Pre-season games.

[Puja]

Saints, like Tigers, have for some reason put stupid electronic noise over the highlights.

Christ, first the neon shirts, now bloopy beepy noises. Are Saints just determined to take Tiger's poor decision and show that they can make them bigger and worse!?

Puja

[twitchy]

Excited to see what bodilly can do at 15, he looked top quality in the sevens.

[Raggs]

Wasps Ulster is available on YouTube on Ulsters channel. Wasps defence certainly seems to have a lot more bite. Apparently the defence coach wasn't around last pre-season.

[Banquo]

Excited to see what bodilly can do at 15, he looked top quality in the sevens.

Is Bodilly fluid?

[Adam_P]

15 Ben Foden (capt)
14 Jamie Elliott
13 Ahsee Tuala
12 Luther Burrell
11 Tom Collins
10 Piers Francis
9 Nic Groom
1 Campese Ma'afu
2 Charlie Clare
3 Jamal Ford-Robinson
4 David Ribbans
5 James Craig
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Mitch Eadie

Replacements
Forwards - Dylan Hartley, Alex Waller, Kieran Brookes, Paul Hill, Michael Paterson, Reece Marshall, Christian Day, Ben Nutley, Teimana Harrison
Backs - Alex Mitchell, James Grayson, Rory Hutchinson, Tom Stephenson, Juan Pablo Estelles, George Furbank, Harry Mallinder

A very light but very mobile back row for Saints tomorrow. Interested to see Tuala at 13, haven't seen him in outside of the back 3 yet

[Scrumhead]

Quins side to play Jersey Reds:

1. Lambert
2. Buchanan
3. Collier
4. Glynn
5. Horwill
6. Robshaw
7. Ward
8. Clifford
9. Care
10. Smith
11. Walker
12. Saili
13. Marchant
14. Yarde
15. Brown

Subs from: Elia, Gray, Boyce, Swainston, South, Merrick, White, Luamanu, Mulchrone, Lang, Roberts, Stanley, Visser

I'm off to the game and I'm excited to see Smith with Saili and Marchant in midfield.

Might be a bit sketchy in d, but that could be a lovely attacking lineup.

[Mikey Brown]

Aye. Excited by that. Really hope Saili can make an impression and offer Smith some room to move by attacking the line.

Also interesting to see if we stick with Clifford at 8 this season now Wallace is gubbed. Ward is often pretty effective at 7 but we've got Chisholm who could step in at 8 too.

[Scrumhead]

Aye. Excited by that. Really hope Saili can make an impression and offer Smith some room to move by attacking the line.

Also interesting to see if we stick with Clifford at 8 this season now Wallace is gubbed. Ward is often pretty effective at 7 but we've got Chisholm who could step in at 8 too.

Yeah - same here. I'd prefer a back row of 6. Robshaw 7. Clifford 8. Chisholm but I'm not sure Kingston sees it that way.

I think Wallace's injury probably means Ward is now considered a 7 for this season and Gray and Elia will cover hooker.

[Scrumhead]

No massive surprises from the game.

Smith looked lively and had some good moments including a nice try. Saili was probably our best back and was always dangerous. Marchant was anonymous though so I'm wondering whether that was down to Saili hogging the ball to some extent? I can't knock him because he made a number of good breaks, but it does make me question that combination.

[Mellsblue]

Bedford 18 v 55 Sarries

The score was 18 v 36 with 20 mins to go. Pretty much first choice Sarries team minus the Lions. Unfortunately, I missed it due to driving at illegal speeds to get across France to catch the Chunnel, only to spend 90mins and counting in queues.

[Tigersman]

Tigers game.

We looked very good but had laspes that led to some easy tries.

Ben White looks like he might be the real dea scored two tries looked very aware of what is on and not on.

So happy mulipola is back him Genge and McGuigan is a very good carrying front row.

[Beasties]

Big fan of Mulipola, you have some serious go forward in your front row.

[Puja]

Is Mulipola being seen mainly as a 3 this year? I like the idea of having him as the finisher behind Cole, but that would mean that Bateman would need to be our loosehead replacement and I've always thought he was better at tight.

Puja

[Tigersman]

Is Mulipola being seen mainly as a 3 this year? I like the idea of having him as the finisher behind Cole, but that would mean that Bateman would need to be our loosehead replacement and I've always thought he was better at tight.

Puja

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport ... own-257914

[Puja]

Is Mulipola being seen mainly as a 3 this year? I like the idea of having him as the finisher behind Cole, but that would mean that Bateman would need to be our loosehead replacement and I've always thought he was better at tight.

Puja

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport ... own-257914

Useful knowledge, thanks.

Puja

[Beasties]

Few days after the event, but Wasps had a decent first hit out against Ulster on Thursday night. Lovobalavu looks the part, skillful, elusive and solid. Willis looked at home at this level.

The most impressive thing about Wasps was the big step up in their defence, much more in your face than I've seen for a long long time. Also clearout work has stepped up a level from last season. Early days but signs of improvement are there.

[jimKRFC]

Bristols preseason going ok so far, two interceptions cost us a draw against Quins, 3 points from Bath and last minute try cost a draw against Scarlets. Apparently the Glaws imports doing well, as is Morahan and Reis Cullan (9). Playing a very different style to the last few years so should only get better!

Worcester lost to Moseley though, and scrapped past Hartpury so not too promising for them so far!

[Gloskarlos]

Glaws got stuffed against Leinster, our only pre-season so far. We played a different XV for each half, difficult to glean much from the match really. More of a showing for Ackerman to decide where to apply the lions share of his attention I think.

[Puja]

It's interesting just how little game-time a lot of players are getting in pre-season. Glaws and Wasps have had only one game so far, Quins and Tigers haven't played some of our summer signings. I was under the expectation that players (especially new signings) would benefit from having game-time together and that no amount of training prepared you for the real thing, but clearly the DoRs are thinking differently.

Am I the only one surprised by this?

Puja

[Gloskarlos]

i'm slightly concerned but Ackerman only showed up recently due to the SA season finale. Not sure how much thumb twiddling has gone on waiting for the new direction to take over, a couple of our new signings have not been given any game time yet certainly, and Exeter at home in just 12 days! I fear our best xv will be unknown for quite a while.

[Puja]

I fear our best xv will be unknown for quite a while.

{Bites back sarky comment about business as usual for Glaws}

Puja

[Gloskarlos]

since when have you bitten back?

everything does smack of business as usual, with the rose tinted hint that MAYBE an new coach MAYBE just MIGHT be able to do something with this group.....

[JellyHead]

It's interesting just how little game-time a lot of players are getting in pre-season. Glaws and Wasps have had only one game so far, Quins and Tigers haven't played some of our summer signings. I was under the expectation that players (especially new signings) would benefit from having game-time together and that no amount of training prepared you for the real thing, but clearly the DoRs are thinking differently.

Am I the only one surprised by this?

Puja

Perhaps it is just a further evolution of DoRs getting teams to peak for the final part of the season by keeping key players fresher.

[Raggs]

Wasps had a later finish than a few other clubs.

[Tigersman]

Leicester Tigers squad (v Ospreys, Welford Road, Friday 7.45pm)

Forwards: Dom Barrow, Greg Bateman, Ben Betts, Will Evans, Mike Fitzgerald, Ellis Genge, Luke Hamilton, Sione Kalamafoni, Jake Kerr, Graham Kitchener, Joe Maksymiw, Valentino Mapapalangi, Logovi’i Mulipola, Brendon O’Connor, Dominic Ryan, Harry Thacker, Kyle Traynor, Harry Wells, Mike Williams, Tom Youngs.

Backs: Tom Brady, George Ford, Joe Ford, Sam Harrison, Jonah Holmes, Nick Malouf, Jonny May, Matt Smith, Charlie Thacker, Matt Toomua, Manu Tuilagi, Mathew Tait, Telusa Veainu, Ben White, Ben Youngs.

Looks like White has become Tigers 3rd choice 9 which i am very happy about if that is the case.

Both him and Charlie Thacker have seem to be impressed this off season in the backs.

Wonder if Betts is viewed as our 3rd choice TH? Wonder if Munster are keeping an eye on him.