The Leicester Tigers thread

[Portnoy]

First topic message reminder :

2012/3 may well prove to be a memorable one.

For once, there seems to be (albeit not unplumbable) strength in depth, a fairly healthy squad and a straightforward, uncomplicated international season.

[nathan]

What the he'll Rolland, what the he'll was that!?

[nathan]

About bloody time Rolland!

[TJ1]

Lucky tigers - at least one of those should have been penalty to Treviso - but the final decision was right

[nathan]

Lucky tigers - at least one of those should have been penalty to Treviso - but the final decision was right

Lol, if Rolland gave a penalty try 15 metres out with any prior warnings then the tigers should of had a penalty try when there player didn't release the ball 1m from the line. Treviso were lucky.

[TJ1]

Entertaining game tho. Enjoyed it.

[nathan]

Entertaining game tho. Enjoyed it.

Yeah true, shame about the weather though.

[TJ1]

especially entertaining considering it was the tigers

[king_carlos]

Well that was tight! I'll take a win away from home against any team in the HC to be fair.

On the second rows I can't really imagine Parling moving away but if Gloucester (or anyone for that matter) can offer him a big contract you can never be sure with any player. As is often said rugby careers are short and I can't blame players for making what they can whilst they can. That said I think England selection will prevent him moving abroad now he's just established himself.

If Matt Taits going to stay at FB, which I'll happily see him do tbh, I'd quite like too see some more centre cover be brought in alongside Allen, Tuilagi, Matt Smith etc. If Forsyth can push on he could help with this alongside Bowden. It was interesting seeing Goneva play there for Fiji in the AI's - offers another option if needed.

[LeinsterFan4life]

How good have Treviso become? From being whipping boys to nearly beating Leicester. This team is developing at a rate of knots. Can't believe some peiple want to get rid of them from the pro12

[formerly known as Sam]

For centre options we have:

12. Allen, Bowden, Symons, Poe
13. Manu, Smith, Forsyth, Catchpole

There's also.Flood who can cover 12 and Thompstone can cover 13.

Heard a rumour we've signed David Mele the French 9/10 on a 2 year deal from Perpignan for next season.

[bedfordwelsh]

How good have Treviso become? From being whipping boys to nearly beating Leicester. This team is developing at a rate of knots. Can't believe some peiple want to get rid of them from the pro12

Is it more a case of some people believe the Pro12 is vastly sub standard to the English system?

[LeinsterFan4life]

How good have Treviso become? From being whipping boys to nearly beating Leicester. This team is developing at a rate of knots. Can't believe some peiple want to get rid of them from the pro12

Is it more a case of some people believe the Pro12 is vastly sub standard to the English system?

What?

[maestegmafia]

Is there any press reports on this game?

BBC's sole contribution is

Treviso 13-14 Leicester
Leicester Tigers move to the top of Heineken Cup Pool Two with a dramatic win at bottom side Treviso.

[HongKongCherry]

A sure sign that the Parling to Gloucester rumour is just that...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2248768/Geoff-Parling-considers-Gloucester.html

Definitely can't be true then. Oh well, on to Garvey and Kennedy.

[formerly known as Sam]

Gloucester can't have offered him a deal yet as it's against the rules, they'd have to wait until January 1st. Parling could however ne dissatisfied with the Leicester offer and his agent could be dropping hints to get a better deal.

Where's Brown going HKC?

[HongKongCherry]

Gloucester can't have offered him a deal yet as it's against the rules, they'd have to wait until January 1st. Parling could however ne dissatisfied with the Leicester offer and his agent could be dropping hints to get a better deal.

Where's Brown going HKC?

There was quite an interesting interview with Nigel Davies this week about the rules of when players can be offered contracts. He stated that Jonny May had been given a number of verbal offers by other clubs before re-signing with us. He said that despite the January 1st date for official offers, it would be niave to think there is no contact prior to this date. Looking back on last year, it was clear for some time that Ashton was off to Sarries well before January 1st. I'm not condoning this behaviour, but it is clearly rife amongst clubs. Therefore, Parling may have received a verbal offer, but I still remain very sceptical he'll leave Tigers.

Brown is in his last year of his contract and his current injury is that bad there can be no date given to when he will return. The general consensus is that this is a career ending injury. Such a shame for a player known for having so few injuries.

[HongKongCherry]

Here's the interview Sam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi6uHahsEwI

[nathan]

especially entertaining considering it was the tigers

yeah i did detect you were only on this thread to try and get a wum going.

[nathan]

Is there any press reports on this game?

BBC's sole contribution is

Treviso 13-14 Leicester
Leicester Tigers move to the top of Heineken Cup Pool Two with a dramatic win at bottom side Treviso.

Maes - The match report is right there. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20740171

[formerly known as Sam]

He said that despite the January 1st date for official offers, it would be niave to think there is no contact prior to this date. Looking back on last year, it was clear for some time that Ashton was off to Sarries well before January 1st. I'm not condoning this behaviour, but it is clearly rife amongst clubs. Therefore, Parling may have received a verbal offer, but I still remain very sceptical he'll leave Tigers

Oh I'm sure there's been some verbal chat along the lines of possible deals, the players contentment in his current role, financial offer from current club etc. The article says he's set to sign though, that can't be true though as he can't have received an official contract.

Even with Ashton there was a good deal of speculation until mid January when all the finalities of the deal and official contracts etc were agreed.

This 'interview' helped Tue nerves though:

http://m.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story.html?aid=17558862&category=sport

Obviously the reporter encountered the usual problem of trying to get more than a sentence out of Geoff who is a man of actions rather than words.

[TJ1]

How good have Treviso become? From being whipping boys to nearly beating Leicester. This team is developing at a rate of knots. Can't believe some people want to get rid of them from the pro12

Apparently they are not good enough for the HC anyway

[HongKongCherry]

For argument's sake he may have verbally agreed to join based upon the verbal offer he's received, so he could be set to sign once the offer comes in writing. Still don't believe it and apparently Garvey was being entertained in the area after the game yesterday, so he may be the more likely target for us.

[TJ1]

especially entertaining considering it was the tigers

yeah i did detect you were only on this thread to try and get a wum going.

Just a gentle tease

[maestegmafia]

Is there any press reports on this game?

BBC's sole contribution is

Treviso 13-14 Leicester
Leicester Tigers move to the top of Heineken Cup Pool Two with a dramatic win at bottom side Treviso.

Maes - The match report is right there. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20740171

Cheers it wasn't up earlier. Treviso are a very tough nut to crack home or away these days.

[Manu's Boxing Coach]

Does anyone know how far away the likes of Mafi,Croft and Flood are from returning to action? Would all be major boosts especially with Ospreys and Toulouse looming in the HC.

[formerly known as Sam]

Flood and Mafi were described as a week away last Wednesday on the Radio Leicester rugby show. They should be back. Croft was at Welford Rd for the Bath game saying hello to the fans. I doubt we'll see him before the new year.

[king_carlos]

For centre options we have:

12. Allen, Bowden, Symons, Poe
13. Manu, Smith, Forsyth, Catchpole

There's also.Flood who can cover 12 and Thompstone can cover 13.

Heard a rumour we've signed David Mele the French 9/10 on a 2 year deal from Perpignan for next season.

A yes forgot about Symons and the Return of Matt Cornwall.

Still looking at that I'd call Smith more of a wing (though he's done well at centre) and Bowden more of a FH but again a decent option at 12 if Allen is unavailable. As seen earlier in the season we can always move Manu to 12 if necessary as well.

1.Ayerza, Mulipola, Boris, Balmain
2.Youngs, Chuter, Hawkins, Stevens
3.Cole, Castro, Brookes, Bower
4.Kitchener, Andrew, Slater
5.Parling, Deacon, Cain
6.Croft, Mafi
7.Salvi, Thorpe
8.Waldrom, Crane, Deacon

9.Youngs, Harrison, Young, Phibbs
10.Flood, Ford, Cornwall

11.Goneva, Benjamin
12.Allen, Bowden, Symons
13.Tuilagi, Smith, Forsyth
14.Hamilton, Thompstone, Lewington
15.Murphy, Tait, Morris

That would be the depth in positions from my reckoning. Obviously peoples pecking orders are subject to opinion and current injury/form, as are players best positions.

Looking at that I'd say we've got pretty decent cover in most positions but if we were to lose one of the first choice in any position most would look far less certain. With Chuter/Boris declining and Ayerza/Castro always subject to offers to move away we could do with the likes of Brookes,Bower,Stevens etc to kick on and add some depth in the front row.

[formerly known as Sam]

1) on current form Bowden won't be playing 10 for Tigers. He is second choice 12 who will cover only of the other 10s including Cornwall are injured. He is too frail.

2) I think Bower will move to Notts at the end of the season. Balmain can seemingly play both sides and is more highly rated than the other young props. He is our best bet.

3) we badly need another 7. I'm hoping Salvi stays and Kvesic is brought in as an understudy.

4) Cain and Lewington have both played for the first team in the LV Cup. Lewingtin scored a beaut of a try vs Quins at the Stoop.

[yappysnap]

Kvesic would be a very good signing, only issue I can see is that with a move to Tigers he'd probably go into the Saxons so you'd be losing him at the same time that you may lose Croft and Waldrom. Would Cockers be happy taking that chance?

[formerly known as Sam]

If we retain Mafi, Salvi and Crane then it should be fine. Kvesic would offer great backrow cover and allow us to rest Salvi more over the course of the season.

[yappysnap]

True true, just as long as you don't have to play Waldrom at 7 again eg?!

[formerly known as Sam]

Yeah, that didn't work. We really need a 7 this summer it's the biggest priority.

[king_carlos]

1) on current form Bowden won't be playing 10 for Tigers. He is second choice 12 who will cover only of the other 10s including Cornwall are injured. He is too frail.

2) I think Bower will move to Notts at the end of the season. Balmain can seemingly play both sides and is more highly rated than the other young props. He is our best bet.

3) we badly need another 7. I'm hoping Salvi stays and Kvesic is brought in as an understudy.

4) Cain and Lewington have both played for the first team in the LV Cup. Lewingtin scored a beaut of a try vs Quins at the Stoop.

Cheers Sam. I've altered the post to include Lewington.

Completely agree that we need another seven. Thorpe is reasonable player but if Salvi gets a bad injury we don't want to be playing a key part of the season with the back row depleted. Kvesic would be a great signing! He'd fit in perfectly behind Salvi and could learn a hell of a lot from him, also as said we could then rest Salvi when needed.

There'd probably be an outcry from people saying that no club should have that talented a player as 2nd choice, but you just have to look at how Kitchener has come along to see a season learning from experienced players and fighting for your place can do a world of good.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Theres every chance Mafi will be off though surely. His current deal must be peanuts for a player of his market value. Id expect the Franjapans to be circling him like vultures over a welshman.

[king_carlos]

PSW

Agreed on Mafi. This is the problem with the Salary cap though. Whilst it forces Clubs to start youngsters and bring in players on smaller contacts to help them develop (both good things) once they have improved it's the very hard to keep them.

With the increase in salary we'd have to give the likes of Parling/Mafi from their current salaries it's near impossible to keep hold of all of them. When will Mulipola and Kitcheners contracts next be up for renewal as they could be a very similar case. Also Castro's contract will be up again at the end of this season won't it? Not sure about Ayerza's current contract but the current front-row can't be easy to keep under the salary cap! Plus we'll be missing Ayerza during the Rugby Chapionship these days.

[formerly known as Sam]

Ayerza signed a new deal last season. Castro has another season after this, Cole has another two seasons as does Mulipola. Kitchener has already agreed a new deal.

Mafi is the most likely to leave, Japan would be half way home and offer him more than Tigers ever could. Then again we developed him so he may consider staying in this environment beneficial.

[nathan]

Does anyone know how far away the likes of Mafi,Croft and Flood are from returning to action? Would all be major boosts especially with Ospreys and Toulouse looming in the HC.

Croft should be back for the Gloucester game.

[formerly known as Sam]

Flood back this weekend but Waldrom is resting his dead leg. Mafi still not fit even though he was only a week away last week.

I predict:

Ayerza, Youngs, Cole
Deacon, Kitchener
Thorpe, Crane, Salvi
Youngs, Flood
Allen, Manu
Tait, Murphy, Thompstone

Mulipola, Hawkins, Castro, Parling, Deacon, Young, Ford, Smith.

[broadlandboy]

Castro on compassionate leave in Arg due to ill family member

[formerly known as Sam]

Oops forgot about that. Balmain to be promoted to the bench.

[king_carlos]

Ayerza signed a new deal last season. Castro has another season after this, Cole has another two seasons as does Mulipola. Kitchener has already agreed a new deal.

Mafi is the most likely to leave, Japan would be half way home and offer him more than Tigers ever could. Then again we developed him so he may consider staying in this environment beneficial.

Ahh good that's much more reassuring than I thought it was! I can't see Cole leaving soon but Mulipola may be in a similar boat to Mafi if he keeps improving as he has. You've really got to applaud the coaches etc that work to bring in talented players like Mafi,Mulipola etc at the Tigers. We've never had as many PI's players as some clubs but boy have the likes of the Tuilagi's and Seru Rabeni contributed. Long may it continue with the likes of Goneva,Mafi and Mulipola.

On the team for saturday I'd say that looks about right sam. I'm looking forward to seeing Tait tried on the wing with Murphy back as I've always thought he could excel there more than centre. Also really hoping Louis Deacon can regain full form now he's back. He took a lot of abuse (most unwarranted IMO) in a England shirt but he's such a key player for the Tigers.

[formerly known as Sam]

Pretty close with my squad guesses. Tait rested, Chuter over Hawkins and Thorpe is crocked so Deacon is at 6 and both Slater and Parling are on the bench.

[tigerleghorn]

Here's a nice early xmas present.

Tigers have announced the re-signing of Salvi and Mafi!!

http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/15560.php?#.UNV-sG-6eSp

[yappysnap]

LI defence going as well as always this season, 14-0 already.

[formerly known as Sam]

Great news about Mafi and Salvi. They'll have had good offers from elsewhere but both have really improved at Tigers and It's good they've struck a deal to stay.

Parling and Ford to follow please.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Im less convinced by Salvi than some but Tigers are lacking proper flankers and especially 7s. mafi is the really important one, although we may see more of Croft (if he can stay fit for 10 minutes) than had been expected with Wood taking his role for England

Hopefuly we can sign up Penalty to a new contract, 2 tries this week following up his one last week. Possibility for the Lions tour?

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

And the bonus point ...well done. Having guys like deacon back for the mud is a big plus for Tigers. These BPs could be very important in winning a home semi, draws us that bit closer to the big rivals ( espec as Quins are now 6 6 with Saints)

[Jimpy]

Had a Not Nots supporter trying to convince me that the result flattered Tigers.

31 points to 9 and two penalty tries - yeah okay.

LI should just be grateful that the only team worse than them is Sale who now look nailed on to go down.

[tigerleghorn]

I was at the Madstad and tbh I thought the score was flattering to Tigers. The second half was more Irish and Tigers fell asleep. The bonus point was welcome but questionably deserved.

There is a whiff of death there mind. Not the same team without Mapasua, Armitages, Kennedy and Casey etc.

[Jimpy]

If Tigers can be dominated in the second half and go to sleep, but still put 31 points on an opposition team away from home, logically, flattery can't have had much to do with it.

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