Leicester Tigers
Tigers v Northampton Saints Match Preview
By ChrisC
September 30 2013
Something in the Air Thirty runs and three wickets along with two catches in a single match was the zenith of my cricketing exploits, achieved on an idyllic summer afternoon at a ground just south of Guildford.
Like most of my sporting participations that into cricket was not entirely filled with glory. A trier? Indeed but rarely, if ever (I suspect) the first name on the team sheet.
It had been a dry few days and the pitch was receptive to my spin bowling, helped by my being unusually accurate in finding a rough patch to bowl into and, when I came to bat in my customary lowly #8 spot, the opposition captain resorted to his less effective spinner when his fast bowler couldn’t get past my infuriating straight bat defence. My skipper’s words, imparted as I strode to the wicket, resonating around my brain “don’t get out”! My raison d'être to anchor one end while our opener carried on compiling runs at the other.
I didn’t. He did and we did and were heralded as we left the field, architects of an all too rare victory.
I’d never played as well before and sadly never did so again.
As we drove home the big summer hit of the year: “Something in the Air” by Thunderclap Newman was on the car radio and it just summed up that beautiful summer’s day when there truly was something in the air.
There’s always something in the air when Tigers meet Northampton although of late there have, for my taste, been too many incidents of notoriety. Too much niggle. Punching, hair pulling, intentional dangerous late tackling and of course the most rebarbative act of all; the gratuitous breaking of a player’s arm.
The last contest between the teams will be remembered for Stephen Myler demonstrating he didn’t know the laws of the game and Dylan Hartley when to keep his mouth shut.
Hartley’s antics became the centre of attention alongside the juvenile half time comments of a puce faced Dorian West. Then a concerted campaign by the media and “concerned supporters” saw the RFU’s marsupial assizes suspend Richard Cockerill for swearing at nobody in particular.
It was a shame that once again Saints’ indiscipline, this time augmented by their coach’s petulance and the failure by Cockerill to restrain himself, marred the final and that the animus between the sides increased, especially as it was an otherwise quite splendid match
Cockerill’s enforced absence from the match day coaching team and his relegation as a kind of revenant in some corner of the stadium will ensure that his behaviour isn’t an issue, although it remains to be seen how Dorian West reacts if matters do not proceed as he wishes for he was again fit to explode with frustration at Kingsholm, where his team couldn’t rid themselves of the petechiae that afflicted them as Gloucester secured their victory. I hope West has some beta-blockers to hand as his heart rate must be through the roof on such occasions. I have retained a recording of his antics so I can replay them again should I feel the need to be “concerned”.
In the last round of their endeavours Northampton entertained Sale Sharks and handed them a five try larruping but hardly could it have been otherwise for Mr. Mallinder, comforted as he must have been by his knowledge that referees favour home teams, who would surely have considered it as a routine and wholly predictable outcome.
A couple of days later Tigers visited Sandy Park with Richard Cockerill abandoning the pragmatic approach to selection that I thought he’d adopt by sending a similar line up to that fielded against Newcastle, instead favouring the bringing together and honing of the team I suspect, in the main, he expects to take Tigers through until Treviso travel to Welford Road for the second round of the Heineken Cup.
In the event, after a turbo charged opening half, Tigers engaged cruise control and relied on their defence to swat away the pesky Chiefs as and when required.
There does seem to be an alarming accidie about the Tigers at times which will need to be eradicated come Saturday.
After matches where neither side needed to break sweat Northampton will be in good shape for their trip to Welford Road and content with their lower injury roster than will Richard Cockerill his but he will be happy to be back at Welford Road.
There are saliva inducing match ups all around next weekend but, for the cognoscenti, none more so than the prospect of Lions Dan Cole and Alex Corbisiero going, literally, head to head. No less intriguing will be the competition between Cole and Corbisiero’s colleague in the Lions’ front row; Tom Youngs and Dylan Hartley whose stupidity cost him a place on the plane down under.
The contest between Mulipola, who’s come to prominence in the absence of Marcos Ayerza, and the emerging talent of Tom Mercey paling by comparison.
Mercey has had to bide his time since arriving from Saracens, where he was also cast as a bit part player, his getting just seven Premiership starts with Saints last season and only a solitary start the season before that, so now that he’s getting the starting berth ahead of the even more patient Alex Waller he’ll be able to use the experience gained from his numerous appearances from the Saints’ bench.
I think Londoner Mercey will have his hands full with the big Samoan. The contest elsewhere in the front row is so finely balanced that the outcome of the Mulipola and Mercey sideshow may in the end prove pivotal and one in which I favour the south sea islander to prevail.
Geoff Parling was back against Exeter and initially paired with Louis Deacon who gave way to the dynamic but less heavyweight Kitchener. The Exeter line out was ruined by the duos and the home side got little coherent possession from the set piece as they were steamrollered by Tigers.
At Franklins Gardens the ever excellent and cerebral Christian Day hobbled off to be replaced by the fantastic Manoa. My goodness the American is a wonderful player and brings so much to the pitch however I don’t think the Saints’ line out looks as assured or their mauling as well managed when Day isn’t on duty. So if Day isn’t fit it’ll be interesting to see who partners Courtney Lawes. The twenty-two timed capped Hackney lad’s defensive work is astonishing and it’s disappointing that he strays into illegality when he’s talented enough for such excursions to be unnecessary and it’s alarming if the comment of England coach Paul Gustard that Lawes has a desire to hurt people is true.
It’s unusual for Julian Salvi to find himself played out of contention as often as he was at Sandy Park last Sunday although to be fair the person who was responsible for the achievement was referee Tim Wigglesworth who decided that the Aussie open-side was pretty much always cheating – he wasn’t!
The breakdown continues to be a mess, too often resembling Paxton’s painting of Custer’s Last Stand. Referees sometimes become randomly energised into making an effort but then too often they get it wrong – randomness has that effect!
It’s likely that Julian Salvi will be the only authentic open-side on the pitch at Saturday’s kick off as the fabled six and a half type of flanker now hold increasing sway in Premiership back rows with Gloucester wasting the talents of Kvesic by deploying him thus.
Since the advent of League-union resourcing the breakdown is one of the great challenges and I have been struck by the lightness of touch that Saints often apply, preferring to cede possession and then defend as did the aforementioned George Custer at the Bighorn. This becomes problematic as Saints are generating too many penalties and Yellow Cards which is a trend that will prejudice their fulfilling their aspirations as their indiscipline is attracting attention from match officials with whom they must be developing a reputation for foul play.
I expect to see Jordan Crane continue his barnstorming start to the season in the #8 shirt for Tigers and face a real find by Mallinder; Sam Dickinson. Ex of Rotherham he played in last year’s Championship for Moseley where he was on loan having collected a broken arm playing for his old club that sidelined him for the Saints from day one of his debut season. He’s had an excellent start to his Northampton playing career excelling both in attack, where he tears around like a man possessed, and in defence where his tackling is exceptional. Having survived two broken arms he’s obviously determined to grab his chance at the big time while both are still in one piece.
With Salvi playing I’d expect Tom Wood to start on the open-side to compete with him for if Saints acquiesce to him at the breakdown they’ll be in trouble and Wood is the player most likely to provide competition as I don’t see Dowson as an open-side.
Steve Mafi hasn’t been seen since he went off lame at the Recreation Ground so the choice for Richard Cockerill may again revolve around Slater, Waldrom or Gibson for the blind-side berth. My guess is that in recognition of his line out presence Slater will get the nod ahead of Waldrom and it may be felt that Gibson’s expertise on the floor could best be a resource held in reserve.
Saints will need to decide whether to persevere with Clark, who generates penalties or opt for Dowson who brings a calmer approach and doesn’t attract the attention of match officials as, given his nine Yellow Cards, does Clark.
Always hard to say what will happen at the breakdown given the random decision making process employed by officials but from what I’ve seen of Saints’ work in this area against both Gloucester and Sale I think Tigers could have an edge, especially as Cole and later Briggs can make strong contributions.
I believe that Tigers will edge the set piece but that Saints’ pack will present a real threat in the loose with their mauling work exemplary. More often than not these days officials seem to feel that mauls can only be stopped by illegality on the part of the defenders so mauling is a valuable attacking ploy as is a bit of self collapsing by the attacking side should the maul stall.
Lee Dickson has had to watch as ex Crusader, Osprey and Samoan international Kahn Fotuali’i took his starting spot and did a good job of it too. However against Sale Dickson was excellent and his kicking beyond reproach – I hope Ben Youngs was watching the kicking display from his colleague in the England squad last season. It’s hard to see how the Samoan can warrant a start ahead of the Saints’ stalwart especially facing the familiar figure of Ben Youngs.
As will have been noted the requirement for the scrum half to put the ball in straight has been largely abandoned by match officials, maybe the #9s have mounted a sort of “99” initiative by all feeding their packs and assuming that referees will blink first at the prospect of endless free kicks and penalties slowing the game. If so then those canny scrummies have been proved right it would appear. So by and large we can forget about that law, it needing only to trouble us when the assessment box is in urgent need of ticking.
Alex King’s influence on Stephen Myler is very marked. Myler’s kicking is excellent with an 85% success rate but now he has a greater presence as a play maker and looks a much more a complete fly-half than he has since joining Saints from Warrington in 2006.
Toby Flood is coming back to form after his lay off but his place kicking, with a success rate of just 67%, is going to count against him as far as further international recognition is concerned and it’s essential for Tigers that he becomes far more consistent with the boot as there’ll be penalty chances that he must take come Saturday.
Flood will challenge the gain line more than will Myler who will lay off and look to bring Burrell and his back row onto the ball at pace. The contrast will continue at inside centre where Tony Allen’s skill and intelligence will have to be fully deployed to hold the threat of the bang in form Luther Burrell.
Since arriving at Saints Burrell’s unrecognisable from the player I saw at Sale where he made just three Premiership starts and with time at Leeds under the tutelage of Stuart Lancaster on his cv he must have a good chance of selection for the senior England team.
Allen will see Burrell’s all guns blazing approach as a matadorial opportunity to get behind the Saints’ defence and with Goneva laying in wait Saints will need to be on their mettle to contain the Fijian revelation, who’s developed into a superb all round player, looking very comfortable restored to his international position.
I must confess to being torn when it comes to Saints’ outside centre. Samoan George Pisi was outstanding against Sale, who looked vulnerable out wide throughout their encounter last Friday evening but I just so like Kiwi James Wilson and for me his superior kicking game might just get him the starting spot ahead of the more direct but very effective Pisi who could be an ideal impact replacement. A tough one to call.
I’m not going to comment on George North. Enough’s been said. I am though going to comment on Jamie Elliott.
Now in Elliott we have an exemplar for those young players, barely past puberty, who scurry off from the clubs that nurtured them and their talent in search of the ephemeral “more game time”.
Still just twenty years old Elliott made his debut back in 2010 but has had to be content to live in the shadow of more famous players and is still content to play apprentice to the English born Welsh Lion. Our sport is built on players such as the Bedford born winger who’ll be a thorn in the side of Tigers come Saturday as he can carry the ball into the opposition twenty-two from pretty much anywhere and I can’t conceive that Ken Pisi will be preferred.
Tigers are hamstrung, in some cases literally, by injuries amongst their backs and so Adam Thompstone is putting in an extensive shift and playing very well. This weekend he’ll have the ultimate defensive challenge of containing North who in his turn will have to stop the less lauded (and outside of Leicester largely ignored) Thompstone. Could be bit of a crunching battle.
Meanwhile Tigers’ new signing, American Eagle; Blaine Scully will need to again demonstrate the rock solid defence that he displayed against Exeter.
Niall Morris will not be phased by his opposite number, the resurgent Ben Foden, who’s recovering his mojo. The Irishman seems almost Zen like in his calmness and will be looking for, in these days of leviathans, the relatively diminutive Elliott and Foden with his kicking as will Flood, both of whom will need to be more accurate from hand than they were at Sandy Park and it should go without saying that North should not have the ball presented to him from on high.
Next Saturday’s sides are each on fifteen match points both have identical numbers of respective bonus points and identical numbers of points against.
Saints though have scored four more points from their attacking endeavours giving them the second spot in the Premiership table by the slimmest of margins as they travel up the M1. Had Niall Morris’s try not been incorrectly disallowed at Sandy Park the clubs’ table positions would have been reversed.
That’s how finely balanced the opening sorties of the season have developed for Saturday’s combatants. Tigers have beaten; Worcester and Newcastle at home and Exeter away but narrowly lost away to Bath. Saints have beaten; Exeter and Sale at home and Quins away but narrowly lost away to Gloucester.
So nothing in the form book to suggest the likely outcome. Neither side have yet beaten a side at home that would be considered “contenders”, while their losses away have been against those that would be so regarded.
Given these similarities the factor of squad availability comes into play where Northampton would appear to be better placed however the match is on the hallowed turf of Welford Road.
A draw would be unusual but is suggested by analysis however I think that if Tigers deign to play for eighty minutes and accidie is banished then home advantage may tell – just!
I hope that after the match we’re all talking about rugby and not, as after recent encounters, the odour in the air.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:07:20:16:16 by Tiggs.
As you say it'll be informative how our first choice TH Mercey compares to your second choice LH Munipola with our Aussie international Ma'afu seemingly not impressing our coaches.
For me it comes down to whether the Saints forwards can secure enough possession against your impressive and well-balanced pack, given our backs look transformed under the tutelage of Alex King.
Tuilagi and Tait r big losses for you giving Saints a definite advantage in the centres and back 3. None of the 4 teams have been able to shackle big George so far and Burrell has shown surprisingly sophisticated passing skills, running lines and speed for a centre over 17 stone.
P.S. You forgot to mention the slaps Tuilagi gave Ashton in the semi final 4 years ago. If there had been TMO's like now that would have been a red card and game over.
Here's hoping it's a cracking game remembered for the rugby rather than refereeing, foul play and conduct controversies.
Thanks again ChrisC - Whilst I welcome a match outside of the Invitational periods - It would be nice to have full squads available too!
Can we take a 5 point win whilst saving ourselves for Ravenhill - No, of course we can't! It will be interesting to see who plays the game in Ospreylia this Friday.
But games against the Sinners are what it's all about. Can't wait!
couple of things from a Saintly perspective: if you count niall morris's disallowed try BP then we might just need to adjust for twelvetrees penalty at Kingsholm
.
also, don't think you are the only ones who rate your winger thompstone, he always looked more than capable even in a struggling LI team and looks to have kicked on with the structure and organisation that you guys have and LI never seem to.
I fear the squad may be further depleted for the Ulster sojourn, but hope it will not be so
Slaughter 'em Tigers! .. is probably the most balanced view I can come up with .. and no ''accidie''
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
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