Leicester Tigers 2017/18 Season

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Back Room
CEO: Simon Cohen
Head of Rugby operations: Gled Glynn

1st Team
Head Coach: Matt O'Connor
Scrum Coach: Boris Stankovich
Forwards coach:
Backs Coach: Geordan Murphy

2017/18 Squad: (Sorted alphabetically)
Props: Bateman, Beaumann. Cilliers, Cole, Genge, Mulipola, Rizzo, Traynor
Hooker: Kerr, Polota-Nau, McGuigan, Thacker, Youngs,
Lock: Barrow, Fitzgerald, Kitchener, Wells
Back Row:Evans, Hamilton, Kalamafoni, Mapapalangi, McCaffrey, O'Connor, Ryan, Williams
Scrum Half: Harrison, Youngs
Fly half: G.Ford, J.Ford
Centre: Catchpole, Malouf, Owens, Smith, Toomua, Tuilagi,
Wing/Full Back: Brady, Holmes, Tait, Thompstone, Veainu,

Development Squad
Props: Betts, Grahamslaw, Heyes, Traynor
Hooker: Mahoney
Locks: Lewis, Maksymiw
Back Row: Reffell, Tuilagi
Scrum Half: White, Simmons
Fly Half: Hardwick,
Centre: Thacker,
Wing/Full Back: J.Olowofela, Worth

Leavers: Brugnara (N/A), Bryant (Jersey), Yawayawa (Glasgow)
Joiners: Grahamslaw, Hardwick, Heyes, Reffell, Traynor,

European Pool 4:
Castres
Leicester Tigers
Munster
Racing

Unless the experienced players actually play and play well the young lads are unlikely to stay around though. If he's been promised some signings to help the young lads through and free reign in terms of planning for next season then he might see it as a chance to make his name on the coaching scene. Depends what his end game is I suppose. Does he want the Tigers job or the Ireland job and would this be a step towards either?

Doubt he wants the Ireland job plenty of people ahead of him in that department.

And yeh this would help him, Cardiff is one of those jobs you can use to learn the trade a bit, do well and people will notice you, perform poorly and oh well it's only Cardiff no offence Cardiff fans) end of the day you don't want your first head coach role to be at a club with high expectations like Tigers on the whole unless their is an experience DOR to take of the pressure.

Leicester Tigers Development XV

15 Jordan Olowofela

14 Tom Brady

13 George Worth

12 Charlie Thacker

11 Jonah Holmes

10 Tom Hardwick

9 Ben White

1 Owen Hills

2 Harry Mahoney

3 Joe Heyes

4 Harry Wells

5 Joe Maksymiw

6 Brendon O’Connor

7 Will Evans (capt)

8 Fred Tuilagi

Replacements

16 Luke Davies

17 Sam Grahamslaw

18 Ben Betts

19 Sam Lewis

20 Tommy Reffell

21 Harry Simmons

22 Ravai Fatiaki

23 Jonathan Hughes

Northampton Wanderers: 15 George Furbank, 14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Fraser Strachan, 11 Juan Pablo Estelles, 10 James Grayson, 9 Alex Mitchell, 1 Matt Beesley, 2 Reece Marshall, 3 Ehren Painter, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 5 Christian Day, 6 Paddy Ryan, 7 Ben Nutley, 8 Sam Dickinson Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare,  17 Toby Trinder, 18 Luc Jeannot, 19 James Craig, 20 Devante Onojaife, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Tom Emery

Hmm that Saints side looks to have the experience edge on us. Could have done with one of those two opensides yesterday.

Because our A side is less academy players and more players who have never really broken through, or signings that haven't integrated.

Should be a decent contest this. Nice to see them using Loughborough Uni as the venue, pitch there should be excellent and enough students around to mix in with fans and create a decent crowd. I think Lewis and Hughes are both attending said university so they'll be given an extra warm welcome.

Grayson vs Hardwick at 10 will be a good watch. Two young 10's who are highly rated and have been promoted in and around the first team.

Well the second string pack is looking ok. The second team 10 looks scared of getting the ball.

We just aren't smart enough with the ref

How many Frak times does Harrison do that

Harrison just jogs back...

Didn't they dive on the tigers player in the lead up to their first try?

He's in front of the player again, how is that not offside

nathan wrote:We just aren't smart enough with the ref

The ref is terrible and unreliable. He's one minute by the book the next minute completely blind.

Joe Ford is what is killing Tigers. Possibly the worst flyhalf display I've ever seen from a Tigers flyhalf. So deep then runs sideways and throws loopy long passesto centres who are being lined up from miles away. Championship level player well our if his depth.

Would he helpful is the referee would officiate the offside a the rolling maul.

Really pissed with that last try, he was in front of his Teammate and ripped the ball from him. It's surely a forward pass

Once again finding myself feeling sorry for the circumstances in which our youngsters get opportunities. Thacker should be getting fed into the senior side playing in 10.G Ford 11.May 12.Toomua 13.Thacker 14.Thompstone 15.Veainu.

For season after season now our youngsters have only been given chances in threadbare sides when desperation has struck.

On the positive, George Worth should get more opportunities. He has been playing centre recently and I'd happily see him in the centres for the first team. Bateman has also returned strongly.

When Joe Ford signed I thought it was a reasonable signing IF he were used as third choice 10 (something we haven't had for several seasons). To do that either another 10 was needed to replace Owen Williams or a centre to allow Toomua to cover 10 in Georges absence. Neither was signed and this is the result.

J. Ford really is bad, I worry for when the 6 nations come around

nathan wrote:J. Ford really is bad, I worry for when the 6 nations come around

We can only hope he pulls a muscle and Hardwick plays. He was good vs Bath in the LV.

Hmmm, looks look he ran into his own player at that last lineout

Lol, how many replays

You are Frak kidding me

Forearm to the head and he waves play on

nathan wrote:Forearm to the head and he waves play on

I'd put my saving on that being cited and a ban following. Shoving decision given the current law interpretations. This ref is barely competent. How he missed our entire backline being offside on the kick chase I have no idea.

Once again our youngsters have been better than our supposed senior squad players. Sadly I doubt they'll be given a go in a more first team environment whilst we continue to back the average squad players. Betts, Thacker x2, Worth, Evans and Wells have all played well. Simmons added so much tempo off the bench. Mapapalangi, Harrison, Fitzgerald and Ryan were below expectations. Joe Ford an entire waste of space.

nathan wrote:J. Ford really is bad, I worry for when the 6 nations come around

1.Bateman 2.TPN 3.Mulipola 4.Wells 5.Kitchener 6.Williams 7.Evans 8.Kalamafoni
9.Harrison 10.Toomua 11.Thompstone 12.Thacker 13.Tuilagi 14.Malouf 15.Worth

16.Thacker 17.Rizzo 18.Betts 19.Kitchener 20.O'Connor 21.Simmons 22.Hardwick 23.Tait

I would be very excited to see a 6 Nations side based around something like that. If it is picked around squad players who need a kick up the backside then I see little up turn in quality of play, though results may improve as others are missing players. Most depressing is that guys like Fitz and Ryan are good players, currently the club are getting so little out of them.

With TPN arriving, Gigena signing along with Bateman, Rizzo and Cilliers returning the front row is showing depth again. I'd like to see Betts get more exposure, he looks a tough young player.

I'd be tempted to start Hardwick because of his kicking off the tee. That ability to accumulate points from anywhere in the opposition half is invaluable.

What side do people want to see for Racing? Hearing Ben Kay's comments it sounds that MOC will be picking a near full strength side to put up a fight at home - possible board pressure if Kay was aware of it at the weekend?

I'd strengthen the bench but try to build partnerships we will need against Gloucester when Prem action returns.

1.Bateman 2.TPN 3.Cole 4.Wells 5.Kitchener 6.Williams 7.Evans 8.Mapapalangi
9.Harrison 10.Toomua 11.Thompstone 12.Thacker 13.Tuilagi 14.Malouf 15.Worth

16.Thacker 17.Rizzo 18.Mulipola 19.Hamilton 20.O'Connor 21.Youngs 22.G Ford 23.May

That would give Toomua some time at 10 and some much needed strength on the bench for once.

Mapapalangi was very poor in France I'd be tempted to drop him in order to administer a wake up call. Kalamafoni has been doing a good steady job and I'd bring him back in. Evans and Wells definitely deserve another start but I doubt we'll see either, maybe Wells on the bench.

MOC has shown no inclination to play Toomua at 10, I think he'll remain at 12 and we'll see the out of his depth, drowning display from Joe Ford on repeat in the 6N period. George will probably be back in from this one and MOC won't want abother loss at home, he's already unpopular enough.

I imagine the only reason there wasn't much more furore over the team that faced Castres at the weekend was because they were essentially out aswell. Field a similar team against Racing and there'll be hell to pay if Racing make it through at another team's expense.

Like you KC I hope we see a squad similar to the one which will face Gloucester in the Premiership, starting with Toomua at 10 with Worth and Manu in the centres.

1. Rizzo, 2. TPN, 3. Cilliers, 4. Wells, 5. Kitchener (Barrow if fit), 6. Hamilton, 7. Evans, 8. Kalamafoni, 9. Harrison, 10. Toomua, 11. May*, 12. Worth, 13. Manu, 14. Malouf, 15. Tait
16. Thacker (OTY if fit), 17. Bateman, 18. Logo, 19. Fitzgerald, 20. Williams, 21. O'Connor, 22. B.Youngs, 23. G.Ford

*If Tigers can make a change to the European squad I'd like to see Holmes brought in and straight into the starting lineup.

No backup SH, fuzzy?

Is Ford just not firing? Whats going on with him at the moment?

Whoops, changed from a 5-3 bench to a 6-2 bench but replaced the wrong name. Ben and George on the bench, move the backs around if someone goes off injured.

Thinking about it now I would have May at 11 because I've just been so unimpressed with Thompstone, then give Holmes a shot for the AWC.

propdavid_london wrote:Is Ford just not firing? Whats going on with him at the moment?

If you mean George he's not been that bad. Nothing great but Tigers' pack have come off second best in almost every game since the AIs.

Most people are calling for Toomua to start purely to give him the game time at 10 before the 6 nations because Joe Ford starting is simply terrifying.

After his appearance off the bench last weekend it would be very harsh to drop Simmons. He played exceptionally well and had we got a playmaker not scared of taking the ball to the line we'd have scored tries in that second half.

propdavid_london wrote:Is Ford just not firing?  Whats going on with him at the moment?

George has been fine, not sparkling but not bad - and his goalkicking has been excellent.


Joe however.......... did not see the Castres game, but by all accounts him and Harrison were just as bad as they were against Wuss when frankly their performances would have embarrassed mid-table Championship players.

I'd start Simmons in his preferred 9 spot for the AWC. He has currently leapfrogged Ben White who is also a very talented young 9.

On G Ford I've thought he's played well behind a dominated packs and pish set-piece. The distribution and running he shows at his best is near impossible with zero ball.

His positional play and kicking from hand has been good in the circumstances IMO. His defence has been solid whilst getting targeted by attacks on the front foot. I'm not sure how much more you can ask of him than that in the current set-up.

Painfully for Tigers we currently have an expensively procured set of quality backs with decent depth and development options being wasted by an insipid pack with little aggression, just above average scrum and embarrassing line-out. How times change....

I'd rotate White and Simmons in the AWC. Give them a start each. I really hope we see more of Hardwick alongside them. His lack of game time is frustrating.

Agree about Hardwick, I hope he is given a chance in the AWC to start ahead of Joe Ford and takes that chance to stay in the 23 for the Prem games over the 6 Nations.

He started the strong AWC performance away to a more experienced Bath side. Personally I thought that was a better team performance than the narrow home win against Gloucs with a more Tigers experienced side and Ford at the tiller.

For all the boots being stuck in Joe Ford it's also telling that when signed the board stated he was 3rd choice 10 with Toomua as 2nd choice when George was away. At that point most fans expected/hoped for a centre to replace Mermoz which never came.

The senior squad hasn't had a third choice 10 for a few seasons now with Tommy Bell and Harrison standing in. If Joe Ford had been a 3rd choice, solely there for injury cover and with more depth at centre to let Toomua slip in then he might have proved worthwhile. With no centre cover signed and Toomua not yet moving inside Joe is looking a painful 2nd choice rather than a cheap safety net as 3rd choice.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I'd rotate White and Simmons in the AWC. Give them a start each. I really hope we see more of Hardwick alongside them. His lack of game time is frustrating.

White will be with England U20s I think.

Looking at Leicester from a relative distance (OK just down the Motorway), Ford incites fear or concern in no one. Being a Saints supporter, I know the feeling very well this year.

I agree about playing Toomua at 10. I think it makes sense. To be fair, he would be a 12 playing out of position, but he has pulled that off occasionally for Brumbies and Wallabies. He is a much better runner and defender than Ford, and is a decent passer. In this scenario, who are your options at 12?

doctor_grey wrote:Looking at Leicester from a relative distance (OK just down the Motorway), Ford incites fear or concern in no one.  Being a Saints supporter, I know the feeling very well this year.  

I agree about playing Toomua at 10.  I think it makes sense.  To be fair, he would be a 12 playing out of position, but he has pulled that off occasionally for Brumbies and Wallabies.  He is a much better runner and defender than Ford, and is a decent passer.  In this scenario, who are your options at 12?  

Which Ford? Joe is about as much use as a chocolate teapot and poor George plays against top teams behind a useless pack. Slightly ironic that the only time in recent weeks we've had a platform was when the development players rovided one vs Castres and it was wasted on Joe.

I heard the initial plans for Joe to be third choice were scrapped because of how highly rated Hardwick was. The idea being he should overtake Joe Ford by the end of the season and he can play 10 and 12 and is laser guided off the tee. Then again if he never gets a game those rumours come to naught.

Good point on White LT. The AWC ranks lower than under 20 representation so they can't be pulled out the squad for those games (not that we would necessarily want to).

Ben Betts is leaving for a another Prem club to get more game time.

I've thought he looks good in the scrum and loose. A real shame to be losing a talented player in a position that's expensive to fill.

king_carlos wrote:Ben Betts is leaving for a another Prem club to get more game time.

I've thought he looks good in the scrum and loose. A real shame to be losing a talented player in a position that's expensive to fill.

I thought his interview only said English club? I'd guessed LI or Wuss. He's got some developing to do but at 22 he's got plenty of time and has come on very well. Real shame to lose him but we aren't giving our development boys enough game time.

Reading back it says another English club with 'lower expectations' and getting more game time. Mea culpa Sam.

I'd hope he finds a prem club as he's talented. A year in the championship with the right side wouldn't hurt his development either though.

It does inevitably leave us wondering whether the decision would have been different if he'd got opportunities sooner this season when Traynor and Baumann were clearly lacking.

king_carlos wrote:Reading back it says another English club with 'lower expectations' and getting more game time. Mea culpa Sam.

I'd hope he finds a prem club as he's talented. A year in the championship with the right side wouldn't hurt his development either though.

It does inevitably leave us wondering whether the decision would have been different if he'd got opportunities sooner this season when Traynor and Baumann were clearly lacking.

He makes it clear in that interview his aim is to make a name for himself and then head home. A twi year deal at LI would be ideal. A year in the Championship to hone his skills then a year in the AP to build on them.

With Heyes coming up it most likely is for the best.
Betts hasn't ripped up many trees in the A league or Students but he has talent, although i don't see him doing Murphy and staying England long term so prob better to focus on Joe Heyes coming up.
I expect us to sign a TH next season anyway, don't see us keeping Cilliers who is on a decent package being signed as a second choice TH under cockers.

I could see us signing at minimum 2 props next season.

I also expect Hamilton to leave maybe Glasgow.

I've heard a couple of names mentioned given that Logo is up in the air too. I hope that he stays fit and stays at Tigers but others understandably think the cap could be better used elsewhere given his injury record.

I wonder how much game time Rizzo will get with Gigena now here and Bateman pressing his claim as a loose head. At 35 he's at the very end of his career but his set-piece solidity has bailed us out of trouble before now. If the contracts right I'd happily have Rizzo stay another season as a trusty back up.

Things have quietened down about Thacker and McGuigan to Brizz. I wonder if that's due to it being agent talk or one being a done deal. I can't see both staying.

Hamilton going to Scotland would be understandable but frustrating. I don't think I've seen him have a bad game in over a year after a slightly rocky start when he was trying to carry more than he seemed used to. Guy Thompson would be an excellent upgrade covering the back row if Hamilton left.

Have you heard much about Hamilton heading North? There are rumours that Haskell has had an offer but Hamilton sounds much more desirable. Glasgow are short a starting 8 and a top class 6 so Hamilton could fill the need at 6.

I’ve Just heard Hamilton is most likely going to leave.

From a Tigers POV his new contract will be more and now we don’t have the added benefit of having him during internationals so can’t see us doing everything to keep him here either.

Leicester Tigers (v Racing 92, Welford Road, Sunday 1.00pm)

15 Mathew Tait
14 Nick Malouf
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Matt Toomua
11 Jonny May
10 George Ford (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Greg Bateman
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau
3 Dan Cole
4 Harry Wells
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Williams
7 Brendon O’Connor
8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Tom Youngs
17 Michele Rizzo
18 Logovi’i Mulipola
19 Mike Fitzgerald
20 Valentino Mapapalangi
21 Sam Harrison
22 Joe Ford
23 Adam Thompstone

Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Rémi Tales, 9 Maxime Machenaud (c); 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Manuel Carizza, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Yannick Nyanga, 8 Leone Nakarawa

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 20 Boris Palu, 21 Teddy Iribaren, 22 Dan Carter, 23 Louis Dupichot

It's a cracking Racing team. It's going to be a big ask to get the win given our lack of form and confidence. Good to see Wells getting a deserved start and us selecting an openside. Feel sorry for the likes of Worth, Simmons and Evans who were bright points last weekend but don't feature this.

Looking forward to this match. I think Racing will win, possibly even comfortably so, but I really feel like Tigers will give a performance that gives us something to feel positive about for the first time since the Newcastle match back in October.

Edit: actually the AWC match against Bath was a good watch despite the final result.

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:Looking forward to this match. I think Racing will win, possibly even comfortably so, but I really feel like Tigers will give a performance that gives us something to feel positive about for the first time since the Newcastle match back in October.

Edit: actually the AWC match against Bath was a good watch despite the final result.

We were robbed in the AWC vs Bath. The young lads were incredible in that game against a very strong Bath outfit. Probably our best performance this season.

With the Munster game being postponed until 16:00 (possibly even called off) it would be very nice of ye Tigers to get a win against Racing and keep them from getting any BP's. Ye need one big game in this comp so please let it be today