Shiny Happy Tigers.


By Ro
October 23 2005

After last week’s war of attrition it was good to get away from the off-field politics and back to what really matters. The Rugby. All the media chatter may have been about the Julian White incident but the players obviously had their hearts and minds focused on higher things, the Heineken Cup.

And good on them. It would have been understandable if the fallout from last Friday had distracted them from their task but what was obvious from the first minute to the eightieth was that they had been thorough in their homework and played the French at their own game.

Although we lost some key players last week and Claremont Auvergne’s line-up could only be described as star-studded, it was good to look at the Tigers team sheet and see the likes of Morino, Moody and Gladys back on it. Also pleasing was the fact that Geordan’s injury had not been more serious.

Tigers obviously won the toss this week and were playing the ‘right way’, towards the clubhouse end in the first half and the A&L in the second.

Was it a deliberate decision on Cozza’s part not to have the mascot run down the steps with him? Holding hands with a small child, carrying the ball AND running down steps at the same time really isn’t that easy and should not be attempted by anyone not wishing to appear clumsy.

From the first whistle Tigers set out their stall. Lewis’ enthusiasm for the game must be catching. The guys looked as if they were really enjoying themselves, at times it even appeared that it was all a bit of a lark!

Goode’s first penalty went wide of the left-hand upright. Unfortunately the crowd in the Next stand’s groans were enough to give the game away to the touch judges. No ‘extra’ points this week. Dambielle, however, had his kicking boots on from the start and, when Tigers pulled down the maul from a Claremont lineout, he stepped up to the mark.

Lewis was a man on a mission to win every Tigers kick-off. And most of the time he was there or thereabouts. Harry as usual hounded their kicker – this week managing to do so without enduring the wrath of the referee.

Goodie must have been watching the Sale v Munster match last night. Like Charlie Hodgson, he used his considerable boot to good effect, playing for territory and forcing line-outs close to the Claremont line. He also used the cross-field kick, probably expecting the flying Varndell to be on the receiving end. Unfortunately the first one went to a leaping Moody, who ended up flat on his face.

It was only a matter of time before Tigers were able to find holes on the French defence, with Murphy breaking out of his 22 at pace, sprinting 50 metres before finding Ellis, who had a clear run to the line.

Claremont managed to give away a sack-load of penalties, the full back eventually being shown the yellow card (once Alan Lewis could get it out of his pocket) for tackling Murphy without the ball.

With Dambielle in the bin, former Tiger Craig McMullen stepped up to take over the kicking duties and, with an over-enthusiastic Moody penalised for diving over, McMullen took the score to Tigers 22 Claremont 9.

With a few minutes to go in the first half, Lloyd crossed the line. Goode converted and the teams went into the break Tigers 29 Claremont 9.

Claremont seemed keen enough to get on with it, but Tigers arrived back on the pitch fashionably late. What on earth had Pat been saying to them in the changing room? What he almost certainly had not been saying was that Ollie should go for a drop goal. But he did. After a fashion. And he missed. ‘Nuf said. It was about this time that I suggested that things would go pear shaped for the next 20 minutes. Then Tom Varndell made a wonderful interception from a good Claremont build-up and crossed over under the posts. Goode had a straightforward conversion. Tigers 36 Claremont 9.

It was bound to happen at some point. Breyton Paulse used his speed to make a break and Marsh capitalised on it. Dambielle converted. Tigers 36 Claremont 16.

Minutes later Tony Marsh was on the attack again but Goode managed to intercept his offload to score. His conversion took the score to Tigers 43 Claremont 16. Bonus point.

Vesty replaced Gibson, worryingly early in the second half. Tigers have missed Gibbo’s experience in the backs these last few weeks. After that, substitutions came thick and fast. It was getting like school sports day. Everyone gets a turn!

Tackle of the match came as a breakaway by Claremont’s replacement wing was snuffed out by a well-timed cover-tackle by Lloyd, slamming the big Islander into touch. But the pressure was bound to tell and when Claremont were awarded a penalty in front of the Tigers’ posts Rougerie elected to kick to touch. A good drive from the lineout saw prop Scelzo touch down. McMullen converted. Tigers 43 Claremont 23.

Then Tigers were back on the attack. Sustained pressure led Claremont to give away a very kickable penalty but Goode kicked to touch and a well worked lineout move saw Cullen at the front of the line pass immediately back to Chuter, who crossed over in the corner. Goode’s touchline conversion brought up the 50. A further try by Murphy sealed the victory but Tigers weren’t about to rest on their laurels.

A word of advice for Ben Kay. If you’re going to do “a bad thing”, don’t make it obvious by wearing orange gloves. Whatever “it” was, it landed him in the sin-bin. Claremont kept up the pressure to no avail and when Tigers capitalised on a knock on, Murphy made a massive downfield kick. Lloyd’s replacement, Alex Tuilagi, was hampered by a lazy runner but Varndell managed to collect the ball, unfortunately knocking on over the line.

Final Score Tigers 57 Claremont Auvergne 23

Our Man of the Match was Lewis Moody, for his sheer enthusiasm and managing not to get carded.

This match marked Ollie Smith’s 100th start for the Tigers. Not necessarily a memorable one, but certainly a memorable day. After all, most Tigers don’t have their 100th cap awarded to them by Rugby legends, those famous sons of Biarritz and Mowsley, Serge Blanco and Martin Johnson.

Thanks again to tiggs for the images

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