Prem Rounds 9

Friday
Newcastle v Bristol (7.45)
Sale v Saracens (7.45)

Saturday
Exeter v Leicester (15.00)
Gloucester v Northampton (15.00)
Bath v Harlequins (15.05)

Newcastle Falcons team v Bristol Bears (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingston Park Stadium)

15 Tom Penny,
14 Adam Radwan,
13 Oliver Spencer,
12 Jordan Holgate,
11 Mateo Carreras,
10 Louie Johnson,
9 James Elliott;

1 Phil Brantingham,
2 Jamie Blamire,
3 Eduardo Bello,
4 John Hawkins,
5 Sebastian de Chaves,
6 Sam Cross,
7 Guy Pepper,
8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 George Wacokecoke.

All the games this weekend are bumper fixtures with home wins all round (C'mon Newcastle)

Tigers have a few injuries just now but other than those I'm hoping they go full whammy away to Chiefs. They rotated against Stade and there's a decent break come the Six Nations.

Cronin
Dolly
Clare
Henderson
Cracknell
JvP
Scott
Porter
OHC
Bassett
Simmons

I think all of those are either confirmed/presumed injured currently. Though some may return this weekend of course. Simmons was originally in the squad last week for instance.

The only area I might consider not starting the absolute strongest XV possible might be having Montoya and Martin on the bench. A mixture of rewarding Vanes and Wells for strong performances last weekend and liking the massive impact those two could have if unleashed together. It would keep the physicality up for the whole 80 minutes.

1.Whitcombe 2.Vanes 3.Cole 4.Wells 5.Chessum 6.Liebenberg 7.Reffell 8.Wiese
9.Youngs 10.Pollard 11.Steward 12.Kata 13.Kelly 14.Watson 15.Shillcock

16.Montoya 17.van Wyk 18.Heyes 19.Martin 20.Hatherell 21.Ilione 22.Whiteley 23.Brown

I'm not actually expecting a 6-2 split, mind. It just makes sense to me though when adding together, the depth Tigers have in back row, a likely direct game plan from both sides, lots of outside backs being injured and several fit backs that are versatile. Hatherhell has impressed me and Ilione looks an incredible player in development. I think the risk in the backs is outweighed by the potential upside of the impact those sort of replacement forwards could make. There definitely is a risk. It allows you to make changes proactively earlier in the second half for impact though. Rather than reactively as the best players tire.

McKellar has said Liebenburg is feeling sore after the Stade game. Simmons was a niggle, OHC also not to serious.

I'd rather not have Steward on the wing even if it does allow Shillcock a start. We could do with some more pace on the wing really and Bassett should be available.

Van Wyk, Montoya, Cole
Chessum, Martin
Hatherall, Wiese, Reffell
Youngs, Pollard
Kata, Kelly
Basset, Steward, Watson

Vanes, Whitcombe, Heyes, Wells, Ilione, Whiteley, Shillcock, Simmons.

Would be what I go for though McKellar seems to like Rogerson. Bit harsh on Vanes and Wells after good showings last week but Martin and Montoya are both a step above and McKellar generally uses the bench quite well. Don't think we need a Stevie B second half strategy for this one.

Tigers wrote:15 Freddie Steward [77]
14 Anthony Watson [17]
13 Dan Kelly [68]
12 Solomone Kata [7]
11 Josh Bassett [10]

10 Handré Pollard [20]
9 Ben Youngs [307]

1 James Whitcombe [44]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [44]
3 Dan Cole [315]
4 George Martin [69]
5 Harry Wells [185]
6 Ollie Chessum [48]
7 Emeka Ilione [17]
8 Jasper Wiese [66]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Finn Theobold-Thomas [2]
17 Francois van Wyk [41]
18 Joe Heyes [132]
19 Olly Cracknell [39]
20 Kyle Hatherell [8]
21 Tom Whiteley [17]
22 Jamie Shillcock [13]
23 Mike Brown [16]

Tigers with further absentees than Sam and I discussed. Vanes and Reffell added as well. It's a mounting injury list.

That starting XV still looks good to me. Getting them playing as the sum of their parts has been the issue. Early this season Tigers looked like they met in the parking lot at times. Especially defensive alignment wider out which was genuinely atrocious at times. The internationals returning helped a lot. They'll need to show those improvements whilst weathering a bit absentee list though.

Chiefs wrote:15 Tommy Wyatt
14 Rory O’Loughlin
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Ben Hammersley

10 Harvey Skinner
9 Tom Cairns

1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Ehren Painter
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Lewis Pearson
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:
16 Dan Frost
17 Nika Abuladze
18 Josh Iosefa-Scott
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Ross Vintcent
21 Stu Townsend
22 Joe Hawkins
23 Zack Wimbush

Chiefs nearer full strength It's an inexperienced squad but Baxter has got them playing with great cohesion this season and executing a simple game plan well.

This should be a decent game. I could equally see Tigers making poor errors and Chiefs clinical nature prevailing. Whilst I could equally see the Chiefs simple game plan coming unstuck if Tigers can stop them behind the gain line by winning collisions. Which that starting pack Tigers certainly has the punch to do, if, they play to their ability as a unit.

Saints vs Glaws line ups:

15 George Furbank (c)
14 Tom Litchfield
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tommy Freeman
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Ethan Waller
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Paul Hill
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Alex Coles
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Tom Pearson
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Tarek Haffar
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Chunya Munga
20 Juarno Augustus
21 Callum Braley
22 Charlie Savala
23 Jake Garside

Not available for selection:
George Hendy, Tom James (suspended), Lewis Ludlam, Joel Matavesi, James Ramm, Tom Seabrook, Ollie Sleightholme, Robbie Smith and Alex Waller.

GLOUCESTER TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Santi Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Santi Socino, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Zach Mercer.
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Jack Clement, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Seb Atkinson, 23 Lloyd Evans.

Saints completely out of wingers after losing three injured against Toulon, so Tom Litchfield takes up the task for his first ever pro start at 14.

It is going to be an interesting one, Glaws have not played well so far this season, but have a talented side and one day they will click, hopefully not tomorrow.

The cohesion within the Tigers side has improved over time. McKellar has a rough start but being down 12 internationals was never going to be an easy way to start a season with a whole new selection of coaches.

We are definitely looking a bit short at hooker.

It's still a good side and one I'm hopeful can get some sort of result. We've started showing a lot more fight recently.

Good to see a full house at Sale.

Pretty cynical offside by Sarries, could have warranted a yellow card...

Was a very odd finish to Sale-Saracens. Presuming Sale was looking for a 4-try bonus point, but at some point just put the game in the bag. On the other hand, no idea why Saracens would kick away possession with about 2 mins on the clock to go. Two very good teams with poor end of game management.

Sounds like Opoku-Fordjour had another productive evening.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Sounds like Opoku-Fordjour had another productive evening.

Yes, he was pretty good. Apparently learning how to play - and are currently being played - on both sides of the scrum.

Did he play loosehead yesterday then?have to admit I wish Harrison would keep quiet and just let him play tight head.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Did he play loosehead yesterday then?have to admit I wish Harrison would keep quiet and just let him play tight head.

Tighthead.  Sale scrum seemed to have the edge most of the game yesterday.  Commentators were singing his praises and mentioned his experience as Tighthead and Loosehead. He came on pretty early in the 2nd half, so had a good run.

Two tries in under five minutes, this looks like it is going to be entertaining!

Changed two of my Superbru predictions the wrong way so far ... thought Saints missing a load of backs whilst Glaws put out probably their strongest team this season would favour them ...

And Tigers looked stronger than Chiefs on paper - early days still though

No 7&1/2 wrote:Did he play loosehead yesterday then?have to admit I wish Harrison would keep quiet and just let him play tight head.

No, they mentioned in commentary that there was a suggestion from England that they would like him to play loosehead. I'd personally like to see him stay at 3...

He is so powerful for a relatively small prop.

How did Spencer keep hold of that?

No 7&1/2 wrote:How did Spencer keep hold of that?

It was fantastic play all around. I though it Care ripped it back they should really have played on and let the try stand.

Spencer then played the ball on the floor though.

Heaf wrote:And Tigers looked stronger than Chiefs on paper - early days still though

You had to fluffing jinx that didn't you.

Pollard looks hungover or ill. He's have a solid 2/10 in that half. Shanked kicks, missed pen to touch, knock on under little pressure on the attack and then to cap it off when we finally have some momentum he throws a pass out the back to no one and Slade walks in the third Chiefs try.

21-0 at halftime.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Spencer then played the ball on the floor though.

Ah right, wasn't sure how the ball came back on Bath's side.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Heaf wrote:And Tigers looked stronger than Chiefs on paper - early days still though

You had to fluffing jinx that didn't you.

Pollard looks hungover or ill. He's have a solid 2/10 in that half. Shanked kicks, missed pen to touch, knock on under little pressure on the attack and then to cap it off when we finally have some momentum he throws a pass out the back to no one and Slade walks in the third Chiefs try.

21-0 at halftime.

Yep sorry about that - looking like I've cost myself 3 points on Superbru, including the Grand Slam, with my late changes ...

Had to laugh before when I saw someone in the crowd salute the camera with a gin balloon. This city can be faintly ridiculous sometimes.

How did Bath get the throw in when Russell kicked that out - didn't look like anyone touched it?

Ah man - if Glaws had kicked that last pen my change would have worked perfectly ... less said about Tigers ....

Looked iffy for Barbeary. Broken hand?

Heaf wrote:Ah man - if Glaws had kicked that last pen my change would have worked perfectly ... less said about Tigers ....

Sorry Heaf, I am rather glad it was short. We are making an art of this last 10m minutes of all out defence having given away a big lead. It needs to stop.

Having said that it would produce fantastic TV rights money.....................................

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Heaf wrote:Ah man - if Glaws had kicked that last pen my change would have worked perfectly ... less said about Tigers ....

Sorry Heaf, I am rather glad it was short. We are making an art of this last 10m minutes of all out defence having given away a big lead. It needs to stop.

Having said that it would produce fantastic TV rights money.....................................

My own fault - if I hadn't changed my pic I would have been on max points for that match ...

Picking Chiefs to lose at home tends to be a poor call. Now 14 months and 23 consecutive wins at Sandy Park for them.

I have just watched the highlights of the Glaws v Saints game, will pick up the full game later.

A lot of quality individual skills on show and some cracking tries

From what little I saw and heard on the radio, I would have Graham ahead of Mercer at the moment but I suspect neither will be on the England squad list.

Litchfield and Langdon's (2nd) tries were a bit special, I didn't realise Langdon had that kind of pace. Litchfield looks like another quality 16 stone back that is as comfortable on the wing as he is at centre, the opposite of Freeman really. Get our wingers back and we will be spoilt for choice. I would like to see Litchfield get a go at 12, two big quick and quite skilful centres would be a handful for most teams, especially with Saints wingers and full backs ability to get into the line at pace.

Glaws came back really well, they are a bit like Saints last year, they can attack well and score some, but they leave to many chances pointless: their defence is just not up to it, once Saints woke up after their 4th try (Glaws), they only needed one chance to put another 7 points on the board. At the moment, even without wingers, they are lethal given the opportunity.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Picking Chiefs to lose at home tends to be a poor call. Now 14 months and 23 consecutive wins at Sandy Park for them.

Yeah - must have had a rush of blood to the head or something when I decided to flip it ...

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:I have just watched the highlights of the Glaws v Saints game, will pick up the full game later.

A lot of quality individual skills on show and some cracking tries

From what little I saw and heard on the radio, I would have Graham ahead of Mercer at the moment but I suspect neither will be on the England squad list.

Litchfield and Langdon's (2nd) tries were a bit special, I didn't realise Langdon had that kind of pace. Litchfield looks like another quality 16 stone back that is as comfortable on the wing as he is at centre, the opposite of Freeman really. Get our wingers back and we will be spoilt for choice. I would like to see Litchfield get a go at 12, two big quick and quite skilful centres would be a handful for most teams, especially with Saints wingers and full backs ability to get into the line at pace.

Glaws came back really well, they are a bit like Saints last year, they can attack well and score some, but they leave to many chances pointless: their defence is just not up to it, once Saints woke up after their 4th try (Glaws), they only needed one chance to put another 7 points on the board. At the moment, even without wingers, they are lethal given the opportunity.

Happy Boxing Day to any and all. The Gloucester-Saints game was a nice way to enter into the holidays. I like your comments about Langdon and Litchfield. Both are fast but both can really accelerate. Having a hooker who can attack like that should give a real edge. Litchfield still only 21 has some growing and developing to do, and that is a bit of exciting news for Saints.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Picking Chiefs to lose at home tends to be a poor call. Now 14 months and 23 consecutive wins at Sandy Park for them.

This didn't age so well now

Heaf wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Picking Chiefs to lose at home tends to be a poor call. Now 14 months and 23 consecutive wins at Sandy Park for them.

This didn't age so well now  

You weren't saying that 25 mins in when Chiefs were 26-0 up though were you.

Two yellow cards killed the Chiefs momentum and once Saints got going they proved hard to stop. One hell of a game to be fair.

Yep shame I missed it - will have to catch the highlights later