Gallagher Premiership 2020/21

First topic message reminder :

That's not a high tackle. Heyes initial contact is the chest. If you're going to review it, review it properly. It's a legal tackle.

How did the assistant miss that the LI player knocks the ball out of JVP's hands and into touch before the Joseph break. It was right in front of him FFS. Lineout Tigers.

Anyway, Tigers blow what should have been a straightforward win and only get 4 instead of 5 points. LI manage to snatch 2 league points with a TBP at the death. Probably a fair result as LI were the better side in the first half but didn't really show up in the second. Hassell-Collins is looking like a really classy player, shame Parton went off.

I'm a bit frustrated with Ford and Steward being rested for the same game when it's a shot at a rare away win for Tigers. McPhillips and Henry are big steps down in both positions.

In a way that team sums up why I'm happy to have Burns signed for next season. Tigers have needed to rotate more and most of that selection I really like. In order to rotate Ford there is just too big a drop off to Henry or McPhillips though. Both have strengths but also look like 3rd choice Premiership fly-halves to me. The game management over 80 minutes just isn't there from either.

There's a lot of bench impact there for Tigers. I'm delighted to see James Whitcombe getting another first team chance as well.

Jay Tyack could have a tough first Premiership start against Genge in the scrum if he keeps his stronger form. Gengey frustrated me for England but some of his form since returning from the Six Nations has been much better. He was excellent against Bath and Will Stuart, then impressed in the final against a huge Montpellier pack and Mohamed Haouas.

Consistency is the key for Genge. He can do some things better than Marler and Mako but just doesn't perform those strengths to his best as often as needed. Whereas a fully fit Mako will almost always make 15 plus tackles and carry over the gain line consistently, Marler will always be a rock in the scrum and make a lot of momentum stopping chop tackles. Gengey on the other hand will sometimes destroy international THs in the scrum and sometimes give penalties away against a guy like Tyack. He will sometimes make barnstorming runs breaking three tackles to set up a try and sometimes aimlessly run sideways to line up a fly-half then hit contact way too high and lose the ball. All the skills are there he just needs the peaks to be more regular and the troughs to be a bit shallower.

Genge has been exceptional since coming back from England. He's mentioned that he struggled mentally with the isolation of the bubble situation in the 6N camp especially with his missus and baby at home. I also saw an interview last week where he said he'd recently changed the treatment and work he was doing with his back which might also be helping.

I'd have hoped for a slightly stronger team but I understand why both Steward and Ford are being rested. Steward especially has played a lot of rugby and I think we also need to manage expectations a little with him as a few fans after the final were quick to point out it was his worst game for the club. That may be true but he was still at worst getting a 6/10 and for a first senior final in his first proper season. We just expect him to be the Rolls Royce at the back all the time. I also feel against a Wuss team that could be exposed on the counter having Henry at the back isn't a bad thing. A good chance for McPhillips to stake a claim and show improvement as well.

I'd say Genge has been excellent in stints since returning from the Six Nations. The Bath game was right up there with his best and the final he was very strong as well. Some quieter games in between that but vitally for Gengey I wouldn't say he's had any poor games since returning. Everything has been between solid to excellent which is what he needs to do more and more.

That's the big difference between club and international rugby I think for forwards in particular. In club rugby forwards who are sometimes brilliant but often go missing can be carried more for their great games. In international rugby the poor games and moments just standout so much more though.

Tigers fans on the offy get defensive so quickly that I largely avoided posting about Genge in the end. One criticism and many there feel I'm saying he's rubbish, which I'm not. I rate him very highly and was delighted when he signed a long term extension during the contract renegotiation. At the time I thought Ford and Genge were the most important re-signings. Whilst already a fantastic prop he has a way to go to fulfill his talent though. He's got all the natural ability to have a very high ceiling in international rugby, hopefully it can all come together at some point.

I don't think he showed anything like the best of him in the 6N. I don't think that's even open for discussion. His scrum work wasn't bad but neither was it dominant and in the carry he made no impact which is really his normal USP.

For Tigers he's been good since he came back, tipping up to excellent at times and as you say some solid displays. It depends a lot on how we play, if there's not a lot of scrums and we are operating with a kick heavy game then he isn't going to be that big a factor in the game. I'd like to see him develop his defensive game a little more he's no threat to the breakdown and doesn't make any big hits with anything like regularity. If he could bring that element to his game and take it all to England then he'd be just about the complete package. At 26 he's still got time to peak.

Yep, Gengey was one of a few fringe England players who failed to take advantage of starters in their position being missing or woefully out of form during the Six Nations.

Props tend to change a lot over the course of their career. Marler was once a bullocking carrier that struggled in the scrum. Now he's a rock at set-piece and outstanding in fringe defence but carries very little.

Quite a similar story with Healy in fact though Healy was a strong scrummager earlier than Marler and an even better carrier. Some of his early performances were remarkable ball in hand.

Sinckler really struggled in the scrum early on then after working with Rowntree and Hatley for England and the Lions he developed rapidly into a very good scrummager.

Coley was once a real jackal threat before the neck surgery. These days he barely enters defensive rucks!

Plenty of time for Genge to keep developing as you say.

Sale: L. James, McGuigan, S. James, Doherty, Yarde, MacGinty, De Klerk, Rodd, Van Der Merwe, Oosthuizen, Wiese, JL, Du Preez, T. Curry, B. Curry, D, Du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, Morozov, Harper, Phillips, Neild, Quirke, R. Du Preez.

Bristol: C. Piutau, Morahan, Radradra, O'Conor, Malins, Sheedy, Uren, Woolmore, Kerr, Sinckler, Attwood, Vui, Harding, Earl, Hughes.

Replacements: Thacker, Thomas, Chaparro, Holmes, Heenan, Kessell, Lloyd, S. Piutau.

I can't wait for the Sale vs Brizz game. Looking at those sides it should be an absolute cracker.

A great time for Harry Thacker to finally be returning as well. With George and LCD with England, Dunn banned and Ashman staying Scottish there might just be an opening for the wee fella if he finds form. If Bristol make the final there are still 5 games for him to impress.

Wow. The Sale defensive line with the Curry brothers together is ridiculous.

Ben has taken off where he left before injury. A first start in 6 months and surely these performances will get him an England place in the summer.

Ben Curry, Manu and now Thacker on the pitch. It's always good to see players coming back after tough layoffs.

Rafi Quirke is so talented.

I think that's shoulder first for initial contact between Radrada and MacGinty.

Tom Curry's hit leading to that turnover was fantastic.

This is going to be such a tight finish between Sale and Bristol I think.

Maybe not a tight finish. Sale have gone through the gears since Radrada was binned.

Manu having a strong impact straight away too. His game isn't subtle but he's as good as any at the things he excels at.

Ioan Lloyd with the impact now. Another big impact from the bench. Maybe it still will be tight!

Brutally physical game. I was disappointed to see Sale go for the posts at the end there I would have thought they'd have backed their rolling maul and gone for all five points.

Lloyd's finish in the corner was really nice play. Loved that stutter and clever footwork

You really do get your money worth at the stoop. 32 18 at half time.

Anyone want a winger? I'll drive van Wyk to his new home. I'm not sure which van Wyk was electric on the wing for the 'Canes in NZ but it can't be this one.

Hooper out.

How bad was the TMO in the Quin's Bath game. She missed so much.

Didn't even know how to slow the video replay down, seemed hurried and unprofessional.

Lol.

How did Biggar not get pinged for that forearm to the neck?

And now the knock-on for the Saints try is missed .... Graham Hughes really is one useless TMO ...

And then he finished off by denying a clear seat-belt tackle ... Wasps fans must be spitting blood...

Yes I am a Wasps fan and I am fuming.
Dan Biggar will be a lucky boy if hes not cited.

Graham Hughes has been a poor TMO for a while now IMO - maybe it's about time he called it a day ...

Heaf wrote:Graham Hughes has been a poor TMO for a while now IMO - maybe it's about time he called it a day ...

Yes those key decisions weren’t even even hard ones that could be argued the other way.
He is way past his usefulness.

No good for wasps now but DT reporting that Biggar could miss 3 to 6 games if cited for his illegal clear out on Umaga (forearm to head) meaning he would miss Lions warm up game.

I didn't see the clean out.  The article said it was at the end of the match but Biggar was off after the try by Wood.  Do you know when it happened?  I would like to go back and take a look.

Edit: Just found it. Biggar might have an issue. Weak cleanout on Umaga and forearm did make high contact.

doctor_grey wrote:I didn't see the clean out.  The article said it was at the end of the match but Biggar was off after the try by Wood.  Do you know when it happened?  I would like to go back and take a look.

Edit:  Just found it.  Biggar might have an issue.  Weak cleanout on Umaga and forearm did make high contact.  

Yes it was doubly frustrating from a Wasps pov as it came just before the ‘knock on’ try which was also missed

If it does get cited does anyone ask Graham Hughes what he was doing while it was repeated several times on screen?

Not that it makes any difference but I'm seriously puzzled by the eyesight standards of TMOs these days - that last try for Chiefs had a clearly forward pass in the build-up that was checked and declared fine.

Heaf wrote:Not that it makes any difference but I'm seriously puzzled by the eyesight standards of TMOs these days - that last try for Chiefs had a clearly forward pass in the build-up that was checked and declared fine.

Looks like nobody actually cared. 74-3 is ridiculous

Not watching Falcons....just checked the score, impressive.

Our squad is light-years away from Exeter and it was obvious we were going to get pumped with that selection. The scoreline is an embarrassment though....some of these guys are clearly not up to this level.

Heaf wrote:Not that it makes any difference but I'm seriously puzzled by the eyesight standards of TMOs these days - that last try for Chiefs had a clearly forward pass in the build-up that was checked and declared fine.

Yeah I was scratching my head on that one as well.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Heaf wrote:Not that it makes any difference but I'm seriously puzzled by the eyesight standards of TMOs these days - that last try for Chiefs had a clearly forward pass in the build-up that was checked and declared fine.

Yeah I was scratching my head on that one as well.

It really makes you wonder doesn't it - the passing player wasn't moving forwards, so no momentum, but the receiver caught it a couple of feet in front and the ball clearly came out of his hands forwards - it wasn't even a difficult one to call.

It didn't matter in this game but TMOs are increasingly getting game changing calls wrong - it's so frustrating when some of the calls are so obviously wrong and not open to 'interpretation'.

The TMOs are too removed from the game, maybe they should be inside the ground to experience these incidents in real time.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Not watching Falcons....just checked the score, impressive.

Our squad is light-years away from Exeter and it was obvious we were going to get pumped with that selection. The scoreline is an embarrassment though....some of these guys are clearly not up to this level.

It wasn't fun to watch. A couple of individually good performances actually despite the situation. Do youngsters learn from a humping like that...? I'm not sure they do.

For Dean's sake I hope they get a win next week...the knives are being sharpened...

Heaf wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Heaf wrote:Not that it makes any difference but I'm seriously puzzled by the eyesight standards of TMOs these days - that last try for Chiefs had a clearly forward pass in the build-up that was checked and declared fine.

Yeah I was scratching my head on that one as well.

It really makes you wonder doesn't it - the passing player wasn't moving forwards, so no momentum, but the receiver caught it a couple of feet in front and the ball clearly came out of his hands forwards - it wasn't even a difficult one to call.    

It didn't matter in this game but TMOs are increasingly getting game changing calls wrong - it's so frustrating when some of the calls are so obviously wrong and not open to 'interpretation'.

Dombrandt's offload in the Quins game was at least metre forward in a 2 metre pass, clear as day due to the striped grass, he was a metre into the lighter area and the receiver was in the darker area. Not even looked at by ref or TMO

05.31.2021

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:
Dombrandt's offload in the Quins game was at least metre forward in a 2 metre pass, clear as day due to the striped grass, he was a metre into the lighter area and the receiver was in the darker area. Not even looked at by ref or TMO

It was equally clearly backwards out of the hands - his hand is pointing backwards, his arm moves backwards and it’s only momentum that carries it forwards.

You can 9f course disagree with the assessment his hands go backwards but it was checked by the tmo and cleared.

Gloucester vs Bath has been cancelled, after some Gloucester people tested positive.

Might be linked to the Hartbury outbreak, which led to their game against Saracens being cancelled.

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/breaking-gloucester-rugby-v-bath-5478756

Rugby Fan wrote:Gloucester vs Bath has been cancelled, after some Gloucester people tested positive.

Might be linked to the Hartbury outbreak, which led to their game against Saracens being cancelled.

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/breaking-gloucester-rugby-v-bath-5478756

Not the Premiership but affecting next season probably:

Saracens are considering appealing a ruling that denied them the chance to finish top of the Championship.

The former European champions are set to appeal against the Championship disputes committee’s decision to rule their postponed game with Hartpury due to an COVID outbreak as a draw without any league points awarded.

A bonus-point win with a margin of at least 12 points would have let Saracens jump above Ealing Trailfinders into top spot at the end of the regular season of the truncated Championship.

Despite now looking likely to finish second to Ealing, it could all be rather inconsequential in terms of Saracens' bid to returning to the top flight after being relegated last season for salary cap breaches.

While the committee decision does not affect which sides will play the two-leg promotion play-off battle, it does mean that it will be Ealing, rather than Saracens, who are now set to determine the order of the home and away legs as the first-placed side.

I am not a Sarries supporter, but the hierarchy seem to have it in for them. I haven't been keeping a watch on what has happened before, but have cancelled matches been deemed a draw with no points for each team. That is like just saying you have to play a game less than the other teams over the season without any compensation points wise.

WPI - I've not read into it much but it does seem like nonsense for it to be a draw with no league points allocated. It shouldn't make any difference with the team Sarries will be able to field in the play-offs. They'll throw full strength out and whilst Ealing have a strong Championship team they should get demolished by a full strength Sarries side that could still do well in Champions Cup. They've even got Goode and Tompkins back from loan already.

1.Vunipola 2.George 3.Clarey 4.Itoje 5.Swinson 6.Rhodes 7.Reffell 8.Vunipola
9.Davies 10.Farrell 11.Maitland 12.Tompkins 13.Daly 14.Lewington 15.Goode

16.Woolstencroft 17.Adams-Hale 18.Ibaunokope 19.Hunter-Hill 20.Christie 21.Whiteley 22.Morris 23.Segun

That's the Sarries side that pumped Coventry in their last fixture. Only weaknesses are tighthead, Vincent Koch will be available for the final, and scrum-half, where they are actually a bit pish at the minute. They do have Ivan van Zyl and Ruben de Haas joining at 9 for next season. Neither are as strong as Wigglesworth and Spencer but are a step up on Aled Davies. Tom Whiteley should realistically be starting I think but moving onto Bristol for next season might have annoyed McCall a bit when they've already lost scrum-halves.

More worrying in general is that we are starting to see a few more games cancelled due to covid cases.

Newcastle Falcons team to face Worcester Warriors (Saturday, 3pm, Kingston Park Stadium, live on BT Sport 1 Extra)

15 Joel Hodgson
14 Adam Radwan
13 Matias Orlando
12 Luther Burrell
11 George Wacokecoke
10 Brett Connon
9 Louis Schreuder

1 Adam Brocklebank
2 George McGuigan
3 Trevor Davison
4 Greg Peterson
5 Sean Robinson
6 Will Welch
7 Mark Wilson (captain)
8 Callum Chick

Replacements

16 Jamie Blamire
17 Kyle Cooper
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Philip van der Walt
20 Carl Fearns
21 Michael Young
22 Chidera Obonna
23 Alex Tait

15 Freddie Steward [33]

14 Harry Potter [15]

13 Matías Moroni [15]

12 Matt Scott [23]

11 Kini Murimurivalu [21]

10 Johnny McPhillips [20]

9 Ben Youngs [262]

1 Ellis Genge [87]

2 Tom Youngs (c) [214]

3 Dan Cole [262]

4 Harry Wells [122]

5 Cameron Henderson [15]

6 George Martin [15]

7 Tommy Reffell [46]

8 Hanro Liebenberg [34]

 

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Julián Montoya [4]

17 James Whitcombe [6]

18 Joe Heyes [70]

19 Tomás Lavanini [35]

20 Jasper Wiese [18]

21 Richard Wigglesworth [14]

22 Zack Henry [25]

23 Nemani Nadolo [14]

Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins; 14 Piers O’Conor, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Henry Purdy; 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Chris Vui, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 John Afoa, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua.

Annoyingly Bristol aren't taking selection advice from Quins. Seems Ford might be injured as he's not involved again and there's no reason for us to rest him in back to back games. Pretty strong side for Tigers otherwise with some good bench impact. Going to be a tough ask to get one over that Bristol side though.

formerly known as Sam wrote:15 Freddie Steward [33]

14 Harry Potter [15]

13 Matías Moroni [15]

12 Matt Scott [23]

11 Kini Murimurivalu [21]

10 Johnny McPhillips [20]

9 Ben Youngs [262]

1 Ellis Genge [87]

2 Tom Youngs (c) [214]

3 Dan Cole [262]

4 Harry Wells [122]

5 Cameron Henderson [15]

6 George Martin [15]

7 Tommy Reffell [46]

8 Hanro Liebenberg [34]

 

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Julián Montoya [4]

17 James Whitcombe [6]

18 Joe Heyes [70]

19 Tomás Lavanini [35]

20 Jasper Wiese [18]

21 Richard Wigglesworth [14]

22 Zack Henry [25]

23 Nemani Nadolo [14]

Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins; 14 Piers O’Conor, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Henry Purdy; 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Chris Vui, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 John Afoa, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua.

Annoyingly Bristol aren't taking selection advice from Quins. Seems Ford might be injured as he's not involved again and there's no reason for us to rest him in back to back games. Pretty strong side for Tigers otherwise with some good bench impact. Going to be a tough ask to get one over that Bristol side though.

It is amazing how much game time Jake Kerr has had since moving to Bristol, he has hardly been out of the team!

On a side note, his brother Josh broke the US all-comers record for 1500m last night and did the second fastest run in the world this year. They are certainly a talented sporting family! Look out for him at the Olympics this year.

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:15 Freddie Steward [33]

14 Harry Potter [15]

13 Matías Moroni [15]

12 Matt Scott [23]

11 Kini Murimurivalu [21]

10 Johnny McPhillips [20]

9 Ben Youngs [262]

1 Ellis Genge [87]

2 Tom Youngs (c) [214]

3 Dan Cole [262]

4 Harry Wells [122]

5 Cameron Henderson [15]

6 George Martin [15]

7 Tommy Reffell [46]

8 Hanro Liebenberg [34]

 

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Julián Montoya [4]

17 James Whitcombe [6]

18 Joe Heyes [70]

19 Tomás Lavanini [35]

20 Jasper Wiese [18]

21 Richard Wigglesworth [14]

22 Zack Henry [25]

23 Nemani Nadolo [14]

Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins; 14 Piers O’Conor, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Henry Purdy; 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Chris Vui, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 John Afoa, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua.

Annoyingly Bristol aren't taking selection advice from Quins. Seems Ford might be injured as he's not involved again and there's no reason for us to rest him in back to back games. Pretty strong side for Tigers otherwise with some good bench impact. Going to be a tough ask to get one over that Bristol side though.

It is amazing how much game time Jake Kerr has had since moving to Bristol, he has hardly been out of the team!

On a side note, his brother Josh broke the US all-comers record for 1500m last night and did the second fastest run in the world this year. They are certainly a talented sporting family! Look out for him at the Olympics this year.

Is it going ahead??

The Olympics is going ahead according to the Japanese team organising it.

Jake Kerr was never a bad hooker he just didn't fit with what Borthwick wanted in terms of style. At Bristol his style perfectly suits what they want and I've said before I wouldn't be surprised if Bristol opt to keep him for longer than to just the end of the season. He's got his chance due to injuries are Bristol but he's played well so far and you'd assume he'll do better once he's had a pre season with the side.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:15 Freddie Steward [33]

14 Harry Potter [15]

13 Matías Moroni [15]

12 Matt Scott [23]

11 Kini Murimurivalu [21]

10 Johnny McPhillips [20]

9 Ben Youngs [262]

1 Ellis Genge [87]

2 Tom Youngs (c) [214]

3 Dan Cole [262]

4 Harry Wells [122]

5 Cameron Henderson [15]

6 George Martin [15]

7 Tommy Reffell [46]

8 Hanro Liebenberg [34]

 

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Julián Montoya [4]

17 James Whitcombe [6]

18 Joe Heyes [70]

19 Tomás Lavanini [35]

20 Jasper Wiese [18]

21 Richard Wigglesworth [14]

22 Zack Henry [25]

23 Nemani Nadolo [14]

Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins; 14 Piers O’Conor, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Henry Purdy; 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Chris Vui, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 John Afoa, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua.

Annoyingly Bristol aren't taking selection advice from Quins. Seems Ford might be injured as he's not involved again and there's no reason for us to rest him in back to back games. Pretty strong side for Tigers otherwise with some good bench impact. Going to be a tough ask to get one over that Bristol side though.

It is amazing how much game time Jake Kerr has had since moving to Bristol, he has hardly been out of the team!

On a side note, his brother Josh broke the US all-comers record for 1500m last night and did the second fastest run in the world this year. They are certainly a talented sporting family! Look out for him at the Olympics this year.

Is it going ahead??

At the moment yes

But you can't be certain about anything at the moment. There won't be any international fans and it may even be in empty stadiums if it does go on. there has been a huge amount of money invested in it though, so there will be some pressure for it to go ahead.

It is a shame for Japan though. they would have put on a great show peice just like they did in the WC.

BigGee wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:15 Freddie Steward [33]

14 Harry Potter [15]

13 Matías Moroni [15]

12 Matt Scott [23]

11 Kini Murimurivalu [21]

10 Johnny McPhillips [20]

9 Ben Youngs [262]

1 Ellis Genge [87]

2 Tom Youngs (c) [214]

3 Dan Cole [262]

4 Harry Wells [122]

5 Cameron Henderson [15]

6 George Martin [15]

7 Tommy Reffell [46]

8 Hanro Liebenberg [34]

 

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Julián Montoya [4]

17 James Whitcombe [6]

18 Joe Heyes [70]

19 Tomás Lavanini [35]

20 Jasper Wiese [18]

21 Richard Wigglesworth [14]

22 Zack Henry [25]

23 Nemani Nadolo [14]

Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins; 14 Piers O’Conor, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Henry Purdy; 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Yann Thomas, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Chris Vui, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 John Afoa, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua.

Annoyingly Bristol aren't taking selection advice from Quins. Seems Ford might be injured as he's not involved again and there's no reason for us to rest him in back to back games. Pretty strong side for Tigers otherwise with some good bench impact. Going to be a tough ask to get one over that Bristol side though.

It is amazing how much game time Jake Kerr has had since moving to Bristol, he has hardly been out of the team!

On a side note, his brother Josh broke the US all-comers record for 1500m last night and did the second fastest run in the world this year. They are certainly a talented sporting family! Look out for him at the Olympics this year.

Is it going ahead??

At the moment yes

But you can't be certain about anything at the moment. There won't be any international fans and it may even be in empty stadiums if it does go on. there has been a huge amount of money invested in it though, so there will be some pressure for it to go ahead.

It is a shame for Japan though. they would have put on a great show peice just like they did in the WC.

agree.  Would have been a great Olympics for everyone.  To add to your point, damn near everything in the world for the last 18 months is a shame.  Really can’t be surprised at anything after this.  Let’s hope they can pull it off....

So, today’s news is Tuilagi is out and not playing for Sale this weekend. Apparently he was in close contact with someone who has Covid. Even when healthy he can’t catch a break.

Curious Ted Hill at lock tomorrow. Some Wuss fans suggesting that might a permanent move in the near future...

I wonder if Eddie J has anything to do with that?