Bordeaux vs Leicester - Sunday

[Puja]

Leicester:
15 Freddie Steward [94]
14 Josh Bassett
13 Izaia Perese [6]
12 Solomone Kata [24]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [30]
10 Jamie Shillcock [33]
9 Jack van Poortvliet (C) [79]

1 James Cronin [40]
2 Charlie Clare [102]
3 Joe Heyes [147]
4 Harry Wells [205]
5 Côme Joussain [8]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [114]
7 Emeka Ilione [26]
8 Olly Cracknell [49]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [12]
17 James Whitcombe [54]
18 Will Hurd [43]
19 Jed Holloway [1]
20 Kyle Hatherell [25]
21 Tom Whiteley [34]
22 Joseph Woodward [14]
23 Mike Brown [29]

[Puja]

On the one hand, I get why we're choosing this week to rest NSmith, Montoya, Cole, Martin, Reffell, Youngs, Pollard, and Watson from our first choice XXIII - most of those do need a rest at some point and we'd be underdogs even if we put our best side out so there is logic in doing it now.

However, I hate the idea of playing a competition half-heartedly - accepting a pre-ordained defeat in tough away fixtures and keeping your powder dry for "winnable" games. It might be sensible, but it feels utterly defeatist - we should be in a position where we're looking to climb into every game as winnable and, if we're not, that's a problem with our mindset that needs to be fixed, rather than just accepting mediocrity as our level. Harlequins don't do that and that's why they went so well in Europe last year - they never looked at a big side and said, "Well, they're just better than us; we know our place," they instead looked everyone in the eye and invited them to take a swing and see where it got them.

Puja

[Timbo]

On the one hand, I get why we're choosing this week to rest NSmith, Montoya, Cole, Martin, Reffell, Youngs, Pollard, and Watson from our first choice XXIII - most of those do need a rest at some point and we'd be underdogs even if we put our best side out so there is logic in doing it now.

However, I hate the idea of playing a competition half-heartedly - accepting a pre-ordained defeat in tough away fixtures and keeping your powder dry for "winnable" games. It might be sensible, but it feels utterly defeatist - we should be in a position where we're looking to climb into every game as winnable and, if we're not, that's a problem with our mindset that needs to be fixed, rather than just accepting mediocrity as our level. Harlequins don't do that and that's why they went so well in Europe last year - they never looked at a big side and said, "Well, they're just better than us; we know our place," they instead looked everyone in the eye and invited them to take a swing and see where it got them.

Puja

In fairness, looking at the English teams most of them have rested a handful of key players this week. Think it just reflects the fact that the competition is not a priority for them & their prospects of winning it are very low.

[Puja]

On the one hand, I get why we're choosing this week to rest NSmith, Montoya, Cole, Martin, Reffell, Youngs, Pollard, and Watson from our first choice XXIII - most of those do need a rest at some point and we'd be underdogs even if we put our best side out so there is logic in doing it now.

However, I hate the idea of playing a competition half-heartedly - accepting a pre-ordained defeat in tough away fixtures and keeping your powder dry for "winnable" games. It might be sensible, but it feels utterly defeatist - we should be in a position where we're looking to climb into every game as winnable and, if we're not, that's a problem with our mindset that needs to be fixed, rather than just accepting mediocrity as our level. Harlequins don't do that and that's why they went so well in Europe last year - they never looked at a big side and said, "Well, they're just better than us; we know our place," they instead looked everyone in the eye and invited them to take a swing and see where it got them.

Puja

In fairness, looking at the English teams most of them have rested a handful of key players this week. Think it just reflects the fact that the competition is not a priority for them & their prospects of winning it are very low.

Quins aren't (I did check, before making that comparison, in case they were going to make a fool out of me by resting all their internationals).

Puja

[FKAS]

Montoya and Watson have knocks and are unavailable I believe (Montoya missed last week and Watson limped off shortly after half time).

Youngs and Cole is a bit of a rotation thing as Whitely and Hurd both need game time. Particularly if we are going to keep Hurd he needs to play some games.

The selection is fine the only bit that annoys me is the shite midfield combination everyone but the coaches can see doesn't work.

[Timbo]

On the one hand, I get why we're choosing this week to rest NSmith, Montoya, Cole, Martin, Reffell, Youngs, Pollard, and Watson from our first choice XXIII - most of those do need a rest at some point and we'd be underdogs even if we put our best side out so there is logic in doing it now.

However, I hate the idea of playing a competition half-heartedly - accepting a pre-ordained defeat in tough away fixtures and keeping your powder dry for "winnable" games. It might be sensible, but it feels utterly defeatist - we should be in a position where we're looking to climb into every game as winnable and, if we're not, that's a problem with our mindset that needs to be fixed, rather than just accepting mediocrity as our level. Harlequins don't do that and that's why they went so well in Europe last year - they never looked at a big side and said, "Well, they're just better than us; we know our place," they instead looked everyone in the eye and invited them to take a swing and see where it got them.

Puja

In fairness, looking at the English teams most of them have rested a handful of key players this week. Think it just reflects the fact that the competition is not a priority for them & their prospects of winning it are very low.

Quins aren't (I did check, before making that comparison, in case they were going to make a fool out of me by resting all their internationals).

Puja

I suppose we don’t k ow who’s injured or rested, but Quins definitely seem weaker than a week ago. No Jibulu, Baxter, Launchbury, Hammond, Green, Murley, Isgro.

[FKAS]

Well it's been an end to end first half. No shots at goal from either side both searching for tries. Tigers leading 21-14. Pete Hewitt really has created a decent attack and the passes are sticking. Getting close to the Bordeaux line and then just boshing over from close range.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Terrible start to the second half. Though it does appear officiating high tackles is completely optional!

[FKAS]

Terrible start to the second half. Though it does appear officiating high tackles is completely optional!

One of the best refs have a slightly odd day at the office.

Tigers made a couple of mistakes and UBB just shredded us. The very fortunate bounce off the knee for the fourth really was more luck than judgement but there you go.

[FKAS]

Seeing Steward go straight through Moefana was interesting.

Hatherall is having another shocker. How can a professional have such poor ball presentation.

[FKAS]

Clubs don't have a whole lot of choice, players have mandatory rest games under the new agreements. As it stands Tigers did pretty well with their replacements as Ilione, Shillcock and Joussain all had good games. Ilione being a real standout which he really needed to be honest.

The players Tigers desperately needed back were Montoya and Chessum who are both injured.