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

I mean he wasn't given a deal by tigers hence why he focused full time on studies in the first place.

But we have done it enough times to think it could happen.

Anyone at the game? Looked like tait went off injured, looked like a hamstring issue

Looked like Fred Tuilagi jnr went off with a knock as well. A shame as he's finally showing some long overdue improvements in work rate.

I was quite happy with the game as a whole. Especially some new signings, returnees and youngsters.

It was great to see Logo back. Shazam back to his usual standards following injury. Ryan and Kalamafoni looked good. Benn Betts looks ready for first team rugby. Same with Ben White too, he should be 3rd choice 9 and if so it leaves Kitto as a spare man really. Jonah Holmes looks very dangerous. Genge taking back off where he left last season. Joe Ford looks solid although still looks a 3rd choice. Matt Toomua back on the field.

I've heard some positive things about the performances of our younger players in the friendlies. Hopefully Betts, Wells, Thacker, Tuilagi, White etc are going to get a chance to stake a claim in the team this season.

McGuigan out for two weeks with a thumb injury. More concerning it seems that Brendan O'Connor has suffered another concussion. A real shame as he has a history with them and is a guy who should complement Kalamafoni at 8 well.

YBY, George Ford and Manu expected to play a part this weekend which is great news. Hopefully Thompstone features too as he's yet to play during pre-season.

1.Genge 2.Youngs 3.Mulipola 4.Barrow 5.Kitchener 6.Williams 7.Ryan 8.Kalamafoni
9.Youngs 10.Ford 11.May 12.Toomua 13.Tuilagi 14.Thompstone 15.Veainu

It would be quite a change from recent seasons if we could start with that against Bath...

When did Slater leave? Totally missed that, class act.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:When did Slater leave? Totally missed that, class act.

Swap deal for May

You have May?? Wtf, this sounds more like something on our AP game. Good deal all round I guess, are you happy with it?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:You have May?? Wtf, this sounds more like something on our AP game. Good deal all round I guess, are you happy with it?

Keep up at the back

Personally i am happy.

slater is a class act but the gap of quailty between the starting and squad locks is alot better than our wings (even with Slater gone).

Our locks without Slater
Barrow, Kitchener, Fitzgerald, Wells, Williams

Our wings without May
Thompstone, Brady, Malouf, Holmes,

Great deal for both sides I think Welly. I have Slater on the AP game (paired with Whitelock ), I'd swap for May.

Be interesting to see if he kicks on.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Great deal for both sides I think Welly. I have Slater on the AP game (paired with Whitelock ), I'd swap for May.

Be interesting to see if he kicks on.

Slater was amazing off the bench for Glaws, he's a class act who didn't get international representation due to injuries. I'm hoping May has a similar impact for us this afternoon.

Leicester Tigers Development XV (v Worcester Cavaliers, Sixways, Monday 7.30pm)
15 Jordan Olowofela
14 George Catchpole
13 Gareth Owen
12 Charlie Thacker
11 Jonah Holmes
10 Tom Hardwick
9 Harry Simmons
1 Kyle Traynor
2 Harry Mahoney
3 Ben Betts
4 Sam Lewis
5 Joe Maksymiw
6 Tom Croft (c)
7 Will Evans
8 Valentino Mapapalangi

Replacements
16 Callum Lynch
17 Owen Hills
18 Joe Heyes
19 Toby Hutchinson
20 Fred Tuilagi
21 Jonno Kitto
22 Matt Travers
23 Jon Hughes

Nice mix in that A league team, experience and youth blended well. One or two of those older players might fancy impressing MOC and trying to force their way into the starting line up. Croft would be confident of improving the lineout options and I was underwhelmed by BOC  (though his stats do show his best work is generally unseen) so young Evans might want to remind the coaches of his abilities.

Is George Worth injured or out on loan?

Not out on loan.

Maybe injured.

well that was one sided.

The Worcester team looked young and inexperienced and played like it. Tigers were 12 nil down after 15 mins though.

From the Merc:

Fitzgerald out for 3 months following knee surgery.

Brady in full training, expected to be available for Gloucs in two weeks.

Tombstone 4 weeks away from being available.

No word on McGuigan yet. If he is available then personally I'd start him. I thought OTY looked understandable short of match fitness against Bath. I'd be very tempted to get Croft in the 23 after the line-out capitulations at the weekend, coming up against Lawes won't be any less of a challenge.

1.Genge 2.McGuigan/Youngs 3.Cole 4.Barrow 5.Kitchener 6.Williams 7.O'Connor 8.Kalamafoni
9.Youngs 10.Ford 11.May 12.Toomua 13.Tuilagi 14.Holmes 15.Veainu

16.Thacker 17.Mulipola 18.Bateman 19.Croft 20.Hamilton 21.Harrison 22.Smith 23.Tait

Tuilagi out for 3 months with a knee injury?

Manu Injured again!

Time to call it a day.

Wonder if we might see the return of big Pohe?

Currently at Coventry I heard.

Welly wrote: Wonder if we might see the return of big Pohe?

Currently at Coventry I heard.

His family is still in the area, is it his uncle that coaches at Loughborough Town? He was in France last I heard so back to Coventry isn't ideal. His fitness and work rate was always his issue.  Shows those are good and he'll get a decent contract somewhere.

Worrying stuff.
Blaze, Is he experienced enough to handle this? is he good enough? IMO no to both of those questions.

Tigers IMO need to sign
Priority
1 A top Forwards coach PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
2 A top Lock
3 A top 8
4 A top back rower

Our back row seems to have 4 6's, 3 7's, 1 8 (Who has no prem experience)
It needs re balancing and adding depth.

Really i would only keep ATM, Williams, Evans, Croft (On the right contract). Hamilton maybe as depth.

O'Connor is good IMO but would his cap be better off elsewhere with Evans and Reffell coming through?

I would like for us to sign a top, and go after a top all rounder, not a cheap all rounder. Someone like a Harrison mould at saints that could be brought off the bench to make a impact no matter if it is 6,7,8.

I think the pack has a lot more potential than it's showing. A quality forwards coach who can get them running some angles and interplay with aggression. Get that and we'll be flying.

Acquisition list for me:

1. Forwards coach (rumours the Hurricanes forwards coach wants a European spell, he'd be good).
2. Big and abrasive backrow, number 8 (still!).
3. Injury replacement for Manu (short term signing of a proper unit).
4. Goal kicking fullback, ideally someone to mentor Worth.

1. Forwards coach

John Plumtree is looking at a stint in the Prem according to TRP. He'd be a fantastic acquisition. Whether he'd want a head coach role for hemispheres is one question. Whether or not he'd work well with MOC who is a well known acquired taste is another.

2. A top quality replacement centre ASAP

A big ball carrier would be great. Just a quality centre would fit though. Mermoz added a lot in a short time. Many feared the back line recruitment lacked depth.

3. A brute of a second row

The number 8 situation feels in a similar place to over the summer. Signing a top 8 is easier said than done when they cost a hell of a lot and there aren't many around. When it was rumoured Gorgodze was on the move I was desperate for Tigers to sign him, he'd have fitted the bill perfectly with his versatility and quality.

As it stands, it's more realistic if a brute of a second row were signed to get the front 5 functioning. Getting the forwards working in the tight then using Kalamafoni coming off it is probably the best we can hope for mid season when top 8s are short on the ground.

Other notes I'd take from the first two games outside of the obvious limp forward display and terrible line-out:

- The forwards as a whole have looked better when Mike Williams came on in both games. Kalamafoni especially perked up a bit with another carrier on. Genge and Barrow both improve with other physical players around them.

- Sam Harrison should be used for a tactical change earlier if our forwards aren't offering a platform.

- Ford and Toomua should have taken more pressure off Youngs in tactical kicking stakes. Control of territory has been non-existent in both games.

- Malouf has lots of potential with his pace and strength in contact. His lack of understanding with the 15 man code is very noticeable as well with penalties given away. If Brady is available for Gloucs I'd start him. If not I'd like to see what Holmes can do.

- The line-out is killing us, Croft is fit and deserves a shot in those circumstances.

- I find myself increasingly curious of how our scrum would go with Bateman at hooker. Equally I'd be happy to see Thacker at 7 and throwing into the line-out.

Youngs wants to kick.

After Bateman's incompetent contribution yesterday I'd be looking at when Cilliers is going to be fit again. He certainly wouldn't be in my mind for further contribution. Thacker also played very well at hooker and for all the Hartley love in from the pundits it looked like Thacker was comfortable in the scrum. I hope he starts next week, he deserves the opportunity.

Mike Williams looked excellent off the bench vs Bath but against Saints less so. The card was deserved and dim. He nor any of the other backrow forwards offered any go forward ball in hand.

I too would like to see Croft brought in. Kitchener ended the lineout woes by calling to himself repeatedly but that's not a long term option. It's worrying he lost confidence in his team mates to claim the ball at the lineout and after he left the field the lineout did not go well and you can't look at the hooker when it sloppy slap downs and the opposition pinching it from your grasp.

I agree on Malouf. He looks like he'll be a good signing but needs to do his learning in the A team and not the first team.

Youngs is happy to kick but the tactics are centred around keeping the ball in hand not playing for territory. I think that's hurting us.

Bateman has been one of Tigers more shrewd acquisitions over the last few years IMO. He covers the whole front row, has steadily improved in the scrum and offers lots in the loose. His ball carrying and handling skills are underrated. The criticism he's taken on the offy especially for a poor 10 minutes in an already lost game and terrible team performance has been very fickle indeed.

The Williams card was deserved but accumulative. Dim yes but more a factor of a physical player trying to add something to a limp fringe defence. I'd actually argue that Hartley's challenge on Genge that ended with him on his arse was the same sort of no arms challenge. There was no attempt to wrap the arms and he led solely with the shoulder. Difference was that Hartley went flying. Still a stupid challenge from Williams, deserving of the accumulative yellow.

Youngs may want to kick but has done so poorly in both games. I'm a big Ben fan and his box kicking is what has set him apart from the other England 9s for several years. He has kicked best for England when Ford and Farrell have been playing to release pressure. Not using Ford and Toomua in the same way has been frustrating.

1.Genge 2.Thacker 3.Mulipola 4.Barrow 5.Williams 6.Croft 7.O'Connor 8.Kalamafoni
9.Youngs 10.G Ford 11.May 12.Toomua 13.Smith 14.Brady 15.Veainu

16.McGuigan 17.Bateman 18.Cole 19.Wells 20.Hamilton 21.Harrison 22.J Ford 23.Tait

I'd be interested to see how that went against Gloucs.

Due to props being fit he has been a bit forgotten, but with Cole and Logo both needing their work loads managed it would be very good to get Rizzo back sooner rather than later.

O'Connor won't be available for the weekend, HIA test for Kitch and Youngs to come before the game.

BBC reporting we are looking at an injury dispensation for Manu. Any guesses?

Blaze resigns citing personal reasons. Brett Deacon is combining roles in the short term whilst we look for a replacement.

Hmm, are we in for another season of coaching merry go round? Matt O'Connor's family are still in Australia and not arriving until Christmas so maybe he hasn't ruled it out either.

Paging Mr Plumtree please. A fantastic forwards coach, known to be searching for a Prem stint and has the nous to be a head coach down the line.

It's always a shame when someones personal life intervenes in professional commitments. Putting personal life first is almost always the right way to go.

That said Blaze is a departure that feels to have been coming for a while. Increasingly limp forward displays, a pack not performing as the sum of its parts, an inconsistent scrum and shambolic line-out. Cockers leaving was a make or break moment for Blaze, coming out of the DORs shadow. It seems to have been too much too soon for a young coach.

He's a good man who had a very promising career sadly cut short by injury. Hopefully he goes away to a lower tier club, gains experience and comes back to the Prem a better coach. Having learnt from the forwards he did whilst playing he should certainly have some knowledge to transfer!

If I were on the board I'd be sending over a contract to Plumtree immediately. If he wants a bigger role then my second choice would be Parling or Herring. Herring has been coaching the Japan forwards and defence and he knows the club. Parling is well Parling we know what he'll offer as a coach.

Kitch has fractured his eye socket and will require surgery. The merc article says it will be a significantly shorter lay-off than Fitzgerald with three months out with knee ligament damage.

It gives Harry Wells an opening to show how far he's come. I was really impressed with Wells against Gloucs. Maksymiw did well too I thought. It was particularly nice to see both flying out of the line in defence and coming onto the ball at pace. Maksymiw fell off a couple of tackles but he also made some very effective chops around the fringes.

I thought Mapapalangi had a strong debut too. He has experience in the row but also offers the option to move Williams to lock and keep size in the back row.

1.Genge 2.Youngs 3.Cole 4.Williams 5.Wells 6.Croft 7.Hamilton 8.Kalamafoni

16.Thacker 17.Bateman 18.Mulipola 19.Mapapalangi 20.Evans

That would be interesting to see against Quins.

Any news on Barrow or Cilliers?

Feel sorry for Kitch he had started to get the lineout to finally function against Saints (by caking every ball to himself) after he went off it went to pot. Hope he comes back stronger.

I don't think Williams or O'Connor are keen for Williams to go into the second row. It was interesting to see Kalamafoni go into the second row with Mapapalangi at 8 and Williams remain on the blindside at the weekend. Perhaps we'll see that again though that would put a lot of pressure on Wells as the rest of the jumping options aren't great. I'd like to see Croft back but can't see it.

Agree on Wells and Big Joe. Wells definitely deserves another start after that shift. Maksymiw did well enough but didn't really stand out, a little more experience and a little more aggression and he'll be fine.

I reckon we'll see;
Genge, Youngs, Cole
Wells, Kalamafoni/Barrow
Hamilton, Mapapalangi/Kalamafoni, Williams

Lots of power and look to drive back the Quins forwards. As MOC seems to be going for size I doubt we'll see Evans or Croft.

On Barrow only a very vague, "Dom should play for us". Sounds like it isn't a serious knock but I wouldn't bank on him definitely being in the line-up for Quins. Barrow and Wells would make up a decent lock pairing if a functioning line-out can be made from it.

Nothing on Cilliers yet which I've seen.

Close to half of the tries scored in last seasons Prem came from line-outs. It's now the most important attacking platform. Given our line-out inconsistency last season and implosion in the first 3 games I'd hope Crofty would be given a chance if he's fit.

Evans is a huge talent and it will be very frustrating if a game plan is being worked towards which excludes one of our best talents. He's a stronger tackler than BOC and just as good at the breakdown. He has the skills to be as good a link man too although BOC is much better at this than many give him credit for. If BOC was in MOCs (initials getting confusing here!) early season squads then I don't see why Evans wont feature. Probably a case of him still working up to full fitness.

MOC is favouring power and given the flaws in our forward play last season I can't blame him. Thacker has shown in his bench appearances that you don't need size to be physical though. Our line speed around the fringes has improved each time Wee 'arry has come on. Evans is similar around the fringes, his line speed is fantastic.

I hope you're right. Evans is a real talent and the big pack does lack someone who will slow ball down and grab a turnover. He's got some skill as a link man as well.

Maybe he'll get a go this weekend. Quins are mobile so could be the right time for a proper openside.

Leicester Tigers (v Wasps, Welford Road, Monday 7.00pm)
15 Jordan Olowofela
14 Will Foster (Student)
13 George Catchpole
12 Gareth Owen
11 Jonah Holmes
10 Tom Hardwick
9 Ben White
1 Kyle Traynor
2 Jake Kerr
3 Chris Baumann
4 Archie MacPherson (Student)
5 Sam Lewis
6 Tommy Reffell
7 Will Evans (c)
8 Fred Tuilagi

Replacements
16 Harry Mahoney
17 Owen Hills
18 Ben Betts
19 Sam Bailey (Student)
20 Harrison King (Student)
21 Ben Pointon (Student)
22 Chris Davies (Student)
23 Harry Simmons

Lots of Loughborough players involved due to the injuries. Nice to see Will Evans starting and captaining, he makes up a talented flanker pairing with Reffell.

Will Owen and Catchpole featuring is good to see with Manu out. Ben White and Tom Hardwick is a very talented half back pairing.

If Thacker and McGuigan are both injured this weekend any of Traynor, Kerr, Baumann and Betts could be fighting for a bench spot given Batemans versatility.

Will Owen is playing for Wasps.

Do you mean Gareth?

Bateman will add plenty to the scrum at hooker but his darts were always dodgy at best.

Looks a good team but there isn't much experience outside of the front row. Let's hope the young lads continue to give O'Connor a headache. Wells and Big Joe have already come into the first team and done well. Hopefully Evans can force his way in as well, he'd have been perfect for the Quins game, against Chiefs we might need the physicality more than his skills.

Shame the Tongan new boy isn't getting game time.

Welly wrote: Will Owen is playing for Wasps.

Do you mean Gareth?

I meant Gareth, yes.

Interesting to see that Will Owen appears to be on trial with the Wasps academy though. He seemed a good talent at age group then stalled with lack of gae time.

A good win for a young side in the end. Hardwick is a very consistent goal kicker for such a young man.

Can see Sam Bailey being the next Loughborogh student to get a contract catching the eye of alot of people.
Really liking this partnership.

Dan Tuhoy signed on loan from Bristol. I hope that's a short term loan so we can rotate a few players round and not a season long loan where he'll get in the way of Well and Big Joe getting game time. As a short term deal he could do well though he seemed a penalty merchant for Bristol which is a shame because I rated him at Ulster.

I heard good stuff about Sam Bailey as well Welly. Makes sense to me to forge a partnership with Loughborough Uni, some very good players have come through there and we've missed out on them. The Loughborough Uni training facilities are much better than Oval Park so maybe we'll see even closer links moving forward.

Luke Hamilton called up for Scotland's AI squad.

LondonTiger wrote:Luke Hamilton called up for Scotland's AI squad.

Qualified through his father. He'll do well for them if he gets on. Not sure he'll get many caps if all are fit and firing though.

Might mean we have a more makeshift looking backrow during the AI period with Mapapalangi and Kalamafoni called up as well. Good chance for some of the younger or fringe players to make a point.

6 Williams
7 Evans
8 O'Connor

perhaps?(Think Ryan is sitting out until December)

And Jonno Kitto released. So one position where we are looking to develop our own players - will be interesting to see who from White and Simmons grabs the chance through November.

Kitto is a decent scrum half he is just the third best at our club and we have prospects. Great to see we're backing the prospects. White seems to be in pole position, Simmons plays 15 as well doesn't he? Might count against him playing several positions though given our current squad being able to play 9 and 15 would be very useful.

I think that's the backrow we'll see. Maybe Crofty will be fit enough for the bench. Wells has played 6 before and Fred Tuilagi might get an LV shot at making an impression.

Assuming fitness, I think we could see the following for the LV:

4 Maksymiw
5 Wells
6 Croft
7 Evans
8 Fred Jr

As we have two AP games during the 6Ns I would also like to see Harrison get some gametime before then.