So what would people go with for this weekend?

For me:

Genge
Youngs
Cole
Tuohy
Wells
Kalamafoni
O'Conner
Mapapalangi

Youngs
Ford
May
Toomua
Owen
Malouf
Veainu

Bench: Bateman, McGuigan, Cilliers, Barrow, Williams, Harrison, Ford, Tait

That's assuming Kalamafoni is fine after his head knock and Tuohy is named as an injury replacement for Fitzgerald as expected.

If Kalamafoni is out I'd go for Williams and Hamilton as a pair. Don't think Williams and Mapapalangi has enough grunt work to go as a pair from the off against a team like Racing.

This week even I'd have Joe Ford on the bench as in a 6 game pool an early injury to George Ford is too big a risk to take.

Hoping Harrison and Kalamafoni are both fit. Also Adam Thompstone was rumoured to be fit soon wasn't he? I'd bring him in if he is.

Genge
Youngs
Cole
Barrow
Wells
Williams
O'Conner
Kalamafoni

Youngs
Ford
May
Toomua
Owen
Thompstone
Veainu

Bench: Bateman, McGuigan, Cilliers, Tuohy, Mapapalangi, Harrison, Ford, Malouf

Same as SK88 except Barrow for Tuohy.

Not a chance Barrow will be left out (if fit), he's our best 2nd row!!

Mike Williams has to start if he's fit. So Kalamafoni (if fit) or Mapapalangi at 8. Hamilton missed a lot of tackles on Sat and i reckon that could set him back a little selection wise.

Smith was being rested with this game in mind so i cant see that changing on the back of a good 30 mins from Owen

As good as Malouf has been it would be good to get Thompstone back. He has the temperament for these big games. I still fear Malouf is going to cut in defensively and cause a 3 man ovelap outside him (best case scenario) or tip tackle someone and get a yellow / red (worst case scenario)

On what basis is Barrow our best second row? He's a penalty machine with poor hands and slack defensive discipline.

I'm tempted with Thompstone as Malouf has made costly defensive errors in each game so far. Is he really fit though? I'd heard he was still a way from fitness.

Here is the Tigers squad for Europe, note Manu and Fitzgerald are included still and several new signings but no Tuoey.
Surname First name DOB Age Height Weight
Barrow Dom 19/03/93 24 2.00 m 6' 7" 119 kg 18 st 10 lb
Bateman Greg 20/06/89 28 1.82 m 6' 0" 111 kg 17 st 6 lb
Brady Tom 10/02/91 26 1.77 m 5' 10" 90 kg 14 st 2 lb
Cilliers Pat 03/03/87 30 1.86 m 6' 1" 113 kg 17 st 11 lb
Cole Dan 09/05/87 30 1.83 m 6' 0" 120 kg 18 st 12 lb
Evans William 28/01/97 20 1.83 m 6' 0" 95 kg 14 st 13 lb
Fitzgerald Michael 03/02/87 30 1.97 m 6' 6" 112 kg 17 st 8 lb
Ford George 16/03/93 24 1.78 m 5' 10" 86 kg 13 st 7 lb
Ford Joe 04/06/90 27 1.75 m 5' 9" 85 kg 13 st 5 lb
Genge Ellis 16/02/95 22 1.87 m 6' 2" 118 kg 18 st 8 lb
Hamilton Luke 07/01/92 25 1.90 m 6' 3" 104 kg 16 st 5 lb
Harrison Sam 07/04/90 27 1.75 m 5' 9" 80 kg 12 st 8 lb
Kalafamoni Sione 18/05/88 29 1.96 m 6' 5" 112 kg 17 st 8 lb
Kerr Jake 13/04/96 21 1.85 m 6' 1" 105 kg 16 st 7 lb
Kitchener Graham 29/09/89 28 2.00 m 6' 7" 111 kg 17 st 6 lb
Maksymiw Joe 20/09/95 22 2.01 m 6' 7" 114 kg 17 st 13 lb
Malouf Nick 19/03/93 24 1.86 m 6' 1" 95 kg 14 st 13 lb
Mapapalangi Tino 18/07/93 24 1.93 m 6' 4" 111 kg 17 st 6 lb
May Jonny 01/04/90 27 1.82 m 6' 0" 92 kg 14 st 6 lb
McGuigan George 30/03/93 24 1.76 m 5' 9" 95 kg 14 st 13 lb
Mulipola Logovii 11/03/87 30 1.93 m 6' 4" 124 kg 19 st 7 lb
O'Connor Brendon 11/09/89 28 1.86 m 6' 1" 100 kg 15 st 10 lb
Owen Gareth 05/11/88 28 1.82 m 6' 0" 88 kg 13 st 12 lb
Pakalani Atieli 02/08/89 28 1.83 m 6' 0" 89 kg 14 st 0 lb
Ryan Dominic 28/03/90 27 1.92 m 6' 4" 98 kg 15 st 6 lb
Simmons Harry 25/11/97 19 1.81 m 5' 11" 90 kg 14 st 2 lb
Smith Matt 15/11/85 31 1.93 m 6' 4" 96 kg 15 st 1 lb
Tait Matthew 06/02/86 31 1.85 m 6' 1" 90 kg 14 st 2 lb
Thacker Charlie 10/08/96 21 1.79 m 5' 10" 94 kg 14 st 11 lb
Thacker Harry 18/02/94 23 1.73 m 5' 8" 92 kg 14 st 6 lb
Thompstone Adam 04/09/87 30 1.88 m 6' 2" 96 kg 15 st 1 lb
To'omua Matt 02/01/90 27 1.82 m 6' 0" 92 kg 14 st 6 lb
Traynor Kyle 27/02/86 31 1.83 m 6' 0" 114 kg 17 st 13 lb
Tuilagi Manu 18/05/91 26 1.84 m 6' 0" 110 kg 17 st 4 lb
Veainu Telusa 26/12/90 26 1.80 m 5' 11" 85 kg 13 st 5 lb
Wells Harry 29/09/93 24 1.96 m 6' 5" 80 kg 12 st 8 lb
White Benjamin 27/05/98 19 1.75 m 5' 9" 80 kg 12 st 8 lb
Williams Mike 04/11/91 25 1.95 m 6' 5" 118 kg 18 st 8 lb
Worth George 08/10/96 21 1.85 m 6' 1" 95 kg 14 st 13 lb
Youngs Ben 05/09/89 28 1.79 m 5' 10" 76 kg 11 st 13 lb
Youngs Tom 28/01/87 30 1.75 m 5' 9" 102 kg 16 st 0 lb

I'd aslo go for 6, Kalamafoni, 7. O'Connor, 8. Mapapalangi, which is actually why I included the question about the backrow in this week's survey.

I remain unconvinced that Kalamafoni is the 8 we all wanted, but he's looking increasingly like the 6 we didn't realise we wanted.

Genge, Tungs, Cole, Wells, Barrow, Kalamafoni, O'Connor, Mapapalangi
Bungs, Gord, May, Toomua, Smith, Malouf, Veainu

McGuigan, Bateman, Cilliers, Hamilton, Williams, Harrison, Jord, Tait



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2017 13:31 by Fuzzy Dunlop.

Go with the side SK suggests but I guess we will have to see who is fit.

I'd like to see some stats on 'Penalty Machine' Barrow - I don't see him as such but I admit I might well be missing something.

I'd still select him above any of our other locks - maybe with the exception of a fit and in form Fitz.

---

...

Well for instance he gave away 5 penalties v Exeter link here, go to player stats then discipline if it doesn't open on right bit

               Bath    Saints   Glous   Quins   Exeter    Irish
Barrow         2         0        X       0       5         0
Other Lock     0         1        1       1       2         0

So 7 across 5 games v 5 across 7 games for the other locks. Not only that but (now this is pure opinion and presented as such) when he gives them away they come in bunches and are often for silly things rather than either reasonable gambles or actually worthwhile cynical penalties.

Quote:

SK 88
On what basis is Barrow our best second row? He's a penalty machine with poor hands and slack defensive discipline.
I'm tempted with Thompstone as Malouf has made costly defensive errors in each game so far. Is he really fit though? I'd heard he was still a way from fitness.

On the basis that Kitchener is too lightweight, Fitzgerald doesnt offer much in the lineout and could be more of a 6, Wells is still young and on his way to becoming a first team regular and Touey was loaned to us by a Championship side!!!

I agree he gives away too many penalties and could be a little more streetwise but its probably because hes involved all of the time and doesnt shy away from anything. He's fighting for turnovers when others would be taking a breather on the edge of the ruck. IMO our best 2nd row (after Slater left) by some distance.

Plus there are lies, damn lies and there are statistics. I read that Toomua missed 5 tackles v Harlequins. Hes a brilliant defender and we have looked 10 times more solid in midfield as he gets used to the system.

Quote:

SK 88
Well for instance he gave away 5 penalties v Exeter link here, go to player stats then discipline if it doesn't open on right bit

               Bath    Saints   Glous   Quins   Exeter    Irish
Barrow         2         0        X       0       5         0
Other Lock     0         1        1       1       2         0

So 7 across 5 games v 5 across 7 games for the other locks. Not only that but (now this is pure opinion and presented as such) when he gives them away they come in bunches and are often for silly things rather than either reasonable gambles or actually worthwhile cynical penalties.

Mmmm, take that Exeter game out though and he's nothing special penalty wise. And bear in mind it was probably a means to an end against Exeter and we won the gane.

Seem to remember a certain MOJ gave away quite a few penalties!

Tuohy can be registered up until noon tomorrow (Tuesday).
Assuming he, Harrison, Kalamafoni and Williams are available my 23 would be

Veainu
May
Smith
Toomua
Tombstone

Ford
Youngs

Genge
Youngs
Cole
Barrow
Tuohy
Williams
O'Connor
Kalamafoni

McGuigan
Bateman
Cilliers
Wells
Hamilton
Harrison
Ford
Tait

Tuohy registered for Europe replacing Maksymiw!

As I just said on the offy, this game has me nervous for the first time in weeks, how we travel and perform will be a test of the teams cohesion as a group of players, get together and we can win. Some positive noises coming from the players, now we need to deliver on the undoubted potential this group has.

The main thing I'm looking for after last year is to fire some shots.

I just can't see us be as toothless in attack this year. I can see us being steam rollered, I don't think that will happen but its clearly a possibility, but at least with this team we're going to scare them at least a bit with the ball.