PRC - Round 1

[Which Tyler]

I have my doubts that there'll be enough interest for a thread per match

[fivepointer]

The interest is seeing what kind of sides the Prem teams put out and seeing how many wins the Champ sides can register.

Doncaster might fancy their chances.

[Mellsblue]

What makes you say Doncaster might fancy their chances?

[fivepointer]

What makes you say Doncaster might fancy their chances?

Thats a good question. I should have checked the league table before making such a dull comment! I thought they were much higher up.

Mind you Sale arent playing well so maybe a home win is on the cards.

[Which Tyler]

So the TV companies get one match to show - and refuse to show a Champ side.
Cowards

[Banquo]

So the TV companies get one match to show - and refuse to show a Champ side.
Cowards

...with PRL having insisted on a set of minimum standards for the Champ clubs around safety and televising (the former which are not met by at least Tigers and Bath), and that money having been taken out of the 2.4m of 'Tier 2' improvement cash ....over 1/2 million. Its a fckn joke (not least because neither us or Chinnor will have that benefit for next season).

[Banquo]

Scottish v Quins will be a laugh. Not sure how Scottish will be able to field a 23 man squad tbh.

[Mellsblue]

Scottish v Quins will be a laugh. Not sure how Scottish will be able to field a 23 man squad tbh.

Quins B vs Quins A

[Puja]

So the TV companies get one match to show - and refuse to show a Champ side.
Cowards

...with PRL having insisted on a set of minimum standards for the Champ clubs around safety and televising (the former which are not met by at least Tigers and Bath), and that money having been taken out of the 2.4m of 'Tier 2' improvement cash ....over 1/2 million. Its a fckn joke (not least because neither us or Chinnor will have that benefit for next season).

What's Welford Road not hitting on safety? I'm not surprised the Rec doesn't, considering it's not actually a stadium but several stacks of chairs in a trenchcoat, but I'm surprised WR doesn't meet regs given how much has been spent on it.

Puja

[FKAS]

Tigers teasing the inclusion of a few academy/junior development squad players in this one. I'm not expecting a particularly strong team for this one.

I'm expecting Hoyt and Mountford to be the tightheads for starters.

[Banquo]

So the TV companies get one match to show - and refuse to show a Champ side.
Cowards

...with PRL having insisted on a set of minimum standards for the Champ clubs around safety and televising (the former which are not met by at least Tigers and Bath), and that money having been taken out of the 2.4m of 'Tier 2' improvement cash ....over 1/2 million. Its a fckn joke (not least because neither us or Chinnor will have that benefit for next season).

What's Welford Road not hitting on safety? I'm not surprised the Rec doesn't, considering it's not actually a stadium but several stacks of chairs in a trenchcoat, but I'm surprised WR doesn't meet regs given how much has been spent on it.

Puja

5m clearance all round I think...

[Banquo]

Tigers teasing the inclusion of a few academy/junior development squad players in this one. I'm not expecting a particularly strong team for this one.

I'm expecting Hoyt and Mountford to be the tightheads for starters.

last season the first couple of rounds were all mix of first teamers and development guys; mind, we had Langdon, Freeman, Hendy all playing against us in rd 2 for Saints.

[Puja]

...with PRL having insisted on a set of minimum standards for the Champ clubs around safety and televising (the former which are not met by at least Tigers and Bath), and that money having been taken out of the 2.4m of 'Tier 2' improvement cash ....over 1/2 million. Its a fckn joke (not least because neither us or Chinnor will have that benefit for next season).

What's Welford Road not hitting on safety? I'm not surprised the Rec doesn't, considering it's not actually a stadium but several stacks of chairs in a trenchcoat, but I'm surprised WR doesn't meet regs given how much has been spent on it.

Puja

5m clearance all round I think...

Ah yeah, that tracks. The one thing that can't be changed at Welford Road.

Puja

[Banquo]

What's Welford Road not hitting on safety? I'm not surprised the Rec doesn't, considering it's not actually a stadium but several stacks of chairs in a trenchcoat, but I'm surprised WR doesn't meet regs given how much has been spent on it.

Puja

5m clearance all round I think...

Ah yeah, that tracks. The one thing that can't be changed at Welford Road.

Puja

.....yet PRL insist that all the Champ clubs in the prem cup have to have 5m clearance or padding on the perimeter boards (which blocks out sponsor names and costs c £50k per ground). Comedy. Whereas Tigers and Bath (and maybe others) just pay a cursory fine.

[FKAS]

Tigers teasing the inclusion of a few academy/junior development squad players in this one. I'm not expecting a particularly strong team for this one.

I'm expecting Hoyt and Mountford to be the tightheads for starters.

last season the first couple of rounds were all mix of first teamers and development guys; mind, we had Langdon, Freeman, Hendy all playing against us in rd 2 for Saints.

Yeah it was very mix and match last year for a lot of teams. Tigers have done a video introducing some of the younger players ahead of the PRC which pretty much confirms they'll be used. Mountford, Beddall, Thomas, Popple, Bemand were all in there plus two or three more. They are all 18 to 20 iirc so will be a youthful flavour. Very youthful if they are all named at the same time. The picture for the game in the preview (normally always someone who then plays) was the development winger Satala so I'm expecting him to be starting.

Hoping to see Chessum Jnr back in a Tigers shirt after a lengthy lay off. He's played a couple of Nat 1 games and was the travelling reserve for the Sarries game last week. Still no sign of Josh Manz though who looked a dynamic ball carrying backrow for Tigers last PRC before a nasty injury ruled him out for the season.

There's a few Tigers squad players that could come in and add some experience and leadership. Volavola, Whitcombe, Vanes etc like you said make it more of a mix in terms of experience.

Shame TNT aren't covering more games because it would be interesting to see what the next generation are looking like in terms of development. Of course you've got to hope both teams go similar in levels of strength so the games are competitive.

[Adam_P]

Saints side. Was hoping we might see something of George Smith and Reuben Logan.

[Banquo]

Saints side. Was hoping we might see something of George Smith and Reuben Logan.

Pretty strong- Baker was benching for us two weeks ago!

[FKAS]

STARTING XV

15 George Pearson *
14 Malelili Satala *
13 Will Wand [4]
12 Solomone Kata [20]
11 Jack Kinder *
10 Jamie Shillcock [32]
9 Tom Whiteley [31]
1 James Whitcombe [51]
2 Finn Theobald-Thomas [11]
3 Tim Hoyt [2]
4 Côme Joussain [5]
5 Tom Manz [8]
6 Matt Rogerson [18]
7 Emeka Ilione [25]
8 Kyle Hatherell [22]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Archie Vanes [14]
17 Archie van der Flier [1]
18 Henry Mountford *
19 Lewis Chessum [9]
20 Sam Williams *
21 Charlie Bemand *
22 Charlie Myall [1]
23 Tom Threlfall *

* Tigers debutant

[FKAS]

Great to see Lewis Chessum returning from injury. Tight five are 23 and under so that's not a lot of experience and the scrum might well suffer as a result. No real experience on the bench but a lot of potential. Sam Williams looked good in pre season and for Notts in the Champ.

Shame there's no Reuben Logan for Saints as he could have been playing against Threlfall, Pearson and Chessum who've shared the pitch with him for Leicester Lions this season.

Should be plenty of pace in the Tigers back three which makes a nice change. Wand at 13 is a bit of a livewire but not there's a lot of pressure on Shillcock to get the backline moving with no additional playmakers obvious.

[Puja]

Baby Tonga'uiha on the bench for Northampton! Interesting trialist at right wing though - Vulikijapani is a 30 year old who is currently contracted to Super League club Hull FC!

Very inexperienced Leicester side indeed - only 3 who would regularly trouble the first XXIII, so a lot of chances for the kids. Great to see LChessum back from injury on the bench. Be interested to see how Hoyt goes, especially against Haffar - he was highly rated, but disappointing to me when he played England U20s, so I'm interested to see how his development's going.

Puja

[FKAS]

If Saints don't win this by a decent scoreline it's a major upset. Savala is going to have his hands full with Kata running down his channel.

[FKAS]

Nottingham

1. Kai Owen
2. Antonio Harris (cc)
3. Xavier Valentine
4. Jay Ecclesfield
5. Jack Shine
6. Sam Green
7. Jacob Wright
8. James Cherry
9. Toby Venner
10. Matthew Arden
11. Ryan Olowofela
12. Javiah Pohe
13. Levi Roper
14. Sam Mercer
15. Jack Stapley (cc)

Replacements – 16. Harry Clayton 17. Aniseko Sio 18. Dan Richardson 19. Eddie Bryan 20. Hobie Riches 21. Josh Goodwin 22. Jai Johal 23. Aman Johal

Coventry: Steff Davies; Charlie Robson, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Tom Hitchcock, Jimmy Martin; Liam Richman, Josh Barton; Toby Trinder, Suva Ma’asi, Matt Johnson; Obinna Nkwocha, Senitiki Nayalo; Tom Ball, Aaron Hinkley, Matt Kvesic.

Replacements: Jordon Poole, Vilikesa Nairau, Eliot Salt, Dan Green, James Tyas, Will Lane, Ryan Hutler, Dan Okeke

[FKAS]

Doncaster Starting XV | 15, Telusa Veainu. 14, Harry Davey. 13, George Wacokecoke. 12, Connor Edwards. 11, Jordan Olowofela. 10, Russell Bennett. 9, Ollie Fox. 1, Andrew Turner. 2, George Roberts. 3, Joe Jones. 4, Josh Williams. 5, Thom Smith. 6, Tom Currie. 7, Archie Smeaton. 8, Morgan Strong (C).

Replacements | 16, Fred Davies. 17, Jasper McGuire. 18, Lewis Thiede. 19, Euan McVie. 20, Ben Chapman. 21, Alex Dolly. 22, Morgan Bunting 23, Maliq Holden.

Unavailable for selection due to injury: Semesa Rokoduguni, Cory Teague, Logovi’i Mulipola, Adam Hopkinson, Conor Davidson, Taniela Ramasibana.

Sale Sharks Starting XV:  

15. Luke James, 14. Obi Ene, 13. Osian Roberts, 12. Joe Bedlow, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Ton Curtis ©, 9. Will Wootton, 1. Tumy Onasanya, 2. Tadgh McElroy, 3. James Harper, 4. Le Roux Roets, 5. Tom Burrow, 6. Jos Gilmore, 7. Tristan Woodman, 8. Will Riley.  

Replacements:  

16. Harry Thompson, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Seb Kelly, 21. Joe Green, 22. Charlie Wardle, 23. Toby Wilson.

[FKAS]

Cornish Pirates: 15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Matt McNab 13 Tom Georgiou 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Arthur Relton 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Billy Keast 2 Harry Hocking 3 Jay Tyack 4 Charlie Rice 5 Eoin O’Connor 6 Josh King 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Replacements: 16 Sol Moody 17 Billy Young 18 Ollie Andrews 19 Matt Cannon 20 Tomi Agbongbon 21 Cam Jones 22 Iwan Jenkins 23 Will Trewin.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge
14 Paul Brown-Bampoe
13 Ben Hammersley
12 Will Rigg
11 Tommy Wyatt
10 Will Haydon-Wood
9 Will Becconsall
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
2 Dan Frost
3 Ehren Painter
4 Rusi Tuima
5 Lewis Pearson
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen (c)
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Jack Innard
17 Kwenzo Blose
18 Jimmy Roots
19 Joe Bailey
20 Martin Moloney
21 Stu Townsend
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Joe Hawkins

[Puja]

Doncaster Starting XV | 6, Tom Currie.

When you order your new back row from Wish.


That Doncaster side looks pretty strong - how are they languishing near the bottom of the league table?

Puja