By ChrisC
February 25 2013

 4th May 1979                                                       Watching a TV drama, one of those gritty northern cop things, where the miscreant has been tracked down by the maverick detective (are there any other type?) along with his nubile female subordinate (are there any other type?) who had negotiated the climb to the roof of a car park in vertiginous high heels, challenged in height only by the hemline of her skirt and only distracted from by the depth of her décolletage. 

In spite of these wholly appropriate distractions from the plot, which had degenerated into the usual profanity and gun slinging, I astonished my wife, who was multi tasking; reading the local paper while keeping an eye on the TV, by chipping in that I had been to and knew the location of the shoot out. After almost forty years there’s not much I can do that will astonish my spouse, she’s seen (and heard) it all before but even she was moved to drop the paper and say “WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT NOW”!? 

I repeated that not only did I know where the action was (quiet at the back with the skirt and décolletage comments) but I could tell her, to the minute, when I was there. She sighed and acknowledged defeat.

“9.30am on Friday 4th May 1979” I said. A deep sigh came from the other sofa; “How on earth do you know that?” I smugly explained; “Ah you see that car park is near to the head office of the Co-op in Manchester, you can just see their building in the background, and I had a meeting there that sunny May morning. While I was sitting in my car in that very car park, waiting for the appointed hour, the 9.30 news came on the car radio and announced the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister”

My wife rolled her eyes, shook her head and resumed her reading while I returned to the policewoman who had now dragged the criminal to the floor and was handcuffing him. I did though add; “would you like to know where I was when the news that Elvis had died came through?” Another sigh and my wife went to bed leaving me with the young policewoman who, having single-handedly frogmarched a huge man toward an unmarked police car, that had appeared in a cloud of burnt rubber as it spun to halt on the otherwise empty roof, was falling into the arms of the maverick– let’s hope HR don’t find out! 

It was one of many business trips I made to Manchester. I used to stay at what was then the Midland Hotel before it became a Crowne Plaza and got new clothes. Back then it was part of a rather frowsy collection of hotels owned and run by British Transport Hotels. The odd thing about these hotels was that they universally reeked of cooked cabbage. Whether it was the Caledonian in Edinburgh or the Euston in London they all smelt the same.

I loved going to Manchester. It was somehow decadent and quite unlike the other provincial cities I visited. It always had a bit of a buzz about it. When I was first a regular visitor nearby Salford was an area of back to back, two up and two down, terrace houses interspersed with tower blocks from the attempts at post war social engineering. My how it’s changed!

Now it’s a shopping complex with a media centre where the BBC is expensively ensconced. The Lowry Centre’s there and of course the Salford City Stadium, the new home of Sale Sharks is there as well and it’s from there that Tigers’ opponents this Saturday will travel to try and snatch a victory at Welford Road while Tigers’ international stars are otherwise engaged with Stuart Lancaster et al in the Six Nations.

It’s been pretty gritty at Sale this season with Brian “The Boss” Kennedy seemingly losing patience with his gang and top lieutenant Steve “Hard-man” Diamond has been ringing the changes faster than a campanologist with Norovirus.

Shark’s coaches have come and gone like Midland Red at Digbeth, with John “Hit-man” Mitchell the latest to depart for foreign climes and the inner sanctum now contains the aforementioned “Hard-man”, Bryan “Taggart” Redpath and Pete “Carrot” Anglesea.

The Sharks recruited for the new season by bringing in muscle and an assassin in the shape of Danny “Baby Face” Cipriani who’d been doing time down under in the antipodes.

They’d even got a new gaff from where to stage their rumbles but all to no avail and Sharks found themselves propping up the Premiership table in the aftermath of a series of hits from their rivals. 

Things were grim, very grim.

But they took heart from reaching the semi-final of the LV= Cup and followed that with a win against Exeter Chiefs, when it was their chance to benefit from Greg Garner’s use of the “bizarre-o-scope”, to get a narrow win before travelling to fellow basement dwellers; London Welsh where they squeezed home by a solitary point. Thereafter they welcomed Quins to the delights of Salford. The visitors from “The Smoke” weren’t impressed though and ended Sharks’ revival before speeding back down the M6. The upshot of all this is that the Sharks travel to Leicester still stuck at the bottom of the Premiership three points adrift of London Welsh.

Tigers meanwhile met up with their modern day nemesis; Saracens, both clubs cruelly depleted by the demands of the international circus which, thank heavens, ceases to affect the Premiership after this weekend. 

 England prevailed over France or more correctly the frankly daft Phillipe St. Andre. With just Italy to meet, again at Twickenham, before a trip to the Millenium Stadium to try for the Grand Slam. The cards certainly fell for Lancaster this year with three home fixtures and Tuilagi’s try against France not disallowed for earlier infringements. But as Napolean said: “Give me a lucky General, not a good one. Everything is to chance." 

It was a bitterly cold night at Welford Road and after a sterling first half performance Tigers led 17-6. In that first half Saracens under resourced the breakdown so Tigers had free rein however once the Saracens’ coaching team spotted that referee Doyle was managing the breakdown in such a laissez faire way that, aside from the “Offence de Jour” of “Not Rolling Away” which was much in evidence in all the matches I watched, it was a case of anything goes, they piled in and got into the Tigers’ half backs and inside centre, repeatedly exposing the disorganised Tigers’ mid field defence. 

Overturning a significant Tigers’ half time lead at Welford Road would once have been the stuff of dreams for visiting teams but Saracens did it to run out four try winners with Tigers getting a solitary losing bonus point, finishing the day in 3rd place in the league which is where they were before the international circus came to town.

Steve Diamond (or maybe Redpath depending on how successful the player pans out) decided to bolster the Sale front row on the loose-head and brought back Eifon Lewis-Roberts from Toulon after his brief excursion to France but of late the shirt has been worn by young Ross Harrison and with the wily ex Gloucester Scottish international Alasdair Dickinson back from injury Diamond has some good options here. Harrison started again against Quins, joining with Tommy Taylor and Henry Thomas in the starting line up.

I’d expect Dickinson to get the start ahead of Harrison purely on the basis of his experience being backed against Mulipola who, while again outstanding against Saracens has been through unremitting toil on the tight-head for Tigers in the absence of both Castrogiovanni and Cole on international duty and Cockerill’s reluctance to use Balmain, who seems to still be on Cockerill’s “naughty step” after the debacle against Scarlets at the beginning of February, even if it denies the Samoan international some respite.

At hooker I reckon it could be Welshman Marc Jones to start for Saleafter surviving a kick from Fa’asavalu getting the Quins’ flanker a Yellow Card. Jones retaliated but at least on this occasion the business of the retaliating player being sanctioned while the initiator of the incident gets off scot free and being yet another example of the weird sport this has become didn’t apply. 

Hawkins continues to enjoy the favour of Richard Cockerill and he played well enough against Saracens but how Chuter doesn’t even get a sniff at the action is another item for the increasingly fat first volume of the “Cockerill Selection Mysteries”.

The quite splendid Henry Thomas continues to stake a claim for recognition amongst the plethora of good young props around the Premiership these days and he’ll get a good examination of his credentials when he faces Marcos Ayerza who, with Stankovitch injured and Cockerill unwilling to utilise the hitherto promising Brookes, who really impressed me when he was at Falcons and isn’t even on the “naughty step”, has given a whole new meaning to “stalwart”.

I wonder why Tigers’ use up salary cap on players that Cockerill seemingly has no interest in playing?

On balance I think that the Tigers’ front row will have the edge here though.

At lock, with summer signing; Richie Gray away with Scotland and Russian international Ostrikov still injured and yet to make his season debut, I think Diamond may stick with ex Edinburgh and Scotland lock Fraser McKenzie rather than young Tom Holmes to partner the feisty ex Leeds and Churchill Cup lock Kearnan Myall. I must say that the Sale line-out has functioned well in extremis and even if Louis Deacon is recovered from his shoulder injury the Tigers will get a test at the set piece, particularly if, as I suspect, Tom Croft is again rested. Graham Kitchener had an impressive outing alongside Ed Slater against Saracens besting the renowned Saracens’ line-out at times and holding their own ball admirably. Nevertheless sans Croft and sans Mafi the Sharks locks, with Gaskell in attendance, may just get an edge.

If Croft is indeed again rested and Mafi is still injured then it looks as if Brett Deacon will get a start on the blind-side and he’ll not let anybody down, especially at the breakdown – or as it’s now known “the Lottery”. The restored Deacon will have to be on form though as Sharks’ latest signing; ex All Black and Blues flanker Dan Braid has made a really good initial impression and I really like the look of this Kiwi import. Hard running, ferocious in the tackle and around the breakdown he’s a real threat to the Tigers. With Dave Seymour likely to have the open-side berth Tigers’ Julian Salvi will have a traditional open-side to lock horns with. 

As an ex open-side (albeit an execrable one) I love to see these purveyors of an almost lost art lock horns and with James Gaskell looking likely to be preferred to Powell as he provides line-out support as well as go forward from the base, Tigers will find the breakdown area fiercely contested and Sale will have the very impressive Richie Vernon in reserve. As ever it’ll depend on the referee’s interpretation and implementation of the laws as to who comes out ahead but at Welford Road on Saturday I’d expect it to be Tigers.

Behind the pack Dwayne Peel may make an appearance. He broke his jaw in the Exeter match and the prognosis at the time was for a three week lay-off, which I thought sounded optimistic, so I’d expect young Will Cliff to be in the scrum-half berth. I rather like the Macclesfield born Sale regular who had a short spell with Leeds. 

Maybe not a superstar but he’s reliable and makes some nice sniping breaks. Tigers’ Sam Harrison is similarly reliable but doesn’t make many breaks and, to be honest, on the rare occasions he does he’s not much good at them. Doubtless the ever obdurate Richard Cockerill will once again start him in preference to Micky Young who was previously considered hugely talented (qv: Kieran Brookes)and once again Tigers could be stuck in a morass as opposition breakaway forwards swarm over the Tigers’ half-backs with Harrison once again at the bottom of rucks or dithering at the back of them. But as we know Cockerill’s adage seems to be “if it’s broke still don’t fix it”.

Danny Cipriani like his opposite number George Ford are also considered talented but unpredictable and that’s no bad thing went it comes to bringing something different to the party. Problem is though that their unpredictability is whether they’re having a good day or a too often bad day and at times both seem to over complicate things rather than concentrating on doing the simple things well.

I have to say that I rather prefer the talented Welshman Nick Macleod. OK he’s not the latent superstar Cipriani is supposed to be but I like the way McLeod goes about his business and he’d keep George Ford honest who may feel himself in a contest for the limelight with the earlier media wunderkind; Cipriani. 

Against Saracens Ford did make a good opening break for Murphy and Thompstone to exploit and he responded well to Bowden’s call for a chip which saw the Kiwi over the whitewash but his two further missed penalty kicks, from positions that a top class kicker would see as routine, turned out to be the missed points that were the difference between victory and defeat for the Tigers.

If Tony Allen is still injured then I guess Ford will be wearing the Tigers’ #10 shirt although in such an eventuality I’d be sorely tempted to move Bowden to fly-half and start Cornwell at inside centre. Won’t happen though and it’ll be Ford at fly-half.

Tigers will be praying that Allen is fit to organise Tigers’ defence which with Bowden and Ford at its heart was a shambles. If that line up comes to pass then Cipriani will favour his chances to bring Sam Tuitupou crashing though with Johnny Leota on his shoulder. Now this centre partnership may not have either subtlety or elan but they’ll bash damn great holes in a defence as flaky as that of a Bowden/Ford combination and then Mark Cueto will be looking to emulate the exploits of David Strettle last Saturday by cutting in through the Tigers’ 10/12/13 channels as Matt Smith is required to reprise his role as Hans Brinker.

Adam Thompstone continues to impress and was involved in all aspects of the game last weekend and it’s hard to see who’d be preferred, even by Cockerill – there’s that nice lady that washes the shirts of course!

On the other wing Scott Hamilton is looking a yard or so too slow even for his considerable nous and experience to compensate, so I hope with Goneva, also on the very crowded “naughty step”, Niall Morris is fit to join Thompstone in facing Mark Cueto together with ex Quins’ and Falcons’ winger Charlie Amesbury or, my own preference, Will Addison who ‘s a really dangerous runner and more willing to pick alternative lines than is Amesbury.

I have a list of players I’d like to see in a Tigers’ shirt and Rob Miller is on the list. I really like this lad. Good under the high ball, lighting fast, superb footwork and a fantastic finisher, as his thirteen (yes thirteen) tries in all competitions last season bears witness. He’s also a good kicker from the tee and from hand and good defensively – what’s not to like? Sale though have a new kid on the block; Aussie Cameron Shepherd, who’s flown in from Western Force and has a few caps for his country where he’s been on the wing and at full back. So if Miller feels put out then Leicester’s not far away.

It was good to have the security of Geordan Murphy in the #15 shirt for Tigers on Saturday when he had a really outstanding game. At least I was spared my heart being in my mouth as another aerial fusillade rained down on the uncertain hands of Matthew Tait who really should be on the wing or at centre but I guess Tait will remain at full-back until he becomes a star or fails miserably. Shame though to waste all that talent but I still hope Murphy is both fit and retained.

Tigers have yet another “must win” match and this time against the Premiership’s bottom club.

I think they’ll win but if they don’t then I suspect Richard Cockerill will start feeling some heat from above as losing to a club placed so lowly, even taking into account injuries, international call ups et al would just be unacceptable.

So that’s it from me for a couple of weeks as the LV= Cup hoves into view. I’ll be back to have a mutter about Tigers’ chances down at Sandy Park, the aftermath of which was the turning point for Tigers’ season last year when, coincidentally, they were also 3rd in the Premiership as they went down Devon way. All they’ve got to do is beat Sale to emulate that propitious circumstance.

Until then if anybody wants to know where I was when the news of Elvis’s death was announced – you have only to ask!

Tigers v Sale Match Preview

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 25/02/2013 20:41

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
25/02/2013 20:41

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:05:12:41:38 by Tiggs.

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Duncan Keene
25/02/2013 21:32

Thanks Chris.

I think Castro should be available though may be "injured" again.

If Lancaster is consistent in only resting starting 15 we could have Flood and Waldrom.

You are right that Sale are a different proposition to a few months ago, and that Cockers will be under severe pressure if we lose. With Exeter, saints Toulon away to follow, no Tigers coach wants to be in charge of 6 losses in a row!! Now's the time to turn the momentum.

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S4llyC
25/02/2013 21:48

Thanks again Chris - another succinct piece of analysis - and I hope you're correct in your predictions.

We could also get OTY back as well, Duncan, if Lancaster is allowing bench players to return and play for their clubs.

Even without any returning internationals I'd like to think the past 2 weekends have been a serious kick up the backside for our squad, and I'd hope that the team will react like we expect them to. There certainly needs to be some attempt to put the season back on track, and as you say, the next few games will be crucial.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:02:25:21:50:47 by S4llyC.

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Duncan Keene
25/02/2013 21:55

Good point Sally.

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S4llyC
25/02/2013 22:05

Conversely there's also the possibility that Lancaster will want to revert back to having OTY in his starting line up against Italy (I thought he stepped up the game immensely when he came on for Hartley) - and ask Tigers not to play him this week...

And I suppose if Farrell is still crocked, he might want to protect Toby as well. We could end up getting no-one back at all against Sale, in fact. A chance for last week's Tigers team to redeem themselves perhaps?

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Yorkie
25/02/2013 23:46

Thanks Chris.

But I fear your desire to see the "nice lady that washes the shirts" on the wing will go unfulfilled as she retired not so long back!

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Purebob
26/02/2013 16:47

Wayne Barnes is ref. We've lost.

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Stopsy
26/02/2013 17:28

Thanks Chris, I remember Ross Harrison from Lymm RUFC U8s upwards, he was always key to their fortunes. All will depend on how Sale travel and how much they have studied the 2nd half of our game last week (I hope we have!).

Anglesea will have them fired up and expect boots to rain down with impunity on any exposed tigers on the deck.

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Olyy
27/02/2013 09:55

Very good read

Miller has been injured for Shepards last two starts, but I expect him to start if fit (or, as the case has been the past two weeks - be named and then drop out the day before).

He also re-signed for us a few days ago, so you can keep your mitts to yourselves

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odd-shaped vagaries
27/02/2013 21:39

“9.30am on Friday 4th May 1979”

May the fourth fosse be with you? .. It was down the drain with society from that dread day forward .. We're paying the price now and no mistake

As for for where you were when Elvis died .. he's not dead, apparently, he's just 'left the building'

'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget

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