Leicester Tigers - 2013/14 Thread

by **LondonTiger** Fri May 31, 2013 1:29 pm

First topic message reminder :

Senior Squad

Props - Ayerza, Balmain, Bristow, ~~Cole~~, Mulipola, ~~Schuster~~, Stankovich
Hookers - Briggs, Chuter, Hawkins, Youngs
Locks - Cain, Deacon. De Chaves, Kitchener, Parling, Price, Slater
Back Row - Crane, ~~Croft~~, Gibson, Mafi, Salvi, Waldrom

Scrum Halves - Harrison, Mele, Steele, Youngs
Outside Half - Flood, ~~Lamb~~, Williams
Centres - Allen, Bowden, Smith, Tuilagi
Wings - Benjamin, ~~Camacho~~, Goneva, Morris, Thompstone
Full Back - Hamilton, Tait

Coaches - Cockerill (DoR & Forwards), Blaze (Asst Forwards), Burke (Backs), Murphy (Asst Backs)

Aviva Premiership Fixtures

Sun 8 Sep 14:00 Leicester Tigers 32 Worcester Warriors 15
Sat 14 Sep 15:15 Bath Rugby 27 Leicester Tigers 20
Sat 21 Sep 15:00 Leicester Tigers 33 Newcastle Falcons 6
Sun 29 Sep 14:00 Exeter Chiefs 9 Leicester Tigers 22
Sat 5 Oct 15:15 Leicester Tigers 19 Northampton Saints 19
Sun 27 Oct 14:00 London Wasps 22 Leicester Tigers 12
Sat 2 Nov 17:30 Leicester Tigers 16 Harlequins 23
Sat 23 Nov 15:00 Leicester Tigers 20 London Irish 11
Sat 30 Nov 15:00 Gloucester Rugby 17 Leicester Tigers 22
Sat 21 Dec 15:00 Saracens 49 v Leicester Tigers 10
Sat 28 Dec 15:00 Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Sat 4 Jan 15:00 Leicester Tigers 27 v Bath Rugby 27
Fri 7 Feb 19:45 Worcester Warriors 22 v Leicester Tigers 23
Sat 15 Feb 15:00 Leicester Tigers 11 v Gloucester Rugby 8
Sun 23 Feb 15:00 London Irish 15 v Leicester Tigers 20
Sun 2 Mar 15:00 Newcastle Falcons 18 v Leicester Tigers 41
Sat 22 Mar 15:00 Leicester Tigers 45 v Exeter Chiefs 15
Sat 29 Mar 15:00 Northampton Saints 16 v Leicester Tigers 22
Sat 12 Apr 15:00 Leicester Tigers v London Wasps Welford Road
Sat 19 Apr 15:00 Harlequins v Leicester Tigers Twickenham Stoop
Fri 2 May 20:00 Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers Salford City Stadium
Sat 10 May 15:00 Leicester Tigers v Saracens Welford Road

Heineken Cup Fixtures

Friday, October 11 8pm Ulster Rugby 22 Leicester Tigers 16
Friday, October 18 8pm Leicester Tigers 34 Benetton Treviso 3
Sunday, December 8 3pm Leicester Tigers 41 Montpellier Herault Rugby 32
Sunday, December 15 4pm (local time) Montpellier Herault Rugby 14 Leicester Tigers 15
10/11/12 January 2014 Benetton Treviso 19 v Leicester Tigers 34
17/18/19 January 2014 Leicester Tigers 19 v Ulster Rugby 22
Saturday, 5th April ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers

by formerly known as Sam Fri Oct 04, 2013 4:14 pm

Reward for turning down the Clermont job.

by maverickmak Sat Oct 05, 2013 4:09 pm

Pablo Matera signing for Tigers apparently! Fantastic bit of business.

http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pablo-matera-signs-for-leicester-tigers.html

by formerly known as Sam Sat Oct 05, 2013 7:18 pm

Clever signing with Croft out for the season. As I understand it he's a talented young openside which should help ease the work load on the backrow and Salvi in particular.

by **LondonTiger** Mon Oct 07, 2013 8:56 am

Reasons to be Cheerful?

A Friday trip to Ravenhill. We generally suck on Fridays. We generally suck in away European ties. We generally suck in away Eurpean ties on a Friday. We generally suck in away European ties on a Friday against Ulster.

So please, someone give me a reason to be cheerful!

by HammerofThunor Mon Oct 07, 2013 8:59 am

I've got a couple of days off work. That do?

by formerly known as Sam Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:16 am

We're boned. Flood and Youngs aren't fully fit at half back, the team aren't ticking and with no Manu or Tait we lack that spark of brilliance in the backline. If we get a LBP I'll be pleased.

by Metal Tiger Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:57 am

formerly known as Sam wrote:We're boned. Flood and Youngs aren't fully fit at half back, the team aren't ticking and with no Manu or Tait we lack that spark of brilliance in the backline. If we get a LBP I'll be pleased.

Is Mafi still out injured? It showed on Saturday. even though I thought Slater did a good job, he still is not in the same quality bracket as Mafi or Croft. Have we finally gave up the Waldrom/Crane back row experiment? It never seems to work when they start together.

Was very impressed with Tom Youngs however, some lovely hits on North and he appeared to have the better of Hartley in the scrum. Could not believe that the ref didn't ping Dylan for repeatedly popping up at the front!

Can't see anything but a loss on Friday and potentially a big one. From what I can gather (I'm sure someone will correct me on this) Ulster pretty much rested their XV this week so they will be fresh as daisies while we are struggling with key injuries... again. I would like to go into just one HEC game with a fully rested and fit team.

by formerly known as Sam Mon Oct 07, 2013 11:11 pm

On the up side the A team won 32 nil away at Worcester. Very young team who were virtually all academy players/graduates.

by Geordie Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:46 pm

That Matera , according to Cockerill

"He is a very good ball carrier. He is very physical and abrasive."

Perfect for Leicester...

by formerly known as Sam Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:03 pm

Yep. Might need some work given the stupid yellow card he conceded vs Aus though. At 20 there's loads of potential and Salvi to learn from.

by doctor_grey Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:12 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:We're boned. Flood and Youngs aren't fully fit at half back, the team aren't ticking and with no Manu or Tait we lack that spark of brilliance in the backline. If we get a LBP I'll be pleased.

Its a shame Lamb can't play..........wait only joking. Really don't wish that on anyone.

No doubts Youngs and Flood are not completely healthy yet. Hope the coaching staff is giving them a light week of practice to just condition a bit and do film study. Tuilagi is done until December, is that right? What about Tait? I thought Allen took a pretty good physical beating on Saturday. He OK?

by Portnoy's Complaint Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:50 pm

Let's hope that Dan Tuohy doesn't lead with his elbow* this time.
Bloody West-Countrymen...

*Allegedly

by broadlandboy Tue Oct 15, 2013 3:21 pm

Allan out for 3 months
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-Tigers-centre-Anthony-Allen-months/story-19934795-detail/story.html

by nathan Tue Oct 15, 2013 3:27 pm

Have we any centres left?

by formerly known as Sam Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:03 pm

Losing Allen is a massive blow especially as it looks like he'll miss the Montpelier game. Dan Bowden had his best game in a Tigers shirt vs Ulster though and Hempetema is a young talent. At 13 both Manu and Smith should be back in the next month or so and young George Catchpole and Henry Purdy have been doing good things in the A League. Not ideal but what can we do but suck it up and carry on.

Any news on Tait?

by Big Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:25 am

formerly known as Sam wrote:Losing Allen is a massive blow especially as it looks like he'll miss the Montpelier game. Dan Bowden had his best game in a Tigers shirt vs Ulster though and Hempetema is a young talent. At 13 both Manu and Smith should be back in the next month or so and young George Catchpole and Henry Purdy have been doing good things in the A League. Not ideal but what can we do but suck it up and carry on.

Any news on Tait?

I was gutted to hear the news on Allen. To be fair we do also have the option of Flood at 12. I know he was always picked as a 10 but he did interchange 10/12 back in the days of Flood, Mauger and Vesty making up the 10/12 axis. Not ideal perhaps but an option if Bowden doesn't maintain form from the Ulster game/gets crocked/needs a rest.

Would be very very good to get Manu and/or Smith back.

by Metal Tiger Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:47 pm

To be honest Flood should have been benched 30 minutes ago. Quite possibly the most wretched performance I have seen. We don't deserve the bonus point win.

by nathan Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:49 pm

Metal Tiger wrote:To be honest Flood should have been benched 30 minutes ago. Quite possibly the most wretched performance I have seen. We don't deserve the bonus point win.

how long left?

by formerly known as Sam Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:52 pm

Flood has been pretty iffy, not helped by Bowden being unable to catch a cold let alone the ball. Our backs couldn't have fought their way out of a paper bag nevermind over the gainline. A dozen handling errors is just not good enough.

Injuries are really starting to bite, we need the magic of a Manu or a Tait in there.

by formerly known as Sam Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:52 pm

Less than a minute left Nathan.

by nathan Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:54 pm

talk about leaving it late!! bonus point!

by quinsforever Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:55 pm

just switched over. max points. was it not a good display?

by nathan Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:56 pm

quinsforever wrote:just switched over. max points. was it not a good display?

it was on tv!!!! feck! lol

by formerly known as Sam Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:57 pm

Hempetema finally passes to something other than touch, Ed Slater who has been excellent draws the man and passes to Thompstone who steps past the fullback to score. We made hard work of that.

Good performances for the front row, Kitchener at the lineout, Slater, Scully and Hempetema (early sub on for Goneva).

Poor games for Parling, Salvi, Flood, Ben Youngs.

Shocker for Bowden.

by Metal Tiger Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:56 pm

What is worse is that Goneva our only remaining 1st choice 3 quarter went off injured. Do we have any backs left?

by doctor_grey Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:23 am

Metal Tiger wrote:What is worse is that Goneva our only remaining 1st choice 3 quarter went off injured. Do we have any backs left?

Paul Burke is an out half, right?
Have him lace 'em up.

I think your injury rate is shocking. And a real shame.

by Metal Tiger Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:17 am

nathan wrote:
quinsforever wrote:just switched over. max points. was it not a good display?
it was on tv!!!! feck! lol

We were awful. The fact we hammered Treviso is not a true reflection. if we play like that against the French we will be eaten alive.

by wrfc1980 Sat Oct 19, 2013 7:45 am

I feel for the tigers lady of loose morals decimated by injury in the backs. Leicester had a terrible game, worst I can think of for a long time yet still am merged Trevis. It shows what how weak ty re and what a joke it is that thy qualify autoatically

by formerly known as Sam Sat Oct 19, 2013 9:27 am

Hempetema showed great feet and attacking instincts, I think only Waldrom and Tom Youngs carried more. Steady in defence but struggled to link as he's not been with us that long.

He can stand in for Goneva but anymore injuries and It's academy players or Owen Williams going to centre.

by LittlestTigger Sat Oct 19, 2013 9:44 pm

My daddy says:

With under 2 minutes remaining Treviso had a lineout 5m out. Dan Bowden was telling Flood and Hepetema to let Treviso run a try in, pointing at the halfway line and seeming to suggest that retrieving the kick off would be the best way of securing the TBP.
In the end it was made irrelevant by Tigers stealing the lineout and via a scrum penalty setting up the position for Ed Slater to join Jordan Crane in showing the backs how to fix a man and give the ball to a winger in space.

However while it may be the "professional" thing to do to me Bowden's attitude flys in the face of the spirit of the game.

by formerly known as Sam Sat Oct 19, 2013 9:49 pm

That kind of mindset won't go very far at Tigers. I heard rumours he would be out the door last summer with Sale interested. In the end they opted for the cheaper and positionally more flexible Forsyth. I think he'll be off next summer. Hempetema allegedly prefers playing 12 and with his footwork and power could be a more like for like replacement for Allen.

by broadlandboy Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:16 pm

Cockers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24552105

by tigerleghorn Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:42 pm

The Tigers game against Wasps on Saturday is free to view as part of BT's free weekend on Sky TV. Yahoo

by Portnoy's Complaint Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:14 pm

broadlandboy wrote:Cockers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24552105

That, my friend, is worth an article in itself. There are so many quotable items in that article that expresses what the dog of Leicester is all about.

Keep your flouncy, fancy world-beating coaches away from WR unless they've had a Tigers' apprenticeship, the won't cut the mustard will they Messrs Dwyer and Meyer?

Dwyer, Meyer & Gobshoite does sound like a suitable firm to engage to challenge my libel though.

I'll engage Howard, Deans and Murphy for my defence.

by formerly known as Sam Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:03 pm

Cockers has turned into a very good coach. Seems to have mentored his long term replacement in Burke as well. Good article by the way, an interesting read.

by nathan Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:00 pm

Been rumoured that the Tigers are interested in signing Dave Denton from Edinburgh at the end of the season (Denton is out of contract) to replace Waldrom who is out of contract too.

Waldrom has certainly been struggling this season for form.

by Portnoy's Complaint Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:14 pm

He certainly has. Not a shadow of his erstwile self.
And to think he was only contracted as a 'safe' cover for RWC '11 until his agent dug out an ageing English granny.

by formerly known as Sam Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:45 pm

Denton isn't physical enough to play 8 for Tigers. Our first choice flankers are Croft or Mafi and Salvi, to balance that we need a unit who'll make yards in the tight. I wouldn't mind seeing Slater get a go at 8 in the up coming LV games as in Cain, de Chaves, Wells and Price we have some serious young hulks of men coming through and Slater impressed recently at 6.

Failing that then Ewers at Exeter would be a better signing for us than Denton who will miss a third of every season with Scotland.

by Portnoy's Complaint Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:12 pm

Any updates on Manu's rehabilitation?

by formerly known as Sam Wed Oct 30, 2013 4:12 pm

I haven't seen anything but Smith, Mafi and Hamilton should all be fit for the Quins game. We need Tait and Manu back to give our backline some real punch in attack, how much longer can Goneva be out? He only pulled his hamstring.

by Sgt_Pooly Wed Oct 30, 2013 4:22 pm

Denton not physical enough Sam? I can't think of many more abrasive , physical backrowers playing in the BI than Denton. He's a brute!

I'd like to think Falcons were in for him, he's exactly the type of player we need in the backrow.

by formerly known as Sam Wed Oct 30, 2013 6:36 pm

Sgt he just doesn't carry enough in the tight. When I've seen him play well for Scotland he was paired with either Strockosch or Brown, when Edinburgh were on their great HEC run he played 6 with the big Pacific Islander at 8. At Tigers he's more likely not going to have that massive unit in the bavkrow with him. We have excellent flanking resources including a brute or two of our own (Matera and Wells). When at our best as a team we've always had an in form monster making the hard yards at 8 and generally doing all the nasty tight work so the flankers are free to cause mayhem.

Look back at Richards, Corry in the 2001/02 wonder years and again when we just fell short of the treble and Crane in 2009. Big, uncompromising men who do the hard work. A Dave Ewers for example fills that role for us much better than Denton would.

He would also miss a good chunk of the season with the international call ups and that is already an issue with a good chunk of our playing squad and he would not be cheap and given that we have some big names to re-sign ahead of next season that would in my opinion make him less than ideal.

by Metal Tiger Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:24 pm

Un... fookin... believable. Ref gives Quins their final, final warning that he might consider a yellow if they continue to infringe.... then bins Tigers on the 1st offence.

by formerly known as Sam Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:27 pm

It was a shocking decision. We are hardly helping ourselves with several brainless mistakes.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:04 pm

Quins deserve the lead to be fair

by formerly known as Sam Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:24 pm

They certainly played better. They scored 17 points during the farcical yellow card period though. We got the losing bonus point which is all we really deserved.

I'm praying Manu returns soon to give us some power in the midfield. With all three of our centres leaving the field injured I'm glad It's LV Cup for a few weeks now.

by yappysnap Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:35 pm

Sam is Ewers out if contract or is that just a pipe dream? I do agree he'd be awesome for Tigers, only problem is that as soon as you sign him he'll more then likely get a call up!

by formerly known as Sam Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:53 pm

He's out of contract next summer as is Waldrom. Rumours are Thomas won't be offered a new deal as his basics haven't improved enough. Ewers would fit perfectly. Of course Exeter will no doubt be in negotiations already.

by **RDW** Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:03 pm

Hi Tigers fans,

On the subject of Denton, I'd be gutted if he left Edinburgh as we'd struggle to replace him, but personally for him I think it would be a fantastic move to come to the Tigers.

As has been said he is a massively abrasive ball carrer, and will get your team over the gainline time and time again. I watch him week in week out and I genuinely think he is the best ball carrying 8 in the Rabbo.

In terms of weaknesses it is his mental attitude and dirty work in the tight (as has been mentioned). His performances last season just weren't up to the standards he set in the previous season and that was entirely down to his mental attitude. After his breakthrough first season with Edinburgh's HK run and him doing so well in the 6N he suddenly thought he was God's gift to rugby then found out rather quickly that he wasn't quite there yet.

It has taken him until this season to get back to his old ways, and to be fair he has been a stand out performer for us this season.

I'd like to say hands off, but I think the Tigers would really develop the other aspects of his game that he is lacking, and I genuinely think he could become one of the top number 8s in the NH. Also worth remembering he is only 23!! You'll probably get to see lots of him in this years AIs so let's see how he gets on.

He does have a stupid haircut though...

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:06 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:He's out of contract next summer as is Waldrom. Rumours are Thomas won't be offered a new deal as his basics haven't improved enough. Ewers would fit perfectly. Of course Exeter will no doubt be in negotiations already.

Advanced stage, apparently! Be v surprisde if he left (altho stranger things have happened)!

Chief

by Sponsored content