Leicester Tigers 2014/15 Thread.

[Welly]

First topic message reminder :

Current Tables Positions:
 AP: 5th
 CC: 2nd in Group 3
 LV: 1st in Pool 3 

Last Game: V Bath @ Welford Road (Won 17 - 8) (Att: 24,000)
Next Game: V Harliquins @ Twickenham Stoop (15:15 KO) Sat 10 January 2015, (Live on BT Sport)


Official 1st XV squad 2014/15: ( Injured, Internationals, Suspension, "Knocked", )
 Head Coach/DoR: Richard Cockerill
 Assistant coaches: G. Murphy, R. Blaze, P.Blake,
 Captain: Ed Slater
 Props: Ayerza, Balmain, Bristow, Brugnara, Cole, Mulipola, Pasquali, Rizzo

 Hookers: Briggs, Ghiraldini, Thacker, Youngs .

 Locks: Deacon, De Cheves, Kitchener, Parling, Price, Slater, Thorn, Peterson

 Back Row: Barbieri, Crane, Croft, Gibson, Matera, Pearce, Salvi, Whetton

 Scrum Half: Harrison, Mele, Youngs

 Fly Half: Burns, Williams

 Centres: Allen, Bai , Heptema, Loamanu, Pohe, Roberts, Smith, Tuilagi ,

 Back 3: Benjamin, Camacho, Goneva, Hamilton, Morris, Scully, Tait, Thompstone, Bell

Development Players 2014/15:
 Oliver Bryant, George Catchpole, Jake Farnworth, Tom Hudson, Ed Milne, Will Owen, Aniseko Sio, George Tresidder, Rhys Williams.


 New Deals 2014/14
 Dan Cole (Long term)
 Marcos Ayerza (3 years)
 Tom Youngs (Long Term)
 Owen Williams
 Graham Kitchener
 Fraser Balmain
 Tiziano Pasquali
 Harry Thacker
 Riccardo Brugnara





 Transfers in 2014/15:
 Brad Thorn (Highlanders)
 Tommy Bell (Jersey)
 Jack Roberts (Rotherham Titans)
 Aaron Mauger (Canterbury Crusaders)
 Jack Whetton (ACT Brumbies)
 Greg Peterson (Manly)

 Transfers Out 2014/15:
 Paul Burke (N/A)
 Neil McCarthy (N?A)
 Mathew Tait (Bayonne)

 Rumours:
Nyanga -----> Leicester, Touion or Metro(http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 29,00.html)
Fonua ------> Leicester
Dusautoir ----> Leicester, Irish, Bath Saracens
Albacete -----> Leicester, Irish, Bath Saracens
(both https://twitter.com/pauleddison)
Liam williams -> Leicester (Rugby Paper)
Jerome Kaino --> Leicester
Willem Alberts --> Leicester (Gillingham)
Mike Williams ---> Leicester (Fissler)
Justin Tipuric --> Leicester (TRP)
 

Home tickets can be brought Here:

[b]Premiership rugby 7's[/b]:

Leicester Finish as Plate winners of the 2014 Premiership Sevens!!!!!!!!!

Pre-season games 2014 + friendlies:
 Sat Aug 16th 15:00: Nottingham v Leicester Tigers @ Lady Bay Sports Ground, Nottingham's training ground, in West Bridgford (Lost 26-19)
 Sat Aug 23th 14:00: Edinburgh V Leicester Tigers @ Melrose. (Won 10 -11)
 Fri  Aug 29th 19:30: Leicester Tigers V Cardiff Blues @ Welford Road (Won 21 - 17)
 Tues Nov 4th 19:30: Leicester Tigers V Barbarians @ Welford Road (Lost 26 - 59)

 Fixtures AP 2014/15:
R1: Saturday 06 /09/14, 15.00 – Newcastle Falcons (H) – Welford Road (Won 36 -17)   (Att: 22,639)
R2: Saturday 13/09/14, 15.15 – Exeter Chiefs (A) – Sandy Park (BT Sport) (Won 20 - 24)  (Att: 9,721)
R3: Saturday 20/09/14, 15.15 – Bath Rugby (A) – The Rec (BT Sport) ( Lost 45-0)  (Att: 12,817)
R4: Saturday 27/09/14, 15.00 – London Irish (H) – Welford Road (Lost 19-22)  (Att: 21,682)
R5: Saturday 04/10/14, 15.15 – Gloucester Rugby (A) – Kingsholm (BT Sport) (Lost 33 - 16)  (Att: 15,127)
R6: Friday 10/10/14, 19.45 – Harlequins (H) – Welford Road (BT Sport) (Won 22 - 16)  (Att: 21,510)
R7: Saturday 15/11/14 – 15.00 – Saracens (H) – Welford Road (BT Sport) (Draw 21 - 21) (Att: 21,680)
R8: Sunday 23/11/14 – 14.30 – London Welsh (A) – Kassam Stadium (BT Sport) (Won 5 - 26) (Att: 3,249)
R9: Saturday 29/11/14, 15.00 – Wasps (H) – Welford Road (Won 18 - 16) (Att: 21,907)
R10: Saturday 20/12/14 15.00 – Northampton Saints (A) – Franklin's Gardens (Lost 23 - 19) (Att: 13, 362)
R11: Saturday 27/12/14, 14.00 – Sale Sharks (A) – AJ Bell Stadium (Won 30 - 32) (Att: 11, 247)
R12: Saturday 03/01/15, 15.00 – Bath Rugby (H) – Welford Road (Won 17 - 8) (Att: 24,000)
R13: Saturday 10/01/15, 15.15 – Harlequins (A) – Twickenham Stoop
R14: Saturday 14//02/15, 15.00 – Gloucester Rugby (H) – Welford Road
R15: Saturday 21/02/15, 15.00 – London Irish (A) – Madejski Stadium
R16: Saturday 28/02/15, 15.00 – Sale Sharks (H) – Welford Road
R17: Sunday 08/03/15, 15.00 – Newcastle Falcons (A) – Kingston Park
R18: Saturday 28/03/15, 15.00 – Exeter Chiefs (H) – Welford Road
R19: Saturday 11/04/15, 15.00 – Saracens (A) – Allianz Park
R20: Saturday 25/04/15, 15.00 – London Welsh (H) – Welford Road
R21: Sunday 10/05/15, 14.00 – Wasps (A) – Adams Park
R22: Saturday 16/05/15, tbc – Northampton Saints (H) – Welford Road
Fixtures in Rounds 1-6 are confirmed. From Round 7 onwards they are subject to television selections.

 Champions Cup pool + Fixtures 2014/15:
 Pool 3
 Toulon
 Leicester Tigers
 Ulster
 Scarlets.

European Champions Cup fixtures
Round 1: Saturday, October 18 (7.45pm) Leicester Tigers v Ulster Rugby (Won 25 -18) (Att: 19,943)
Round 2: Saturday, October 25 (7.45pm) Scarlets v Leicester Tigers (Lost 15 - 3) (Att: 8,235)
Round 3: December 5/6/7 Leicester Tigers v RC Toulon (Won 25 - 21) (Att: 22,114)
Round 4: December 12/13/14 RC Toulon v Leicester Tigers (Lost 23 - 8) (Att: 15, 045)
Round 5: January 16/17/18 Leicester Tigers v Scarlets
Round 6: January 23/24/25 Ulster Rugby v Leicester Tigers

 
LV Cup

 Pool 3
Leicester Tigers
Wasps
Newcastle Falcons
Scarlets

 LV Cup fixtures
 Round 1: Saturday, November 1 (3:00PM) London Irish V Leicester Tigers (Won 16 - 17) (Att: 5,131)
 Round 2: Sunday, November 8 (3:10PM)  Leicester Tigers V Sale sharks ((Won 29 - 13)) (Att:)
 Round 3: 30/31 Jan/ 1 February Leicester Tigers V Northampton Saints
 Round 4: 6/7/8 February Cardiff blues V Leicester Tigers

 
Fixtures
Round 1 - 31 October/01/02 November: London Irish v Leicester Tigers
Round 2 - 07/08/09 November: Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks - Sunday, November 9, KO 15:15. Live on Sky Sports
Round 3 - 30/31 January/01 February: Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
Round 4 - 06/07/08 February: Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers
Semi Finals - 13/14/15 March
LV= Cup Final - 22 March (venue to be confirmed)

 

[b]A League Fixtures[/b]:

 
 Academy Squad 2014/15:
 

Spoiler:

[LondonTiger]

He started well landing some big kicks. Then he just lost his rhythm and sliced ones he was slotting at the start of the game. I wonder if he took a knock to his knee or picked up a dead leg.

Sam, I sit directly behind the posts he was kicking at in first half. Even the ones he got were not struck well, with a distinct wobble and left to right fade to the ball flight.

[formerly known as Sam]

I didn't have that advantage only saw it on TV. How was the breeze down there? It was windy here last night (about 15 miles north of Leicester) though we didn't get as much rain as Welford Road seemed to.

[LondonTiger]

Little wind.

I had sun on my entire journey up, popped into Waitrose in Oadby for some groceries and it was chucking it down as I cam out. That left pitch very greasy. Rain looked worse on big screen than it did in real view - thogh Matty Taits hair showed it was wet

[LondonTiger]

According to yesterdays program 31 Tigers playes have been capped by England in the last 20 years. Meanwhile 5 of them captained England. Three are obvious (Johnson, Corry and Moody) one I can believe, but cannot remember and the fifth shocked me.

Who can name the remaining two and when they captained England in a test.

[LondonTiger]

My attempt at the 31 players:

Rowntree, Garforth, White, Cole, Youngs, Cockerill, West
Johnson, Kay, Deacon, Parling
Corry, Moody, Back, Crane, Richards, Waldrom
Youngs, Ellis, Healy, Flood, Goode, Vesty
Manu, Varndell, Stimpson, Erinle, Rory Underwood, Tony Underwood, Greenwood, hipkiss


Is that it?

[doctor_grey]

Wasn't Dorian West England captain in the RWC warm-up match against France which England lost in the Holy Year of 2003?  

I vaguely remember that Neil Back was England captain for a few matches about 100 years ago, but I am not sure whether I remember that right or not.   if not Back then maybe an Underwood?

[formerly known as Sam]

Neil Back has captained England. Did Flood captain briefly on the tour to SA? Possibly in the game he left the field early.

[LondonTiger]

Correct guys. Doreen was indeed skipper against France when we sent out the 2nd/3rd string for the 2003 warm up game.

Backy was captain for two AIs in 2002 and two 6Ns matches before that. Was around the time my daughters were born and I just do not remember it.

[Welly]

http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/20887.php#.VDrk_hEtAdU
 Interesting move by Tigers PR and Ticketing dept.

 Basically if you have a U10 or junior season Ticket or have children in your family season ticket package, you are able to upgrade the to adult tickets for free if the KO (7:45PM on a Sunday) is to late for the children.

 also updated OP with the relevant info.

[LondonTiger]

Yeah, they did that for the Blues and Quins matches too.

[Welly]

Knew about the Blues game didn't about Quins.

 Wonder will play tomorrow for the Jets game.

 Pearce?

[formerly known as Sam]

A league has largely resembled the academy team plus one or two. I'd expect Bryant, Pohe, Thacker midfield with Bell at 15. Thacker and the two Italians in the front row. Milne and Owen in the back row. Lock and eight is anybodies guess.

Would he nice to see Pearce get up a head of steam and challenge the first fifteen.

[Welly]

Yeh could see a team of.

 1) Bristow/Brugnara, 2) Thacker, 3) Taz/Hogan
 4) Reed, 5) Beckett
 6) Owen, 7) Tkhilaishvili (If he is still with us), Pearce/Milne (depending if Pearce is being left with the 1XV squad)
 9) Harrison (C), 10) Bryant
 12) C.Thacker, 13) Pohe/Sankoh
 11) R.Williams, 14) D.Williams/Odogwu
 15) bell/Hargreaves


 Trouble is players like Reed, Bryant, Thacker and R.Williams all took a knock last week (I think)

[Welly]

Leicester Tigers Development XV (v Sale Jets, Heywood Road, Monday 7.30pm)
15 Tommy Bell
14 David Williams
13 George Catchpole
12 Charlie Thacker
11 Paolo Odogwu
10 John Hargreaves
9 George Tresidder
1 Tom Bristow
2 Harry Thacker (c)
3 Rikki Stout
4 Charlie Beckett
5 Joe Maksymiw
6 Will Owen
7 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili
8 Stone Priestley-Nangle

Replacements:
16 Riccardo Brugnara
17 Aniseko Sio
18 Jake Farnworth
19 Nick Murphy
20 Charlie Harvey
21 George Prince
22 Javiah Pohe
23 Adam Thompstone

 Great to see Catchpole, Sio and Thompstone fit again.

[formerly known as Sam]

Shame no Bryant. Pohe on the bench is odd. Otherwise It looks alright. You going tonight Welly?

[Welly]

Shame no Bryant. Pohe on the bench is odd. Otherwise It looks alright. You going tonight Welly?

 Might be I live towards Cheshire so isn't much of a trek, depends on a few other factors.

 Pohe has TBH been pretty poor in the A games. Would have Thacker ahead of him on potential and also catchpole ATM.

 Really glad to see Tkhilaishvili he is a tackling machine by the sounds of it.

 Sounds like Reed, R.Williams and Bryant didn't recover from last Monday shame.

 Priestley-Nangle is only 17!

 Have to say looking at that the academy really does have some young players with real potential.

[Welly]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-Tigers-Logovi-Mulipola/story-23156506-detail/story.html
 Mulipola out till December (OH dear)

 Also Euro squad up.

 Here is the breakdown per position.
 Prop: Ayerza, Balmain, Bristow, Cole, Mulipola, Rizzo (6)
 Hooer: Briggs, Ghiraldini, Thacker, T.Youngs (4)
 Lock: De Cheves, Kitchener, Parling, Thorn (4)
 Back Row: Barbieri, Crane, Croft, Gibson, Pearce, Salvi,  (6)
 Scrum Half: Harrison, Mele, Tresidder, B.Youngs (4)
 Fly half: Burns, Williams (2)
 Center: Allen, Bai, Hepetema, Loamanu, Smith, Manu (6)
 Outside Backs: Benjamin, Goneva, Morris, Scully, Tait, Thompstone (6)

 http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/leicester_tigers.php?section=3

[Welly]

Thierry Dussautoir and Patricio Albacete linked to tigers maybe Ayerza who is very close to Albacete apparently can convince them to come here.

[formerly known as Sam]

Well young Balmain will be getting plenty of experience this season then it was probably his best game yet vs Quins so let's hope he keeps stepping up. I fear November will not be kind to us with Rizzo, Ghilrildini and Ayerza all on international duty.

Heard those rumours as well. Given Deacon and Thorn are both likely to retire and I suspect Parling will head to France so that signing would make sense. Dusatoir must surely be fantasy, most of France would love to have him on board.

[Ozzy3213]

We've been linked with Albacete and Dusautoir as well. One of the articles from a French site that I read said that they are best friends and wherever one goes the other one will be going as well, as they want to continue their careers together. I don't know how much truth there is to that.

[Welly]

Yeh they apprantley want to go to the same club, Just hope Ayerza can use the whole argentina situation where is was a backer of Albacete to our advantage,.

[Welly]

15 Mathew Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Owen Williams
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Brad Thorn
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Harry Thacker
17 Michele Rizzo
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Sebastian de Chaves
20 Robert Barbieri
21 David Mele
22 Sam Harrison
23 Miles Benjamin

[Guest]

As has become the norm I ignore everything else and go straight to 12. Once again I feel like I've been kicked in the nads. Owen is  doing well and no one could question his effort, but Tony coming back would benefit the team more than any of the walking wounded IMO. Looks like Briggs has joined that list now, losing even more experience from the side. Pleased for Thacker to get his chance though, I think he's big enough and I'm hoping he can show it.

If they play like last week it's definitely doable and the crowd have a big part to play in that. Gutted I couldn't make it as the atmosphere during Ulster's visit last year was fantastic. Expecting even more tomorrow, given the situation the club are in.

Ok Cockers, I believe. Just don't ask to see my SuperBru or my betting slip.

[Welly]

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/player_archive.php?player=97868&includeref=dynamic

 laughed at this.

[formerly known as Sam]

Yay 19 year old hooker and 20 year old TH on the bench against one of Europe's most physical packs. Two scrum halfs on the bench again as well. We really are up against it.

We get anything out of this game and I'll be well impressed by the teams character.

[Guest]

Haha yeah that's great. Just stand him next to Kitch, they'll never notice the figures are wrong.


Edit:

(15-9): L Ludik; T Bowe, J Payne, S McCloskey, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall; (1-8): A Warwick, R Best (capt), W Herbst, L Stevenson, F vd Merwe, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams;

Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, C Ross, R Wilson, M Heaney, S Olding, D Cave.

Yeah it's a big ask Sam, you've just got to dig down deep and find that real Leicester Tigers spirit and you'll find you can drink harder, better, faster, stronger than you ever felt possible. Then you'll believe.

[Welly]

Will say Harrison has looked very good in the outside backs when he has come on.

[bluestonevedder]

Big ol' Ulster backrow. Fingers crossed for Gibson to have another big game. 

Thank god Ayerza is back.

[king_carlos]

Side up for Saturday, Scarlets unchanged from Toulon game with Liam Williams recovering.

Leicester Tigers: Matthew Tait; Blaine Scully, Vereniki Goneva, Anthony Allen, Miles Benjamin; Owen Williams, Ben Youngs (capt); Marcos Ayerza, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Fraser Balmain, Brad Thorn, Graham Kitchener, Jamie Gibson, Julian Salvi, Jordan Crane.

Replacements: Harry Thacker, Michele Rizzo, Tiziano Pasquali, Sebastian De Chaves, Robert Barbieri, David Mele, Freddie Burns, Matt Smith.

Really good to see Allen back as some glue to hold that midfield together. Especially as it will allow us to try and nullify Scott Williams as Scarlets 12 and captain.

Owen Williams getting the nod over Burns which I imagine most will agree with at the moment - I certainly do.

Also great to see Benjamin back starting for a big game. Given the absence of Morris and Goneva from the back three I must say I quite like the look of 11.Benjamin 14.Scully 15.Tait.

[formerly known as Sam]

It's a pretty strong team compared to what we have been fielding. Williams at ten makes sense we need to keep control of the game and build points. Burns can offer game changing potential from the bench if we need impetus later in the game.

[The Saint]

Hey guys and girls. I notice this is on BT sport. Does that many any sort of stream can be picked up online? Not that I want one, I'm just erm.... Curious.

[Mad for Chelsea]

PM for you Saint

[nathan]

Come on tigers!

[The Saint]

I don't think Scarlets will win this. They had a few injuries going into this as most teams do, but now they've just lost 3 more players before and during this game, all guys in critical positions too.

[Welly]

Seems like Burey has been given the push.

 Any one care to have a guess at his replacement.

 My wish list
 Gibson
 Mauger
 Howard

[formerly known as Sam]

Mauger would be my choice. We looked best when him and Geordie were player coaches.

Not really surprised Burke has gone they'd been rumours he was interested in coaching back in Ireland.

[Welly]

Mauger did say last year he was open to it, just not then.

 I mean I like Burke and I know we havn't had a full squad but even still the backline hasn't really caused any problems.

 When you thing the change in the structure of the D has been in the limited time Blake has been here.

[formerly known as Sam]

The defence has looked good and is developing into a more cohesive beast each week. The backs just haven't developed, we're still running moves we ran years back and our options just seem to become smaller each season. I think we just need to freshen things up a little.

The word at the time was that Mauger wouldn't be Burke's assistant he would be the head coach and handle the backs or he'd stay in NZ. Murphy and Mauger are the two most naturally gifted players to play in our back line In the last five years. In 2009 they were allegedly responsible for a pot of the attacking tactics in the backs. I'd love to see that kind of play with this squad and this defence.

[yappysnap]

Was that the season when you guys got something stupid like 5 tbp's on the bounce? Because if it is then no don't get him.

[Welly]

Was that the season when you guys got something stupid like 5 tbp's on the bounce? Because if it is then no don't get him.

 Yeh his last season with us and he didn't really play due to his recurring injury and was more of a unofficial coach.

 And I would say this team currently has more attacking talent than that team imo.

[formerly known as Sam]

That was the year we got to the HEC final and lost out to Leinster with Flood injured pre final and Geordie forced off during the game. That was a cracking final. If we could play at that level game again then we'd be flying.

[Welly]

Yep I really want Mauger all of a sudden.

 When you were getting TBP wins with Staunton at FB you know your attack was good.

[formerly known as Sam]

Or Vesty. There was a phase we had the Vesty at 10 and Mauger at 12 combo going. Tactical kicking was near nonexistent but we moved the ball well. That was the season Flood looked his best though he had injury issues. If we could replicate that but with Williams able to add his cannon of a boot or Burns to offer his flair we'd be back.

Can't see it though. We'll either boost Geordie up and hire Ollie Smith or Ellis as his assistant or bring in a no name from Australia and hope they make it.

[HongKongCherry]

As a curveball option, what about Wayne Smith? He was strongly linked with Glaws in the summer before we got Nick Walshe, but he decided to stay put with the Chiefs. A further season under his belt, he may be ready for that move to the NH, as its unlikely his pal Hansen is going to draft him in to the ABs ahead of the the WC.

[formerly known as Sam]

Tigers tend to go for either a former Tiger (Mauger, Gibson, Smith and Ellis are all in coaching roles at the minute) or little known SH coaches (O'Connor and now Blake). Previous attempts to bring in a big name (Loffreda and Meyer) didn't work out to we'll, though Meyer I think would have done a good job given more time but with ill family back home he left early.

Wayne Smith is a big name coach not sure he'd go for the right hand man job. Plus the Chiefs are in a good place and if NZ fail in the RWC they'll be a big prize job opening up.

[SecretFly]

Tigers offload a coach...a backs coach?????!!!!!!


We're putting armed guards at all entry points into the country!  We have a mortal fear now of newly offloaded Leicester backs coaches.  We've learned our lesson and are living with the consequences.

[formerly known as Sam]

Burke isn't from the SH as if the IRU would give him a job.

[SecretFly]

Correct. Stand-down has been ordered. Panic over.

[SecretFly]

Why is this thread in bold?

Do all Leicester Tiger supporters go to specsavers?

[lostinwales]

Why is this thread in bold?  

Do all Leicester Tiger supporters go to specsavers?

So glad its not just me. Obviously one rule for Leicester another for everyone else...

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