Time for Leeds Carnegie to set out their stall
By Gelbel
October 31 2013
The third month of the championship offers up a tasty fixture list with the current first and second placed teams in the league visiting Headingley. We'll soon discover how good our young team is and how we compare to the pace setters. The first offering is a lick-smacking encounter against the unbeaten (in the league), table toppers London Welsh.
In the last round they stuffed Cornish Pirates at the Kassam and before that ran out narrow winners at Rotherham. So what do London Welsh have which others don't and what can Leeds do to get the win at Headingley? Fresh from relegation, the exiles have retained a lot of their premiership side and have recruited well. It makes a change for Leeds to have kept the majority of last season's squad and our own recruits are settling in well. They have the evergreen Gordon Ross who directs his troops well. Glyn Hughes is capable of matching him but must take his place-kicking opportunities if Leeds are to come away victorious. I'd start with Hughes as I feel Alex Lozowski is too inexperienced for this match. I know people will say he won't get experience without playing but Leeds can't afford to slip up and must play their best team with crucial matches against equally strong opposition coming up.
Putting out our best team means we'll see a delicious battle between Phil Nilsen and Andy Titterell - which I am sure both hookers and the Headingley faithful are looking forward to. I'd make a couple of changes to the starting line-up we saw at Moseley - Hannay starting for Smith for more grunt and nouse and Griffin for Lucock. To be honest I'd rather have Barker on the bench than Lucock - that's if he's not been shipped back to Doncaster. We are going to be without Jonah Holmes who is back with Wasps for the Autumn internationals. I suspect Oli Goss will get the nod in his place. However, I’d be tempted to start with Rob Martey. This is contrary to my thoughts on lack of experience – as his position is much less pivotal than fly-half, I think his size makes for more effective tackling and he’s a speedster.
The starting fifteen will want to overcome the lack-lustre performance from last week. All great teams have an off game once in a while and we should be glad Leeds had one against one of the weaker teams in the competition. It will have taught them a lesson. This week Leeds cannot afford to try to play 'clever' rugby which leads to unnecessary errors and turnover ball, nor give away needless penalties as London Welsh execute the basics well; their demolition of the Pirates was due taking what was offered on a plate and not offering up any mistakes of their own.
And here is my bête noir (sorry I if I sound like a stuck record) - despite Moseley fans saying otherwise, the referee last week (apart from not being very good full stop) gave many calls against Leeds. Jacob Rowan must speak to the ref and tell his team why they are being penalised. If they know why they can make changes, or at least be seen to be trying, which may make a difference in the ref's mind if he has to make judgement calls and that may be worth a few points in Leeds' favour.
In terms of heads to heads it's seven wins to five in favour to Leeds. It's going to be a close game; the victor will be the team who makes fewer mistakes and take the chances offered to them. I've not been to HC since the Budgies semi-final, which is just about six months ago and, certainly, too long ago. If our boys play at the level and intensity we saw on that day back in May, I'm going to call a narrow victory for Leeds at fortress Headingley. See you there – I can’t wait.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:16:07:14:45 by Wildwillie .
Sadly we will have to follow on Twitter
I have fond memories of our games against the Exiles. Particularly down at the Old Deer Park.
Somehow we seem to raise our game against them, it could be a G Ross effect. We need to raise our game again on Sunder. The type of performance, as was, at Moseley, simply will not do. I think we will go up a notch or two and I expect a hard fought, close game, with Welsh losing their unbeaten record.
I'm hoping that with our new attractive style of play, and renewed confidence the stay away crowd will turn up for this game. The contest between Plug and T*tts will be worth the admission alone.
As long as we play to our potential and get on the right side of the ref I think we'll win.
Holmes is a massive loss though, big game for Olli Goss if selected.
AND, if he is not injured, don't replace Plug during the game, the line out goes to pot when he goes off.
Narrow victory for Leeds I think.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
As to this Sunday's game it will be hard to predict, that said however, as you guys have home advantage that could/should be the deciding factor regarding the result.
Like all teams at any level and ability we play HOT, sometimes VERY HOT as well as sometimes COLD, even VERY COLD This game though should ignite both teams to deliver. Very much looking forward to Sunday. BRING IT ON. PADDYTAF
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
I hope someone absolutely smashes titts, no more than he deserves.
big test for leeds and we need a big performance of quality rugby played in the right areas.
scrum time will we massive, win that and win the game
I hope someone absolutely smashes titts, no more than he deserves.
big test for leeds and we need a big performance of quality rugby played in the right areas.
scrum time will we massive, win that and win the game
JDH. I have a funny feeling that perhaps you and who knows maybe others at LEEDS CARNEGIE don't like Andy Titterrell. All i can say about Andy is that i was speaking to him at a Q&A at ODP and to be perfectly honest found him to be very approachable and a nice guy.
As i have said in my post, Sunday's game is going to be really tough and we LONDON WELSH will have the utmost respect for you guys. You have a good coach and great set-up in Headingley and are most certainly one of the four teams who will be in the play-offs, of that there is no doubt. Good luck on Sunday (well sort of good luck anyway) as i've already said, can't wait. "C'MON YOU WELSH" PADDYTAF.
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:01:10:29:01 by paddytaf.
Loz v Ross
ASBO v Titts
Wacker v Browne
Stevie v Jewell
Will be a huge game and will be squeaky.......
As for Titts, my first season of regular attendance at Leeds was his last here and I'm going to keep my opinions of him to myself as I don't want to give him any extra motivation!
out of interest what do the LW fans think of Browne??
Should be a good game, all he best
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
If I had all the money I've spent on drink ..... I'd spend it on drink.
If I had all the money I've spent on drink ..... I'd spend it on drink.
However, I would take issue with a couple of comments. I think Luckock fully deserves his place ahead of Griffin. To be honest Griffin has dissappointed. Granted he does the occassional good thing but he's far too inconsistent. Luckock partnering Burdon (consistently good) every time for me at the moment but I suppose each to his own.
As far as Martey is concerned he does have great pace and is strong but from what I saw in the game he played (against weak opposition) he lost the ball in contact far too often. At Championship level errors like that will be severely punished. Nowhere near ready yet.
Finally, in a game like today I think it's got to be Lozzer jut for his higher % goalkicking. Could be crucial.
Just personal points of view of course. I fancy us for a win today.