RugbyRebels

STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [53]
14 Chris Ashton [10]
13 Matías Moroni [33]
12 Guy Porter [42]
11 Harry Potter [38]
10 George Ford [126]
9 Ben Youngs [279]
1 Ellis Genge (c) [108]
2 Charlie Clare [49]
3 Dan Cole [287]
4 Ollie Chessum [28]
5 Calum Green [88]
6 George Martin [36]
7 Hanro Liebenberg (vc) [56]
8 Jasper Wiese [42]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Tom Cowan-Dickie [8]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [65]
18 Will Hurd [7]
19 Harry Wells [153]
20 Tommy Reffell [75]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [46]
22 Freddie Burns [100]
23 Nemani Nadolo [35]

WASPS XV: 15 Ali Crossdale, 14 Paolo Odogwu, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Dan Robson, 1 Tom West, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 Biyi Alo, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 5 James Gaskell, 6 Brad Shields, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Tom Willis

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Will Porter, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Malakai Fekitoa

Can only see this going one way tbh Tigers have been the form team all season and while Wasps have shown some good flashes they needed a run of games (not loosing by small margins) to build confidence for this trip.

That is not a subtle back row picked by Leicester. JWillis could have a field day, but on the other hand that is a backrow that is very, very good at cleaning out.

No sign of Montoya from the black hole of injury information, although maybe he's being preserved for the play-offs?

Puja

I'd wonder if Weise might get a yellow for a clear out if he's doing too many.

Borthwick mentioned in the week that Montoya has had a knock and was being monitored. Didn't sound too serious and I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't back for the playoffs. Kelly is nearly back and might make the playoffs as well.

Tigers prop replacements are odd, basically our third choice options when the second choice ones should be available. Could be Borthwick is just covering his bases ahead of the playoffs. Does mean Heyes doesn't make his 100th appearance for the club though. Looks a very much bosh them up and then unleash the impact bench for Tigers.

Wasps themselves have gone with a very set piece starter pack and then have some more dynamic options off the bench. The Wasps back three aren't the most composed in terms of the tactical side of things so I'm expecting some Ford spiral bombs with a hard chase. Weather forecast is rain and wind for tomorrow as well so could be a rough one for the fullbacks.

Raggs wrote:I'd wonder if Weise might get a yellow for a clear out if he's doing too many.

He's been a reformed character since his ban for three yellow cards earlier in the season. His discipline has been so much better, he's showing greater maturity now. That's probably the kiss of death from me though and he'll take someone's head off and get a red card now.

FKAS wrote:Borthwick mentioned in the week that Montoya has had a knock and was being monitored. Didn't sound too serious and I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't back for the playoffs. Kelly is nearly back and might make the playoffs as well.

Excellent news; we've sorely missed Kelly.

Puja

Our handling has killed off any chance we had so far. Crossdale isn't very good at the high ball in my mind I'm afraid. Atkinson has been exceptionally good under the high ball.

Disjointed and disappointing, that said Wasps did well to only loose by 10!

Was out supporting the wife at the athletics so only heard it on the radio. From that I gathered it was error strewn with Wasps handily cocking up any break out attacking chances which would have given them a way back in the game but also being exceptionally good at frustrating Tigers attack. The commentators were very complimentary over Atkinson and the Willis Brothers.

Tigers wise it sounded like Youngs and Ford kept Wasps at arms length and the pack power game was working in fits and starts with Gaskell doing a number on Clare at the lineout. JVP sounded like he upped the tempo.

We desperately need Kelly back as soon as he's able. Our attack is stalling without him. At least the defence is working and I'd expect Reffell to start in the playoffs as I presume we've been resting him to guard against injury recently.

FKAS wrote:Was out supporting the wife at the athletics so only heard it on the radio. From that I gathered it was error strewn with Wasps handily cocking up any break out attacking chances which would have given them a way back in the game but also being exceptionally good at frustrating Tigers attack. The commentators were very complimentary over Atkinson and the Willis Brothers.

Tigers wise it sounded like Youngs and Ford kept Wasps at arms length and the pack power game was working in fits and starts with Gaskell doing a number on Clare at the lineout. JVP sounded like he upped the tempo.

We desperately need Kelly back as soon as he's able. Our attack is stalling without him. At least the defence is working and I'd expect Reffell to start in the playoffs as I presume we've been resting him to guard against injury recently.

Weird game, Tigers probably should have had a bigger lead at half time. Wasps trying to force it too much and coughing up the ball but a few flashes of brilliance from josh Bassett helped. The commentators reckoned wasps had been the better team early in the second half but honestly it felt like tigers were holding back knowing they had the measure of them.