From the Merc

Quote:

Smurc...
Give or take a few players, the squad which recorded a memorable 17-16 win over Bath at The Rec last Friday to book a place in the final against Northampton at Worcester on Sunday will be the same one that has competed in all five Anglo-Welsh games.

Those starting an LV= Cup games included a full strength side against Gloucester:

Ayerza
Youngs (T)
Cole
Parling
Skivington
Croft
Salvi
Waldrom
Harrison
Flood
Tuilagi (A)
Tuilagi (M)
Smith
Agulla
Murphy

as compared to the one that was down in Wales the previous week:
Harris
Hawkins
Bower
Kitchener
Parling
Pienaar
Armes
Slater
Harrison
Ford
Lewington
Symons
Forsyth
Rolston
Morris

Others who've started in the cup are:
Stankovitch
Stevens
Mulipola
Green
Woods
Mama
Hamilton
Chuter
White
Mafi
Staunton
Allen
Newby
Grindal
Twelvetrees

So there's plenty of scope to mix and match the "squad" that have played already.

Put the first team out and win the damn thing!

tempting isn't it?

Well, as it's a final and LV= have paid good money to sponsor it... and as a number of our first team regulars had a rest last week... I think it would be rude not to!

and I so hate rudeness as you will know.

Come on Cockers be polite

Come on people, this is the luncheaon voucher cup that you ALL dismissed until friday just gone !!

Cockers should start with the players that got us here, but have first team subs on the bench in case Saints roll out their big guns.

Having our development players narrowly lose to Saints firsts would be a far more important advance for Tigers than our firsts winning it IMO.

Be best of both teams start with nippers at least IMO.

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I (and I suspect JK) were merely jesting Bob.

But which of the many players that "got us here" do you mean?

The 1st XV that blasted Glaws of course !! =))

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Rascal!!

Pretty much last week's starting team if injuries allow and unless there are some returners who are ready (is there any prospect of Harrison being able to return? Micky Young's suspension would be up, but would he be eligible?

And then the biggest and bestest riders of the pine we can muster.

Ah good point on Micky - he has he come on from the bench at at any point?

To answer my own question he hasn't. Not even been in an LV= match day squad and a player has to have played in the rounds to be in the KO part don't they?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 13/03/2012 10:59 by ChrisC.

I was half joking but the point remains...

Here is a chance for silverware.

Many of the big guns are eligible having played in previous rounds.

Saints may take it seriously and wheel out their big guns.

We are already without Cole, Youngs, Parling, Croft Castro and Manu to say nothing of injuries. I know Saintanists, I know you'll be without Ashton, Foden, Dickson, Hartley, Lawes, Wood.

Were it not the final, we (and probably England) may want Flood to play as he's had a bit of time off but Ford has been brilliant.

What to do?

If the Stains take it too seriously it will be a sad indictment of their ambition.

I wouldn't be in the least surprised to see their best team.

Injuries permitting, the team we put out on Friday against the team they put out on Sunday should make for a good game.

Its not just about the Final. Getting a win will set either team up well for the rest of the Season. Winning mentality and all that.

I expect both teams will pick a mixture of youth and experience but not as some would claim for development reasons, just that with all the International matches this year players on both teams have had a chance to step up and are just as likely to start for the rest of the season.

Be Interesting to see what would happen if both our internationals were available... but thats another story all together.

I will take the bait!!!
I'd expect us to have a similar team to ones put out in previous rounds. Some seem to think we can put out our complete first team?? We will be missing a few to England too you know. If we have players like Mooj and Tiny available why shouldn't we use them??? As it happens we have done OK with a completely different front row along with players like James Craig and Ben Nutley (quite Moodyesque I think you'll agree)
We strengthened our squad for a reason, to do well when our internationals are away. Don't wine about it when we use them!!

No-one's whining.

Impressive! Taking a bait that wasn't even offered!!

From what I can tell, excluding injuries:

Cole, Croft, Parling, Youngs and Manu missing for us (Castro debatable as could/should be considered injured);

Ashton, Foden, Dickson, Dowson, Hartley missing for them.

About even for once.

I'd say both clubs should put out their best available teams. I don't think it says anything about ambition... it's a cup final.

Maybe we didn't care earlier in the season but as we're there, it seems stupid to not do everything possible to win it!