Leicester Tigers Thread 2015/16 A New Beginning Part 1

[Welly]

First topic message reminder :


2015/16 Senior Squad ATM:
Coaches: Cockerill (DOR), Mauger (HC), Hansen (Defence + Skills Coach), Blaze (Ass. Forwards), Murphy (Ass. Backs)
1/3) Ayerza, Balmain, Brugnara, Cole, Mulipola, Pasquali, Rizzo
2) Youngs, Ghiraldini, Bateman, Thacker
4/5) De Chaves, Fitzgerald, Kitchener, Slater
6/7/8) Crane, Croft, Fonua, McCaffrey, O'Connor, Pearce, Williams
9) Harrison, Kitto, Youngs
10) Burns, Williams
12/13) Bai, Loamanu, Roberts, Smith, Tuilagi
11/14) Benjamin, Betham, Camacho, Goneva, Thompstone,
15) Bell, Morris, Tait

2015/16 Development Squad: Oliver Byrant, Jake Farnworth, George Tresidder,  Will Owen

2015/16
Greg Bateman (Exeter)
Mike Williams (Warriors)
Mike Fitzgerald (Chiefs)
Opeti Fonua (Welsh)
Brendon O'Connor (Blues)
Peter Betham (NSW Waratahs)
Lachlan McCaffrey (London Welsh)
Jono Kitto (Bay of Plenty + Cheifs Development Squad)

Transfers Out 2014/15:
Paul Burke (N/A)
Phil Blake (N/A)
Neil McCarthy (Glous)
Tom Price (Scarlets)
Geoff Parling (Exeter)
Neil Briggs (Sale)
Julien Salvi (Exeter)
Pohe (USC)
Brad Thorn (Retirement)
Peterson (Glasgow)
Hamilton (Coventry)
Bristow (Wasps)
R.Williams (?)
Whetton
Hepetema (BoP)
Allen (Retirement)

[LondonTiger]

Leicester Tigers (vs Newcastle Falcons, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Mathew Tait (c)
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Seremaia Bai
11 George Catchpole
10 Freddie Burns
9 Sam Harrison
1 Riccardo Brugnara
2 Greg Bateman
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Mike Fitzgerald
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Tom Croft
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Laurence Pearce

Replacements
16 Harry Thacker
17 Tiziano Pasquali
18 Sebastian De Chaves
19 Mike Williams
20 Christian Loamanu
21 George Tressider
22 Tommy Bell
23 George Worth
24 Jake Farnworth
25 Paolo Odogwu

surely Betham will be on the wing and Catchpole in the centre?

[formerly known as Sam]

That's what I thought LT. Also only one prop on the bench.

Can Wheels make it three in three sub appearances?

[Welly]

Defence sounds awful again.

Betham with a wonderful 50m try showing huge speed.

[Welly]

17-17 half time.

Forwards are getting out performed ATM.

Backs though in attack are sounding very promising

Tait, Catchpole and Betham with tries.

[Geordie]

Whats the crack guys....how have we looked. Anyone stood out?

[Geordie]

Ah just seen it...36-19

Reports are good first half then we just got pumped in the second half. Is that true.

[LondonTiger]

For the first time in several seasons we looked really good when in possession of the ball. Problem is for the first 50 minutes we had little possession. Falcons dominated the scrum (Wilson looked good) and the breakdown.

However we were 22-19 up at that point as we looked so dangerous ball in hand. For the last 30 the back row came into the game and we dominated possession. Scrums were still a struggle and thacker was poor throwing when he came on.

for Leicester Thompstone and Betham looked threatening. Catchpole did well but looked a tad uncomfortable on the wing in defence. Bell had an excellent cameo.

[Welly]

Highlights:

http://www.leicestertigers.com/matchdaytv/?play=media&id=21796

So far what would people 23 be for the Irish game ATM?

I taking a shot in the dark that the Italians Will prob be back as will Fonua and Goneva.

not including injuries but Mulipola, Crane and Slater might be maybe's.

Mine
1) Rizzo,
2) Ghilrandini
3) Balmain
4) Fitzgerald
5) Kitchener
6) Croft
7) McCaffrey
8) Pearce
9) Harrison
10) Bruns
11) Thompstone
12) Bai
13) Betham
14) Goneva
15) Tait

16) Bateman
17) Brugnara
18) Pas
19) De Chaves/Williams
20) Williams/Fonua
21) Treisdder
22) Bell
23) Camacho/Loamanu/Catchpole (Prob Loamanu ATM)

[formerly known as Sam]

Feel a bit sorry for Catchpole he's playing pretty well and not done anything wrong but suddenly finds himself behind the twinkle toed Betham. I do quite like the idea of Loamano on the bench. He covers most the back line and brings plenty of impact when defenders are starting to tire.

I see Cockers is saying we're looking at some rugby world cup backs. Be interesting to know who we're talking to as the backs are looking pretty good at present.

[LondonTiger]

I know it was only a friendly, but felt Betham will need to work harder at getting back into position when the opposition have the ball.

[Welly]

RE Catchpole I like him but I think he is still a season or 2 off being a AP starter the fact he can cover wing makes him a good bench option.

I agree Betham needs to work on his position defensively but 3 weeks training there should help that. Although he is to me a winger/Full back without a doubt.

Loughborough game next week hoping for:
1) Hills, 2) Farnworth, 3) Pas
4) Maksymiw, 5) Wells
6) Beckett, 7) Owen, 8) Milne
9) Treisdder, 10) Bryant
12) Roberts, 13) Camacho
11) Odogwu, 14) Williams, 15) Worth

[Welly]

Also Cockers has said we are in talks with a few World Cup backs.

Depending on Benjamin and Morris injury length wouldn't mind trying to sign a Japanese winger as a injury replacement.

Same with Manu.

[LondonTiger]

Loughborough game next week hoping for:
1) Hills, 2) Farnworth, 3) Pas
4) Maksymiw, 5) Wells
6) Beckett, 7) Owen, 8) Milne
9) Treisdder, 10) Bryant
12) Roberts, 13) Camacho
11) Odogwu, 14) Williams, 15) Worth

Is Rhys Williams still with us?

[Welly]

David williams

Rhys left.

[LondonTiger]

David williams

Rhys left.

aha, a new Williams to me. Far too many of them.

[formerly known as Sam]

David Williams played in the sevens last season and the season before. Seems a while since he was involved. Is he definitely still with us? I hope so he seemed to have pace and a step.

[LondonTiger]

Injury update.

http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/23486.php#.VgVTnPlVhHw

hope we are this informed on a regular basis.

[formerly known as Sam]

Maybe we should employ and in house knee specialist.

[LondonTiger]

Had not realised we were playing up at Kingston Park tonight.

Certainly did not expect the win, narrow at 28-30, though Falcons did score in the 83rd minute to close the gap from 9 to 2 points.

Hopefully it was more good preparation.

[Geordie]

Sounds like a decent game. Didn't make it tonight.

Botha impressive by all accounts.

[Welly]

Searms like Dvaid Williams is at Ebbw Vale RFC.

Guess the Welsh link.

[Welly]

Mermoz being linked to us again.

Anyway Cockers saying Smith and camcho likly to feature in a mianly young team against Loughborough.

Would go with
1) Sio/Parr, 2) Farnworth, 3) Hogan
4) Maksymiw, 5) Wells
6) Beckett, 7) Owen, 8) Milne/Priestley-Nangle
9) Treisdder, 10) Bryant
12) Roberts, 13) Smith
11) Odogwu, 14) Camacho, 15) Worth

16) Nairn, 17) Hills, 18) Tuilagi
19) Jack, 20) Priestley-Nangle/Evans
21) White, 22) Charlie Thacker, 23) Sutton

[LondonTiger]

Highlights from Friday night.

Just got watch and rewatch wee Harry's try.

https://amp.twimg.com/v/c3cb36e7-3eff-448a-973a-34ee3d423885

[formerly known as Sam]

Well the attacking play looks a hell of a lot better. Defence looks a bit iffy but we mostly seemed to struggled at maul and scrum where the six missing international front row players would have made a difference.

Thacker's try was pretty special. He's one hell of a player in the loose.

[Welly]

The attacking skill set shown are 100000000x better than what was last preseason.

Betham looks excellent in attack, Catchpole more comfortable ATM @ wing prob because less to think about, I rate him @ 13 but thought he was trying to hard to make something's at times in the first 2 preseason games.

I love how we can change our pack to suit our game plan

Defence looks like it is still a work in progress but it is a more aggressive approach to what we have seen.

[formerly known as Sam]

Agree on the pack, we have some good options going into the season and seem to have purchased wisely. Shame Fonua is in the Tonga squad but not playing though.

The defence seems to be a pressing drift. It's not proving to effective but in the highlights you can see there's a lot more communication between the players even if the system isn't quite there yet. That's a good sign.

Catchpole just needs game time, he's got the carrying and defensive game but his passing and handling need a little work. Mayhem is the man for that and if he can get the game time experience on the wing whilst he's developing that'll help long term. He should be a capable squad player going forward.

[king_carlos]

That try by Thacker is great to watch.

He's such a terror in the loose that we just need to get him on the park as often as possible regardless of where it is!

If Croft is playing well and Fonau starts as strongly as hoped then I would be very tempted to give him a shot at 7 before O'Connor is back. McCaffery will start the first game but depending on how he goes I would like to see wee Harry get a shot I rate him that highly.

If we are picking a young team against Loughborough I wouldn't mind him getting a go at 7 there but with Owen also there it does start to get tricky.

[LondonTiger]

Leicester Tigers (v Loughborough University, Welford Road, Saturday 4pm)
15 George Worth
14 Wesley Douglas
13 Matt Smith
12 Jack Roberts
11 Paolo Odogwu
10 Jacob Umaga
9 George Tresidder
1 Riccardo Brugnara
2 Harry Thacker
3 Tiziano Pasquali
4 Alex Galletly
5 Joe Maksymiw
6 Charlie Beckett (c)
7 Will Owen
8 Christian Loamanu

Replacements
Jake Farnworth
Ross Penn-Symonds
Fred Tuilagi
Will Evans
Oliver Povoas
Ben White
Harry Simmons
Oli Bryant
Sam Yawayawa

[LondonTiger]

Nice to see a tuilagi involved again.

Matt Smith will feel old surrounded by those children.

[king_carlos]

Jacob Umaga, is that Mike's son and Tana's nephew if I remember correctly?

Also how is Fred jnr rated at the club? I seem to remember when he first joined the academy he was out fairly out of shape and a bit of the pace. I also seem to remember whispers at the time that Brian Tuilagi and him were largely in the set up due to their name rather than performances. Can't say I ever saw either play in order to comment personally however so maybe just outdated chinese whispers!

On the rest of the team I am happy to see Roberts getting a game at 12. I'd like Bryant to feature in the centres at some point but he may end up coming on at 10 from that squad.

Also interesting to see Beckett handed the captaincy. He impressed in the LV last season and is clearly very highly rated by the coaches.

[Geordie]

Thackers try was well taken...but he was helped with some appalling tackling....

[formerly known as Sam]

I've seen Thacker bounce through tackles from bigger names than he did against Falcons. His pace and footwork make him hard to line up for a clean shot and because he's small people tend to hut him high which is often ineffective due to his leg drive and low centre of gravity. He often takes three or four to bring him down though he rarely offloads as it tends to be a mass gang tackle.

Agreed re Bryant in the centres. I still hold he is the future 12 the club needs. Creative, great step, defensively sound and outstanding handling. Needs to sort those hamstrings out.

Brian was the Tuilagi rumoured to be there on reputation. The rumour I heard was that he was kept on so his younger brother would stay in the academy long enough to progress as he's a front row prospect.

[king_carlos]

So with England, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa already out and Italy looking unlikely to qualify we will only be missing Ayerza due to RWC duty come the start of the season. Add to that O'Connor and Kitto due to the ITM cup.

Then we will still be missing Slater, Owen Willams, Morris, Manu and Benjamin due to injury.

Mulipola being back in training is excellent news but having Rizzo and Cole returning will ease the pressure on how rapidly we need him back.

How would we like to see the side for the first game managed? Do we rest the likes of Cole and Tom Youngs completely? Perhaps Ben Youngs will start on the bench with Harrison a strong alternative who has been with the side throughout pre-season.

1.Rizzo 2.Ghrilidini 3.Balmain 4.Fitzgerald 5.Kitchener 6.Croft 7.McCaffery 8.Fonau
9.Harrison 10.Burns 11.Betham 12.Bai 13.Loamanu 14.Thompstone 15.Tait

16.Bateman 17.Mulipola/Brugnara 18.Cole/Mulipola 19.De Cheves 20.Williams 21.Youngs 22.Bell 23.Goneva

Is that a realistic side for the first game? Do we feel that Betham will stay in the centres for the time being?

[formerly known as Sam]

Ghilrildini has probably played more minutes than Youngs. I'd start Bateman and then have Youngs on the bench. Start Rizzo as he's not played as many minutes.

[nathan]

silver lining and all with England being out

[king_carlos]

Given Youngs will be first choice come the big games and ECC I feel he might do well to have a rest now. Not to mention his previous injury problems.

The more I think about it the more I'd like Cole to be given a rest as well if Logi is fit. Whilst performing solidly in the scrum until Saturday he has looked a shadow of himself in the loose and frankly a bit knackered.

[nathan]

i read the other day that they (RFU, RPA and the PRL) are trying to agree to a player welfare clause where they are enforced to have 5 solid weeks off in the off season

[Welly]

Umaga, Douglas, Odogwu, Worth, Beckett, Owen All had good games Esp Umaga who looked in charge the whole game Not bad for a 17 year old we better keep him.

Senior players
Smith looked lively and look dangerous
Roberts is just pure speed.
Loamanu was a tank @ 8 Handy option to have.

Also our production line of 9's looks to keep going with Ben White having an excellent game of the bench.

[formerly known as Sam]

Did Bryant get on?

[LondonTiger]

Rizzo drops out of Italy's WC squad with a knee injury - putting his chances of starting the AP season in doubt.

[king_carlos]

I guess that could decrease the chance of Cole getting a rest then with Mulipola an option at LH if fit.

If Logi doesn't make it then it will be a big test for Brugnara. Could we also see Sio making an appearance from the bench? Or will Parr come in or Bateman feature at prop?

[formerly known as Sam]

I was hoping Cole would get a break for the Uruguay game this week but he's starting again. Balmain should be able to do a job vs LI with hopefully Logo alongside. Otherwise we could be in trouble as Brugnara doesn't seem to be a strong scrummager yet.

[broadlandboy]

Rizzo done his ACL. Out for 5 to 8 months

[formerly known as Sam]

That's a blow with the RWC. Not to bad as Balmain and Logo are normally the sub reserves of choice and Cole will be back earlier than anticipated. Parr may be getting more game time than originally thought.

[Welly]

Goneva back in training tomorrow

Crowson to release more info on the Marquee player we are looking at later this week (He is very reliable)

Leicester to play first XV against Sale

FKaS Bryant came on @ 12 and look very good added an extra dimension in our attacking from a distribution point of view IMO.

[formerly known as Sam]

Having Goneva and Mulipola back will be a boost to the squad. Very much impact players we'd want against LI.

That's what it looked like on the highlights Welly. Hope Mauger has seen that and gives him a run out off the bench at the weekend. We're already playing with a distributor at 12 in Bai so he'd fit the game plan.

[LondonTiger]

Not sure just how much should be read into performances against the Students.

hopefully Sale bring their first choice team down on saturday - then we can judge.

[Gooseberry]

Does anyone know whats happening with the England chaps? Will they come back sooner for the clubs given they wont have to attend any post final media engagements now or will England hang on to them anyway?

[LondonTiger]

Released (after Saturday) but told to take a break I think.

[formerly known as Sam]

I doubt they'll be rushing them back in. Probably give them a week or two to put their feet up. Cockers is bemoaning the international set up and the amount of rest the players get in the paper.

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