Leicester Vs Leinster - Friday Night Lights

[FKAS]

Unavailable for selection: Carnduff (shoulder), Clare (concussion), L Chessum (knee), O Chessum (foot), Cracknell (hamstring), Hamer-Webb (hamstring), Ilione (shoulder), Kinder (hamstring), Liebenberg (knee), Martin (shoulder), Myall (knee), Palmer (shoulder), Perese (calf), Van Poortvliet (shoulder).

Leicester Tigers (appearances in brackets)
15 Freddie Steward (117)
14 Adam Radwan (19)
13 Will Wand (21)
12 Solomone Kata (50)
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (56)
10 Billy Searle (9)
9 Tom Whiteley (49)
1 Nicky Smith (31)
2 Jamie Blamire (7)
3 Joe Heyes (168)
4 Cameron Henderson (72)
5 Harry Wells (224)
6 James Thompson (7)
7 Tommy Reffell (Captain, 143)
8 Joaquin Moro (9)

Replacements
16 Finn Theobald Thomas (22)
17 Archie van der Flier (9)
18 Will Hurd (56)
19 Tom Manz (18)
20 Sam Williams (5)
21 Ollie Allan (11)
22 Orlando Bailey (7)
23 Joseph Woodward (41)

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Jimmy O’Brien (108)
14. Tommy O’Brien (50)
13. Rieko Ioane (1)
12. Robbie Henshaw (108)
11. James Lowe (94)
10. Harry Byrne (77)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (159)
1. Paddy McCarthy (11)
2. Rónan Kelleher (82)
3. Tadhg Furlong (157)
4. Joe McCarthy (51)
5. James Ryan (98)
6. Jack Conan (167)
7. Josh van der Flier (161)
8. Caelan Doris (95) CAPTAIN

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan (75)
17. Jack Boyle (33)
18. Thomas Clarkson (64)
19. Diarmuid Mangan (21)
20. Max Deegan (142)
21. Luke McGrath (240)
22. Sam Prendergast (38)
23. Ciarán Frawley (109)

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR).

[fivepointer]

LaRochelle followed by Leinster. The fixture gods havent been kind to Tigers.

[Puja]

We are going to get absolutely ruined.

Puja

[FKAS]

Virtually an international side Vs a club side who are missing at least a third of their starting XV, mostly up front. I'd say Leinster will be emptying their bench early in the second half but that really doesn't weaken them. They might be regretting not naming youngsters to get experience in this one.

[Puja]

Sad that I'm willing to accept losing 15-23 at home as a good result, but as a reflection of the gulf in quality in the teamsheets put out today, it probably was.

Puja

[FKAS]

The bench swung it for Leinster unsurprisingly. Well slightly surprisingly because their starting XV was virtually an international side and struggled to get on the board in the first half. Thought Tigers did well considering Martin, Chessum, Liebenburg and Ilione would have added substantially to the pack.

For Leinster Frawley at 15 really came into his own in the second half and started dominating the kicking battle. He was class and probably by man of the match. JGP also in serious contention that his try does annoy me greatly as that was sloppy from Tigers as we keep that in and we get a scrum penalty, just poor control. Slimani helped a Leinster scrum under the pump, ref had started to turn on them before he came on (rightfully so).

The Premier Sports coverage was like a YouTube watch along with two blokes down the pub. No analysis, very little insight and lots of pointless filler.

Lots of experience for young Tigers who will hopefully grow on the back of the experience. Wand took some tough lessons about defensive positioning. Archie van der Flier did pretty well against Slimani who was using all his experience to cheat like a bastard. Williams came on and was a pest, winning a turnover penalty. FTT though continues to be a disappointment, fluffing his lines with a crooked throw late on as Tigers pressed for a LBP.