Leicester Tigers
Tigers v Falcons Preview
By ChrisC
February 20 2012
The Walk of Shame My local Palais de Danse was the place to go on a Saturday night to dance to live music. The Palais had a resident band fronted by Jeff Rowena who sported an improbable and gravity defying hairstyle as he, with his band, bashed out the hits of the day while the dancers milled on the dance floor lit only by the lights from the stage and the mirrored facets of the overhead glitter ball which reflected off the gleaming Tonic Mohair suits of the lads and the girls’ sparkling jewellery and sometimes the threads of silver in their stockings and dresses.
Everybody was always at their fashionable best for the event of the week.
Well we danced if we had a partner.
The three sides of the dance floor were strictly demarcated by custom and practice. That facing the stage was laid out with tables and chairs and the province of the “couples”, while that to the left was also provided with tables and chairs and annexed by the unattached girls. The opposite side was standing only and for the unattached males.
The singleton cohorts appraised each other and, once a song had ended, egged on by their friends, the lads had to set off across the dance floor to ask the girl of their choice to dance. Under no circumstances was it permissible to circumnavigate the auditorium and make the approach other than from the direction of the dance floor itself. To do so would lead to summary rejection and the opprobrium of your peers.
So off you would set to cross the floor, which was an expedition that felt akin to that undertaken by Scott of the Antarctic and in similar hope that, Amundsenlike, another suitor was not homing in on the same target. It was an immutable law that the prettiest girls always had the least blessed friends in tow and if the object of one’s attentions didn’t reciprocate your feelings the get out was “I’m with my friend”. The solution to this riposte that we lads devised was to hunt in pairs. One of us, on an alternating basis, would have the friend as the target, a kind of dummy runner, leaving the way clear for the lucky lad to give it his best shot in enticing the more favoured of the girls to dance. The strategy often worked but sometimes it failed and then the “Walk of Shame” back across the dance floor had to be faced with the catcalls of the male assembly endured while the giggling of the distaff side could be heard at one’s back.
Even worse was when, smugly having been elevated to the status of being part of a “couple”, the relationship foundered and you were relegated back to the bull pen with the crossing of the floor and the potential for a “Walk of Shame” intensifying, for another immutable law is that the male is always to blame for the travails of young love, regardless of who dumped who and with even an unjustly earned “reputation” a period of purdah was the inevitable consequence for the lad. It was a mini skirted minefield but one that we entered time after time.
Rugby’s “Walk of Shame” is of course relegation to the Championship and yet Northampton and Harlequins have emerged much the stronger and infinitely better teams for the experience. The fiscal implications though see a continued chorus of certain club owners railing against the system and lobbying for a closed shop Premiership.
This Saturday’s opponents at Welford Road have been flirting with the “Walk” for a while now and have fought their way back from the brink more than once but this season they’ve smelt the sulphurous fumes from the trapdoor from early in the season.
Steve Bates steered them to earlier safety and was dumped for his trouble and then the estimable Alan Tait had a go. It was not a long stewardship for the British Lion, who started to look haunted and diminished by the task, and in mid season he in turn gave way to South Africa’s Gary Gold and ex England duo Mike Ford and John Wells.
I have only seen highlights of Falcons’ match at The Recreation Ground but was impressed with the improvement over the Falcons I saw earlier in the season. Their defence was immeasurably improved and their attack had real bite to it, their slotting three tries in losing to Bath by 24 points to the hosts’ 30.
In truth Falcons were unlucky not to win as the second of Bath’s Ollie Woodburn’s tries was highly debatable and then, as he chased down a kick through, the electric Tom Biggs was tackled without the ball by Jimmy Gopperth and a penalty try was awarded with Gopperth getting his marching orders. It was tight though as I thought the ball had got away from Biggs.
Last weekend Falcons were the hosts, welcoming London Irish to Kingston Park and fought out a 19-10 victory against the Exiles to put themselves within just six points of Wasps. The final match of the season at Adams Park with them looks like it could be like a nail biter.
Meanwhile Tigers had the dubious honour of a trip to Vicarage Road to face Saracens and put in a Tigerish performance winning 20-19 with the last act of the drama Geordan Murphy kicking a drop goal.
Both sets of next weekend’s players, coaches and supporters must have ended last weekend feeling relieved, albeit for very different reasons.
With Saracens at full strength in the front row I predicted that, as they have done against other teams, they’d boss the set piece – how wrong I was but then I hadn’t seen Mr Mulipola play before and my goodness what a revelation. In anchoring the tight head side, and in fact dominating World Cup winner John Smit, he enabled Marcos Ayerza to make mincemeat of Nieto.
In spite of Julian White being available after a ban for – well being Julian White really – I hope that Richard Cockerill sticks with the young Samoan who not only scrummaged like a demon but was superb in open play. Such a performance must be rewarded with a start at Welford Road. He’s a real prospect and able to play on both sides of the front row.
Falcons have Jon Golding back and he came on for Grant Shiells before going off again with a Yellow Card for punching and accompanied Richard Thorpe to the naughty step. This was an offence that had earlier earned Adriaan Fondse a Red, quite why the disparity in punishment is a mystery. Maybe they should have a Strictly Come Dancing type panel with cards awarding points for the punch and then the performance could be rated with scores above twenty attracting a Red and those below a Yellow. It would make as much sense as the current arbitrary way of deciding who gets what sanction.
I’d expect to see Golding at loose head at Welford Road with Yorkshireman Rob Vickers continuing at hooker and that, assuming that Euan Murray has a note from the Manse as Scotland are playing on Sunday, the much capped international prop will be facing Marcos Ayerza.
After the display at Vicarage Road I’d hope to see some dominance from the Tigers trio on their home soil.
Ed Slater had a splendid afternoon against Saracens, aside of course from Mr Small listening to the myopic Peter Huckle who not only saw an offence that didn’t happen but then made a disproportionate recommendation of a Yellow Card. It’s a pity that we couldn’t have had the calm and assured display we saw from Ashley Rowden, who was on the other touchline, from Mr Huckle.
Slater and Skivington did well against the always threatening Sarries line out and were both much in evidence in the loose combining well to get Tigers’ try.
As mentioned Newcastle’s South African lock Adriaan Fondse was sent off for clocking Delon Armitage who went down like a sack of spuds. I guess that Fondse will be missing next Saturday while on suspension and that Kiwi Andrew van der Heijden will join the reliable Tim Swinson in the second row as James Hudson has been missing from action since the New Year’s Eve match at Franklin’s Gardens when he went off at half time.
The Falcons’ line out, even without the excellent Hudson, has been one of the bright spots for the north easterners and so the Tigers’ duo will have to be on top form with Mafi and Salvi playing their full part.
Tigers’ back row looks pretty settled at the moment. It’s a place where understanding between the component parts is so important especially at the breakdown where Tigers’ tried hard against Sarries but Mr Small fussed around like a maiden aunt and even gave a penalty for transgressing in the maul when there was no maul! With Gary Gold and John Wells in charge the Falcons’ rucking has taken on renewed fervour and in Ally Hogg they have a player of real class who will scavenge and prod the opposition defence for any sign of weakness so Tigers will need to be vigilant around the fringes if the forty-eight time capped Scottish international is not to cause all sorts of trouble.
Probably joined again by Mark Wilson and, with Kiwi Richard Mayhew also missing since the Falcons were at Welford Road in the LV= Cup, it could be local lad Will Welch putting in another shift in the interchangeable Falcons’ back row, which has been going pretty well and gave the Bath trio plenty to think about.
The Tigers’ triumvirate are the more mobile with all three capable of making good breaks however it will be essential that that Mafi and Waldrom fully support Julian Salvi at the breakdown where the visitors will have been well rehearsed in the obligatory shenanigans by John Wells. Salvi certainly won’t want to find himself out of position at defensive line outs as he did at Vicarage Road with deKock being the beneficiary of a clear run through for his team’s only try.
As I write this I’m not sure whether Sam Harrison will be fit for next Saturday however if he can’t play a part then Falcons’ old boy James Grindal will be back on parade. Grindal played pretty well against Saracens and while his service will never be the quickest around it is pretty reliable and apart from one aberration his kicking was solid and better than we’re used to from Ben Youngs who looks destined to be on the England bench, although if he’s not in good enough form to start then it seems foolish to have him in the match day squad, better surely for him to be back with his club trying to find himself again.
Chris Pilgrim looked poised and assured against Bath and I’d expect him to be preferred again over new signing Jordi Pasqualin. Pilgrim will be enjoying the improved stability from his pack and at the breakdown so if Grindal starts he will fancy his chances around the fringes.
The enigma that is Toby Flood came little closer to being solved last Sunday with the erstwhile England fly-half looking low on confidence. His kicking from the tee was better but did not belie his 66% success stat., but his kicking from hand was uninspired. Every now and then the real Toby Flood appears from the miasma of self-doubt in which he finds himself. A deft chip, a shimmying break, a perfectly weighted kick, all give fleeting glimpses of the supremely talented player that is inside the stifling shell from which he cannot break free. My view is much as that for Ben Youngs; the very last place he should be is with England who’s coaching regime will do nothing to help them.
I would like to see Flood firmly back with Tigers and for George Ford to start with the maestro finding himself from the bench being similarly accompanied by Ben Youngs in that joint endeavour but the self serving England management will refuse to see what is in front of their noses and sacrifice the players on the altar of their own perceived short term self interest.
Flood didn’t want to take the deciding drop goal against Saracens however Falcons’ points machine Jimmy Gopperth would have had no such qualm. He’s a wonderfully confident player and must have supreme mental toughness to play as he has through Falcons’ travails in the three seasons he’s been at Kingston Park. The Kiwi fly half, coveted by so many clubs, has been ever present and if anything his game has become more complete. No longer just a kicking machine but possessed of a lovely step, a good turn of pace and an accurate pass. A very good player and one that is dismissed as a mere Golden Boot at your peril.
Should the Falcons’ pack achieve parity then I can see them having a real good chance at winning the contest of the half backs if things don’t or can’t change for Tigers.
On the subject of underestimating players I am brought to Tony Allen who, due to a bit of DIY going awry, hasn’t played much rugby this season but on Sunday he was getting across the advantage line and putting Manu Tuilagi in behind the defence. His own defence was good with excellent tackling and good organisation of his super star partner in the centre. What a pity they won’t be together at Welford Road on Saturday. I feel rather as if I’ve just got my first pint for an eon and had it snatched away after the first sip, as I sense the maw of England closing around Manu.
Matt Smith is most likely to get the #13 shirt as it’s a position with which he’s familiar and where he’ll give a good account of himself both in attack and defence but Manu Tuilagi he ain’t.
Falcons will almost certainly have the combative James Fitzpatrick looking to run over Tony Allen and pretty much anybody else who gets in his way. He’ll be doing his defence busting best to add to his three Premiership tries this term.
Partnering him of late in the absence of the injured Corne Uys has been the four capped Samoan international Jamie Helleur and with Fitzpatrick Falcons have a big tough centre partnership which will take all the stopping if Gopperth gets them moving and I expect that the strong defence of Allen and Smith will be given a good workout, although if Allen can get over the gain line then even without Manu Tuilagi there could be some good opportunities for the Tigers’ outside backs.
I was again left shaking my head at the thought of the salary cap denying us the services of Horacio Agulla next season. Against Saracens he was again hard to put down when he was going forward and hard to get past when he was the last line of defence. What a good player he is. What a loss he’s going to be.
I trust that we’ll see Alex Tuilagi at Welford Road and while I am sorry to see him leave I feel more sanguine about it having seen the fine performance of his putative replacement Miles Benjamin who was first class against Quins last Saturday.
Suka Hufanga, the twenty-five time capped Tongan winger, has also been getting plenty of game time and while he has just the solitary try thus far in his Premiership career I sense this is more due to the ball only finding its way to the rarefied atmosphere of the wing on few occasions so if the inside backs can manufacture some space for him then he’ll be a threat. That though is a big if.
Another new boy; Kiwi Ryan Shortland scored a well taken try against London Irish when the visitors got themselves in a bit of a pickle, the ball came free and Shortland, after executing a lovely scoop of the ball galloped off into the sunset. He had a knock prior to this exploit so it remains to see if he’s fit for Saturday.
Geordan Murphy seems to have come back into some good form after an indifferent late 2011 partly due to his recognising what he can actually expect of his body. He’s such a clever player and so experienced and he’s worked out what he can do and do well, showing all his experience in lifting the burden of the final drop kick from the sagging shoulders of Toby Flood and executing it with considerable aplomb.
South African Greg Goosen looks set to start again against the Tigers and bring his prodigious boot and sparkling ability to run the ball up. Tigers defenders will need to close him down quickly and not let him carry the ball into their half of the pitch. He’ll also enter the line at pace and of course Tigers must not engage in aimless kicking as the visitors’ back three will relish having the ball in hand or Gopperth will kick the leather off it (OK I know they’re not covered in leather now!)
Both sides will have a spring in their step after their respective outcomes last weekend and both will know that every point is vital and in spite of copious absentees Tigers will prevail but from what I’ve seen of the new “Gold Falcons” it won’t be easy.
Whatever the outcome I have a feeling that Falcons’ have, yet again, a good shot at avoiding the “Walk of Shame”.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:02:27:21:52:43 by Tiggs.
I think the "walk of shame" has taken a slightly different meaning in the modern vernacular...
Great review as always.
Among the great things about rugby are it's complexity, and how it reflects life [discuss?
], life being multi-faceted and so often unfair yet has to be got on with - arbitration, even were every minutest decision to be referred to the t.m.o., will never be precise, and justice is subjective, so far better to step back from the overly, I.R.B. rule-obsessed attempts [or tongue in cheek panel of judges] to sanitise this pivotal role and return to the days of whatever the ref sees, goes, and if he had a big lunch, well, so what .. whatever goes around comes around, and perhaps with professionalism we put too much weight on winning and too little on performance [yes, I HATE to lose], and if we truly know the game [see that? GAME!] was won but for the extra pint a linesman had, well, that's life, that's rugby
... but, ka ora, ka mate I hear you say, and you'd be right, probably, but what is life if sterilised?*
Another great review Chris, and again thanks. Glad to see due respect shown to the opposition .. could be tricky [he said, quietly confident]
*[non-existent, ultimately]
'Profit Motive' .. the Vaseline of genocides.
'Reality' .. the new cynicism
Falcons may well perform another "Great Escape" and need every league point to achieve that. I reckon they'll enter WR believing they can win and will leave extremely dissappointed if they don't, as a minimum, achieve a losing bonus point.
WOW! What a brilliant preview. It was fair, informative, measured and eminently readable. As a Falcons fan, it has heightened the anticipation of our forthcoming encounter.
Here in the frozen wastelands, which today reached the dizzy heights of 14 Celsius, there is absolutely a growing confidence in avoiding the drop. However, realism rules nevertheless.
What has impressed us the most is the attitude and optimism and commitment of Semore Kurdi, our new proprietor. We lost Tim Swinson this week to Glasgow, but Gopperth et al have nailed their colours to the mast for the medium turn. Even if we were to take the "walk of shame", I feel more confident than ever about our ability to come back bigger and better.
We need to get back to seeing KP full again(10,250), and who knows what might happen.
Anyway, looking forward to our meeting. It'll be a tough ask for the Falcons, especially with an equally demanding match against the Quins at home the following week.
However, in some respects I feel happier being a Falcon 6 points adrift than a Wasp in disarray.
Come on Falcons!
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