Teams Up: Gloucester v Saints

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I like the look of that! Although I'm still convinced Piers is a 12 and Hutch 13 but they're not really fixed by short numbers.

Slightly concerned on Matavesi's arrows against a Glos team that will look to be strong in that area but he's great around the field with Mikey to come on later - perhaps the better option than the younger guy coming on with a game in the balance and potentially starting with a high pressure throw!

COYS!

Where did Riketts post go??

Gloucester Rugby team:

15. Jason Woodward
14. Santiago Carreras
13. Billy Twelvetrees
12. Mark Atkinson
11. Ollie Thorley
10. Lloyd Evans
9. Willi Heinz

1. Val Rapava-Ruskin
2. Henry Walker
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Matt Garvey
5. Matias Alemanno
6. Jordy Reid
7. Lewis Ludlow (c)
8. Ruan Ackermann



16. Todd Gleave

17. Jamal Ford-Robinson

18. Ciaran Knight *

19. Alex Craig *

20. Jamie Gibson

21. Charlie Chapman *

22. Tom Seabrook *

23. Kyle Moyle

No back row cover and no Tom Wood on the bench. Strange.
Only possibility I can see is that they only found out so late that he was available that they thought it would upset what had been done in training. Even so I would have thought with his experience and a back row shortage, a bench position woud have been sensible.

I believe that was my prediction. Lottery numbers guys are

6 11 23 26 31 45

I believe Tom is still suspended

Quote:

StBuckby
I believe that was my prediction. Lottery numbers guys are
6 11 23 26 31 45

You git, I am going to have to buy a bloody ticket now!!!

Other than Courtney missing this looks to be our strongest 15 with all fit.

I would have expected Ace and Harry on the bench if fit.

Quote:

Neil-H

Quote:

StBuckby
I believe that was my prediction. Lottery numbers guys are
6 11 23 26 31 45

You git, I am going to have to buy a bloody ticket now!!!

Hahaha

Quote:

saint krige
Where did Riketts post go??

That would be my fault

Can't wait for the commentator gaff. Ludlam vs Ludlow battle of the 7s.

Great to have a game to watch!

If we get really stuck with injuries can we borrow Gibbo back? Good to see him even if it is in the wrong colours. Likewise Jamal F-R.

Coles is predominantly a 6 isn't he? Pretty sure Ribbans could make a decent fist of it in the back row if needed too, hasn't he played 6 on occasion?

That's a decent looking Glos team on paper, should be a great game.

I'm looking forward to seeing whether commentators, Tweeters and the BBC can keep Ludlam and Ludlow straight, they seem to struggle even when they're not on the same pitch! Apparently they both get loads of Tweets after games saying you were great or rubbish based on the other one!

Quote:

LeicesterSaint
If we get really stuck with injuries can we borrow Gibbo back? Good to see him even if it is in the wrong colours. Likewise Jamal F-R.
Coles is predominantly a 6 isn't he? Pretty sure Ribbans could make a decent fist of it in the back row if needed too, hasn't he played 6 on occasion?

That's a decent looking Glos team on paper, should be a great game.

I'm looking forward to seeing whether commentators, Tweeters and the BBC can keep Ludlam and Ludlow straight, they seem to struggle even when they're not on the same pitch! Apparently they both get loads of Tweets after games saying you were great or rubbish based on the other one!

Ribeye can play 6 or 8. There’s plenty of versatility in the pack.

Re Tom Wood - Premiership announced suspension weeks now include cancelled fixtures (see thread below 'Can Woody Play this weekend) so Wood should be able to play - or iniquitous inequality being applied.

Tei injured but back rowers not injured so not considered good enough for a place on the bench, include: JJ Tonks, Tui Uru, Ollie Newman - all of whom are 20 years old or younger so understandable. But with Isiekwe back to Sarries next year and Wood possibly retiring we now look seriously short of experienced back rows for next season. A requiremnt I'm sure our coaches and CEO are working on.

Quote:

StBuckby
I believe that was my prediction. Lottery numbers guys are
6 11 23 26 31 45

Good call Buckby!

Quote:

Opinion8ed
But with Isiekwe back to Sarries next year and Wood possibly retiring we now look seriously short of experienced back rows for next season. A requiremnt I'm sure our coaches and CEO are working on.

I'm pretty sure they're all over this. Didn't they say when NI was brought in they were looking for a Brussow replacement but nobody available?

Good team. Come on you Saints!!

Harry not on the injured list. What's the situation?

Is there anyone in the Gloucester side which would worry someone?

Not so sure a Francis-Hutchinson pairing will be terribly strong defensively.

Their back 3 can’t kick..... I’d be banging it in behind them all day

Big ask from the forwards to get us on the front foot and push Gloucester back.
But if we can and Mitchell gets quick ball to DB we should win.

I can see Francis and Hutch switching throughout the match depending on attack or defense.

Atkinson may be a threat in the centres but with Hutch getting defensive support from Francis and Proctor, we should be fine.

No disrespect meant but Freeman on the bench could be ominous for the likes of Harry, Ace and Collins. Hope he's in on merit as it can't be due to rotation and no mention of relevant injuries.

Also, great news for James following his recent match form.

No Franks, odd.

I'd say Francis is our best defensive option in the center?
I recon he's pretty good at organising the defence as well, OK, he's not likely to be smashing glos backwards, but whom from our centers would be?

Quote:

Saint Gordo
Is there anyone in the Gloucester side which would worry someone?
Not so sure a Francis-Hutchinson pairing will be terribly strong defensively.

Id disagree about Piers, he lays his life on the line all the time, its why he always gets concussed, he might not be the biggest center out there, but he definitely plays like he is, think he is possibly our most under rated player.... not saying our best but under rated and I always think the team is stronger when he is playing.

Quote:

saint krige
No Franks, odd.

The selection looks good. Rugby at last! COYS!!!

But it's interesting u raise this Krige. After a 4 week break and not being injured I don't get the non-selection of a 100 cap All Black. Is that suggesting he is third choice?

Woody is still banned - the anomaly being that his ban was issued by EPCR as it was during an European game and not the RFU.

I believe that clarification is being sought still.

Quote:

Saint Maul

Quote:

saint krige
No Franks, odd.

The selection looks good. Rugby at last! COYS!!!

But it's interesting u raise this Krige. After a 4 week break and not being injured I don't get the non-selection of a 100 cap All Black. Is that suggesting he is third choice?

My two penny worth here but for me Paul is our form 3 and Owen rarely shows anything to justify his selection. Ethans last action was to give away the penalty against Bristol and we don’t know how he was affected by that, but not having featured since iirc there is a point where for his confidence he needs to get back on the pitch - and in his debut form when he first came on against Tigs then he is a force to be reckoned with and needs nurturing for the future.

Sorry to be a pain but, Ehren.

I do think it’s bizarre that Franks, who I believe is one of our marquee signings, can’t even make the bench when fully fit ?!!

Ferguson was singing his praises on the Saints show recently, and I’m sure he can is a very sound bloke, but we’re using a lot of salary cap for a top notch prop on the pitch - not just a role model for the youngsters off it !

Just seems weird ... ?

I was wrong about Franks, I couldn’t see a 100 cap all black being this underwhelming, it’s disappointing.

Still, he has time to make amends.

Ehren is a work in progress but such a strong guy, really hope he continues to develop and I’m sure he’s learnt a tough lesson from Bristol.

Quote:

StBuckby

Quote:

Neil-H

Quote:

StBuckby
I believe that was my prediction. Lottery numbers guys are
6 11 23 26 31 45

You git, I am going to have to buy a bloody ticket now!!!

Hahaha

Ticket brought for tomorrow, as cant be tonight, you needed 7 numbers

Good articles on the BBC showing how Saints are dealing with Covid, shows that Tom is still training so can only assume his ban still stands. Interesting though that they appear to think that Piers is an International scrum Half!!!!
[url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55842111]
Like the look of the team and thing Francis and Hutchinson will chop and change depending upon attack and defence and how much pressure Dan is under.
I may be wrong - according to my other half I am most of the time! - but I have a feeling selection may also be determined by Covid, we don't know who (unless I've missed it) tested positive so these players may not be injured but not be 100% match fit.

Quote:

Teabag
Good articles on the BBC showing how Saints are dealing with Covid, shows that Tom is still training so can only assume his ban still stands. Interesting though that they appear to think that Piers is an International scrum Half!!!!
[url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55842111]
Like the look of the team and thing Francis and Hutchinson will chop and change depending upon attack and defence and how much pressure Dan is under.
I may be wrong - according to my other half I am most of the time! - but I have a feeling selection may also be determined by Covid, we don't know who (unless I've missed it) tested positive so these players may not be injured but not be 100% match fit.

Thats a good point. Franks (and others) may not be involved for a number of reasons. Perhaps some are isolating which they may not release as being "unavailable" for privacy reasons?

If we win tomorrow

1. We leapfrog Tigers

2. We go top half (Wasps beat Quins)

3. If we win and they get a LBP we will be 10 points from bottom



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:00:03:35 by StBuckby.

Fair point. Our front row are in pods i believe so if one goes down all 3 can.

This is a critical must-win game. If we win, we can start to think about mid-table. If we lose, we are looking at the bottom feeders.

Even if Frank's is involved, its usually from the bench and his contribution has been minimal to date. Its unfortunate but suggest to many miles on the clock or came to late to the premiership to adjust and the club should look at ways to move him on at end of season to free up salary cap.

I guess after 100 solid caps he ain’t what he used to be. We really need a whole new front row.

And some back rows, and a 12 or 13 with some size.

It would be interesting to know what Franks is being paid. I bet we could get an Ollie Lawrence and another TH for the same money.

Big game for both clubs. Covid results give a bit of a false view of where we are. We have still lost something like 18 of our last 20 games. Flaws are if anything even worse than us but on paper like us should be better than they are. Whoever loses this are not in a good place at all.