Leicester Tigers
Tigers v Newcastle AP Match Preview
By ChrisC
September 1 2014
Growing Into It. Blazers swinging around the knees. Shirt collars big enough to accommodate polycephalics. Still unstained ties. New shoes as yet un-scuffed by the rigours of playground football. Girls with voluminous dresses rolled over their belts to stop hems dragging on the floor, glistening white socks and beribboned hair.
Embarrassed protestations that we looked daft in our oversized clothes going unheeded, meeting with firm parental guidance that “you’ll grow into them”.
Freshly painted classrooms, temporarily hygienic toilets, shiny buffed wooden floors and that mix of fear and excitement that a new term was about to begin.
My first term at secondary school was miserable. My parents and I had just moved to Essex from London and with barely a week between our arrival and the start of term I was not yet fully part of my street cabal nor did I have the benefit of being a member of a ready established cohort from a local primary school.
I was very much alone and with my schooling thus far having been in a small Church of England school in a (then) leafy north London borough I was now pitched headlong into a tough 1200 pupil Technical School (a comprehensive to those of more tender years). With curly blond hair and a surfeit of “puppy fat”, which these days would have been “obesity” and seen me whisked into some local authority programme, I was fresh meat for the bullies.
They’d wait for me on the long driveway between the playground and the school gates; John, Brian and their gleeful acolytes. They’d hoot, name call and cheer derisively from the sidelines as their heroes pushed and punched me. They’d steal my cap, satchel, scatter my books and generally humiliate me, all of which served to add to my isolation as the new fat kid.
It was unthinkable to complain to the teachers as bullying was part of the warp and weft of school life. So, reluctant to tell my parents lest my mother arrived at the headmaster’s door doing her impression of a horsewoman of the apocalypse, I kept my misery to myself. When the blessed relief of half term arrived, in her other role as inquisitor general, my mother pressed me on what was the matter and, with my father, silently listened to my tearful tale of woe.
Predictably my mother was harnessing up to ride into battle until my father reined her in; “he needs to sort it out for himself” he said and that evening began my education of how to fight. He was born and brought up in London’s docklands and he emphasised that in any battle there are only two outcomes; you’re the winner or the loser, so my fighting technique was not rooted in Marquis of Queensbury rules but dockland rules. Victory was the only objective.
Half term passed and John and Brian were ready and waiting for me when hostilities resumed but now I was ready for them too. After leaving John with a sore groin, a bloody nose and a rapidly closing eye he and his gang lost their bravado, as bullies do. “You leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone. OK?” I said. They nodded and we parted. Word spread and I was never bullied again. I’d learned a valuable lesson that’s served me well and which I’ve carried through life with me. And pretty soon puberty and rugby training dealt with the podge!
We often hear in our sport that one side or another was “bullied up front” by opposition forwards and once more in this first weekend of the new term for the Premiership teams, those that gain first physical and then mental supremacy will prosper while those that take a backward step will find progress difficult.
Both Richard Cockerill and Dean Richards were players who never took a backward step and so it’s been since they became Directors of Rugby. Both have had their disciplinary travails born out of their burning desire for their teams to win, with Dean Richards admittedly taking his ambition beyond the pale while at Quins.
Now though, firmly ensconced at Kingston Park and having navigated his team through the parlous waters of their inaugural season back in the top flight of English rugby, I see Newcastle likely to be able to achieve security this term and to avoid relegation by more than the one place and six point margin they managed over Worcester last time.
In season 2013/14 so often they looked to have done enough to eek out victories to add to their meagre three successes, just one more than the relegated Warriors, only eventually to falter and fail.
If Falcons did just enough to bring another season of top flight rugby to Kingston Park then Tigers just fell short of bringing honours to Welford Road.
Newcastle’s ambitions are clear to see with their being the latest Premiership club to invest in a 3G artificial playing surface for the coming season, a boon surely at windy, wet Kingston Park but this weekend they will be at Welford Road where God’s own greensward still holds centre stage.
Both clubs have had a busy time in the transfer market with Newcastle’s highest profile arrival probably Tigers’ old boy the Samoan international behemoth winger Alex Tuilagi, who’s returned from his pension top up in the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Other erstwhile favourites at Welford Road: Rob Hawkins and Calum Green, the latter after a spell at Leeds, joining the ex Tigers legend Richards and John Wells.
Tigers meanwhile have bolstered their playing strength with a raft of international signings and there are some potential stars to join the Tigers’ firmament with the likes of Freddie Burns, Ghiraldini and Loamanu with Brad Thorn also joining the ranks. I’m viewing the recruitment of superstar Thorn much as I did those of Stransky and Kronfeld; as adding a special factor to the collegiate whole.
Tigers have emerged somewhat from the curse of last year’s injury blighted season but there have still been significant absences from the largely successful pre-season workouts. We remain with a side still under a penumbra as the new term begins.
The most significant absences are in the front five of the Tigers’ pack; Ayerza’s absent with the Pumas and while new signing Rizzo is absent in the short term the continued absence of Dan Cole with a serious injury largely occasioned on international duty still looks a long term work in progress.
Tom Youngs is absent too and with it otherwise unexplained he may still be occupied with family issues.
I think the most likely starting trio for the hosts is that of Italian international Leonardo Ghiraldini who’s impressed in pre-season with Fraser Balmain and Mulipola providing top class and flexible support.
Dean Richards’ front row recruiting has been limited but includes American Eagle; Eric Fry, the twenty-six year old having been capped sixteen times for his country. He previously plied his trade with Manawatu in the NPC and latterly with London Scottish for whom he started thirteen times last season. The big American is able to play on both sides of the front row. In pre-season he had to share the loose-head berth with veteran Rob Vickers who made his debut for the Falcons way back in December 2006 when he came on as a replacement in two Amlin Cup fixtures since when he’s made seventy-two Premiership starts for the Falcons.
I’d be surprised to see the new recruit get a start at Welford Road and think we’ll see Vickers start with Scottish international Scott Lawson, who has around half a century of caps to his name bringing all that experience and mobility to the hooking department which though would be barely lessened were Ireland Under 21 hooker George McGuigan to get the start.
Erstwhile Tiger Kieran Brookes will expect to have first grabs on the tight-head side as he sets out to prove what Tigers are missing following his return to Kingston Park, the young Irish born prop getting a brace of caps on England’s ill fated tour to New Zealand this summer and in spite of young Scott Wilson’s bravado, born of his four top class starts, I’d expect Brookes to be in the opening line up for the visitors.
I think that even without their first choice front row of Ayerza, Youngs and Cole the Tigers’ trio will still prove a bit much for the visitors.
At lock the hosts will be missing new club captain; Ed Slater who was injured on international duty in New Zealand and the prospects for Geoff Parling are unclear. Louis Deacon has yet to be spotted and Brad Thorn is not quite fit, so deChaves has been getting match practice and may well partner Kitchener in the second row if both of his senior colleagues are counted out.
Josh Furno arrives at Falcons having spent time at Viadana, Aironi, Narbonne and lastly Biarritz. While not exactly a stellar collection of clubs the twenty-four year old has been capped on a score of occasions for Italy and if there’s one thing Italy aren’t short of it’s forwards. He sounds like he’s caught the eye in pre-season and with the impressive Dom Barrow having taken a knock against Edinburgh the Italian may well get the start alongside Green although with the vastly experienced and feisty Scott Macleod available he’d be my choice start for inclusion.
If Parling is fit to play then I can see advantage to Tigers if not it’ll be a closer contest although the home side will have the presence of Tom Croft to tip the scales in their favour at line out time.
The aforementioned Croft, after another season largely sidelined through injury, should be fit to wear Tigers’ blindside shirt and will be a pivotal figure at the line out as well as with his supreme presence in open play.
In pre-season newly arrived from Pro D2 Colomiers New Zealand born but Tongan qualified Uili Kolo’ofai had a go at on the blind side for Falcons although he is properly a lock with one of the Tuilagi clan popping up as well however I think it’s most likely that Falcons’ stalwart; the sedulous Mark Wilson will oppose Tigers’ British Lion.
With Julian Salvi having a fine run out in the pre-season matches against Edinburgh and Cardiff he looks certain to be bossing the breakdown although if Andy Saull starts he is at least a bona fide open side but was swept away by the Tsunami of South African arrivals at Saracens and will give Tigers’ favourite Australian something to think about. The ex Saracen also has prodigious pace with the ball in hand.
Jordan Crane saw off Thomas Waldrom whose form dipped alarmingly once he’d decided to head west but now he has the significant competition of the ubiquitous Barbieri who looks a really good singing. My guess is that Crane will get the start with the Canadian born ex Treviso back row on the bench.
Dean Richards has the abilities of the splendid Ally Hogg to deploy in his #8 shirt and he’ll be a tremendous threat with ball in hand so the back row contest looks a close one but one where Tigers should prevail. Officiating hopefully being cavil free.
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the classy ex Scotland international scrum half Mike Blair who’s eighty-three caps of experience give him that unflappable quality. In Falcons’ last pre-season he too took a knock against his previous club; Edinburgh, where he spent all but one season of his top class career, which began in October 1996, before coming to Kingston Park.
If he’s ruled out, which would be a shame, ex Bristol player Tipuna looks set for his Premiership debut. The Kiwi spent time at Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Scarlets before arriving at the Memorial Ground where, after three seasons, he’s been displaced by the arrival of Dwayne Peel. At thirty Tipuna is experienced, of that there’s no doubt, but Ben Youngs would prefer to see him opposite rather than the wily Blair.
With the depleted Tigers’ pack still likely to give Ben Youngs a superior platform I’m expecting to see him continue the development of his burgeoning partnership with fellow England international Freddie Burns, which was the nexus of a sumptuous try against Cardiff.
Burns acquitted himself well during both the England sojourn to the “Land of the Long White Cloud” and in his pre-season exploits so I’m looking forward to seeing the prodigiously talented fly half throw off the accidie that latterly gripped him in the troubled environs of Gloucester.
Burns will certainly discourage the rush defence with his deft kicking but he’ll need to have his radar more accurate from the tee than we’ve seen thus far. And with the re-emergence of Owen Williams after his preposterous suspension where once more the RFU’s “Marsupial Assizes” didn’t need any evidence to convict. This time needing just the word of Luther Burrell with his club remaining disgracefully silent.
Fly half has been a troubled position for Newcastle with Scottish international Phil Godman mostly preferred to the talented Rory Clegg who at eight years younger must be the future for Falcons. On the occasions I saw Godman I have to say I was underwhelmed.
Dean Richards has given Tom Catterick, Clegg and new arrival from Rotherham Juan Socino a shot at fly half during the pre-season. Socino played the vast majority of his rugby at inside centre for the Titans, with his limited international exploits also being in the centre as was the case during his time at Dax, Nottingham and his first spell with Rotherham. He may therefore have greater physicality but does he have the skills and subtlety to mix it at fly half in the Premiership? And quite how Catterick came into the #10 equation is a bit of a mystery.
Thankfully Tiger lynchpin Tony Allen looks fit to start the new season as without him Tigers too often seem directionless whether in defence or attack where he’ll take full advantage of any interstices appearing before him.
Fijian veteran Bai looks another useful option at inside centre but surely Allen will start alongside Manu Tuilagi with this British Lion certainly relishing potentially being opposite two players with whom he has consanguinity.
Anit Tuilagi’s opportunities at Newport were limited and when selected he played in both centre positions although when at Sale I thought he lacked a bit of the imagination required at #12 and I would think that although he has numerous options we may see a fit again Samoan international Jamie Helleur preferred by Richards to both Socino and another ex Saracen; Adam Powell, also swept away by the tide from the Cape but who I really rate as a clever and inventive player.
Out wide for Tigers I anticipate Blaine Scully being told to continue his good pre-season work especially as he’ll deter the visitors from kicking the ball to him and that Goneva, with the benison of being part of a first choice back division, will look to continue his standout performances of last season.
Alex Tuilagi looks certain to play some part on Saturday as he begins what must be his Premiership swansong but it may be that, short on match practice and fitness, he’ll be used as the ultimate impact replacement with Noah Cato, yet another displaced Saracen who arrived at Kingston Park after a less than productive stint at Northampton where he made just eleven appearances during his two seasons at Franklins Gardens before moving to Falcons while they were still in the Championship, getting the nod for the starting spot.
But once Alex is deployed – watch out!!!
On the other flank I hope the stalwart Tom Catterick gets preference over the more exotic Sinoti Sinoti (so good they named him twice!) who’s been at Toulon, Castres, Hawkes Bay, Aironi, Zebre then back to New Zealand for a spell at Wellington and thence to Newcastle to sample the English Premiership. I bet his Airmiles account is quite something!
Catterick though has Falcons printed through him having played for them since his debut in November 2009 when he was part of the Falcons’ side that were thumped by thirty-two points to six at Sixways. This presaged the future but he’s stuck with Falcons through all their trials and tribulations so I hope he’ll get a good run this term and stays free of injury.
Niall Morris has enjoyed a quite splendid pre-season for Tigers and with Matt Tait just making his way back from yet more surgery/injury I hope that Morris too will both get the opportunity to make the Tigers’ #15 shirt his own and furthermore take that chance. What I hope against hope is that Tait, when fully fit, isn’t just shoehorned back in if the Irishman’s doing the business.
With Alex Tait injured and Sevens’ exponent Simon Hammersley unlikely to feature from the start, as he did in pre-season, League convert Lee Smith should now be ready to make a big contribution to his first Premiership club and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do in the senior code.
Tigers should prevail after securing a degree of dominance up front and at the breakdown running out winners at their bailiwick.
Newcastle meanwhile have to assimilate the changes and grow into the new framework as well as, later, their high-tech pitch.
Good luck to them in their endeavours just not on Saturday.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:09:08:20:05:38 by Tiggs.
Summer was OK but it's good to be in the UK, although how long for I'm not sure.
Anything much been happening?
I've been on the internet but usually on my smartphone just for Skype and emails (that's me at the cutting edge of technology) so haven't been on here for months as I find it too difficult to read on the little screen.
Every time I try to enlarge the page so I can read it I end up going off somewhere else in cyber space so after a while I couldn't really be @rsed to be honest and I had "stuff" going on.
When I found a spot to use my laptop doing banking, paying bills, booking tickets and hotels and all that kind of thing used up such time as I had.
I've caught up with the most recent Tiger stuff while researching for the preview - oh yes - there's research tha' knows!!! It's not entirely off the cuff.
Tigers, but not by many points.
Thanks Chris .. soon be Christmas now
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
... happy to be wrong with the score!
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
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