Gloucester Vs Tigers - Sunday 1pm

[FKAS]

STARTING XV
15 Mike Brown [3]
14 Harry Potter [60]
13 Matt Scott [61]
12 Guy Porter [55]
11 Harry Simmons [32]
10 Handré Pollard [8]
9 Ben Youngs [297]
1 Tom West [4]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [37]
3 Joe Heyes [117]
4 Harry Wells [174]
5 Eli Snyman [29]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [78]
7 Olly Cracknell [18]
8 Jasper Wiese [54]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [72]
17 James Cronin [10]
18 Will Hurd [22]
19 Cameron Henderson [30]
20 George Martin [52]
21 Emeka Ilione [9]
22 Tom Whiteley [2]
23 Charlie Atkinson [13]

Tigers go 6:2 bench split. Cronin is back sooner than I thought he'd be which is good. Porter and the locks freshen things up a bit but it does look like we're expecting bad weather conditions and a physical game.

Gloucester Rugby: 15. Lloyd Evans, 14. Jonny May, 13. Tom Seabrook, 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley, 10. Santi Carreras, 9. Ben Meehan, 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin, 2. Seb Blake, 3. Kirill Gotovtsev, 4. Freddie Clarke, 5. Matias Alemanno, 6. Jordy Reid, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Ruan Ackermann

Replacements: 16. Henry Walker, 17. Harry Elrington, 18. Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19. Cam Jordan, 20. Albert Tuisue, 21, Charlie Chapman, 22. Billy Twelvetrees, 23. Alex Hearle

[Puja]

Disappointed that Martin's benched. I understand a bit of rotation, but he's been in phenomenal form and I'd want us to build on that.

West has been a good acquisition and seems to be over his injury woes. Hopefully we'll be keeping him longterm.

Puja

[Banquo]

STARTING XV
15 Mike Brown [3]
14 Harry Potter [60]
13 Matt Scott [61]
12 Guy Porter [55]
11 Harry Simmons [32]
10 Handré Pollard [8]
9 Ben Youngs [297]
1 Tom West [4]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [37]
3 Joe Heyes [117]
4 Harry Wells [174]
5 Eli Snyman [29]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [78]
7 Olly Cracknell [18]
8 Jasper Wiese [54]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [72]
17 James Cronin [10]
18 Will Hurd [22]
19 Cameron Henderson [30]
20 George Martin [52]
21 Emeka Ilione [9]
22 Tom Whiteley [2]
23 Charlie Atkinson [13]

Tigers go 6:2 bench split. Cronin is back sooner than I thought he'd be which is good. Porter and the locks freshen things up a bit but it does look like we're expecting bad weather conditions and a physical game.

Interested in Porter at 12. Seems a better fit tbh

[FKAS]

I prefer Porter at 13. More chance if him getting an isolated defender and making a break plus his passing game is ok but not like he's going to be a distributor for us. At 12 he'll do a solid job tackling and carrying.

I somewhat agree Puja. Martin has been awesome for us but there has been some mutterings that Liebenburg isn't fully fit and I wonder whether we're keeping Martin back on the bench to replace the 'berg in the backrow early in the second half. Keep the physical intensity high across the full 80.

Looking at the bench for Glaws their tight five replacements aren't that strong, I'm hoping we might be able to turn the screw there.

[fivepointer]

Atkinson v 2 try Guy is the obvious point of interest here.

Blake doing well for Glos at hooker.

[FKAS]

Yeah I think SebAt is a more classy option in the 12 channel than 2TG. 2TG will test him with work rate and physicality but so far the young SebAt looks to be a bargain bit of business for Gloucester.

Be a real test for Blake this weekend, Montoya is arguably the best hooker in the world right now.

[Gloskarlos]

Could easily go either way this one. There's added emotional content for Ed, plus a full Kingsholm. Glos need to win realistically to finish top 4 as we have fewer home games left. I think though, the absentees for Glos affect us more than those for Tigers. Bench speaks volumes. Heart saying Glos by 3, head saying a LBP.

[Banquo]

I prefer Porter at 13. More chance if him getting an isolated defender and making a break plus his passing game is ok but not like he's going to be a distributor for us. At 12 he'll do a solid job tackling and carrying.

I somewhat agree Puja. Martin has been awesome for us but there has been some mutterings that Liebenburg isn't fully fit and I wonder whether we're keeping Martin back on the bench to replace the 'berg in the backrow early in the second half. Keep the physical intensity high across the full 80.

Looking at the bench for Glaws their tight five replacements aren't that strong, I'm hoping we might be able to turn the screw there.

Nothing wrong with a 12 carrying and tackling well, decent passing is enough tbh. Needs to improve his defence at 13, I might have mentioned it before. He may become the new Nick Tompkins

[FKAS]

I prefer Porter at 13. More chance if him getting an isolated defender and making a break plus his passing game is ok but not like he's going to be a distributor for us. At 12 he'll do a solid job tackling and carrying.

I somewhat agree Puja. Martin has been awesome for us but there has been some mutterings that Liebenburg isn't fully fit and I wonder whether we're keeping Martin back on the bench to replace the 'berg in the backrow early in the second half. Keep the physical intensity high across the full 80.

Looking at the bench for Glaws their tight five replacements aren't that strong, I'm hoping we might be able to turn the screw there.

Nothing wrong with a 12 carrying and tackling well, decent passing is enough tbh. Needs to improve his defence at 13, I might have mentioned it before. He may become the new Nick Tompkins

Tompkins always looks more comfortable at 12. I always think Porter looks more comfortable at 13 though I agree he needs to work on his positioning as he can be targeted by more experienced operators. It's probably why we're playing Porter and Scott the way round we are. Scott's experience should hopefully close down that 13 channel.

[Banquo]

I prefer Porter at 13. More chance if him getting an isolated defender and making a break plus his passing game is ok but not like he's going to be a distributor for us. At 12 he'll do a solid job tackling and carrying.

I somewhat agree Puja. Martin has been awesome for us but there has been some mutterings that Liebenburg isn't fully fit and I wonder whether we're keeping Martin back on the bench to replace the 'berg in the backrow early in the second half. Keep the physical intensity high across the full 80.

Looking at the bench for Glaws their tight five replacements aren't that strong, I'm hoping we might be able to turn the screw there.

Nothing wrong with a 12 carrying and tackling well, decent passing is enough tbh. Needs to improve his defence at 13, I might have mentioned it before. He may become the new Nick Tompkins

Tompkins always looks more comfortable at 12. I always think Porter looks more comfortable at 13 though I agree he needs to work on his positioning as he can be targeted by more experienced operators. It's probably why we're playing Porter and Scott the way round we are. Scott's experience should hopefully close down that 13 channel.

That was my point on Tompkins obvs…looked poor esp in defence at 13.

Never seen Porter at 12, hence interest. He looks like he’d fit well there.

[p/d]

Interested in Porter at 12. Seems a better fit tbh

Attempt to stop Glaws danger man at source….
.
.
Ain’t going to happen

[Banquo]

Interested in Porter at 12. Seems a better fit tbh

Attempt to stop Glaws danger man at source….
.
.
Ain’t going to happen

Old Luctonian- played against the school and the club sides. Not sure I played against him, tho possibly his grandad

[p/d]

Interested in Porter at 12. Seems a better fit tbh

Attempt to stop Glaws danger man at source….
.
.
Ain’t going to happen

Not sure I played against him, tho possibly his grandad

Small world. Chances are Oakboy brought his grandchildren along to watch

[FKAS]

Nothing wrong with a 12 carrying and tackling well, decent passing is enough tbh. Needs to improve his defence at 13, I might have mentioned it before. He may become the new Nick Tompkins

Tompkins always looks more comfortable at 12. I always think Porter looks more comfortable at 13 though I agree he needs to work on his positioning as he can be targeted by more experienced operators. It's probably why we're playing Porter and Scott the way round we are. Scott's experience should hopefully close down that 13 channel.

That was my point on Tompkins obvs…looked poor esp in defence at 13.

Never seen Porter at 12, hence interest. He looks like he’d fit well there.

He played there for about the last three months of last season after Kelly got injured.

[Banquo]

Tompkins always looks more comfortable at 12. I always think Porter looks more comfortable at 13 though I agree he needs to work on his positioning as he can be targeted by more experienced operators. It's probably why we're playing Porter and Scott the way round we are. Scott's experience should hopefully close down that 13 channel.

That was my point on Tompkins obvs…looked poor esp in defence at 13.

Never seen Porter at 12, hence interest. He looks like he’d fit well there.

He played there for about the last three months of last season after Kelly got injured.

Not that memorable then

[twitchy]

Epic 0-0 approaching h/t.

[p/d]

Blimey. Sounds grim.
LI giving it to Sale at the moment.

[FKAS]

Listened to lost of it coming back home, sounds like cycling through muddy lanes for three and half hours was a better call than staying in waiting for this to start.

Both sides kicked for tough throughout the first half rather than kick for goal, sounds like some of the kicks were very kickable.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Great result! Fortunate last try, though a penalty and likely yellow card if not given. That run by Martin!!

[FKAS]

Bonus point win for Tigers is a great result for us. Last three games are all at home so hopefully we can finish the season strong.

[fivepointer]

BT definitely chose the wrong game to televise today.

Matters improved a touch in the 2nd half but this was a disappointing low quality game.

[Gloskarlos]

Can’t win v tigers giving 18 odd penalties away, but some bullshit decisions given in that game. VRR scored, blatant trip and a yellow for a Brown puts a very different complexion on that first half. Last try is never a try, hate the language that suggests on field try can only be overturned by exception, clearly held up. Top 4 highly unlikely for Glos now.

[FKAS]

Can’t win v tigers giving 18 odd penalties away, but some bullshit decisions given in that game. VRR scored, blatant trip and a yellow for a Brown puts a very different complexion on that first half. Last try is never a try, hate the language that suggests on field try can only be overturned by exception, clearly held up. Top 4 highly unlikely for Glos now.

I've not seen the first half so can't comment on that but for the final try Tempest said he saw the ball grounded. Given Chapman dived on the players to obstruct the camera we can't see what Tempest saw. You're right it wasn't grounded in the footage we can see though.

The radio commentators were rather angry about a tackle on Brown in the air. Haven't see that yet either. Sounded like Glaws had Tigers under the pump for a bit in the first half, why no kicks at goal? Tigers bench was always stronger so Glaws had to build a lead in the first half.

As an aside Tempest isn't great.

[Gloskarlos]

Brown taken in the air a complete overreaction from him, he was taken in the air yes, his foot was about 300mm from hitting the ground on the way down so just a poorly timed tackle. He wasn’t rotated at all, not dangerous, just a pen.

No idea why there were no kicks at goal, there were opportunities certainly, Glos should have been up a score in the first half, had the ascendency but actually the stats showed it was pretty even at that point.

[FKAS]

I've just seen the tackle in the air. It's a complete cheap shot. Brown's a good foot off the floor. I'd be pissed if that was me on the receiving end.

Brown's was a trip though he looks like he's trying to set himself for the tackle but cocks it up completely and catches the player. Would have to have a look at who was in behind. A trip isn't an automatic card anymore. Minimum a penalty though, dunno what the TMO was doing.