Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs

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Having been away for a couple of weeks and not up to date on injuries my team for tomorrow would be,
Sio, Norey, JIS, Daff, Zambo, Hoops, Roots, Tuima, Varney, Skinner, Henry, Len, Manny, Ridl, Woody. Bench - WGC, Dweebs, Painter, Tschuinza, Pearson, Cairns, WHW, PBB. But what do I know.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:05:29:10:38:51 by Chief Bert.

The Sarries game is the crucial one. Should we rest players for that one?

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Olly Woodburn

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Len Ikitau

11 Campbell Ridl

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Scott Sio

2 Max Norey

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

5 Andrea Zambonin

6 Tom Hooper

7 Ethan Roots

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Joseph Dweba

17 Ethan Burger

18 Bachuki Tchumbadze

19 Rusi Tuima

20 Christ Tshiunza

21 Tom Cairns

22 Zack Wimbush

23 Paul Brown-Bampoe

Leicester Tigers

15. George Pearson (12)
14. Adam Radwan (30)
13. Will Wand (37)
12. Orlando Bailey (25)
11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (73)
10. Charlie Titcombe (5)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (111)
1. Nicky Smith (43)
2. Jamie Blamire (23)
3. Joe Heyes (180)
4. George Martin (77)
5. Ollie Chessum © (83)
6. Hanro Liebenberg (149)
7. Tommy Reffell (154)
8. Joaquin Moro (27)

Replacements

16. Charlie Clare (146)
17. Archie van der Flier (23)
18. Will Hurd (76)
19. Cameron Henderson (83)
20. Hamish Watson (4)
21. Olly Cracknell (83)
22. Tom Whiteley (65)
23. Solomone Kata (55)

Match Officials

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Ian Tempest & Jamie Leahy
TMO: David Rose

Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday

Light cloud and a moderate breeze from the west
Temperature 20 degrees will feel like 21 degrees
Low chance of Precipitation

TV Coverage

Channel 409 TNT Sports 1 SD 1500 – 1800
Channel 432 TNT Sports 1 HD 1500 – 1800

I think our mental approach to the game is going to tell if we come away with any points. Tigers are in the hunt for a home playoff place and will be up for it. Can we meet the challenge or are our minds already on the Sarries game, especially as we have a 6 day turnaround?
A chiefs win would put us in a strong position but kniwing how good tigers were against saints then my glass, unfortunately, is less than half full
😔

Two strong squads. I am delighted that we have trusted in youth at 15 and 10.

As strong a team as we can put out.
Rob is acknowledging the tough task as Tigers are unbeaten at home this season.
Lets hope that Tigers - to quote Blackadder - 'forget to set their alarms'...and we catch them being complacent.
It could be a tough watch but you never know......we do have some considerable talent on offer!

Any points from this game will be a bonus, could be close but think they will be just too good for us, so Tigers 31 - 26 Chiefs

Hmmm...I'll go with cautious optimism. Leicester 25 Chiefs 30

I don't see us getting anything from this one given our away form & Tigers going full strength. Tigers 35 Ex 20

Hardly full strength with the 2 first choice Flyhalves missing, and our third choice having to play centre due to missing centres too.

I think we're sometimes guilty of underestimating the quality of our players. This is probably our strongest side, fully rested and with everything to play for.

If we can match their pack strength I think we stand a reasonable chance. Its probably a 50/50 call but im going to back the team.

Tigers 34 Chiefs 37

No worries, Tigg. I think the reference was more to do with what Tigers can deliver than actual players.
Unfortunately, 35:33 to Tigers

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Two bloody good sides, I think home advantage will do it with the Crumbie stand keeping the ref up to speed lol.

Two strong sides, if our forwards can gain an advantage we've a chance of getting something.

Tigers 32 Chiefs 26.

I can see this being an open game but they are strong so:
Leicester 38 - 31 Exeter

Tough gig 10 and 15 aside Tigers look v strong and have home advantage as well as the motivation of a possible home semi
The back 5 in each pack will probably be where the tone will be set early on….both formidable but Tigers second rows are incredible individually and even better as a combination plus Reffell jackalling and mr consistent Liebenberg…etc etc….that said Zambo and Daf have been brilliant for us and Tommy and Roots also excellent but need to keep their cool….and get Duracell Fisilau on the front foot…
Our backs MAY have a tiny advantage but they’ll need the ball and need to be precise…too many unforced errors of late….glad to see Zak W on the bench , I like WHW , Dan John and Hammers but size does matter and we may well need some big boshers late on against tired defenders
Still go with Tigers win but I’ll be pleased with a good performance, at least a point and no injuries !!

I cant see us getting much here so Tigers 32 - 26 Ex and I could be wrong(again)

Tigers are very inexperienced both at 10 and 15.
I think this will be a lot closer than most are expecting

Tigers 35 - 30 Chiefs

I think the game like all rugby games will be won with the team who gets domination upfront and at the breakdown, tigers going with a 6/2 split on the bench indicates to me they will be playing the power game. I think PBB is very unlucky not to start, we always look a better attacking threat when he starts. I see Rose is the TMO again lets hope he doesn’t contribute to any unnecessary forensic and tediuos interventions.
I do think we have a chance for a point or two if we play the running game and attack with ball in hand, however, Tigers are tough at home and they will remember the disappointing result at Sandy Park earlier in the season. Tigers 39 Chiefs 23. Great to see Zack on the bench a young man with a great future imo.

Tigers gunning for a home SF Tigers 31 - 25 Chiefs
🤞we can pick up an away point.

Quote:

Marjo20
Tigers are very inexperienced both at 10 and 15.
I think this will be a lot closer than most are expecting

[youtube.com]

I’m heading up to Welford Road and am hoping for a cracking match (ideally without David Rose’s participation). As others have said, it’s the battle up front that matters. We may be the underdogs, but I’m going to stick with my usual:
Tigers 26; Chiefs 31

Heart over head

Tigers 26 Chiefs 31

Expecting a fired up Chiefs side after the last game at the Big Stoop and Tigers win in the PRC final.

If we can get dominance in the Set Piece (like we did against Saints and yourselves in the Final) then fairly confident of a Home win but expect Exeter to get at least 2 points.

We will miss Freddie, Searle and JOC but every confidence in Pearson at FB.
Will be very interesting to see how Titcombe goes at 10, he has spent most of the season on loan in Japan with our partner club. It’s the right game to start him because if JOC & Searle aren’t back for the playoffs and should anything happen to Bailey we would be up a certain creek without a paddle!

Some great one on one battles tomorrow

Smith v JIS & Heyes v Sio in the scrum
Chessum & Martin v Daf & Zambonin
Cracknell v Fisilau
Liebenberg - Mr Reliable (in possibly his last home game) v Hooper
JVP v Varney
Wand (Tigers breakthrough player of the season) v Slade
Surprised to see IFW at 14!

Safe travels to anyone coming up for the game.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:05:29:15:42:00 by tigersimon.

Two quite evenly matched teams I would say, but Welford Rd is a very hard place to go when Tigers are on a roll. Chiefs are going to have to fight tooth and nail to get something out of the game. One of those matches that will be a huge springboard for this Chiefs team if they can squeak a win.

Tigers 31 Chiefs 35

We need a good performance and no injuries, the game may be decided by which team gives fewest penalties away and fewest cards. We need to avoid an arm wrestle with their pack, and Skinns and Slasde need to be much more tactically aware than the last match.I expect a lot of points and a win would be good. Leicester 29 Chiefs 34 .

[www.leicestertigers.com]

Tigers 37 - Chiefs 34

Quote:

Scottish Chief
Tigers gunning for a home SF Tigers 31 - 25 Chiefs
🤞we can pick up an away point.

Or 2 points on that scoreline🤞



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:05:29:22:19:53 by Chief10tank.

Tigs 32 chiefs 28

Tigers 27 - Chiefs 28

Tigers 32 Chiefs 26

Point or two even more important after Briz put the cat amongst the pigeons….

Will the Chiefs team that played Bath turn up or the one who lost to Quins? One would give us a good chance of victory the other would see us on the end of a bit of a beating!

I believe we have the edge in the backs, of we can get parity up front we may surprise a few people. A point would be a solid enough return leaving everything in our own hands. Tigers have to beat Bath to get second place regardless of our result, they may take it easy or make a few early subs to rest players, they like us have a short turnaround.

I'm going Tigers 34 Chiefs 31 which would suit me fine. Two points away from home at tigers is a good result.

I had originally thought that we could rest our first choice players then go all guns blazing at Sarries but I am glad the coaches know more than me as that Bristol result last night means that they could yet pip us and Sarries to the last spot.
That week's rest could be very useful for us although Tiggers had one as well,it looked like we needed the week off more than we did.
A point at least, maybe 2 or even 4 or 5 could be possible depending on which team turns up from us?
Hopefully no significant injuries 🙏

I do hate that we really haven't had the rub of the green with the short turnarounds the last couple of months and next weekends could be the most significant?
Unfortunately it does mean it's not a level playing for what could be a season defining match.....

Tigers 32 Chiefs 32

Tigers 34 Chiefs 27

As with the Bath game, more a hope than a prediction, Tigers 31 Chiefs 34

I may be being delusional, but I think that with that line-up and and bit of luck we might just be able to do this.
Tigers 30-31 Chiefs