HEC QF: RC Toulon vs Leicester Tigers, Sun 7 April 3:30pm (Irish time)

thomond2006

The Toulon side lines out as expected, the only real point of contention was in the backrow where Van Niekerk can only make the bench and Roussouw doesn't make the squad. Rocky Elsom has yet to make an appearance for the club.

This is a massive game for the club and the town, backs coach Pierre Mignoni has described the buildup to the match to be at a similar level to their victory over Munster a few seasons back. The town is pulling out all the stops with a "H Cup village" event taking place over Saturday and Sunday, where all the quarter-finals will be broadcasted on a 'big screen'.

Toulon certainly have the capability to go far in this competition, but Leicester will come to Mayol with the pressure off. Like the Munster match, this quarter-final is very much a marquee fixture for the much maligned RCT. A team with the likes of Hayman, Giteau, Bakkies Botha and Fernandez Lobbe should be able to go far in this competition but Toulon have a habit of slipping up when it comes to crunch knockout games. Leicester are regular fixtures in the Premiership playoffs so they possess the so called "cup final mentality". If that mentality is worth anything, then they'll need it in this game.

In terms of who I'm supporting, it will be Toulon's 1-14; 16-23.

thomond2006

Leicester Tigers:
15 Mathew Tait, 14 Niall Morris, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 Toby Flood (c), 9 Ben Youngs,
8 Jordan Crane, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 George Ford, 23 Matt Smith.

Big game for Niall Morris!

P_1

I thought Lobbe was basically FUBARed for the season with some spleen injury?

thomond2006

P_1 wrote: »

I thought Lobbe was basically FUBARed for the season with some spleen injury?

ruptured spleen :eek:

Lobbe's a freak, I'd say he recovers fast in general. He came back early from a cruciate ligament injury after the last World Cup as well IIRC.

P_1

thomond2006 wrote: »

ruptured spleen :eek:

Lobbe's a freak, I'd say he recovers fast in general. He came back early from a cruciate ligament injury after the last World Cup as well IIRC.

Ouch :eek:

He has some metabolism I'll give him that

monkeybutter

thats some front row right there, the whole pack is fearsome

ireland01

How far away from ireland squad is morris?? or does have a chance while playing oversees?, seems a good player!

vienne86

You sure this match is at 3.30 Irish time? It's 5.30 French time.....I make that 4.30 Irish time.

thomond2006

vienne86 wrote: »

You sure this match is at 3.30 Irish time? It's 5.30 French time.....I make that 4.30 Irish time.

My mistake, thanks!

CatFromHue

ireland01 wrote: »

How far away from ireland squad is morris?? or does have a chance while playing oversees?, seems a good player!

My understanding is that Morris is only establishing or trying to establish himself at Leicester. Given that all the other competition on the wing for Ireland get to play week in week out I think Morris isn't on the radar yet.

English Lurker

CatFromHue wrote: »

My understanding is that Morris is only establishing or trying to establish himself at Leicester. Given that all the other competition on the wing for Ireland get to play week in week out I think Morris isn't on the radar yet.

This is his break through season really, he looks rather useful. An Ireland player? I'm not seeing it. He's a useful player, and I suspect he'll not be short of offers to move home at the end of his contract, but he doesn't seem to have that extra touch of brilliance.

pickarooney

Tempted to head to Toulon to watch these matches on the big screen. I'll see if anyone from the club is heading over later.

irishbucsfan

English Lurker wrote: »

This is his break through season really, he looks rather useful. An Ireland player? I'm not seeing it. He's a useful player, and I suspect he'll not be short of offers to move home at the end of his contract, but he doesn't seem to have that extra touch of brilliance.

Yeah I agree.

I would love him at Leinster and I hope he comes back.

But I don't see him as a future international. I think if he was a bit quicker or a bit bigger he might have that sort of future.

CIARAN_BOYLE

ireland01 wrote: »

How far away from ireland squad is morris?? or does have a chance while playing oversees?, seems a good player!

Good player. Thing is Ireland are pretty decent on the wings with Zebo, Bowe, Gilroy, Trimble McFadden and Fitzgerald available. Had Morris more time at 15 then he might be in a decent position since after Kearney we don't really have any good options but Morris is playing 14 for Leicester.

thomond2006

ALLEZ RCT!!!!!

.ak

I need some tries to sate my lust. Hope this is a cracker.

razorblunt

Haven't seen much of Leicester this seen, but that backline is poor.

awec

What's the story with your man with the mic there?

razorblunt

awec wrote: »

What's the story with your man with the mic there?

Oggie oggie oggie oy oy oy au francaise.

Podge_irl

French winger doing a bit of acting there.

.ak

Haha, croft is a beast.

mrsoundie

This could get dirty.

.ak

awec wrote: »

What's the story with your man with the mic there?

They do it at every game, not sure what's the craic with it.

mrsoundie

.ak wrote: »

They do it at every game, not sure what's the craic with it.

A lazy french Haka.

Swan Curry

You know what I care about?Rugby.
You know what I don't care about?The lineup of the Newcastle Falcons team band.

razorblunt

Good start by Leicester, Armitage vocal.

beertons

What's the score?

awec

beertons wrote: »

What's the score?

0-3

.ak

Poor call, through the gate.

.ak

0-6 croft had been immense

thomond2006

Leicester superb so far

decisions

I was wondering how long it was going to take them to bring up the ulster game.

Podge_irl

This is very quickly getting away from Toulon.

decisions

Now that was a world class kick.

awec

Leicester well on top here.

mrsoundie

I do believe that Sky are having an orgasm for this match, more to the point for Leicester.

shuffol

Looked a harsh pen.

JustinDee

Soapy Masoe's handling hasn't improved then. Leicester doing very well and shutting crowd up too.

matthew8

I prefer Flood to Farrell.

shuffol

Brilliant from Tait, Flood put off by the offside runner.

its_phil

Some run by Tait

razorblunt

Great stuff from Tait there, no panic.

thomond2006

How good was that from Tait?

.ak

How did Clancy get this game? Amazed that Owens and Rolland weren't considered

awec

Flood yellow.

JustinDee

.ak wrote: »

How did Clancy get this game? Amazed that Owens and Rolland weren't considered

They did games yesterday. Appointments were made after end of group stages.

awec

Very harsh declaring advantage over there, no?

thomond2006

whew close shave there

thomond2006

Massive 10 minutes here, Toulon need to make something of them.

Pudsy33

Lovely passage of play leading to chat penalty

thomond2006

6-9