RugbyRebels

Bath’s pack just didn’t learn their lesson. Made yards but went one too far so many times and Glaws picked their moments to turn them over. Easy to say but they said have trusted their backs more.

Loved the little snippets of Winters. Dropped his first high ball and then baked the rest of his game. But got so little ball to play with!

Will Knight also looked good!

Laulala gets a 3 match ban, down to 2 for his tackle on Kirk

Tigers Vs Saints this weekend and it looks like mismatched sides from both teams.

Leicester Tigers

15 Orlando Bailey (5)
14 Ryan Crowley (2)
13 Will Wand (18)
12 Joseph Woodward (39)
11 Sam Mercer (0)
10 Billy Searle (6)
9 Tom Whiteley (46)
1 Tarek Haffar (5)
2 Charlie Clare (130, Captain)
3 Ale Loman (5)
4 Cameron Henderson (69)
5 James Thompson (4)
6 Harry Palmer (3)
7 Tommy Reffell (141)
8 Joaquin Moro (6)

Replacements
16 Finn Theobald-Thomas (20)
17 Archie van der Flier (6)
18 Tonga Kofe (1)
19 Harry Wells (221)
20 Tom Manz (16)
21 Joshua Manz (12)
22 Ollie Allan (8)
23 Charlie Titcombe (3)

15 George Hendy
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Toby Thame
11 Amena Caqusau
10 George Furbank (c)
9 Archie McParland

1 Tom West
2 Craig Wright
3 Luke Green
4 Chunya Munga
5 JJ Van Der Mescht
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Fyn Brown
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Oliver Scola
18 Cleopas Kundiona
19 Ed Prowse
20 Callum Chick
21 Jonny Weimann
22 Henry Lumley
23 James Pater

Not considered for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Anthony Belleau, Will Glister, Tom James, Curtis Langdon, Tom Lockett, Marco Manfredi, James Martin, James Ramm, and Charlie Ulcoq.

International duty:
Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock and Fin Smith (all England), Rory Hutchinson and Elliot Millar Mills (both Scotland), Danilo Fischetti and Edoardo Todaro (both Italy).

Bath Rugby:
1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden
4 Harvey Cuckson, 5 Ewan Richards
6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Arthur Green

9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Cameron Redpath
12 Will Butt, 13 Chris Harris
11 Charlie Griffin, 14 Sam Winters, 15 Tom de Glanville

16 Tom Dunn, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Ross Molony, 22 Ted Hill, 23 Kepueli Tuipulotu
21 Neil Le Roux


Sale:
1. Tumy Onasanya, 2. Ethan Caine, 3. James Harper
4. Patrick Hogg, 5. Tom Burrow ©
6. Jos Gilmore, 7. Tristan Woodman, 8. Reuben Logan

9. Dom Hanson, 10. Ollie Davies
12. Joe Bedlow, 13. Osian Roberts
11. Reagan Grace, 14. Obi Ene, 15. Alex Wills

16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Huw Davies, 20. Seb Kelly
21. Nye Thomas, 22. Toby Wilson, 23. Albert Bradshaw



When did Grace go to Sale?

For Bath, that's an odd selection, neither here nor there.
Good to see Kirk, Frost and Hill over there injuries; Winters on the wing is probably the only youngster I'm excited to see, and a weird-as-hell bench.

Essentially seems like a mid-pre-season approach to knock some rust off and not take anything too seriously.
Away to Sarries next week feels the sort of match we'd take that approach with - unlikely to win, may get a BP, give the first choice 23 a run out, and aim to hit the ground running for Europe the following week.

I've definitely got better things to do than watch this one - I really don't get the point of this competition without the Champ teams and playing before the season started - it's just busy work.
Approach it like Sale have, and there's a benefit to be had - which Bath did throughout last season, and mostly did this year until this weekend.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Fri Nov 21, 2025 12:27 pm Bath Rugby:
1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden
4 Harvey Cuckson, 5 Ewan Richards
6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Arthur Green

9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Cameron Redpath
12 Will Butt, 13 Chris Harris
11 Charlie Griffin, 14 Sam Winters, 15 Tom de Glanville

16 Tom Dunn, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Ross Molony, 22 Ted Hill, 23 Kepueli Tuipulotu
21 Neil Le Roux


Sale:
1. Tumy Onasanya, 2. Ethan Caine, 3. James Harper
4. Patrick Hogg, 5. Tom Burrow ©
6. Jos Gilmore, 7. Tristan Woodman, 8. Reuben Logan

9. Dom Hanson, 10. Ollie Davies
12. Joe Bedlow, 13. Osian Roberts
11. Reagan Grace, 14. Obi Ene, 15. Alex Wills

16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Huw Davies, 20. Seb Kelly
21. Nye Thomas, 22. Toby Wilson, 23. Albert Bradshaw

When did Grace go to Sale?

For Bath, that's an odd selection, neither here nor there.
Good to see Kirk, Frost and Hill over there injuries; Winters on the wing is probably the only youngster I'm excited to see, and a weird-as-hell bench.

Essentially seems like a mid-pre-season approach to knock some rust off and not take anything too seriously.
Away to Sarries next week feels the sort of match we'd take that approach with - unlikely to win, may get a BP, give the first choice 23 a run out, and aim to hit the ground running for Europe the following week.

I've definitely got better things to do than watch this one - I really don't get the point of this competition without the Champ teams and playing before the season started - it's just busy work.
Approach it like Sale have, and there's a benefit to be had - which Bath did throughout last season, and mostly did this year until this weekend.

Lots of proper talent on display. 7:1 split for Bath. I guess Linegar has a knock?Great to see Winters keep his spot.

Lovely halfbacks for Sale and a potential future England second row pairing.

Bristol team to face Exeter Chiefs in the PREM Rugby Cup at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm KO):

15. Noah Heward (29 apps), 14. Jack Bates (57 apps), 13. Victor Worsnip (2 apps), 12. James Williams (56 apps), 11. Aidan Boshoff (8 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (22 apps), 9. Sam Wolstenholme (11 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (111 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (139 apps), 3. Lovejoy Chawatama (14 apps), 4. Ethan Surrey (4 apps), 5. Steele Barker (7 apps), 6. George Taylor (4 apps), 7. Kenzie Jenkins (7 apps), 8. John Edwards (1 app).

Subs: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (9 apps), 17. Louie Trevett (6 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (15 apps), 19. Will Ramply (2 apps), 20. Sam Grahamslaw (19 apps), 21. Ellis Bevan (2 apps), 22. Mat Protheroe (37 apps), 23. Evan Morris (3 apps).

Some very unfamiliar names in there! But starting to see a few of our bigger players coming back thankfully.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Dan John,
14 Paul Brown-Bampoe
13 Ollie Batson
12 Will Rigg
11 Campbell Ridl
10 Will Haydon-Wood
9 Tom Cairns
1 Ethan Burger
2 Louie Gulley (c)
3 Bachuki Tchumbadze
4 Lewis Pearson
5 Rusi Tuima
6 Joe Bailey
7 Martin Moloney
8 Richard Capstick

Replacements:
16 Julian Heaven, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Oscar Beckerleg, 20 Finn Worley Brady, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Harry Ascherl

Don't really know Exeters academy but it feels likes it has more 1st squad regulars. Thought to be honest the competition is over for Bristol anyway so want to come out with no more injuries...

Tigers v Saints is being streamed on Youtube.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Nov 21, 2025 6:32 pm Tigers v Saints is being streamed on Youtube.

19.30 kick off.

Has Furbank always been this whiney? Every decision against Saints he's doing the full Italian footballer routine. Considering Smales has no TMO and has disallowed a Tigers try (looked fine in the coverage but Smales was a lot closer than the camera) and Saints are getting away with some questionable dummy runner lines.

Saints do have a cheat code in JJ Van Der Mescht, two attacks that looked to be faltering only for the big man to crash over from a couple of metres out.

Nice drop goal from Furbank now though.

Tigers 12 - 15 Saints.

Lots of the bigger names being subbed off this half. Saints haven't really featured after half time. Tigers 29 - 15 Saints.

Hendy has just been absolutely mullered by Moro. Dunno if it's head contact or whiplash or head bouncing off floor as he's smashed into ground but he looks pretty out. Fingers crossed it's not that bad. Always good to see Moro putting his arm round him, presumably to apologise as the ref has given it as a high tackle.

Could be seeing the rather disappointing Ollie Slieghtholme coming back on. The young Saints winger on the other side has been excellent mind.

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Nov 21, 2025 9:15 pmCould be seeing the rather disappointing Ollie Slieghtholme coming back on. The young Saints winger on the other side has been excellent mind.

His first game back from about 7 months out injured though, isn't it? Unsurprising that he wasn't at his best.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 21, 2025 10:34 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Nov 21, 2025 9:15 pmCould be seeing the rather disappointing Ollie Slieghtholme coming back on. The young Saints winger on the other side has been excellent mind.

His first game back from about 7 months out injured though, isn't it? Unsurprising that he wasn't at his best.

Puja

Of the four starting wingers he was comfortably the worst. That included the academy winger on the other side for Saints (as I've already said, very impressive), Crowley who's only turned pro this week having been combining his RAF and semi pro stuff previously and then Mercer a squad winger we borrowed from Nottingham who's mainly got a 7s background. It's not like he was up against top level wingers out there. I wasn't expecting a man of match on his comeback but I did think he'd actually pose a threat. Game really did pass him by, I'm sure he'll be more of a threat next time out.

Glad we've kept Crowley on, impressive leg drive through contact for one the smallest if not the smallest players on the pitch.

Tigers definitely gained the edge in the scrum towards the end of the first half with the Saints hooker unable to hook the ball under pressure and he ended up popping up. Second half when Tigers changed their hooker the pressure seemed to be let off a bit, FTT looks like he's added some weight and was good in the loose but his scrum issues seem to persist. Kofe came on and was massive but didn't get as involved as I'd have liked, did alright though. Another good sub appearance for Archie van der Flier he was up chasing kicks and put himself about. Starting props were prominent as well.

Young Harry Palmer at blindside looks a talent, surprising turn of pace for someone more lock sized. Interesting to see Josh Manz come on for Reffell but pack down at 8. Possibly another option there should we need it.