With a well earned win last week away to the Wasps going into this weekends LV cup game at Headingley I’m sure we all feel a little better about our chances this season. Obviously the team that has being picked for Sunday is a lot different to last weeks. But for the Academy players this is a positive thing; this cup tournament can test them without the Premiership pressure.
I feel the team chosen is a very good mix of youth, experienced and fringe players that will give them valuable game time at the highest level. I’m personally looking forward to see how young Joe Ford does especially against his younger brother, I’m sure he’ll get quality ball from Mathie so lets hope he and the other youngsters shows us some magic.
There’s also the little subject that Neil back Andy Key will be facing their old club - not on the pitch for Backy (I bet he wish was); he’ll be tucked away in the stands, I’m sure they have being looking forward to this day since they both left the Midlands for Gods Country and will not be happy if their team does not turn up on the day.
Leicester however are also putting a slightly “inexperienced” team out on Sunday due to their big game against the Boks on Friday at Wellford Road and star players in the EPS. Leicester too are on the back of good form as usual with a good win over the Saints last week and also will be confident about their current rugby.
Unfortunately there will be no Gomez and Castrogiovanni battle on Sunday, which I was looking forward to but hopefully there will be one later on in the year.
I think this game is very winnable for us. It will be very tough as always but a win will inject further confidence into the squad. I’m sure it will be a good game on Sunday that we will hopefully win and see more stars of the future that we will keep this time around!
Could one of you tech guys tell me if this match will be on radio. Can't make it yet again getting very frustrated that's two matches in a row I've missed.
Having chosen to play South Africa last night, surely they should not have been allowed to take loan players on for this fixture. Nottingham have certainly had a bum deal this wekend, losing players for this, and havong to play their home game against Exeter at Leicester 'cos their landlords played an FA Cup game at home last night.
Leicester are only doing what we are - giving some of the fringe/young players a chance to stake their claim for a first team squad place. Better to play these players than 1st teamers who need a break (ours). Should be a good contest with a narrow win for the 'Neegs.
No offence chaps but if we have to loan our captain to Leicester then I'd much prefer it to be against South Africa than on a making up numbers cup game today. Just hope he gets through it all without injury, although after friday nights performance I'd be annoyed and surprised if he starts.Plus he's supposed to be captaining the Barbarians on wednesday.
The extremes of dual registered/loan arrangents have certainly come to a head this weekend - International call ups, Leicester with lots of injuries, Nottingham with lots of injuries, losing their dual registered players and loaning them 2 other players. All on a weekend when the top 2 teams were playing each other - hence the scorline yesterday.
This ridiculous 8 team play off structure makes a mockery of the league - I know you will think you'd be better than Bristol who may well get promoted by not finishing top and in theory Exeter could win every league game and still not go up.
The Champoinship is indeed a mess. How you can have an 8 team playoff in a 12 team league is beyond me - especially as finishing top or 8th still means you play a quarter finel, then semi to get to the final - there's no real advantage or need to finish top.
' Just hope he gets through it all without injury, although after friday nights performance I'd be annoyed and surprised if he starts.'
He didn't get injured ,but he was his usual nasty self. As one tiggers fan, who did not know who he was, said to me after the game, 'our no.6 looked like a bit of a loose cannon'.
I have posted on another thread how I felt Nottingham had a bum deal this weekend, it just shows, unfortunately, how much the Championship means to those in power.
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