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]

No. Not saying that at all.  He deserved a yellow in my opinion.  It was not very hard and did not seem a deliberate attempt to injure.  And he was stupid.  He has to know that of all people he is watched closely.  I haven't seen the match yet, so can only react to replays that have been posted.  

An elbow to the face is a red all day long, simple as that. Hartley knows this

Problem is suggestions have been made that it is no longe rthe action that is penalised, but the consequence. It seems crazy that a deliberate elbow to the head would have a different punishment if it smashed the nose or if it just missed the nose.

I fear that cockers may well have told players that when they are struck to make sure that the ref is aware http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/02/leicester-richard-cockerill-diving-rugby-blair-cowan

Now I cannot comment on Smith as the only video I have seen was on the Observer website and only showed the contact, which in slo-mo looked rather vicious, but surely what happened after the contact was made is irrelevant to any sanction applied?

[formerly known as Sam]

With impact to the face you often get a shock factor that isn't in proportion to the power of the blow. See THAT Julian White punch on Sheridan. Not a powerful job but catches Sheridan off guard and down he goes in a heap. As with LT I've only seen what's been posted on here but in slow motion it looks like an unnecessary cheap shot.

End of the day every player knows that if you swing then there's a fair chance it'll be a red. You can't lash out at another player and then be surprised when the ref reaches for a card. Certainly it's a lottery depending on the ref but even so with the cameras at the games these days you won't get away with it.

[Welly]

Hartley the villain?

Hartley was stupid, Smith wins a BAFTA.  
How did Cole get on against Saints front row?  A strong and firing Cole is needed for England.

 

 Saints pack got munched completely in the scrum.

[HammerofThunor]

Well Tipuric has signed for Ospreys for 3 years so that's one down.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Hartley the villain?

Hartley was stupid, Smith wins a BAFTA.  
How did Cole get on against Saints front row?  A strong and firing Cole is needed for England.

 

 Saints pack got munched completely in the scrum.

Not so much in the scond half when the JPD became aware of the way Tigers were turning in.

[formerly known as Sam]

Not quite. In the first half Ma'afu was boring in on Tom Youngs which was a moronic insistence given it opened him up to Ayerza who took him to the cleaners. Denman scrummaged straight and looked for a quick shove with Ayerza famously delayed in his shove. Once the extra few inches forward were achieved he could afford the attempt at boring on knowing that if the scrum did turn JP would assume it was Ayerza.

[Welly]

Leicester sign 6ft 8 20 Stone 23 year old American lock forward Greg Peterson till end of season.

Similar to Whetton trial bases.

played for Manly and was in the Waratahs wider training group.

 welcome to the team.

 Be interesting to see how he progesses a big lad and we need a big mean lock with Thorn, Deacon and Slater out.

[Welly]

Updated OP for now:

 "A" league game against Northampton today 2 PM kick off.

[Welly]

Leicester Tigers Development XV
15 George Worth
14 Adam Thompstone
13 George Catchpole
12 Jack Roberts
11 Christian Loamanu
10 Oli Bryant
9 David Mele
1 Tom Bristow
2 Neil Briggs
3 Tiziano Pasquali
4 Jack Whetton
5 Tom Price
6 Charlie Beckett
7 Harry Thacker (c)
8 Laurence Pearce

Replacements:
16 Jake Farnworth
17 Riccardo Brugnara
18 Henry Sands
19 Greg Peterson
20 Ed Milne
21 George Prince
22 Javiah Pohe
23 Rhys Williams

 Some very interesting calls Thacker @ 7 and Loamanu starting

[formerly known as Sam]

Well I wonder if Thacker is destined for a move to seven. They'd certainly be no issues over his size there and he is a mass of muscular energy.

Loamano and Thompstone need game time so makes sense to include them. Pohe only on the bench. Starting to wish I'd made plans to go to this one.

[Welly]

Suppose with the way Roberts and Catchpole played last week would be hard to drop them

[Welly]

Jack Roberts just short try ruled out 20 mins in.
YC Bristow for scrum collapsing. Just before HT as well.

[Welly]

Saints Packman scores a try

 Followed by Thacker getting another try from a driving lineout!

 HT 5-5

 50 Mins  R.Williams scores after Leicester hack it through and steal possession creating a overlap for the young Winger Mele Converts,

[LondonTiger]

Thacker looked really good at 7 in second half against Sale in LV. While he may not be as feeble as Pooly thinks, I do thing openside could suit him more.

[Welly]

Northampton Try Dolan C Hooley 12 - 12  62 Mins

 RE Thacker I feel he could make a very good 7 maybe in the mould of Back.

[Welly]

Thacker gets another Lineout Drive try to make it 12-19

[Sgt_Pooly]

Thacker looked really good at 7 in second half against Sale in LV. While he may not be as feeble as Pooly thinks, I do thing openside could suit him more.

I knew I'd turn you LT

He's got no long term career at hooker I don't think but he could be an interesting option at 7. His speed and low centre of gravity could turn him into our version of Brussow.

[Welly]

Hat Trick THACKER ANOTHER LINEOUT DRIVE TRY!!!!!!!!!!!! Best around at that ATM.

[LondonTiger]

Well that is certainly a Backy style hat trick

[formerly known as Sam]

I think he's got a future whichever position he chooses. Just look back to the Sarries game where he was outstanding up against a much bigger hooker in a very physical game.

Openside certainly appeals to his skillset immediately and would require little further work on his game. He works a little on his jackling at the breakdown and he is first team ready. At hooker there's the scrummaging and throwing in that'll require continual improvement over the next few years.

[Welly]

I think with Matera rumoured to be off and Farnworth looking promising as well at Hooker I wouldn't mind seeing more of Thacker @ 7.

 6) Beckett
 7) Thacker
 8) Milne

 All potentially have great futures ahead of them in a couple of seasons imo.

[formerly known as Sam]

We also have England under 20 openside Will Owen as well. He is injured at the minute but has got all the age grade representation.

[Welly]

We also have England under 20 openside Will Owen as well. He is injured at the minute but has got all the age grade representation.

 Yep forgot about him he was in the U18 and U20 squad in the same year at one point.

 Nice to have these back row options about, considering what it was like at one point.

 personally I feel this load of Senior Academy players is one of the best we have had in a while.

[formerly known as Sam]

It's nice to see so many coming onto the fringes of the first team. Just need a couple to break through. As you say it might help when Matera goes at the end of the season. If Deacon and Thorn retire then we could be promoting Price up the pecking order as well.

[king_carlos]

I think he's got a future whichever position he chooses. Just look back to the Sarries game where he was outstanding up against a much bigger hooker in a very physical game.

Openside certainly appeals to his skillset immediately and would require little further work on his game. He works a little on his jackling at the breakdown and he is first team ready. At hooker there's the scrummaging and throwing in that'll require continual improvement over the next few years.

I agree I think he could make it in either.

However even if moved to 7 I see no reason for him to not keep working on his throwing. The idea that only a hooker should throw, a FH kick, a second row run the line out etc that dominates much of rugby these days frustrates me. Given he is already proficient with his darts after a short period of time I see no reason not to persist with it even as a 7.

Looking at things broadly, even as 7 it's the role in the line-out most suited to him. Given his height he isn't going to spend too much time lifting or jumping!

[Welly]

If you had a 7 who could throw it would allow someone like Tom Youngs to be a crash runner from a lineout move.

[formerly known as Sam]

Or allow the front row to be right at the front of the driving maul. Certainly a useful option but not something that would determine his selection was my point. Seven would get him into the first team quicker.

Agreed completely on the place kicker thing. The best points kicker in history was a fullback.

[Welly]

All hail Stimpson

[formerly known as Sam]

Er was thinking Dusty.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_Hare

Stimpson certainly had a knack for slotting them when they mattered.

[Welly]

Dusty was before my time so never saw him kick.

[formerly known as Sam]

Me neither but that points record speaks for itself. It's incredible.

[nathan]

I know this isn't related to tigers but I'm sure someone has mentioned it on here before. What's the betting site where you can view the live matches? Was it bet 365?

[Welly]

I use Bet365

[Sgt_Pooly]

Yea it's 365, you just need £5 in your account.

[LondonTiger]

Suggestion in todays Times that Exeter will be announcing the signing of Geoff Parling this month.

[nathan]

Suggestion in todays Times that Exeter will be announcing the signing of Geoff Parling this month.

Hope this isn't true but could believe it. I think parking is unhappy with how the Tigers handled the concussions.

[Welly]

Times have picked that up from Fissler.

 Parling was unhappy with how Leicester handled the press about it not the concusions per say.

 Have a feeling Parling may be another Moody situation in terms of he is a high earner (Signe his previous deal whilst a England starter and sure thing for the lons, But in the last 2 seasons  he has only featured in 15 games in the last 1 1/2 seasons compared to the other locks

Kitchener has played 26 & 7 games on the bench. (33)
Slater has played 23 & 3 games on the bench. (26)
Deacon has played 21 & 4 games on the bench. (25)
De Cheves has played 12 games & 9 on the bench. (21)
Parling has played 11 games & 4 on the bench (15)
Thorn has played 9 games (9)

 Which looking at that I could understand why Leicester might offer a lower than expected wage to him.

 IMO he will be wanting a 3 year deal at a high wage and don't see Leicester doing that when we have Slater and Kitchener are most likely to become the starting pairs sometime next season and with the likes of De Cheves improving every game Leicester might want to find another lock who is experienced but not the price tag of being a Lion and Englnd international.

 So far next season we def have:
 Slater
 Kitchener
 De Cheves
 Price
 
 Throw in Whetton and Peterson if contract gets extended. And if Deacon retires I could see Leicester trying to keep Thorn for 6 months.

 We are also linked with Mike Williams as a Deacon replacement we could have:
 Slater (Club captain brilliant player)
 Kitchener (Huge potential brilliant lineout leader and most athletic lock around imo)
 Wiliams  (If comes would fill the enforcer ball carrier lock plays lock and 6 and is very aggressive)
 De Cheves (Getting better and better filling the slater type player role committed every game I have seen him in)
 Price (Promising youngster if he can keep fit has bulked out a bit)
 Peterson (Huge physical specimen interesting potential)
 Whetton (More suited to NH play than SH in terms of his style of play another interesting player)

 Academy we have no lock under 19 so that means we do have a space their but the likes of Price, Whetton and Peterson will be getting game time in the LV cup and A league more.

 If we could keep Thorn on a player/Coach role that would be perfect imo.

 Personally I would love to keep him but if freeing up his cap could mean looking to by a more experienced player else like 8 (A Kaino or alberts type would do me just fine ) 7(If Salvi is leaving) or potentially Wing or maybe even 12 then it may be good business.

 But if we lose Deacon, Thorn and Parling we will be looking for another experienced Lock.

[formerly known as Sam]

We have been linked with Albacete. He'd offer some good experience. Though given the current England setup we're not likely to be hit particularly hard in call ups as the selections will be Launchbury, Lawes, Attwood and Parling. Slater will miss out because of his injury but we may lose Kitchener if there's an injury.

Would leave us with Slater and De Chaves plus probably Kitchener and Price. Paterson would be away with the USA but we could retain Whetton who is an athletic lock who played six in the A league the other week. Those are good options. I think we've got to back these guys next season. If we keep signing experienced players then the players we're carefully developing will go and play elsewhere.

Parling will want a decent three year deal to see out the remainder of his career which is understandable. If we can't fit that into what we need then he is not irreplaceable through internal promotion though it would be better to retain him as he's a classy lineout operator who makes a lot of tackles.

[Welly]

Albacete is interesting as I believe Ayerza is a big fan of his he has also fallen out with the current Argentine setup so won't be looked at by them.

 But then is h needed as well.

 Albacete would be a good pickup I Deacon, Thorn and Parling goes though.

[formerly known as Sam]

We're clearly after some second row bulk. Peterson and Whetton have plenty of potential and represent an economic solution. Williams and Albacete are known performers but will be wanting a bigger chunk of the salary cap.

We'll either have;

4. Slater, Peterson, De Chaves
5. Kitchener, Whetton, Price

Or

4. Slater, Williams, De Chaves
5. Kitchener, Albacete , Price

That's on the basis that Parling leaves. Option one would certainly leave more cap for a big, nasty back row recruit.

[Welly]

Disagree with your idea in terms of cap.

 IF Thorn Deacon are out after this season we would still be able to have the cap room to get someone like Williams in.

[formerly known as Sam]

Depends on the increases that are going the way if Ayerza, Cole and Youngs when their new contracts kick in this summer. The best loosehead in world rugby and a pair of B&I Lions won't have been cheap.

Remember Thorn signed as injury dispensation so is outside of the cap and Deacon signed his last deal with the club aware of his ongoing back problems.

[Welly]

Nothing to stop having say Williams being a injury cap signing for Deacon next season if it happens. Still think Mike Williams won't be much in terms of cap anyway.

 Would think a lot of the 500K increase will be spent on the re-signing's one of those 3 will be our current Marquee player suspect Ayerza.

 I'm hoping the Marquee player will be a big bad experienced 8 type. (That's if it can only be someone outside the premiership.

[formerly known as Sam]

I'd imagine that Cole and Ayerza will be the marquee players as we must be paying them top dollar to keep them out of the hands of the French/Bath/Sarries. Manu might be up there in earning as well.

True Williams won't cost much. Would prefer Albacete but he would cost more. I'd rather we got by with the locks we have where possible and looked at a beast of a backrow ball carrier and a centre of real class. We also need to be careful to leave roles for our talented youngsters to grow into. We need to recruit with not just 2015/16 in mind but also 2016/17.

[Welly]

Can the other marquee player be in your team already? I thought it wasn't allowed to be any AP player.

 The youngster coming up who have potential imo are (Not front row) that are 18 or above (That I know of):
 Locks: Maksymiw (19),
 Back Rows: Beckett (19), Milne (20), Owen (19),
 Scrum Half: Tresidder (19)
 Centres: Bryant (20), Catchpole (20)
 Wingers: R.WIlliams (19), D.Williams (19), Hargreaves (19)

 Feel in the next 2 seasons that:
 Beckett, Milne, Owen, Tresidder, Bryant and Catchpole should all def be getting some senior game time.

[formerly known as Sam]

The marquee player can't be signed from another AP club. Stops the money bags sides stealing the best talent from the other teams.

I want to see Price get some game time he's got bags of potential and at six foot nine should be a menace at the lineout. De Chaves is physical, runs a decent lineout and has no qualms about putting his body on the line. We've put time and resources into these guys we might as well utilise them and the RWC period is the perfect time.

I'm also cautious about us signing a specialist 12 with Pohe and Bryant around, Allen has two more years and Bai another one. I'd like to keep at least one of them as well Thacker Jnr who's also coming through at centre.

Don't envy Cockerell his job as expectations will be high next season.

[king_carlos]

I'd imagine that Cole and Ayerza will be the marquee players as we must be paying them top dollar to keep them out of the hands of the French/Bath/Sarries. Manu might be up there in earning as well.

True Williams won't cost much. Would prefer Albacete but he would cost more. I'd rather we got by with the locks we have where possible and looked at a beast of a backrow ball carrier and a centre of real class. We also need to be careful to leave roles for our talented youngsters to grow into. We need to recruit with not just 2015/16 in mind but also 2016/17.

I thought the rumours with Albacete were stating that he and Dusautoir wanted to leave Toulouse and finish their careers together elsewhere. Therefore it was likely to be the case that to you sign one a club would need to sign both.

Whilst both are exceptional players, I don't feel Dusautoir would be a good fit for the club unless Salvi is leaving. In which case he could be a brilliant replacement. If Salvi is hanging around I'd prefer to see us trust the second row talent coming through and sign a brute in the back row to add some ball carrying.

[yappysnap]

I think dusetoir would work with Salvi, Dusetoir does all the tackling while Salvi works on turnovers. Does mean you need a more dynamic 8 then Crane though.

[king_carlos]

With Gibson, Croft and Barbieri already there and possibly Matera (although unlikely) I'd much rather see a brute of a 8 signed personally.

[yappysnap]

Frankly, age dependant also; I'd take a 6.Dusetoir 7.Salvi 8.massive no8 (what ever happened to Pierre Spies or Ryan Kankowski?) combination over any if those others.

Obviously though that's all just opinion and speculation.

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