By ChrisC
April 5 2011

Daddy-Cool.                                                                  BBC Four are currently showing the Top of The Pops shows from 1976, that era of good taste when gentlemen sported kipper ties, flared trousers , vertiginous platform shoes and a surfeit of hair while sadly on the distaff side the Mini-Skirt had been replaced by the Midi and the Maxi. The 1960s age of love, peace and optimism had passed to be replaced by strikes, three day weeks, power cuts, petrol shortages, 24% inflation, 80% income tax and chopper bikes. 

Music had also changed; disco and Glam Rock rubbing shoulders with Punk, Debbie Harry vying with Sid Vicious, John Travolta, Arthur Mullard and Hylda Baker and of course the unmatchable Olivia Newton-John, whom I once met while she was with her then boyfriend, Bruce Welch of The Shadows– I never really got over the experience so radiant was her beauty, matched only by her charm.  Didn’t like him though!! 

Boney M had their first big hit in 1976 when their Daddy Cool reached #6 in the UK while topping the charts in Germany. 

Aside from my drifting off in another purple haze of nostalgia what has all this got to do with Saturday’s European Cup quarter Final at the sparkly new Aviva Stadium in Dublin? Well there is a link in a tenuous, very tenuous, way. 

You see Leinster has its own “daddy cool” in its founding father; one Finn Mac Cool who re-established the Province of Leinster or Laigin in about 180AD following a period of Civil Wars.   

Spookily enough his seat of power was at a stronghold on Hill Allen and this weekend a certain Tony Allen will probably be joining the hordes from Mercia as they travel across the Irish Sea seeking to oust Brian O’Driscoll, the uber cool prince of Leinster Rugby, rather than the current ancestral Prince of Leinster itself, William Butler MacMorrough Kavanagh. 

Leinster of course ply their trade in the hitherto exclusively Celtic Magners league, until that is Treviso and Aironi crashed the party. Anybody who’s spent time in Italy will recognise this trait of the Italians to hunt out a party and just join in. 

Assured of qualification into the European Cup Leinster have a somewhat easier furrow to plough than do the English and French clubs in this regard and of course the Irish clubs are not clubs at all in the sense that Tigers are for example, unfettered as they are by financial constraints the Irish provincial teams have not only the cream of Irish talent to select from, and goodness knows there’s enough of that, but can flash the Euro to attract talent from all over the rugby world. 

Ireland is, coincidentally, the home of ERC, who run the European competition and who live cheek by jowl with the IRB, the sport’s governing body, so there is something of an Irish administrative hegemony centred in Dublin. 

All the more remarkable then that Leinster’s arch rivals, Munster, failed to escape the Pool Stages of this year’s competition to be replaced by Ulster as the standard issue of at least two Irish provincial teams featuring in the quarter finals is maintained. 

In both cases the Irish provinces meet English club sides with Northampton having the easier task of entertaining Ulster at Milton Keynes while Tigers have to travel to Dublin and revisit the scene of England’s Six Nations’ travails. 

The Leinster branch of the IRFU currently have seventeen players in the Irish National Squad which, were Rob Kearney fit, would be eighteen, so the measure of the task that Tigers’ face is clear to see.  

Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Shane Jennings, Kevin McLaughlin, Rhys Ruddock, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, Eion Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll, Paddy Wallace, Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden and Luke Fitzgerald all feature.  In addition they have the odd Springbok, Fijian, Scot, Argentinian and Australian who can also be found in the Leinster squad. 

Leinster’s latest outing was a table topping encounter with Munster at Thomond Park where a Mr Andrew Small was in charge of proceedings. 

Leinster have had a bit of the Evil Eye over their heavyweight rivals having not lost to them in their five previous encounters, the last reverse being on 4^th April 2009, but going into Saturday’s match Munster were comfortably heading the Magners league by 12 points from their visitors. 

On this occasion though the Munster men prevailed by a single point thanks to the boot of Ronan O’Gara in match where, predictably with Andrew Small in charge, there were coracle loads of penalties. 

In the first half Munster tried to play Leinster at their own game however to do that they had to match the intensity and skill at which their visitors are so accomplished in their chosen method of play.  Leinster looked to be brimming with confidence and played their trademark game with unerring excellence and when the Munster players tried the same thing they were smashed back.   

As a consequence Leinster went into the half time Guinness break 20-9 ahead with Munster’s ex Tiger; Johne Murphy in the sin bin.  Munster coach McGahan obviously had a bit of a rethink and in the second half Munster reverted to their strengths. O’Gara kicked the angles putting his colleagues in the right areas of the pitch to permit pick and drive, rolling mauls and solid set piece play to force penalties out of the visitors.  Leinster really don’t look their best with this type of attritional play and then to add to their woes O’Driscoll also got a ten minute break. 

Munster eventually ran out winners by a single point having still failed to score a try, bringing their try drought to 480 minutes. 

Tigers meanwhile, having destroyed Bath at The Recreation Ground,  went down to “The Smoke” to take on Harlequins who had not won a league match against Tigers for almost eight years since they won 17 – 9 at The Stoop on 19^th April 2003. 

Quins ran Tigers very close in a bad tempered and niggly game, poorly controlled by referee Wayne Barnes and which at one point saw the home side down to 12 men after their scrum imploded.   

Quins only answer was for their talented young loosehead; Joe Marler to this time provoke Tigers’ Argentinian international prop; Marcos Ayerza to such an extent that a fight broke out between them and Barnes belated intervention saw both players given Red Cards and subsequent two week bans.  Quite why this essentially typical discussion between two props warranted such draconian action only Mr Barnes knows. 

It was a poor and disjointed performance by Tigers and while Richard Cockerill did not physically rest players in anticipation of the Leinster contest they looked mentally turned off and lacked intensity, particularly in the first half.   

After the break the forwards took control and a penalty try was belatedly awarded Tigers, a delay incidentally which served to stoke the humiliation of the Quins front row which was the rhizome of the subsequent confrontation between Marler and Ayerza, which will see them both miss their club’s European Quarter finals this weekend. Before the Penalty Try Alex Tuilagi had already soared over the try line by and Tigers did just enough to keep their winning record against Quins intact and remain atop the Premiership. 

As for next weekend’s encounter; the Leinster front row will doubtless comprise Mike Ross, who has improved immeasurably since joining the Irish province from Quins, Cian Healy who has also shown significant improvement and fought out an honourable draw with man mountain, Sale Sharks bound, Tony Buckley. The combative South African Richardt Strauss, who drove Paul O’Connell backwards faster than a politician changing policy when it suits him, was also sound enough. 

With Marcos Ayerza suspended I expect to see Boris Stankovitch deputise and frankly don’t see any disadvantage in the tight from his presence, quite the opposite in fact, although he lacks Ayerza’s dynamism in the loose but Tigers will be well advised to keep the exchanges up close and personal.  George Chuter will carry on at Hooker while, given the physiological edge that Healy must have over Dan Cole after the England pack got a mauling in Dublin just a few weeks ago, I reckon the largely rested Castrogiovanni should and will start on the tighthead side. 

At lock club captain and ex Tiger Leo Cullen, who crossed the Irish Sea a relative unknown and returned an international quality player, will start with Australian, Wagga Wagga born, but Scotland qualified Nathan Hines, who has been capped 72 times for his nominated country as well as being a British Lion in 2009 and who’s off back to France with Clemont next season having not long arrived at Leinster from across La Manche. 

Two Rolls Royce engines here in the pack and excellent line out technicians while Hines in particular has a looming presence in the loose. 

I hope against hope that Louis Deacon is fit to play as Tigers will need the power he brings to the scrum and I don’t think the faster skills of Steve Mafi, who was my man of The Match at The Stoop last Saturday rather than the bizarre choice of Stuart Barnes; Nick Easter, who’s main attribute seemed to be that he wasn’t a Tiger, will be suited to the type of game that Tigers will need to play.  I further hope that the line out skills of George Skivington, which have been denied Tigers for a few weeks, will also be brought into play.   

With Shane Jennings having been injured I can’t imagine that he’ll start on Saturday even though his rehabilitation is reportedly going well and my bet is that head Coach Joe Schmidt will stick with the breakaway trio that started against Munster with the robust, hard tackling Kevin McLaughlin, who has just one cap for Ireland, on the blindside and one of the finds of this year’s Six Nations; Sean O’Brien where he came in as the third best player in the competition after having started every match. 

At #8 will be the incomparable Israeli born Jamie Heaslip, capped 35 times by Ireland and who just adores it when the game breaks up and he can get his pace to the fore. The Leinster trio are dynamic at the breakdown and around the park which they prefer to the grind of the tight. 
 

It’s hard to see any reason for Richard Cockerill not to return to a starting line up of Tom Croft, Craig Newby and Thomas Waldrom. 

This match will be won or lost around the breakdown.  Leinster will be searching for quick ball to get their backs away while I would hope that Tigers will look to keep the host’s possession as slow as possible.  Nigel Owens is pretty hot when it comes to infringing at the breakdown so it will have to be done well and with subtlety.   

There have been questions over Mr Owens’ familiarity with the Irish style of play affecting his judgement in Anglo/Irish encounters so if he is as even handed as he was when I watched him officiate at the Saracens vs Bath match last Sunday I shall not be disappointed. 

I think that my preference for the pack would hold the Leinster eight in the tight and with Newby and Croft assisting Skivington and Deacon Tigers could actually get an edge in the line out, which they’ll need to if they are to emulate the Munster second half game plan of driving the ball. 

In the loose?  Well to be honest I hope there’s not too much loose but the Tigers will need to tackle as they’ve never tackled before which was how, eventually, Munster frustrated Leinster; obdurate in defence and tight in attack. 

Behind the pack Kiwi Isaac Boss, who joined from Ulster last Summer and has been capped thirteen times for Ireland, was preferred to the current Ireland incumbent ex Wasp Eion Reddan who has been recovering from concussion.  Boss has formed a good relationship with Heaslip who he will tap on the bottom to indicate that the #8 should pick up the ball while Boss spreads the play with D’Arcy cutting an angle and they then have the ability to galvanize the dangerous Leinster backs into action beyond the gain line. 

Jonathan Sexton, who is still trying to establish himself ahead of Ronan O’Gara in the national #10 shirt, is a more creative player than his competitor but lacks the Munster man’s strategic view.  He is excellent on the front foot but does not have O’Gara’s ability to go forward while seemingly in reverse.  It will therefore be essential that the Tigers’ breakaway forwards stifle him at source as he can then be quietened down but if he gets into the Leinster play book he can be irrepressible. 

The Tigers half backs can scarcely have had a worse day at the office in preparation for this key match than they did at The Stoop.  Youngs was hesitant and dithered, at one point he actually stopped to have a little think, in fact I thought my SKY box had frozen.  Youngs is an instinctive player but for all the World, it seemed as if he’d been told to play a certain pattern which is not in his nature – he had a horrid time redolent of the last time he was in Dublin when again his instincts seem to have been subverted. 

Toby Flood similarly looked as if he were playing in lead lined boots and reciting the Tigers’ play book instead of engaging in his usual heads up rugby.  His kicking was also wayward in the first half and it will be essential, absolutely essential, that he does not make the kind of aimless kick we saw against Quins.  If he’s going to kick deep he must unerringly find a good touch and if necessary sacrifice some distance to put the ball into the stands so that quick throw ins aren’t an option as that will play into Leinster’s hands. 

Gordon D’Arcy creates so much that is good in Leinster’s attack not only looping around to cut through on the Heaslip/Boss feed but also he’ll look for his full back cutting into the gap that the move creates and of course he’ll work a double act as polished as an Irish Morecombe and Wise with his long time centre buddy, Brian O’Driscoll, who have 169 Irish caps between them, and who managed to get himself into the Sin Bin against Munster – yes really Brian O’Driscoll in the Sin Bin! 

Tony Allen found his space horribly cramped against Quins as his hesitant half back colleagues closed down his space with slow lateral play permitting the Quins defenders to arrive with the ball.  As usual he defended like a trooper but he’ll need some space to work the gap between the Leinster  centres which their style of play can cause to fleetingly appear before disappearing again as quick as leprechaun but in defence he must trust his #10 so Flood cannot afford to drop off tackles. 

Manu Tuilagi still gives me conniptions in defence but at least against Quins we had a variation; this time he went infield, where he was surplus to requirements, and left a gap large enough for the Ark Royal to sail through on its way to the Turkish breakers’ yard.  Quins didn’t spot it but O’Driscoll will.  Also I thought he looked as if he’d been to a Danny Hipkiss passing master class as he repeatedly took the ball into contact ignoring players outside him and in support whereas he has previously looked for space.  It won’t do against Leinster as Tigers will be cut to ribbons on turnover ball. 

Out wide the evergreen, 65 time capped, Shane Horgan picked up a crossfield kick from Sexton delivered with the precision of a Tomahawk Cruise Missile, the big winger beating Munster’s despairing Lifeimi Mafi to the touchdown for the only try of the match. 

On the other flank I expect to see livewire Luke Fitzgerald fight off the challenge of Fergus McFadden to retain the #11 shirt while with Rob Kearney absent , Fijian international Isa Nacewa has been a spectacular success in both defensive and attacking roles where he can often be seen hitting the 10/12 channel. 

For Tigers against Quins Alex Tuilagi kept himself applied to the task as all around him was chaos and took a well finished try and while Agulla did nothing much wrong he had little ball to work with, the shock was that Hamilton had a poor match, just when you thought there was a compass point it moved. 

The only real option for change in the back three for Tigers would be if Matt Smith were brought into the outside centre berth and Manu Tuilagi went to the wing, this may be seen as negative but Smith will be a more certain brick in the defensive wall and Tuilagi will still be able to roam the wide open spaces with the benefit of having that most reliable of defensive partners Mr Touch Line to help him.  Given my view that this match will have to be won with highly disciplined tight play I think it would be worth a shot. 

I also hope that we see Billy Twelvetrees in the match day squad as Tigers may have need of his prodigious long range boot if Flood’s kicking hasn’t recovered from the damage done to it and him by England where the expression “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” has obviously never been heard.   

Twelvetrees would give an option at either 12 or 10 and as the match will require good accurate kicking from Tigers his selection in the squad has much to recommend it and may be on the cards as he didn’t feature in the development side’s mauling of Sale Jets. 

Leinster have lost this season to; Cardiff., Clemont, Ospreys, Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as Munster but those have all been away fixtures and while this fixture is at the Aviva rather than at Donnybrook or the RDS I don’t see it as making too much difference as the Leinster players are regular visitors to the new Lansdowne Road stadium. 

Tigers obviously go into this match as massive underdogs and if they play the sort of unstructured harem scarem game at which Leinster have few peers on a day that is forecast to be dry underfoot then Tigers could indeed lose and do so badly. 

However if they take a leaf out of Munster’s book, play a tight, controlled, disciplined, highly structured game then they may get a win and that would be really cool Dad! 
 

Leinster v Tigers HC QF Preview

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 05/04/2011 12:40

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
05/04/2011 12:40

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:13:12:53:49 by Stephen Bath.

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Tiggs
05/04/2011 12:46

I have tried everything to get the opening title to format correctly, but it won't have it today, I'll try again later !!

It should read "Daddy Cool."

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Duncan Keene
05/04/2011 12:58

Thanks Chris.

I agree that Smith in for Agulla might be worth a go. But would it send a negative message of hiding Manu? The advantage of Manu at 13 is he gets on the ball early. I think Cockers will stick not twist.

I think Stanko will get the nod, but wouldn't rule out seeing Cole, Chuter, Castro on the pitch at the same time come half an hour to go.

Hopefully the underdogs will be able to put in a good effort.

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Birstall Tiger
05/04/2011 13:07

Great preview, although I think Paddy Wallace plays at Ulster

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ChrisC
05/04/2011 13:47

Indeed he does.

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Rich W
05/04/2011 14:00

THanks Chris - that's really put me in a funk (see what I did there?).

Great preview - and I agree with your thnking but I doubt it will be sufficient.

...

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Johns
05/04/2011 19:58

Mmmmm a bit of a soft spot for Olivia Newton-John then Chris, was she playing second fiddle to the Mem?

Thanks for the Preview, toughest game of the season so far.

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tigersimon
05/04/2011 21:22

Thanks Chris,

My Starting XV would be

Stanko
Chuter
Cole
Deacon
Skringvton
Waldrom
Crane
Newby

YBY
Flood

Alex T

AA
Matt Smith

Aquilla

Hamilton

Bench:
Castro
Hawkins
Bucknall
Mafi
Croft
Grindal
36
Manu

With Plan A being to play it tight, play the territory game and hope Leinster give away penalties like last weekend with a Plan B on the bench that go fast and loose if Plan A does not work.

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ChrisC
06/04/2011 09:20

No John that was all pre Mem.

Yes Simon that looks about what I'd like to see other than Manu in for Agulla.

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Rich W
06/04/2011 09:26

Croft on the bench? I suspect that we need Tom in as a defensive option to try counter their pace. Even if we keep it tight they are going to get ball at times and they will attack with real brio.

I'm not sure it was a soft spot John!

...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:06:09:54:01 by Rich W.

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ChrisC
06/04/2011 09:43

Not as I remember it Rich - those were the days

Hmmm!

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Temujin
06/04/2011 10:56

1976? A desert, a dearth of anything worthwhile outside my burgeoning family. Music, the real stuff, got no mention at all in that review, though the rugby insight shone through, of course.

Can we win? Keep the faith!

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jamesroberts
06/04/2011 15:03

Agree about Smith for Agulla with Manu going to the wing .Would include Croft for Crane - Crofty is our best line out forward by far and we need him to get into their lineout .

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Rich W
06/04/2011 15:13

Dunno - I personally see more prospect of attacking threat if Agulla is on te field - I think he's been excellent - and I'm concerned that if we simply think we're going to stop them we may come off worse...

That said Manu's defensive alignment is a worry.

Time for Cockers to earn his corn.

...

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Stopsy
06/04/2011 16:11

Thanks again Chris - surely a Curragh full rather than a Coracle full?

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seventyeight
07/04/2011 11:26

excellent stuff again - thanks

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(JSF)
07/04/2011 12:22

Awesome preview as always Chris, many thanks

Can't wait to get on the plane

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The Prof
07/04/2011 15:04

Good luck against Leinster

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ka ora ka mate
08/04/2011 12:15

I'm convinced Tigers will win at least part of the game

So there

'Profit Motive' .. the Vaseline of genocides.

'Reality' .. the new cynicism

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Tiggs
13/04/2011 12:54

Thanks again Chris.

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