Quins v Tigers

First topic message reminder :

Who do you think will win?

Personally I think the Tigers will win at a canter.

All the momentum and Tigers' form can't help the Toffs at nearly-home.

Well if they're going to get anywhere near Dublin Athletic next year, they'd best start laying down a few markers.

Can we get Mo to accidentally collide with Barnes?

Mo from one side and Alesana from the other, though the TJs do include Dave Pearson and he is only a minor improvement.

I've got to say compared to the last two seasons of Tigers playing Saracens this is a much more civil build up to the Prem Final.

Lancaster even took one for the team by subjecting himself to the wrath of Cockers.

Lancaster even took one for the team by subjecting himself to the wrath of Cockers

Cockers has been incredibly respectful in his comments to Quins, particularly in his praise for the development of the Quins pack.

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Cockerill-Harlequins-fancy-dans/story-16127790-detail/story.html

yappysnap wrote:I've got to say compared to the last two seasons of Tigers playing Saracens this is a much more civil build up to the Prem Final.

Lancaster even took one for the team by subjecting himself to the wrath of Cockers.

Probably because both teams have played great rugby (Quins most of the time and Tigers since Christmas), both are seen (rightly or wrongly) as quinticentially (Sp!) 'English' and the anticipation is for a great match. For the neutral this should also be a cracking spectacle and a good advert for the sport, unlike in recent years when you've had one team trying to play and the other kicking the leather off the ball (no names, no pack drill).

Quins team -
Harlequins head into tomorrow's Aviva Premiership Final buoyed by the return to the starting line-up of Ugo Monye and Danny Care.

The two England internationals have recovered from injury and are the only changes to the team that defeated Northampton Saints in the semi-final a fortnight ago.

Mike Brown starts at full back, with Tom Williams and Monye on the wings. Jordan Turner-Hall and George Lowe continue in the centre, outside Nick Evans and Care who replaces Karl Dickson.

The pack remains unchanged with Joe Marler, Joe Gray and James Johnston forming the front row. Olly Kohn and George Robson partner in the second row, while Maurie Fa'asavalu, Nick Easter and captain, Chris Robshaw continue their back row partnership.

Among the replacements Rob Buchanan, Mark Lambert, Will Collier, Tomas Vallejos and Tom Guest cover the forwards. Dickson and Rory Clegg will cover the half backs with Matt Hopper filling the remaining slot.

Team:
15. Mike Brown
14. Tom Williams
13. George Lowe
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Joe Gray
3. James Johnston
4. Olly Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa'asavalu
7. Chris Robshaw (C)
8. Nick Easter

16. Rob Buchanan
17. Mark Lambert
18. Will Collier
19. Tomas Vallejos
20. Tom Guest
21. Karl Dickson
22. Rory Clegg
23. Matt Hopper

Its a shame Sam Smith didnt make it, but he didnt have a great game against Saints.

Also a shame that Chisholm wasnt selected as he can be a real game changer.

Leicester Tigers (v Harlequins, Aviva Premiership Rugby Final, Saturday 3.00pm)
15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Horacio Agulla
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 George Ford
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 George Chuter
3 Dan Cole
4 George Skivington
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Logovi'i Mulipola
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Craig Newby
21 Sam Harrison
22 Toby Flood
23 Scott Hamilton

Spoiler:

Toby on the bench. 36 sidelined.

Overall looking forward to a really good game.

If Floody is on the bench I'd have preferred Smith over Hamilton. Hamilton is the better winger/fb but Smith would offer centre cover as well as wing/fb and is basically another flanker in defence (not suprising when you consider who is dad is). If Manu or Allen go down we now have to opt for a winger or Flood in the centres where the advantage of Billy was he could cover centre and 10.

Otherwise it is as expected. Come on you TIGERS! Let's make it a nice round 10.

formerly known as Sam wrote:If Floody is on the bench I'd have preferred Smith over Hamilton. Hamilton is the better winger/fb but Smith would offer centre cover as well as wing/fb and is basically another flanker in defence (not suprising when you consider who is dad is). If Manu or Allen go down we now have to opt for a winger or Flood in the centres where the advantage of Billy was he could cover centre and 10.

Otherwise it is as expected. Come on you TIGERS! Let's make it a nice round 10.

I really don't like 36 at fh Sam.The only times he's been selected there were desperate ones. But these aren't.

I think if the centres cop an injury, Agulla will move in one and Hamilton on to the wing

I really don't like 36 at fh Sam.The only times he's been selected there were desperate ones. But these aren't.

True, tbh I think Twelvetrees is an international class 10 on the front foot but a Championship 10 on the back foot. He is a better centre but he does cover more positions. I prefer having Ford and Flood in the 23 but not having better centre cover as LT points out moving Agulla to centre would be likely in the case of an injury but that is far from ideal.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

True, tbh I think Twelvetrees is an international class 10 on the front foot but a Championship 10 on the back foot. He is a better centre but he does cover more positions. I prefer having Ford and Flood in the 23 but not having better centre cover as LT points out moving Agulla to centre would be likely in the case of an injury but that is far from ideal.

Wouldnt we just move Flood to 12? Obviously moving Allen to 13 if Manu is injured isnt ideal but its not too much worse than having Smith there? Being honest if we lose Manu its a huge blow no matter who we have on the bench.

Wouldnt we just move Flood to 12? Obviously moving Allen to 13 if Manu is injured isnt ideal but its not too much worse than having Smith there? Being honest if we lose Manu its a huge blow no matter who we have on the bench.

Depends at what point in the game, if it's early doors then I don't think they'd risk Flood's ankle for that long. If it was a close game and time was ticking on then I think Flood would be risked.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Wouldnt we just move Flood to 12? Obviously moving Allen to 13 if Manu is injured isnt ideal but its not too much worse than having Smith there? Being honest if we lose Manu its a huge blow no matter who we have on the bench.

Depends at what point in the game, if it's early doors then I don't think they'd risk Flood's ankle for that long. If it was a close game and time was ticking on then I think Flood would be risked.

If I was Cockers in that situation I would gamble on Flood's ankle, obviously not great news for England if it doesnt come off, but this is Tigers last game of the season you wouldnt want to be thinking what if at the end of a game like this.

Impressed Tigers are starting Ford, i'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.

Both teams looking strong, as a Quins fan we desperately need Evans on top form, he's faded a little as the season has worn on so let's hope he's been saving himself for this!!

I think Cockers has it right, Ford is good and has proved he can play in the big games. If Ford is struggling bring on Floody and let him do his thing but if Ford is doing fine then leave him to it and let Flood have another week of rest before England duty. Ford has shown that he is cool headed and very talented ball in hand as well as kicking from hand. I just hope they've had Paul Burke with him practicising his kicking at the posts this week.

I hope Marler and Mo run at Ford right from the off, having Fa'Asivalu rampage against Saints once he had woken was exactly what the team needed and Ford is tiny so will only be a speed bump for him.

I hope Marler and Mo run at Ford right from the off, having Fa'Asivalu rampage against Saints once he had woken was exactly what the team needed and Ford is tiny so will only be a speed bump for him.

The same was tried by Bath in the LV Semi, Saints in the LV Final and Sarries in the AP Semi. Ford won't be standing at 10 all the time in defence sometimes he'll be standing wider and when he does stand at 10 they'll be the backrow coming round to cover and Ford is not Cipriani, he'll put his body on the line. Maybe only a speed bump but speed bumps slow things down and the Tigers drift will get them. As long as Ford doesn't let them run straight past him it'll be fine.

Now Evans was definitely second best vs the attack minded Flood last time out (he's got to be fired up for this one), this time he's up against the tactically more nous Ford. That should be interesting. Ford made Hodgson look the inexperienced 10 in the AP Semi so that's a match up I'm looking forward to.

If Evans brings anything near his A game, the FH battle should be great. As will Youngs - Care, the front row and the centres

And the back row and back three.

Face it, it's the best final we could have hoped for and both teams are putting out strong sides.

The question is whether Leicester's momentum and strength in depth can overcome Quins fielding a full first XV and having been able to pace themselves for the last few months. I think we know where Leicester are, because they've had to go flat out to get to where they are. I don't think we've seen Quins at full intensity since the Sarries game. I am sure they have something extra left in the tank. I am not sure whether it's enough.

Quins have to be 100% clinical.

So far we haven't achieved 100% though Toulouse away, Saracens, Munster last season and Tigers last month were the closest we've been. We need to find another level if we're to win tomorrow, we have to get the offloading going right from the start, run everything when it's on and keep passing that ball. If it goes to ground too often Tigers will slow it down all day and they'll defend too well to make mistakes if they're not stretched massively.

For all of this to happen we need our young pack to produce their best game of the season and set that platform for the backs and Evans in particular. In that respect i'm quitely confident, since the new year we've dominated plenty of teams in the forwards and as the season has gone on the game plan has evolved to allow us to beat teams in an arm wrestle. We look happy to keep the ball with the pack for long periods now and all the forwards look comfortable in the tight as well as the loose.

So i'm quietly confident, thinking it's probably 45/55 in favour of Tigers but I don't think we could ever ask for any more then that. Of course that could also be the Friday talking.

yappysnap wrote:Quins have to be 100% clinical.

The last thing they want to do is get more doctors involved....

Whilst I hypothetically enjoy the attempt at humour, I'm not sure that was necessary or tasteful

well, we're just about to leave for twikers. Hope you all enjoy the game!

There's been an accident on the m1 south bound at junction 10. Delays of 1 1/2 hours! Best to use m40!

I know this is a daft question but can you take small rucksacks into twikenham?

Yes you can, but they will be checked for food, drink, drugs or bombs

Just leaving for Twikkers now, and the nerves are kicking in!

Quins rhymes with wins. Just sayin'

leicester rhymes with...jester?

And that's our mascot, so really we get the moral victory anyway

Jeez, this was a trek to get to this seat! Can't see flood warming up at all but 36 is.

I cannot ducking wait.

Flood out with groin injury picked up in kicking training yesterday. The nerves are up, COME ON TIGERS!

Im usually a Healy defender but is Agulla really one of the best 2 fliers in the entire Jeff? I know hes improved a lot recently but Id never describe him as an out and out try scoring speed freak. Id go as far as to suggest that Monye is a bigger threat.


The withdrawl of Flood swings this much more even, as good as Fords been its a lot to ask of the kid and an obvious link for Quins to pressure.

Yellow?

Thats gonna be a citing for Manu - worse than Afoa's and Afoa got 4 weeks.

Christ tuilagi got away with one there on the new tip tackle guidance.
Tough on Barnes to get that call so early, it was very close to the Ferris one.

Yellow? Could have been.

By the way, today is the first time I have seen the new Tigers jerseys in a match. Sorry, Tigers supporters, but I think they look like silly. I suppose that last penalty against Tigers was for bad jerseys?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Christ tuilagi got away with one there on the new tip tackle guidance.
Tough on Barnes to get that call so early, it was very close to the Ferris one.

Was nothing like the Ferris one, both feet didn't even leave the ground in Ferris's tackle.

Considering they are playing against the offspring of a battenburg cake and a neoplitan ice cream thats a bit harsh Grey, but yeah noone likes them.

I certainly wouldve had a hard time constructing an argument against yellow for Tuilagi there.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Christ tuilagi got away with one there on the new tip tackle guidance.
Tough on Barnes to get that call so early, it was very close to the Ferris one.

Was nothing like the Ferris one, both feet didn't even leave the ground in Ferris's tackle.

Looked like it in the sense it was a sideways tip, what Barnes saw in the Ferris case

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:I certainly wouldve had a hard time constructing an argument against yellow for Tuilagi there.

me too.

Makes a change to have such an open game in the final

pretty entertaining so far.

a little annoying when the players run into the shadow, you think?
or is it m tv?

Waldorms stomach does block the sun out a bit doesnt it

Should've been yellow there. Tuilagi didnt use his arms!

fricking hell didnt see that coming, but both sides are leaving a lot open when the opposition executes

Stupid from Waldrom