EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter Final v LOU Sat April 12th at 5.30pm

As you say easy to pass comment from the stand but the stand out issue was playing too much in our own half against a dominant defence and not building the score. But lessons can be learned in defeat. We have to build next years squad to go with a 6/2 bench which makes a utility back an important signing. Lyon showed it is about squad depth and rotation. We are probably two to three players short of this at the moment to rotate effectively and with Tips and probably Beard going that becomes four or five

It will take a lot to match the T14 sides. Racing beat Connacht with 14 men for 70 minutes.

At the game you could see how well organised their defence was. Trying to play loose and fast they would have won by ten to fifteen ponds. They gave us no option other than to play tight because of the excellence of their defence. They were also very strong and physical at the breakdown. You never get fast ball when the other sides win the collisions.

Yes as we said at HT why did we not take the scrum option, if there was one facet of play that we had better than parity it was there. I noticed in Mark's PC he didn't undermine Jac for taking the lineout option. Too many coaches would have taken that option, you have to hand it to Lyon for their defence and as some have said with the money that Lyon have compared to us that was a very creditable performance from us. I just hope some of the injuries don't derail our season by having to miss the next 2 matches in particular.

Yes, this was my impression as well

You need to bear in mind they have the third most expensive squad in France and the fourth in Europe. They can rotate and still be very strong.

Going to be a good game hopefully. Are you going to the Squidge session before the game?

No won’t get there until just before kick off

There are 13 starters from last week and 5 from the bench in that group, so 9 additions it will be more informative if many of their 9 actually start this game. We haven't long to wait, I can't see us making many changes.

The 27 is likely to have surplus front row and scrum half so I imagine there will be 18 on the 23 but the split between starters and bench from last week won’t be 13/8.

Edit looks like 14 of last week’s 23

Lavanini pretty much guarantees a yellow card though.

I would rest Morse, bring in Ratti if fit and select two of the three scrum-halves on how they perform this week. Will Sam Parry or Ethan Lewis be fit? There is a case for starting with Owen Williams at 12 for better control and game management but Kieran is playing really well.

I can see the attraction of a 6 - 2 bench split but it would need really fit and in-form forwards competing for places and I don't think we are quite there yet.

Props my only concern

Yes whilst I think Garyn can hold up the other side will be an issue if they have decent props. Warren struggled against O’Connor.