Leicester vs Clermont - Sat 3.15pm

[Puja]

STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [61]
14 Anthony Watson [7]
13 Guy Porter [50]
12 Dan Kelly [45]
11 Harry Potter [50]
10 Charlie Atkinson [5]
9 Ben Youngs (vc) [288]
1 James Cronin [7]
2 Julián Montoya (vc) [31]
3 Dan Cole [299]
4 Ollie Chessum [37]
5 Calum Green [97]
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [69]
7 Tommy Reffell [85]
8 Jasper Wiese [49]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [62]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [73]
18 Will Hurd [15]
19 Harry Wells [165]
20 Olly Cracknell [9]
21 Richard Wigglesworth [42]
22 Freddie Burns [111]
23 Chris Ashton [20]

[Puja]

Strong side by Leicester and fascinating to see Atkinson given the nod over Burns for what is undoubtedly our first XV. No JVP on the bench is upsetting - who knows if he's carrying a knock though.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Thats quite a vote of confidence in young Atkinson.

[Banquo]

Strong side by Leicester and fascinating to see Atkinson given the nod over Burns for what is undoubtedly our first XV. No JVP on the bench is upsetting - who knows if he's carrying a knock though.

Puja

I thought JVP was now first choice tbh. He must be crocked.

[FKAS]

Strong side by Leicester and fascinating to see Atkinson given the nod over Burns for what is undoubtedly our first XV. No JVP on the bench is upsetting - who knows if he's carrying a knock though.

Puja

I thought JVP was now first choice tbh. He must be crocked.

JVP is required to have a rest week via the EPS agreement. Youngs had last weekend off and now JVP has this one off.

Atkinson impressed last weekend. Tackled like a centre (quite funny watching the Ospreys try to target his channel and Atkinson and Kelly team up to smash forwards with some double tackles), kicked well and varied the attack a bit. Atkinson still looks rusty because he hasn't played much with those around him, giving him a start at home should help a bit. Borthwick has spoken about liking his character in the week.

Slightly disappointed, thought we might see Pollard on the bench for this one.

George Martin misses out with rumours he picked up a knock to the knee Vs Ospreys. Hopefully nothing serious as he was brilliant in that game.

[francoisfou]

I wonder who’ll be winding up Lavanini! I’m really looking forward to watching this game and will take up my old place on the terrace. The Clermont side looks reasonably strong, although Raka must be injured as he would surely have been in the team. He and Penaud are top notch wingers. Welford Rd could be almost full for the first time this season and should see a Tigers bp win.

[p/d]

Thats quite a vote of confidence in young Atkinson.

Proper classy player. Has the goods both in a & d.

[FKAS]

Thats quite a vote of confidence in young Atkinson.

Proper classy player. Has the goods both in a & d.

Needs to show consistency and a bit more in a if he wants to stay ahead of Burns in the pecking order. Those will both come as he gets more used to playing with the squad but he has limited time to convince the coaches with Pollard's return on the horizon.

Sounds like Tigers are backing him as the long term option mind.

Francois, I don't think you need to wind up Lavanini. He enjoys the physical aspects of the game but is both clumsy and stronger than nearly everyone else. Bad combination that seems to get him in plenty of trouble without actually fighting him. He didn't really made a dent in the games Vs Tigers last season where Tigers ran riot and really silenced the crowd in France.

[twitchy]

Will this be more entertaining than the sarries vs lyon game do you think?

[p/d]

13. 2 try Porter

That’s all you need to know

[Banquo]

13. 2 try Porter

That’s all you need to know

and the magic on the left wing

[p/d]

Yep. Expect a good opening spell from him

[Oakboy]

Caterpillar + box kick = Borthwick???? Let's hope Leicester get into the game and show something better.

[Oakboy]

Better now!

[Mr Mwenda]

Loved that pass by Youngs to Potter sneaking up the touchline. Good vision and confidence.

[TheNomad]

Was Watson going off injury driven? Hope not

[FKAS]

Was Watson going off injury driven? Hope not

I think it was to try and go after more tries with dual playmakers at 10 and 15.

[FKAS]

Brilliant play by the Clermont flanker. Held Wigglesworth at the scrum there to allow Bezy to run in and score there.

[Spiffy]

Dan Cole for England!

[Puja]

Atkinson looks very uncomfortable so far. I'm not surprised he's not at his best - he's a very young player, who had to deal with a ridiculous amount of stress and upheaval, combined with having to adapt from the only setup he's ever known to fitting in with a new backline mid-season. However, he looks nervy and like he's stuck in his own head - having too many thoughts rather than playing instinctively.

He'll get better, no doubt, but he's a shadow of the player that was pressing the England squad rn.

Puja

[stepsider]

...which is of course why he has won one MOTM v hairsprays and also almost won a second today.

[FKAS]

Atkinson looks very uncomfortable so far. I'm not surprised he's not at his best - he's a very young player, who had to deal with a ridiculous amount of stress and upheaval, combined with having to adapt from the only setup he's ever known to fitting in with a new backline mid-season. However, he looks nervy and like he's stuck in his own head - having too many thoughts rather than playing instinctively.

He'll get better, no doubt, but he's a shadow of the player that was pressing the England squad rn.

Puja

To be fair only in attack. His kicking from hand and been excellent, bar the cameo Vs Bristol he's been good off the tee. In defence he and Kelly work really well together and shut down the 10 channel which has been key to us stopping the attacks is Ospreys and Clermont.

He does need to find some fluency in attack but that's been largely what Tigers have been trying to find in the opposition 22 for most of the season so far. We can dominate teams around the park and get so many red zone entries but not come away with points. We've got to get more variety, Burns has struggled and Atkinson doesn't look fluent because let's face it he barely knows anyone and the club's biggest carrying threat has just gone back to Australia (plus the other two PI options are both injured). Had we got a more experienced attack coach then maybe we'd have something more innovative or a system that was easy to step into. At the minute we're asking a 21 year old new to the team to find something and I'm sure he'll grow into the role but it's an ask.

I think we're seeing just how fantastic Ford was last season, he had this team purring in attack with the same basic systems.

[stepsider]

Indeed, as many posters on the Tigers' fan forum agreed, Atkinson had a very good game.

Great kicking and increasing authority. Maybe viewing his actual performance rather than adopting a preconceived negative view would help.

[Puja]

Indeed, as many posters on the Tigers' fan forum agreed, Atkinson had a very good game.

Great kicking and increasing authority. Maybe viewing his actual performance rather than adopting a preconceived negative view would help.

Wow. For a start, MotM awards don't actually mean a huge amount - he won the Ospreys one for excellent defence and place kicking, not for looking fluent ball in hand and, had he won it today, it would've been for the same thing.

I'm a Leicester fan too (and a huge Atkinson fan) and, shockingly enough, I did watch his actual performance. I *want* him to do well for us rather than "adopting a preconceived negative view". It doesn't change the fact that he achieved nothing with ball in hand today aside from some functional passing - no holes were opened, the defence wasn't stretched, he didn't pose a danger to Clermont at any point either himself or through his runners. He's a great talent and he will be a great player for us in the future, but he currently looks uncomfortable (for the very good reasons that I laid out).

He does need to find some fluency in attack but that's been largely what Tigers have been trying to find in the opposition 22 for most of the season so far. We can dominate teams around the park and get so many red zone entries but not come away with points. We've got to get more variety, Burns has struggled and Atkinson doesn't look fluent because let's face it he barely knows anyone and the club's biggest carrying threat has just gone back to Australia (plus the other two PI options are both injured). Had we got a more experienced attack coach then maybe we'd have something more innovative or a system that was easy to step into. At the minute we're asking a 21 year old new to the team to find something and I'm sure he'll grow into the role but it's an ask.

I think we're seeing just how fantastic Ford was last season, he had this team purring in attack with the same basic systems.

You're bang on there and I will note that I'm not accusing him of suddenly becoming a bad player. He's had a hell of a lot to deal with and he's in a situation where it's a massive ask to get a tune out of these backs (and I will admit to having been spoiled by Ford).

Puja

[stepsider]

So suggesting that someone is "a shadow of the player that was pressing (sic) the England squad" - in contrast to several Tigers supporters' favourable comments - isn't derogatory?

You may not rate MOTM awards. But they are made by professional assessors who in many cases have years of top-flight playing experience. I know whose views I value.