By Tiger Bud
March 1 2007

When I was sorting through old boxes of programmes dating back further than I’d care to remember, I stumbled across an old leather wallet I used to use regularly when I was younger. Seeing as I would have been 10 years old at the time the wallet was obviously was more for show, as inside I found the picture that meant more to me than any money could at that age. A fresh faced 10 year old, decked out in Tigers colours head to toe beaming from ear to ear because he was having his picture taken with his idol, the player he admired most in the whole world. It didn’t matter that this was probably the second time that month that both had posed for a picture after a game, the 10 year old still looked undeniably delighted. I’m sure Dean Richards stood for multiple amounts of pictures over the years and you have to wonder if he realised how important they would be to certain young children in the market of hero-worshiping.

As a player, Deano could control the whole game seemingly without moving around the field much. He was like a magnet for the ball and whenever he was in possession you felt safe that he was not going to waste it. He may not have been the most stylistic player in the world, the socks were down, shirt out and the only sidestep I think I ever saw him do was in the bar, but he was immense. The talisman for Leicester as a player and then when Bob Dwyer made way, he became Director of Rugby, pacing the touchline with a face of thunder if the game wasn’t being played out the way he saw it. Richards has a brilliant rugby mind that shaped Leicester into the most successful English rugby union club ever. No other team has won four Premiership titles, or two Heineken Cup finals, in succession and although events turned later in his career with the club these things must never, ever, be forgotten. Since leaving the Leicester he spent time with Grenoble and from there moved on to aid Harlequins fight for promotion to the Premiership. Since achieving that the club are now are pushing for a Heineken Cup place, and even a top four finish. You wouldn’t write Deano off for either.

As for Leicester, we’ve had a turbulent few years since Dean’s departure. Missing out on a multitude of silverware and not making the big games count and falling at the final hurdle seemed to be our mantra. The fixture couldn’t have come at a worst time for the club either. England pressure will mean that any Leicester England players who are planning to start against France will more than likely bench for us, or be left out totally. That, however, is for another article. After losing our beloved home record to the worst game of rugby, and team, I’ve seen for a long while it’s time for the Tigers players whether first choice or not to put some pride back into the shirt and the ground. There is no-more turning up and expecting to win, we’ve got to realize that we’re going to have to work hard for it. Harlequins will be a massive test, no doubts about it. From reports they took the Bristol scrum apart and our players will have to be on top of their game if they want to ensure that we don’t lose two games at home in succession.

As is Pat’s policy of naming the team the Friday before the game no-one is sure of exactly which players will be featuring for Tigers this weekend, but from the hints he’s been dropping in the press Andy Goode will make his comeback from injury to start at fly half and Tom Varndell will probably be included after the sub-par performance by the wingers against Northampton. Geordan Murphy’s exclusion from the Ireland squad and week off will see him starting, probably at the expense of Sam Vesty. As this isn’t an international weekend we can only play one overseas player and with the injury to Castro, Ayerza looks set to start alongside the England bench warmer Julian White, pushing Gibson down to the bench. Big Jim Hamilton is contending to start but the best England players can hope for is a place on the bench. Pat has had his doubters concerning squad rotation but the player’s welfare must come first and we should have the squad to deal with it. After the depressing events last Saturday it’s time for these players to step up to the mark for a performance worthy of the shirt.

As for the return of Deano, no other player since has maintained a personal chant around the ground, even Martin Johnson. I’m looking forward to signing it with all of my heart on Saturday evening letting Dean know that he means as much to me know as he did when I was a 10-year-old hero worshipper. Maybe a little “Waltzing Matilda” should ring out as well to let Pat know that we’re behind him all the way