Sarries Vs Tigers - 5.30 Saturday

[FKAS]

Saracens Men team to play Leicester Tigers:

1 Eroni Mawi
2 Kapeli Pifeleti
3 Marco Riccioni
4 Theo McFarland
5 Hugh Tizard
6 Juan Martin Gonzalez
7 Toby Knight
8 Tom Willis
9 Ivan van Zyl (c)
10 Alex Goode
11 Rotimi Segun
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Lucio Cinti
14 Tobias Elliott
15 Tom Parton

Replacements:

16 James Hadfield
17 Phil Brantingham
18 Alec Clarey
19 Harry Wilson
20 Nathan Michelow
21 Gareth Simpson
22 Josh Hallett
23 Tim Swiel

STARTING XV

15 Mike Brown [28]
14 Anthony Watson [21]
13 Izaia Perese [3]
12 Joseph Woodward [12]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [27]
10 Handré Pollard [35]
9 Tom Whiteley [30]
1 Nicky Smith [5]
2 Julián Montoya [61]
3 Joe Heyes [145]
4 Harry Wells [204]
5 Tom Manz [7]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [112]
7 Tommy Reffell [119]
8 Olly Cracknell [47]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Charlie Clare [100]
17 James Cronin [38]
18 Will Hurd [42]
19 Côme Joussain [3]
20 Matt Rogerson [17]
21 Ben Youngs [318]
22 Jamie Shillcock [30]
23 Will Wand [3]

[FKAS]

Not a happy hunting ground for Tigers who haven't won here in years.

No Kelly is a surprise and a shame, it's the type of game you'd expect him to flourish. Rogerson returns from personal leave. Brown comes in at 15, I'd have preferred Shillcock and his tactical kicking game big hey ho.

No Carre for Sarries who also have injury issues at 10.

[Banquo]

bloody nuts having these games shorn of intl players.....though I guess the young lads and Mike Brown get a game.

[FKAS]

bloody nuts having these games shorn of intl players.....though I guess the young lads and Mike Brown get a game.

There's no young lad in there that hasn't already had a game this season from a Tigers POV. Gets Mike Brown a run out though.

[Banquo]

bloody nuts having these games shorn of intl players.....though I guess the young lads and Mike Brown get a game.

There's no young lad in there that hasn't already had a game this season from a Tigers POV. Gets Mike Brown a run out though.

Tigers aren't the only team playing thom and quite a lot of unfamiliar bench names, at least to me. Does MIke Brown get a run out?

[FKAS]

bloody nuts having these games shorn of intl players.....though I guess the young lads and Mike Brown get a game.

There's no young lad in there that hasn't already had a game this season from a Tigers POV. Gets Mike Brown a run out though.

Tigers aren't the only team playing thom and quite a lot of unfamiliar bench names, at least to me. Does MIke Brown get a run out?

So in terms of youngsters and bench we have;

Joe Woodward at 12. Former England under 20, was on loan at Notts last season. Has been rated highly for a while and seems Chieka is a fan. Tough in defence and reads the game well in attack but want to see more of his playmaking abilities and running threat.

Tom Manz at lock. Second row partner with Martin in the academy but had no luck with injuries. Got himself sorted last season and spent it on loan at Notts. Seems to have developed himself into a decent lineout operator, helped by the fact he's 6ft8. Second Prem game today and first start.

Will Hurd at 18. Ashby born and bred but represents Scotland. Third choice TH and started Vs Falcons. Solid but generally unspectacular though he likes a big hit in defence.

Joussain at 19. Big unit Frenchman who ended up at Notts before Tigers took a liking and dual registered him. Bit raw but powerful. Suspect he'll bugger off back to France if he makes a name for himself but with three locks unavailable and Chessum Jnr two games back into his recovery from a year out he'll do.

Rogerson at 20. Experienced backrow, formerly of LI.

Will Wand at 23. Outside centre formerly of Coventry. Made the Championship team of the season last year iirc. Explosive player but a bit raw, could be an excellent signing in time.

[Banquo]

There's no young lad in there that hasn't already had a game this season from a Tigers POV. Gets Mike Brown a run out though.

Tigers aren't the only team playing thom and quite a lot of unfamiliar bench names, at least to me. Does MIke Brown get a run out?

So in terms of youngsters and bench we have;

Joe Woodward at 12. Former England under 20, was on loan at Notts last season. Has been rated highly for a while and seems Chieka is a fan. Tough in defence and reads the game well in attack but want to see more of his playmaking abilities and running threat.

Tom Manz at lock. Second row partner with Martin in the academy but had no luck with injuries. Got himself sorted last season and spent it on loan at Notts. Seems to have developed himself into a decent lineout operator, helped by the fact he's 6ft8. Second Prem game today and first start.

Will Hurd at 18. Ashby born and bred but represents Scotland. Third choice TH and started Vs Falcons. Solid but generally unspectacular though he likes a big hit in defence.

Joussain at 19. Big unit Frenchman who ended up at Notts before Tigers took a liking and dual registered him. Bit raw but powerful. Suspect he'll bugger off back to France if he makes a name for himself but with three locks unavailable and Chessum Jnr two games back into his recovery from a year out he'll do.

Rogerson at 20. Experienced backrow, formerly of LI.

Will Wand at 23. Outside centre formerly of Coventry. Made the Championship team of the season last year iirc. Explosive player but a bit raw, could be an excellent signing in time.

Thanks, but not sure what you are saying. Or is it just telling me about the Tigers squad? As I said, Sarries are also playing, and giving guys a run out.

And Mikey.

[FKAS]

Tigers aren't the only team playing thom and quite a lot of unfamiliar bench names, at least to me. Does MIke Brown get a run out?

So in terms of youngsters and bench we have;

Joe Woodward at 12. Former England under 20, was on loan at Notts last season. Has been rated highly for a while and seems Chieka is a fan. Tough in defence and reads the game well in attack but want to see more of his playmaking abilities and running threat.

Tom Manz at lock. Second row partner with Martin in the academy but had no luck with injuries. Got himself sorted last season and spent it on loan at Notts. Seems to have developed himself into a decent lineout operator, helped by the fact he's 6ft8. Second Prem game today and first start.

Will Hurd at 18. Ashby born and bred but represents Scotland. Third choice TH and started Vs Falcons. Solid but generally unspectacular though he likes a big hit in defence.

Joussain at 19. Big unit Frenchman who ended up at Notts before Tigers took a liking and dual registered him. Bit raw but powerful. Suspect he'll bugger off back to France if he makes a name for himself but with three locks unavailable and Chessum Jnr two games back into his recovery from a year out he'll do.

Rogerson at 20. Experienced backrow, formerly of LI.

Will Wand at 23. Outside centre formerly of Coventry. Made the Championship team of the season last year iirc. Explosive player but a bit raw, could be an excellent signing in time.

Thanks, but not sure what you are saying. Or is it just telling me about the Tigers squad? As I said, Sarries are also playing, and giving guys a run out.

And Mikey.

Oh yeah everyone in a similar boat.

[Mikey Brown]

Rogerson is 20?! Thought he was some journeyman that had been kicking around for years for some reason.

[FKAS]

Rogerson is 20?! Thought he was some journeyman that had been kicking around for years for some reason.

He's wearing 20. He's about 31 and poor bugger has been through the ringer by the sounds of it. Baby arrived premature so he's been on compassionate leave, happily baby and mother are doing ok now so he's back.

[Banquo]

Rogerson is 20?! Thought he was some journeyman that had been kicking around for years for some reason.

He's wearing 20. He's about 31 and poor bugger has been through the ringer by the sounds of it. Baby arrived premature so he's been on compassionate leave, happily baby and mother are doing ok now so he's back.

That’s tough. Hope all works out well.

[Banquo]

So in terms of youngsters and bench we have;

Joe Woodward at 12. Former England under 20, was on loan at Notts last season. Has been rated highly for a while and seems Chieka is a fan. Tough in defence and reads the game well in attack but want to see more of his playmaking abilities and running threat.

Tom Manz at lock. Second row partner with Martin in the academy but had no luck with injuries. Got himself sorted last season and spent it on loan at Notts. Seems to have developed himself into a decent lineout operator, helped by the fact he's 6ft8. Second Prem game today and first start.

Will Hurd at 18. Ashby born and bred but represents Scotland. Third choice TH and started Vs Falcons. Solid but generally unspectacular though he likes a big hit in defence.

Joussain at 19. Big unit Frenchman who ended up at Notts before Tigers took a liking and dual registered him. Bit raw but powerful. Suspect he'll bugger off back to France if he makes a name for himself but with three locks unavailable and Chessum Jnr two games back into his recovery from a year out he'll do.

Rogerson at 20. Experienced backrow, formerly of LI.

Will Wand at 23. Outside centre formerly of Coventry. Made the Championship team of the season last year iirc. Explosive player but a bit raw, could be an excellent signing in time.

Thanks, but not sure what you are saying. Or is it just telling me about the Tigers squad? As I said, Sarries are also playing, and giving guys a run out.

And Mikey.

Oh yeah everyone in a similar boat.

[Puja]

I keep seeing all these articles boo-hooing about hiw England U20s don't get opportunities in the Premiership and how the system is broken and France do it so much better, and there's practically no-one getting gametime from the last two years aside from the few exceptions of AOF, Fasogbon, Jibulu, CCS, Fisilau, McParland, Woodward, Wills, Elliot, Harris, Redsgaw, Jones, Thomas, Ma'asi-Whire, Carnduff...

Puja

[Banquo]

I keep seeing all these articles boo-hooing about hiw England U20s don't get opportunities in the Premiership and how the system is broken and France do it so much better, and there's practically no-one getting gametime from the last two years aside from the few exceptions of AOF, Fasogbon, Jibulu, CCS, Fisilau, McParland, Woodward, Wills, Elliot, Harris, Redsgaw, Jones, Thomas, Ma'asi-Whire, Carnduff...

Puja

...I think the moans were justified a year or more ago, given the number of ex England U20's from say 3 years ago who played for (we had at least 7 loanees like this from Bath/Quins/Tigers over the season on an irregular and random basis) and against us in the Champ, who were loanees. It may be they simply weren't ever good enough. But there still remain a lot of young players warehoused by the likes of Bath and Quins, and maybe what is being seen now is the Prem clubs finally waking up to the benefits of home grown talent, realities of salary cap, and the likely player caps coming in.

[Mikey Brown]

Rogerson is 20?! Thought he was some journeyman that had been kicking around for years for some reason.

He's wearing 20.

There’s no facepalm emoji, but this certainly deserves one.

[Puja]

Horribly low-quality game so far. Whiteley is such a famine or feast player - he's either brilliant and you think he's cracked it, or he's utterly dire. Today he appears to be the latter, with several passes asking far too much of the receiver costing turnovers.

Puja

[Puja]

TWillis just a touch of class above everyone else on the pitch. Makes a half-break and offload to open the Leicester defence, then bounces off the floor to pick and go from the next ruck, make another half-break and offload to put Tompkins over for the try.

Leicester need to stop knocking it o... and, as I type that, we score - Woodward grubber for OHC to gather and score.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Watson with a great take under the highball there to setup that try. Shame he’s never been tried at 15.

[Mellsblue]

Whiteley is such a famine or feast player - he's either brilliant and you think he's cracked it, or he's utterly dire. Today he appears to be the latter, with several passes asking far too much of the receiver costing turnovers.

Puja

Worst loanee I’ve ever seen at GR. I’m not sure how he’s still a Prem player other than he’s meant to be a top squad player, great trainer and a good bloke, but you’d think that would only get you so far.

[francoisfou]

Tom Willis, what more does he have to do to convince Soggy Bottom that he’s got what it takes to be the England squad?

[FKAS]

Yeah I agree TWillis looks quality at 8. Surely should be in over Dombrandt.

Somewhat painful to watch Tigers in attack, still so clunky. Very evident that Perese and Pollard haven't played together much. Not sure why the defence has gone to pot.

[fivepointer]

Frankly its mad that Willis isnt in the England squad.

Its also pretty hard to see why Heyes isnt in it either.

Thought Woodward had another very composed, steady game.

[FKAS]

Its also pretty hard to see why Heyes isnt in it either.

Thought Woodward had another very composed, steady game.

Yeah Heyes is an odd one. He's been kept in the squad for two years whilst his form has been meh and he's offered no real threat to Cole and the starting jersey. This season he's completely reinvigorated, pretty much the form of his life and has forced Cole to accept the bench role. Then dropped by England.

It does feel like this AI squad was decided before the season starting and then adjusted for injuries rather than being influenced by the Prem games this season.

Woodward has looked entirely comfortable to date. There's more to come in sure but composed and solid will do nicely for now.

Geez Tigers made hard work of that. Cronin is a gift to the opposition each week and Chieka has today found the same issue McKellar refused to acknowledge all last season, when Reffell goes off if we don't have a replacement openside then our pack loses nearly all of its breakdown capability.

[Banquo]

Horribly low-quality game so far. Whiteley is such a famine or feast player - he's either brilliant and you think he's cracked it, or he's utterly dire. Today he appears to be the latter, with several passes asking far too much of the receiver costing turnovers.

Puja

dire for 30 mins, looked great thereafter on catch up. Ampthill did ok.

Sarries might have won with a 10.

[Banquo]

Whiteley is such a famine or feast player - he's either brilliant and you think he's cracked it, or he's utterly dire. Today he appears to be the latter, with several passes asking far too much of the receiver costing turnovers.

Puja

Worst loanee I’ve ever seen at GR. I’m not sure how he’s still a Prem player other than he’s meant to be a top squad player, great trainer and a good bloke, but you’d think that would only get you so far.

Sam Edwards who is now no3 at brizz way better