Friendly Munstermen


By Nell
August 28 2005

The first home game of the season was eagerly awaited. We were playing Munster, one of the great clubs of Europe. The club who we beat in the “hand of Back” final in 2002 in Cardiff. Like Tigers they fielded a young side with many stars missing.

Tigers had the new signing on show for the first time at home and many of our promising youngsters were named on the bench with James Hamilton, Michael Holford, Brett Deacon, Dan Hipkiss, Alex Tuilagi and Tom Varndell starting.

Tigers came streaming out in their lovely new kit to a very warm welcome from the 7,000 crowd at Welford Road.

munster

Things started off scrappily for Tigers with the forwards looking like they did not know each other very well – which they didn’t. The scrum was wheeled 3 times early on by Munster. Their forwards seemed to have the upper hand initially in the scrum. The Tiger forwards soon sorted themselves out though. Tigers were very solid in the line out. The early part of the game was very stop start. Both sides traded penalties with promising moves going to ground and being turned over.

Paul Burke started the scoring with a penalty after six minutes. Andy Goode replied after 10 minutes with one from the 22.

Alex Tuilagi then got the Leicester faithful cheering when he appeared to intercept a pass and run nearly the length of the pitch to score in the ticket office corner. However it was not to be as the whistle had gone as Tigers had previously handled in the ruck.

Captain Darryl Gibson led by example by scoring in the 29th minute ably assisted by the other backs. The conversion however was missed – but it was a difficult one.

Alex Tuilagi got his just reward just before half time when he scored in the same corner as his disallowed try. Andy Goode converted this one. They went in at half time at 21 –9. The first two tries were scored after Harry Ellis came off at 28 minutes for a blood injury.. Austin Healey replaced him at scum half and the backs seemed to be getting quicker ball.

At half time Harry came back. The forwards seemed much stronger – they were perhaps getting to know each other better. Alex Moreno seems very solid and made one lovely little break. He eventually limped off and I hope it’s not serious. The combination of Chuter with Cullen, Hamilton and Brett Deacon all worked well in the lineout. Cullen was the best at the restart, which was a bit scrappy at times. Cullen also managed a very decent kick for touch, which you don’t often see from a second row.

Tigers really started to get the upper hand in the second half. Shortly after the restart Goode kicked a penalty and five minutes later Burke replied. It was not long however before Sam Vesty scored from a very well worked try involving Andy Goode and Alex Tuilagi. This conversion was also missed.

On 56 minutes Tigers were awarded a penalty try. We still know how to shove and that’s encouraging. Andy converted this one.

Flocks of replacements then invaded the pitch between 50 and 60 minutes – very few of whom were announced so it was difficult to know who was playing where.

Dan Hipkiss, Darryl Gibson, Tom Varndell, Harry Ellis, Michael Holford, George Chuter, Alex Moreno, James Hamilton, Shane Jennings and Brett Deacon left the pitch to be replaced by Leon Lloyd, Ross Broadfoot, Austin Healey, Graham Rowntree, Ephraim Taukafa, Ben Kay, Luke Abraham and Martin Corry.

Matt Cornwell also came on for Sam Vesty 10 minutes later. Michael Holdford came back on and was yellow carded in the last minute. Of the game.

Munster also made many replacements but due to lack of commentary I’m afraid I don’t know who they were. Their number 16 would however have been my Munster Man of the Match together with Paul Burke.

A lovely catch and drive saw Ephraim Taukafa score and Andy added the conversion. Leo Cullen scored a try just by the post to take the score to 50-12.

munster

In the last minutes Tigers took their foot of the gas and Munster scored a consolation penalty try which they duly converted to take the final score to 50-19.

I think there are lots of positives to take from this match. The scrum was not strong to start with but they sorted themselves out and got stronger and stronger. The backs in attack were also a bit lateral and one-dimensional initially but became better and better. None of the players disgraced themselves and both the new signings and the youngsters have a great future. The lineout was good although the restarts were a bit mixed. Alex Tuilagi was very impressive and made some great breaks. Dan Hipkiss and Matt Cornwell impressed. Another player who I am sure will have a great future is Luke Abraham who seems to have a Deano-like radar for being in the right place at the right time.

After the scrappy start it was a great game to watch and makes me feel confident that even without the England players we will be able to give other teams a run for their money.

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