By Stopsy
September 27 2004

As I travelled down, my main concern was whether I would be subjected to seeing Ajack’s smiling face for the third year running after the game. Now not many of you know this (judging by the number of pledges received from you lot) but I’m walking for the British Heart Foundation ..
………………and unless you lot pull you fingers out, I’ll be in a Saints shirt.

So this report may be a little less than consistent in view.

For the first 5 minutes Saints pinned us in our own half and although the defence looked sound we couldn’t get out. We failed to manage the restarts well in the first half (fortunately Saints repaid the favour in the second half).

Mr Krige endeared himself to the home crowd by making sure everyone knows who the nasty man is. Geordan off with a terrible looking cut, well you can’t have him on the pitch can you, he might entertain us. Chutes lucky to still have a head after a “mistimed tackle” and numerous punches thrown at every breakdown when coming in from the side. I’m sure he wasn’t the only one misbehaving but he really was outstanding in this area, which was about the only outstanding aspect of his play on the day – if this is Saints’ saviour, God help them.

Broadfoot didn’t look like the new boy and Saints couldn’t get near him all day. After a few minutes he had settled the crowd’s nerves as to whether he could take the step up. A few ill judged kicks from hand were the only negatives I saw on the day and far outweighed by his individual contribution and the way he slotted in with the rest of the team.

When Krige nearly took George’s head off, the referee didn’t seem to notice and in this he was aided and abetted by the linesmen who seemed oblivious to foul play, had Spreaders sworn them to a vow of silence? As ever, if you don’t take control of the situation, the players will and at the next line out Martin Johnson appeared to savagely attack the Saints lock’s elbow with his face and all hell let loose resulting in a nice rest for both of them.

With the temperature rising the forwards really started to turn the screw and became increasingly dominant in every phase of the game. Broadfoot made a wonderful break for Austin to just fail to get to the line. No matter, Man of the Match Harry Ellis’ break minutes later and a good chip to Austin who looked to be in front of the kicker put things right.

How kind of Ben Cohen to help try and get Austin back on side by pulling him backwards as he ran along. A scrappy try, but 5 points on the board with Ross missing the conversion from wide out on the right.

We usually wait until the end of the season before presenting Rob Andrew with the Knobhead of the year award for his comments, this year he has some serious competition in the form of the idiot who heckled Ross’ first kick. I dare say he didn’t feel too clever about it afterwards and credit to fans of both sides who let him know what they thought of such behaviour. Nice to hear Sam taking prompt action too.

Drahm and Broadfoot then exchanged penalties to make it 8 – 6. The forward exchanges maintained their intensity but Leicester were beginning to boss the ruck and maul but we weren’t in the clear where it matters most, on the scoreboard. The fact that Drahm was opting to kick penalties from within his own half demonstrated Saints belief of these being their best options for staying in touch; increasingly this looked the case.

The Backs started to open up with some superb breaks that came to nought but from a penalty, we kicked to touch and the rest went to plan. Ben Kay – who looked really good on his return, took the ball, driving maul, try time for that Backy chappy. Good conversion from Broadfoot and we were looking good at 15 – 6 at half time.
Ben Cohen carried on his recent poor form and knocked the restart on, I thought Johnno knocked on again but at the ensuing ruck a penalty was awarded, so I was very glad to be wrong. 3 points, 18 – 6, just the start we needed.

Just to help the nostalgia we then set up 3 attacking scrums on the Saints 5m line, Julian’s scrummaging is now so powerful that the number 8 binds between flanker and lock on the Loose head side, deep, deep joy. From the last scrum, Harry Ellis drifted right and with Austin outside, he plunged over for a great try Broadfoot converting from wide right.

The bonus point was brought up with a lovely angled run from Seru Rabini to go in under the posts. 32 – 6 and a very happy crowd (well the Red, Green and White sections at least).

Saints then scored a well taken try through Wylie Human to finish things off at 32-13. It was good of Saints to score on 72 minutes, ensuring that the early leavers got to see it.

I was disappointed in Thompson, he missed his two England jumpers so often he must have thought he was wearing a white jersey on the day. He had a good day throwing in, although Tigers didn’t compete for the ball at the line out, but strangely, like most of the Saints team he was anonymous for most of the game. Mr Spreadbury failed to see him standing up at most scrums. Julian’s scrummaging is now so powerful that the number 8 binds between flanker and lock on the Loose head side, deep, deep joy.

75 minutes gone and I can be all Tiger again as the Saints part of me has just left the game!

As Alex ran up I hoped he wouldn’t drop on Reihana, what a waste of field position and then surprise surprise another dust up and that lovely Mr Krige involved as well. Henry’s mentoring skills were in evidence as he persuaded Alex to distance himself from the action.

And with that, the final whistle and the feeling of a job well done, the pack is back, we won all of the forward exchanges and even the line out where I think we must have decided Saints would have worked so hard on following the display against Gloucester, we let them have the ball and then shunted them back

As for the Saints, they didn’t play badly but they all seemed pretty anonymous on the day except for the boo boy Krige.

And as for being subjected to Ajack’s smiling face, I am pleased to say he looked just the same after a loss as he did after the last two wins at Welford Road. His features looked very much like an emptying pint of Guinness.

A few phrases for future reporters:
A hard day at the office for the opposition loosehead

Yellow Card for Mr Johnson after the referee failed to manage previous provocation

Murphy – what a player

Broadfoot made a sublime break and kicked his points well

Brett Deacon was everywhere

Oh to have Backy back.

Leicester Tigers
Graham Rowntree, George Chuter (James Buckland ,72 mins), Julian White, Martin Johnson, Ben Kay (Louis Deacon ,72 mins), Brett Deacon, Neil Back, Will Johnson (Henry Tuilagi ,72 mins), Harry Ellis, Ross Broadfoot, Austin Healey (Alesana (Alex) Tuilagi ,79 mins), Daryl Gibson, Ollie Smith (John Holtby ,62 mins), Seru Rabeni, Geordan Murphy (Roger Warren ,73 mins).

Replacements
James Buckland (George Chuter ,72 mins), Peter Cook, Louis Deacon (Ben Kay ,72 mins), Henry Tuilagi (Will Johnson ,72 mins), Roger Warren (Geordan Murphy ,73 mins), John Holtby (Ollie Smith ,62 mins), Alesana (Alex) Tuilagi (Austin Healey ,79 mins)