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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 22/09/2011 13:07 by Stephen Bath.

Thanks Chris.

Thoroughly agree, this is a huge match. We can't afford to lose another before the Sarries match.

Excellent Preview.Well done.

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Thanks as ever, Chris. I'll be sampling a bit of Balearic sun over the next week, so I'll be relying on this board for the lowdown from both Kingston Park and NZ. Here's hoping for an improvement from both quarters.....

If you have internet, you could always watch online.
See the "New sites for live rugby links" thread.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2011 22:46 by Tiggs.

and if you subscribe to Sky you can watch the match on your laptop by using the free Skygo service.

Link Here

Thanks Chris - we were intending to travel very light, but now may consider taking the netbook. All depends what sort of wifi/network connection we can get. But certainly worth exploring as we already have Sky.

Unfortunately Sky do not offer that service to Mac users! Grrrrr!

Thanks Chris - another great preview - and kudos to you - never thought I'd read a rugby article that so brilliantly referenced GoT! Well played Sir!

I wonder if the reason Young has not been starting is that his injury in pre-season set his preparations and fitness back to the extent that he is only now approaching being ready for 80 minutes. I hope so - and hope we see him this week. It seems too good an opportunity to be missed to launch him against his former club and to bring any inside knowledge to bear. Unless of course, he has just not impressed in training?

On Chuter my feeling is that Allen or Hamilton should take the captaincy (with Skivington leading the forwards) and Hawkins starting. Chutes can then come on towards the death to bring experience and leadership when we have seemingly needed it most of late.

Oh and - 'Winter is coming!'

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Agreed about the captaincy, Allen could do a good job I think while Geordan is away.

Yes Winter is coming and so, next year, is a second series of GoT.

Young and Hawkins should start .IMHO neither Allen nor Hamilton have really stepped up to the plate in the opening games as players or leaders and I would probably give Salvi the captaincy . He's always close to the action and like most Aussies is not short of a word or two .Good, enjoyable read Chris .

Thanks James.

As usual I think you're being harsh on Allen but anyway the whole thing looks a bit harem scarum at the moment and maybe Salvi could do the job - somebody has to pull the side together - it's not a bad side on paper although as we agree (this has happened before I think!!) Young and Hawkins would add to the whole.

Interesting - I think Allen was probably Tigers' motm vs Exeter. Still...

I'm not sure you can select a captain on the basis that as an open-side he's close to the action. That, I would venture, is the very least one would expect of him. That he is voluble strikes me as a much better reason.

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Didn't see the Exeter match but he was a defensive bulwark against Wasps and linked well with Ford and Billy - I guess a more "managerial" role at the moment as a senior man in the backs.

'managerial' - a bit like a leader then?

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Oh yes - I guess so but in my experience not always

I sometimes despair of so called "managers" I encounter and have encountered - individuals who couldn't "manage" their way out of a paper bag.

Tony Allen, and as I speak as somebody who first saw him as a kid at Kingsholm (him not me! ) I think he's matured wonderfully since he's been at Tigers.

Against Wasps I saw him as a calming influence on his talented colleagues either side of him and when their youthful exuberances caused problems he was there in close support, which is wonderful for a young players as it let's them play without fear - so I can't agree with James that he's not stepped up to "the plate" it's just a different "plate".

Maybe I should have phrased it differently Chris - in this case managerial in a leadership senese...

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Indeed so.

Considering Wade's wonder try was at least in part caused by Allen drifting off Chuter and he also gave away 6 points in the second half, both to conced the lead I'm pretty surprised by the easy ride he is getting. Or perhaps I'm not considering who is saying it.

I also thought he was poor against Exeter, completely dominated by a pair of physical centres, much like Perpignan last year.

Chuter hasn't been playing well but Hawkins didn't really impress off the bench against Exeter, I'd rather wait untill Youngs is more at home and give him a go. He could be world class, Hawkins will never be more than a decent prem player.

I didn't see the Wasps game so I didn't see those errors. I assume there were no other msitakes in the game?

But against Ex - as I say - he was my motm - he went as well as anyone against their big carriers and he carried well himself - probing for space and keeping the ball alive - especially in the second half.

So - no easy ride - in my opinon he did well in the one game I've seen this term. The point of my initial comment on that was that it was my opinion. I didn't comment on the other though Chris' view differs, it seems, from yours.

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Quote:

SK88
....he also gave away 6 points in the second half

True but I've taken the trouble to go back and look at both incidents.

In the first the ball had actually been cleared from the breakdown and Allen got a push from behind and stumbled into Berry and knocked the ball out of his hand - not Allen's fault and a harsh call from Mr Small.

In the second Allen was perfectly positioned but Berry pulled him, by his shirt, around to the side and into the ruck - another harsh call.