The Slater Cup - Glaws Vs Tigers

[FKAS]

Team News
15. Santi Carreras
14. Louis Rees-Zammit*
13. Chris Harris
12. Seb Atkinson*
11. Ollie Thorley*
10. George Barton*
9. Stephen Varney*
1. Mayco Vivas
2. George McGuigan
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Freddie Clarke*
5. Matias Alemanno
6. Freddie Thomas*
7. Lewis Ludlow* (C)
8. Jack Clement*

Replacements
16. Santi Socino
17. Harry Elrington
18. Jamal Ford-Robinson
19. Arthur Clark*
20. Ben Donnell
21. Micky Young
22. Mark Atkinson
23. Louis Hillman-Cooper*

*Denotes academy player or graduate

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [74]
14 Josh Bassett [8]
13 Matt Scott [68]
12 Dan Kelly [64]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [8]
10 Handré Pollard [17]
9 Ben Youngs [304]
1 James Cronin [20]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [44]
3 Joe Heyes [129]
4 Cameron Henderson [45]
5 Ollie Chessum [45]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [93]
7 Tommy Reffell [103]
8 Jasper Wiese [63]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Charlie Clare [86]
17 James Whitcombe [41]
18 Dan Cole [312]
19 Harry Wells [181]
20 Matt Rogerson [8]
21 Tom Whiteley [13]
22 Jamie Shillcock [9]
23 Solomone Kata [3]

McKellar rotates the side again. Great to have Montoya back, huge presence. Just could do with a better bench option than Rogerson.

[Gloskarlos]

No carrying threats in that Glos pack, big question mark over Barton still at 10, can't see this being a comfortable watch

[FKAS]

No carrying threats in that Glos pack, big question mark over Barton still at 10, can't see this being a comfortable watch

Hope you're right. Tigers have had a slow start to the season and need points on the board quite frankly.

You might be missing your three best carrying backrows but it's still a big and pretty mobile backrow you've got out there. Should be able to stand up physically and possibly annoy Tigers rolling maul (which hasn't been at its best).

[Beasties]

Is Charlie Atkinson injured or just lost to the Universe?

[Puja]

Is Charlie Atkinson injured or just lost to the Universe?

Lost to the universe. He's not been good enough this season to warrant a place in the XXIII over Shillcock.

Puja

[FKAS]

Is Charlie Atkinson injured or just lost to the Universe?

Lost to the universe. He's not been good enough this season to warrant a place in the XXIII over Shillcock.

Puja

I saw a string of comments on the offy the other day the principle of which was how the somehow shoehorn Shillcock into the starting line up. These included move Steward to the wing to accommodate him at 15, convert him to play at 12 or even move Pollard to 12 so Shillcock can play 10

Shillcock has made himself a fan favourite with his handful of appearances so far.

[Banquo]

Is Charlie Atkinson injured or just lost to the Universe?

Lost to the universe. He's not been good enough this season to warrant a place in the XXIII over Shillcock.

Puja

I saw a string of comments on the offy the other day the principle of which was how the somehow shoehorn Shillcock into the starting line up. These included move Steward to the wing to accommodate him at 15, convert him to play at 12 or even move Pollard to 12 so Shillcock can play 10

Shillcock has made himself a fan favourite with his handful of appearances so far.

yeah, but so was Wiggy

[FKAS]

Lost to the universe. He's not been good enough this season to warrant a place in the XXIII over Shillcock.

Puja

I saw a string of comments on the offy the other day the principle of which was how the somehow shoehorn Shillcock into the starting line up. These included move Steward to the wing to accommodate him at 15, convert him to play at 12 or even move Pollard to 12 so Shillcock can play 10

Shillcock has made himself a fan favourite with his handful of appearances so far.

yeah, but so was Wiggy

Not really, he was just doing a job. Even as head coach the fans weren't fussed when he didn't get the top job.

[Puja]

Is Charlie Atkinson injured or just lost to the Universe?

Lost to the universe. He's not been good enough this season to warrant a place in the XXIII over Shillcock.

Puja

I saw a string of comments on the offy the other day the principle of which was how the somehow shoehorn Shillcock into the starting line up. These included move Steward to the wing to accommodate him at 15, convert him to play at 12 or even move Pollard to 12 so Shillcock can play 10

Shillcock has made himself a fan favourite with his handful of appearances so far.

...I'd be very interested in the concept of Shillcock being converted to 12. He's a very useful player indeed.

Puja

[FKAS]

Lost to the universe. He's not been good enough this season to warrant a place in the XXIII over Shillcock.

Puja

I saw a string of comments on the offy the other day the principle of which was how the somehow shoehorn Shillcock into the starting line up. These included move Steward to the wing to accommodate him at 15, convert him to play at 12 or even move Pollard to 12 so Shillcock can play 10

Shillcock has made himself a fan favourite with his handful of appearances so far.

...I'd be very interested in the concept of Shillcock being converted to 12. He's a very useful player indeed.

Puja

I dunno that Malins wing role from his Bristol days, the floating playmaker. I'd like to see us experiment a bit with that. Shillcock isn't rapid but he's quick enough to defend on the wing. Might be a bit to experimental for McKellar and Tigers at this point.

Having a centre that can kick like Shillcock off the tee able to play elsewhere in the backline is definitely a bonus. Could potentially allow a way for Atkinson to come back into the side though with no 6N period to cover and Pollard available for the rest of the season bar injury might be a while.

[Banquo]

I saw a string of comments on the offy the other day the principle of which was how the somehow shoehorn Shillcock into the starting line up. These included move Steward to the wing to accommodate him at 15, convert him to play at 12 or even move Pollard to 12 so Shillcock can play 10

Shillcock has made himself a fan favourite with his handful of appearances so far.

yeah, but so was Wiggy

Not really, he was just doing a job. Even as head coach the fans weren't fussed when he didn't get the top job.

easy bite tho

[FKAS]

yeah, but so was Wiggy

Not really, he was just doing a job. Even as head coach the fans weren't fussed when he didn't get the top job.

easy bite tho

Should have gone with Mike Brown instead

[twitchy]

How has OHC been for tigers this season?

[FKAS]

How has OHC been for tigers this season?

Under used.

[FKAS]

Jeez the Tigers unforced errors are horrific. The type of rugby McKellar is trying to bring in should be a lot more attack but just can't build momentum.

Steward and Seb Atkinson stand outs so far.

[Oakboy]

Convincing finish by OHC!!

[FKAS]

Convincing finish by OHC!!

We just need to give him one on ones a lot more often.

Great pass from Steward to set it up.

[FKAS]

There's a lot of talk about England's need of a tighthead. Balmain has played really well today, has got Cronin on toast.

[FKAS]

Hmm Tigers had a very similar break off from the maul ruled as no try last weekend.

Odd to see the backs make the difference at the rolling maul.

[FKAS]

and if that's a yellow then there's going to be a yellow every week.

[fivepointer]

2 very soft yellow cards.

Game never really came alive. Glos look under prepared and lacking in imagination. Could with a lot more from their international players.

Steward had a commanding game for Tigers.

[Puja]

Whatever we're paying Cronin, it's too much. Second week that he's cocked up the pick and drive near the line and knocked on, he was a waste of space carrying, and Balmain had him for lunch at every scrum.

Puja

[FKAS]

It does say something for Dan Cole's presence at the set piece that he came on and fixed the other side of the scrum. Cronin really shouldn't be surprised if he finds himself watching from the stands next weekend. I think he's contract is out at the end of the season so he might want to start focusing. He was a failure in most aspects.

Both the Chessum and Barton yellow cards were extremely soft.

Freddie Steward was fantastic. Made one mistake all game. Made Santi Carreras look Championship level by comparison. Two assists for the OHC tries with double figures of defenders beaten. Much more like it from him.

Still not the dominant display McKellar will have wanted but there's definitely signs of life. The set piece coach we've brought in needs to start earning his salary as currently our inconsistencies there is undermining our attempts to control the game.

Speaking of earning a salary Glaws might want to have a word with LRZ about meandering through the game and only really putting an effort in once the game was already lost.

[Puja]

Still not the dominant display McKellar will have wanted but there's definitely signs of life. The set piece coach we've brought in needs to start earning his salary as currently our inconsistencies there is undermining our attempts to control the game.

Lineout was significantly better (Montoya's throw on our own line notwithstanding). Thought Chessum did a good job of calling it as we mostly moved well enough to go up unopposed. Would be a useful string to his bow if he can master that.

Not entirely convincing, but it's 5 very needed points and another week for McKellar to try and run a pre-season midseason to get everyone up to speed. Hopefully we'll keep showing more and more ambition week on week. No idea why on earth we kicked that penalty near the end. In the 22, threatening the line, 8 points up and needing a fourth try and we decide that it's vital to bank the points?! Bizarre.

Puja

[FKAS]

Kicking the 3 points basically killed the game. Two converted tries and moved Glaws into needing a try for the LBP. Made Glaws take a lot of risks which ultimately helped us get the TBP.