The Leicester Tigers thread

by Portnoy Tue 17 Jul 2012, 5:00 pm

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.

by **LondonTiger** Sun 27 Jan 2013, 2:11 pm

Promising performance by the Academy in the Aviva Premiership Rugby Academy League yesterday evening. They secured the TBP on about 30 minutes and went on to secure the 4th consecutive TBP win against previously unbeaten Gloucester. The invention and running lines demonstrated by Tigers was fantastic to see.

Without the links to prominent public schools that some clubs have, this side is striving to show that they are worthy of more call-ups to the England U18 setup than they have received. Whilst Javiah Pohe looked good and has represented england age teams (i think), the biggest threat was Rhys Williams who is, sadly, probably Welsh.

by formerly known as Sam Sun 27 Jan 2013, 2:55 pm

I didn't see the games yesterday but it was supposed to be very promising from a young Tigers view point. Debuts for two England under 20s locks and the Baltrain's second half cameo. Harrison apparently controlled things well.

Worrying injury to Tom Price. Never like to hear about a player being stretchered off in a neck brace.

by yappysnap Sun 27 Jan 2013, 5:58 pm

Do all of the Prem clubs have teams in this comp, as i've never heard of it before. It's not the A league right?

by **LondonTiger** Sun 27 Jan 2013, 7:05 pm

yappysnap wrote:Do all of the Prem clubs have teams in this comp, as i've never heard of it before. It's not the A league right?

New this year. League positions pre this weekend:

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/tables/21962.php

Not sure how Srries are in both conferences. LW have no U18 team, so Leeds, Newcastle and Bristol all compete as well.

by Guest Sun 27 Jan 2013, 7:23 pm

Erm excuse me, it's Castro's Tigers.

by **LondonTiger** Sun 27 Jan 2013, 7:31 pm

viewtothegym wrote:Erm excuse me, it's Castro's Tigers.

Yes dear.

According to the Western Mail it is. Run

by formerly known as Sam Sun 27 Jan 2013, 7:38 pm

Castro the second choice tighthead's Tigers?

Castro is a club legend but is currently behind arguably the best tighthead in the world in Cole. Good to see Brookes getting Saxons game time and Balmain making a positive impact off the bench in the LV cup. If the hairy one goes to Toulon in the summer he can be replaced within the squad.

by Guest Sun 27 Jan 2013, 8:16 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Castro the second choice tighthead's Tigers?

Castro is a club legend but is currently behind arguably the best tighthead in the world in Cole. Good to see Brookes getting Saxons game time and Balmain making a positive impact off the bench in the LV cup. If the hairy one goes to Toulon in the summer he can be replaced within the squad.

Had this debate before,to a England fan it seems that way but to EVERYONE else it seems that after Cole has collapsed a few to many scrums Castro comes on to save the teams blushes.

by **LondonTiger** Sun 27 Jan 2013, 8:26 pm

Bedtime, darling.

by Guest Sun 27 Jan 2013, 8:31 pm

LondonTiger wrote:Bedtime, darling.

Presume that was for me? why is it my bed time? im just stating an opinion,if you disagree show me with some facts.
Cole coudn't get an advantage over the Aussie scrum in the autumn.

by Guest Sun 27 Jan 2013, 8:35 pm

Cole just seems to come under the name association.
He is English and plays for Tigers hence he must surely be an amazing scrumager.
Im not saying he won't be one later in his career,but right now he is seriously over hyped.

Duncan Jones wiped the floor with him, he struggled with Bevington,hence his binding on the arm and not scrummaging square,

by formerly known as Sam Sun 27 Jan 2013, 9:43 pm

Duncan Jones wiped the floor with him, he struggled with Bevington,hence his binding on the arm and not scrummaging square,

Cole provided Bevington a lesson in both HEC games where Bevington couldn't even last the half in the first game. The only times the Ospreys were on top in the scrum in either game came after Cole left the field in the first game and an unfit Ayerza came on at looshead and was given the run around. Duncan Jones merely made the scrum a contest rather than a Tigers penalty.

Incidentally Adam Jones won the only first Ospreys penalty at the scrum in both games by binding on the arm and forcing the Tigers loosehead to the floor before the push came through.

I'd also point out that Cole isn't considered a good prop because he's at Tigers, he wasn't a natural. When he first came into the team he was a weakness in the set piece but has worked hard to become such a force in the front row and has steadily improved season on season.

The props being subbed on 50-60 mins has been a Tigers tactic for the entirity of Cockers regime. It was the same when Castro was first choice and the same when the TH combo was Castro/White.

by Guest Sun 27 Jan 2013, 9:50 pm

Cole ended up face first in the mud in the first HC encounter so many times he looked like a black and white minstrel!
But the incompetent Poite decided this could only be Bevingtons fault even thou he never went near the ground.

But hey come the six nations i guess you will soon see.

by formerly known as Sam Sun 27 Jan 2013, 10:06 pm

Mainly because Bevington went backwards and then hinged at the hips.

LT, I had meant to ask you how the young 10 Oli Bryant got on. I've heard promising rumours about his ability.

by Jimpy Mon 28 Jan 2013, 9:01 am

formerly known as Sam wrote:
Duncan Jones wiped the floor with him, he struggled with Bevington,hence his binding on the arm and not scrummaging square,

Cole provided Bevington a lesson in both HEC games where Bevington couldn't even last the half in the first game. The only times the Ospreys were on top in the scrum in either game came after Cole left the field in the first game and an unfit Ayerza came on at looshead and was given the run around. Duncan Jones merely made the scrum a contest rather than a Tigers penalty.

Incidentally Adam Jones won the only first Ospreys penalty at the scrum in both games by binding on the arm and forcing the Tigers loosehead to the floor before the push came through.

I'd also point out that Cole isn't considered a good prop because he's at Tigers, he wasn't a natural. When he first came into the team he was a weakness in the set piece but has worked hard to become such a force in the front row and has steadily improved season on season.

The props being subbed on 50-60 mins has been a Tigers tactic for the entirity of Cockers regime. It was the same when Castro was first choice and the same when the TH combo was Castro/White.

Stop letting facts get in the way of anti-English biggotry.

by **LondonTiger** Mon 28 Jan 2013, 9:21 am

formerly known as Sam wrote:Mainly because Bevington went backwards and then hinged at the hips.

LT, I had meant to ask you how the young 10 Oli Bryant got on. I've heard promising rumours about his ability.

We left at half time - so comments only relevant to that period. The back line looked threatening through out, with good direction provided by the 10. Stand out was williams who ran some excellent lines and looked sharp. BUT we must take into consideration just how naive much of the forward play was. Glaws pack looked as if they met each other on the coach and certainly had not yet learned how to slow the ball down. Tiger's young SH had an armchair ride.

As an aside Bowden looked much better at 10 than he has at 12. It was also interesting that till he went off he was taking goal kicks, not Cornwell. It would be great if he could develop this skill, as then we do not have to look for a decent backup 10 for next season.

by bluestonevedder Mon 28 Jan 2013, 9:54 am

Saw the game highlights and looked like Tait had a very decent game- lovely try.

Hearing good things about Balmain's appearance off the bench?

by formerly known as Sam Mon 28 Jan 2013, 1:31 pm

Taut has been slowly getting sharper as he has wracked up the game time. The awful Wasps defence might have helped. Balmain is being raved about on the offy forum.

LT, I'd back Cornwall and Bowden to be the back up 10s next season and then look for an experienced 10 to guide the backs on and off the field. Mauger style.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Mon 28 Jan 2013, 2:06 pm

Sam do you know much about the lad Bryant whos been playing the academy fixtures?Im assuming hes a way off stepping up.

Keeping up the fine tradition of players with ridiculous names I see we also have "Djustice Sears-Duru" in the creche team.

by formerly known as Sam Mon 28 Jan 2013, 2:22 pm

I've not seen him play. Someone a while back said he looked like he had something about him and he seemed to get good write ups when I've had a gander at the academy results.

by **LondonTiger** Sun 10 Feb 2013, 1:20 pm

U18s won their 5th match in the U18 league (against previously unbeaten Sale) to make it 5TBP wins from 5. Final match next weekend vs Saints followed by two intriguing matches againts England and Wales U18s.

by **LondonTiger** Wed 13 Feb 2013, 7:45 am

The Academy U18s did something that the first team have struggled with in recent times, and won in Wales.

A 22-12 win over Wales U18s will hopefully be followed by a win over Saints on Saturday in the academy league and then a win over the posh boys in the England U18 Squad.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Wed 13 Feb 2013, 1:23 pm

They beat Wales under 18s every year dont they? Then the following year one of those Welsh players becomes George North or Leigh Halfpenny or Alex Cuthbert.
How many of Tigers academy wings have gone on to be anything of note?

by Portnoy's Complaint Wed 13 Feb 2013, 1:45 pm

But maybe the RFU should invest in elite academies to supplement part-time the club ones. The be-all and end all being not the Tigers but English rugby and English European club effectiveness.

The elite academy being funded by the gate money of one additional international game per year.

by Portnoy's Complaint Wed 13 Feb 2013, 5:49 pm

Post error.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed 13 Feb 2013, 7:27 pm

GT, This appears to be an identical post to one on another thread? Are you falsely trying to inflate your posting record? That's the sort of shabby behaviour that we so dislike in prem rugby attendance figures!

by Portnoy's Complaint Wed 13 Feb 2013, 7:53 pm

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:GT, This appears to be an identical post to one on another thread? Are you falsely trying to inflate your posting record? That's the sort of shabby behaviour that we so dislike in prem rugby attendance figures!

Ah that's where it is. I was wondering where the original was. I had to retrieve the original from 'puter memory.
Sorry I'll strike out this one. (One more for the posting record Wink

.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Wed 13 Feb 2013, 11:35 pm

greytiger wrote:But maybe the RFU should invest in elite academies to supplement part-time the club ones. The be-all and end all being not the Tigers but English rugby and English European club effectiveness.

The elite academy being funded by the gate money of one additional international game per year.

What aside from the £2.5 million they already put into the 14 regional acadamies, and the new centralised system announced alongside Lancatsers promotion you mean?

by **LondonTiger** Thu 14 Feb 2013, 7:28 pm

Geoff Parling voted as sexy as George Clooney!!

http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/15835.php#.UR05z2dK0s8

by yappysnap Thu 14 Feb 2013, 8:04 pm

George Clooney is weeping quietly in his room as we speak.

Did George Chuter do well?

by formerly known as Sam Thu 14 Feb 2013, 9:40 pm

Castro must be gutted at only third with his mighty growth.

Parling for the next James Bond?

by Jimpy Mon 18 Feb 2013, 10:38 am

Post match, Cockers had this to say, do you think he has a point?

"I thought it was a half-decent game of rugby and it was tight. But we have Saracens at home next week, so it's not all lost. We now need to regroup and just carry on.

"The discipline was disappointing. Some of that was ourselves and some was down to the officiating, which at times was disappointing.

"I thought we were getting penalised for certain things and then I thought the opposition did the same thing but they weren't. Yet again it's the interpretation of the breakdown and us getting penalised and Harlequins not. I don't mind getting penalised, but only if both teams are getting penalised"

"Yet again the officials take centre stage when we needed the referee to be a bit better. We'll now go through the appropriate channels where we feed back and we will decide whether it's right or wrong, but it's too late after the game."

by nathan Mon 18 Feb 2013, 10:40 am

Jimpy wrote:Post match, Cockers had this to say, do you think he has a point?

"I thought it was a half-decent game of rugby and it was tight. But we have Saracens at home next week, so it's not all lost. We now need to regroup and just carry on.

"The discipline was disappointing. Some of that was ourselves and some was down to the officiating, which at times was disappointing.

"I thought we were getting penalised for certain things and then I thought the opposition did the same thing but they weren't. Yet again it's the interpretation of the breakdown and us getting penalised and Harlequins not. I don't mind getting penalised, but only if both teams are getting penalised"

"Yet again the officials take centre stage when we needed the referee to be a bit better. We'll now go through the appropriate channels where we feed back and we will decide whether it's right or wrong, but it's too late after the game."

It's already been done on the game thread.

by **LondonTiger** Mon 18 Feb 2013, 10:46 am

In other news the U18s won away at Saints securing the TBP. They thus completed the group stages of this new competition with a perfect 30pts from 5 matches.

by yappysnap Mon 18 Feb 2013, 8:02 pm

Jimpy wrote:Post match, Cockers had this to say, do you think he has a point?

"I thought it was a half-decent game of rugby and it was tight. But we have Saracens at home next week, so it's not all lost. We now need to regroup and just carry on.

"The discipline was disappointing. Some of that was ourselves and some was down to the officiating, which at times was disappointing.

"I thought we were getting penalised for certain things and then I thought the opposition did the same thing but they weren't. Yet again it's the interpretation of the breakdown and us getting penalised and Harlequins not. I don't mind getting penalised, but only if both teams are getting penalised"

"Yet again the officials take centre stage when we needed the referee to be a bit better. We'll now go through the appropriate channels where we feed back and we will decide whether it's right or wrong, but it's too late after the game."

I thought Tigers got away with quite a lot, but at times over played their hands, some may have been the ref but more was down to poor technique and lazyness by the players. I don't think this is the first time either this season, Tigers have quite often come out on the wrong side of the ref leading to these statements by Cockerill, perhaps they need a ruck coach?

He say's that the official took centre stage but to me that's untrue and just too easy a cop out to make. Care and the Quins pack should take centre stage for taking control of the game, likewise Flood should be praised by his coach for almost winning the game single handed regardless. He then say's that "we needed the referee to be a bit better" which just reads as we needed the ref to give us more. Surely a huge part of the game is reading the ref? Something Tigers have been famous for doing for a very long time and something that Salvi was still doing on the weekend, it's his packmates that let the team down.

No ref will ever be close to 100% correct, and i'd be amazed if refs managed 90% most games. But Barnes got the big calls right. He gave the Tigers try after checking key facets, he denied Quins a try after checking the play before, between that he did the age old ref interpretation of favouring the team with the ball, every one should have expected that.

by formerly known as Sam Mon 18 Feb 2013, 8:33 pm

I disagree that Barnes got the big calls right Yappy. The Quins try came from a mystifying penalty that I rewound and still couldn't see, he penalised Mulipola in front of the posts whilst being held to the ground by his face and allowed Monye to go off his feet and kill the ball when Harrison broke and if Tigers had got the ball out it was the winning try.

End of the day Barnes was not consistent (which is what Cockerill has been moaning about for years), the Tigers pack lacked leadership minus LouisDeacon and the lack of a cohesive tactical plan in the Tigers backs was evident.

Great to see another TBP win for the academy with potential superstar Harry Thacker the fly half turned hooker (and England under 18s) scoring a hattrick. He mare his first debut last season at 17 in the LV Cup vs Quins. His dad was a hooker for Tigers and Harry's younger brother Charlie is in the academy and apparently a decent centre. Positive signs.

by yappysnap Mon 18 Feb 2013, 8:48 pm

Just watched the video.

Barnes say's obstruction 10.

You can see that Flood is on the wrong side of the ruck, stood on his feet doing his best to look like he's falling over without falling over and getting in the way of the Quins player trying to clear out the ruck, you can also see he then grabs on to the Quins players shorts to help slow him down.

Its not a biggy and it's nothing more then a penalty if it's spotted, often it's not. But he is on the wrong side and grabbing a player off the ball. It should have been a pen and a lineout that would probably come to nothing, but thankfully for us Care used vision, pace and some of the best footwork outside of Strictly Come Dancing to turn it into the solo try year so far and a game breaker at that. And that's where your sense of anger is coming from. If nothing had happened you'd have happily forgotten about it.

If you want to blame anyone you can blame Tait for turning his back on Care and then giving up.

But in all honesty sit back and enjoy one of the best solo tries you'll see this year...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMh0hIfHWUg

Those three sidesteps are truly phenomenal, if Wade or Cooper had done it I think we'd all be going mental. clap

by formerly known as Sam Mon 18 Feb 2013, 9:17 pm

Care was easily Quins best player and his only competition for MOM was Flood, he made the key difference for his team.

That's not a penalty in a month of Sundays. Flood steps over the tackled player before the ruck is even formed. The quins player actually comes in at the side and pushes past him and Flood tries to pull him out. Considering what else what had happened at the breakdown earlier in the game it's infuriating as a Tigers fan. A real soft one.

by yappysnap Mon 18 Feb 2013, 9:58 pm

The Quins player comes in at the side- because Flood is directly in the way of the breakdown?

Flood tries to pull him back- from Quins side of the breakdown?

It is marginal but both of those could be pens if a ref interprets them as cynical play. Flood didn't need to be there and was stupid to be trying it on. Another case of the players creating silly pens, not the ref looking to penalise Tigers.

by formerly known as Sam Tue 19 Feb 2013, 7:45 pm

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

by yappysnap Tue 19 Feb 2013, 8:32 pm

No worries, either way the Leicester/Quins games are always entertaining with none of the off the ball OTT handbags that a few other rivalries bring.

by formerly known as Sam Tue 19 Feb 2013, 8:53 pm

You are always guarenteed a few tries and some attacking rugby.

Just a shame it was in the international period so we were denied Youngs vs Care and Cole vs Marler.

by yappysnap Tue 19 Feb 2013, 9:10 pm

Yes I don't know how the men in suits figure the schedule out but decisions like that are baffling. Even though we lost to me last seasons game was much better viewing.

by formerly known as Sam Tue 19 Feb 2013, 10:23 pm

That was a ding dong thriller. This Saturday we are playing Sarries at home with an 8pm ko. The crowd will be small and the team will be missing 8 players to internationals. It'll hardly be a good advert for rugby as Sarries are rarely pleasent on the eye and we'll be lacking flair in the backline.

by yappysnap Tue 19 Feb 2013, 11:02 pm

Exactly, these games with depleted teams just don't have the same energy about them.

by HammerofThunor Wed 20 Feb 2013, 6:11 pm

Lamb's possible on his way to Leicester, according to Mallinder. Cockerill's said they're looking buy nothing sorted.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21522861

by formerly known as Sam Wed 20 Feb 2013, 6:42 pm

Yeah saw those comments by Cockers. I heard we were after Goode but he was too expensive. Dunno how many other tens are available, maybe Carlisle but I heard he was off too Wasps (how many 10s do they need!?), I have to say the Ryan Lamb rumours were hardly inspiring.

by king_carlos Wed 27 Feb 2013, 1:58 pm

I'd agree with Sam that I wouldn't be thrilled with Lamb but good fly-halfs aren't cheap or easy to find so take what we can find I guess. It would have been good to see Goode back are WR so it's a shame we couldn't afford him, he could've fitted into the squad and structure pretty well IMO.

Any news from anywhere on whether Rory Clegg will be leaving Quins and where he might go if he does? Saints could be on the cards now I guess...

by formerly known as Sam Wed 27 Feb 2013, 3:21 pm

Lamb might be uninspiring but the captain of our under 18s team in the league this year has been a young 10 so if Lamb is only here until he matures then I can live with that.

Clegg is rumoured to be off to Falcons.

Barclay and Gibson coming in to bolster Tigers backrow resources. That'll help next season.

by Big Wed 27 Feb 2013, 3:33 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Lamb might be uninspiring but the captain of our under 18s team in the league this year has been a young 10 so if Lamb is only here until he matures then I can live with that.

Clegg is rumoured to be off to Falcons.

Barclay and Gibson coming in to bolster Tigers backrow resources. That'll help next season.

When you think he's only going to be injury/international cover for Flood in the mean time I really don't think Lamb is that bad an appointment. He's got his short comings as a player, but he's still pretty young and could improve if the environment suits him.

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