, the box kicks hanging and he just made good decisions. As Connacht tired he was just pure impetus. Dan Kelly also came on and played very well.

Re Connacht kicking I think the issue was more the kick chase. The kicks weren't bad but the players weren't emptying the tank to get there and compete. Tigers on the other hand made everything awkward. I think for 60 mins Carty was excellent but like Connacht in general he flagged a bit towards the end.

Saumaki has spoken previously about what moving to Tigers has meant for him, being reunited with his fiancée and young child, the emotion on the face after the try was confirmed was really something. I think he was in tears. He and Murimurivalu were a real handful today.

[Puja]

Aki needs a big ban for that. I can understand being frustrated, but you do not speak to the ref like that, even if you're right, which he absolutely was not. Very poor example for the kiddiwinks watching.

We were poor, but somehow did just enough to scrape over the line. Good sign of our squad - even heavily rotated, we refuse to lose. Real shame Whitcombe and Manz didn't get any minutes, but understandable when the game's in the balance and we had the momentum of the comeback. Saumaki looked very lively when he came on and Kelly made a massive difference - he's really kicking on. Burns was very average again and I think we'd've been better with Hegarty at 10.

Puja

[FKAS]

Aki has already apologised on Twitter. As long as he's not said anything naughty he might get away with either a one game ban or a final warning.

Yeah I'd have liked to see Manz come on, with the lineout being a bit hit and miss at times a 6ft8 target would have been welcome. Hopefully the younger lads get a go next weekend.

[Puja]

Aki has already apologised on Twitter. As long as he's not said anything naughty he might get away with either a one game ban or a final warning.

Just went and looked and it's an actual apology (rather than a Boris style nonpology), which is very good to see. A cynic might say, if he hadn't had the thought to apologise himself, he'd probably be ordered to by the Ireland camp tout suite to avoid a ban.

Puja