Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
By RichW
February 22 2010
The sun shone on a pristine day as we left a snow bound Northamptonshire for Welford Road thinking that it had been a while since we had made this particular trip. It felt weeks since the Bath game. And so with conditions perfectly set Gloucester came to town. Perhaps the form side in the Premiership having turned a corner or two since their early season woes it was good to see a proper club
February 22 2010
The sun shone on a pristine day as we left a snow bound Northamptonshire for Welford Road thinking that it had been a while since we had made this particular trip. It felt weeks since the Bath game. And so with conditions perfectly set Gloucester came to town. Perhaps the form side in the Premiership having turned a corner or two since their early season woes it was good to see a proper club
beginning to prosper again as old rivalries were renewed.
The game however began in stuttering mode and Gloucester were first on the scoreboard - in fact they were second too - as Leicester’s early discipline let them down and Nicky Robinson’s kicking made them pay as the visitors held the upper hand. But soon enough Tigers began to assert themselves as the Gloucester line-out and scrum started to wilt.
I have to admit that in England hopeful Nick Wood and former All Black luminary I had expected a sterner test of Tigers’ tight five than was presented to Leicester’s own front five boosted by the return of Castro, but occasional non-prop Olivier Azam had something of a horror show at the lineout and Deacon and especially Parling made hay. What lineout ball they didn’t pilfer they made frequently unplayable for the visitors whose experience at scrum time was perhaps worse as the always heartening and increasingly commonplace sight of the Leicester scrum asserting itself began to show.
Though Flood had aimlessly kicked away go forward ball after one of these scrums (I’m sure his forwards were delighted - perhaps one of them might have a word!) he was less profligate from the tee and it was from a penalty arising from one of those scrums that he nailed the first of a sequence of three flawless penalty kicks to establish a 9-6 lead. With these steadying scores and a seemingly endless supply of possession the final portion of the half featured a seemingly inevitable progression towards the first try.
The only fly in our ointment at this stage appeared to be Danny Hipkiss failing to run off an early ankle injury, eventually leading to Jeremy Staunton’s introduction and the sight of Flood and Allen moving one place out.
And it was Allen who was the catalyst for the first try. Having decided that the stuff around the opposition shirts was softer than the stuff inside them, he ran at space and tried to beat men with his footwork. Perhaps Gloucester should have known better how to neutralise him but looking rather more an outside centre than the current England incumbent he made yards and if his support wasn’t always sharp enough track him he had the wit and pace to open up the opposition midfield more than once. With the best move of a half that was beginning to heat up only after half an hour he crafted the break that moved Tigers effortlessly towards the first score with it only breaking down when his scoring pass, that should have put Toby Flood in to finish in the corner was high and too far in front of his now fellow centre who knocked on with the line at his mercy. Still it was one of the few blemishes in an excellent performance by the returning Allen.
The knock-on however provided scant relief for Gloucester. They were shunted back again on the scrum and the ensuing turn-over gave Tigers a golden chance to open their account. They took it - though not perhaps in the brutally efficient way we had expected.
The scrum was rampant and surged too far, too quickly. Jordan Crane was unable to control the ball at the base and it bounced out in that irksome way that egg shapes do – that’s why we love ’em!. But having made the mistake Crane was calm and assured enough to tidy it up. He secured it and made it available and when it was moved out to Flood at first receiver he opened the space with a feint before passing back inside to find Lote Tuqiri on a brilliantly angled run which took the big Fijian through the hole to posts. Neat! A nicely crafted, nicely taken try created off the cuff as the set piece planned move faltered and it sent us, after a late Gloucester foray into the Tigers 22 that ended eventually with fumbled ball and a turn-over, into the half time Bovril with a healthy 10 point lead.
The second half began brightly.
Again it was set piece dominance that created the opportunity.
A lineout on the Gloucester 10 metre line was tapped down to Youngs who saw half a gap and went for it but the door slammed shut just in time. However there is more substance now to Youngs than there was a year ago. His frame is beginning to resemble his father’s! He had the strength and power to take the contact, stay on his feet and drive with his forwards around him. Tigers were into the 22. Another breakdown and Youngs was out of the pile up to move ball into the midfield. Hamilton took it on a lateral run behind the three-quarters and fired a flat pass to the flying Geordan Murphy on a burst towards the line. Coming onto the ball at pace he had a 20 metre run to score.
Joy! Geordan’s back!
And how! He had been imperious in the air, devilish as always with ball in hand, secure in defence and apart from a couple of loose kicks back to his best in all ways. Marvellous!
It’s also worth noting that his opposite number almost single handedly kept Gloucester in the game. What Olly Morgan has to do to get back into the England reckoning I’d like to know. He’s quick, brave, good in the air and has excellent footwork to underpin his attacking ambitions. He runs good well-timed lines at space and knows how to bring on his support runners. He kicked quite beautifully out of hand when he chose to and I don’t see many flaws in his game at all.
Anyway back to the game.
Geordan’s score took Tigers into a commanding 23-6 lead and thoughts of bonus points were in all our minds.
The game entered a frenetic period with Tigers searching too hard for the next score. They lost some shape and Gloucester began to prosper in the less structured game. Tigers discipline slipped a little as chances weren’t capitalised on and they began to retreat into a more negative mindset with a bout of the sort of kick-tennis that presently blights the game.
I know I sound like a broken record (for those of you who remember records) but I don’t mind kicking – in fact done well – pinning back opponents with maddeningly accurate, angled kicks in behind them, pulling their back three around their 22 – it’s a thing of beauty! But pumping the ball aimlessly up the park in the hope that your opponents will foul it up ain’t! If you are going to kick it – kick it well. Use the touchlines!
I hate to admit there is anything that we can learn from the round-ball code but I understand that there was once a famous soccer manager whose axiom went along the lines that you only get one ball – don’t give it away.
You know – can someone explain to me why such a fine striker of the ball as Toby Flood can’t kick angles to the corners? He should be able to land the ball on a six-pence!
It was as if, having struggled to make their supremacy tell after Geordan’s try had threatened to open the flood-gates, Tigers went into a containment pattern with 20 minutes to go.
Gloucester were understandably delighted and they showed an admirable willingness to run back some of the gifted possession they received from Leicester boots. Rather like Italy they put men behind the ball and chanced their arm. Unlike Italy they had the acumen and penetration to make something of it. And it was that man Morgan again who was the catalyst. Running from deep and under pressure in his 22 he found space and support in the midfield. The ball went through numerous hands and was recycled quickly as Tigers retreated until finally Johnny May was on hand to finish (albeit that replays suggest that the finish may not have been applied in truth) to cap a good day for the young centre.
It was no more than either side deserved and Glaws tried to maintain their momentum continuing to strive for that sort of play. Unfortunately their skills perhaps were not the match of their ambition and the score seemed to rouse the home team again.
The forwards asserted themselves anew and secured further penalty chances. Whilst the first were kicked to the corner attempting to push for the third try brave Gloucester defence kept them out and finally Flood lined up his 6th kick of the day. Given his current run of form from the tee and a current kicking streak of 12 successful kicks he was not about to miss taking Tigers beyond two scores clear going into the final 5 minutes.
It was as if the home team had woken up and the last 5 minutes was marked by them striving again for the third and fourth tries. With a couple of minutes left on the clock it was that man Youngs again with another of his searing half-back darts from the base of the scrum that gave them hope of the bonus. Taking the ball on an arc from the base he spotted the gap between outside half and centre and he went for it. With the faintest of shimmies he held the inside man and had the pace and power to shake off the despairing tackle to scorch past Morgan and score under the posts.
Flood drop-goaled the conversion but with only 2 minutes to go there was little hope for more and the game ended lamely in a sequence of errors from both sides on half-way with Gloucester finally kicking the ball dead to end the game.
It wasn’t a classic but there was plenty that was good in the game from both sides. In Morgan Gloucester have a gem – and since his England ambitions appear to be on hold they should get good value from him – as long as he stays fit. In Robinson they have one of the most under-rated 10’s in Britain and whose kicking out of hand was almost exemplary. But their forwards let them down. In the loose Delve and Narraway again disappointed. Lateral and lightweight I’ve rarely been impressed either and Saturday was no different. Brett Deacon’s arrival may well help them no doubt but as long as their tight five underperforms they will struggle. Still when they tried to play they were threatening and their cause is hardly helped with the well reported injury problems of James Simpson-Daniel and Mike Tindall. However it still remains a mystery to me to see their persistence with Vainikolo whose contribution was minimal and whose desperate lack of pace and craft make his former, controversial elevation to the England team seem the decision of a lunatic.
For Tigers Geordan looked a cut above all around him and will play for Ireland next week if there is any justice. Youngs takes strides with every game. He is threatening and he has learned to discipline himself. His service and his kicking game are much improved and he now has the confidence to boss his forwards and the physicality to mix it. A white shirt awaits this summer we imagine. Again the Tigers forward pack bullied an opposing 8, if not into submission then into a state of ineffectuality. Parling, Crane and Ayerza were imperious and Castro showed a welcome return to form. Scotland beware – they say form is temporary but class permanent. Toby Flood gave us something of a curate’s egg – he carried well, his distribution is of the highest order and his willingness to look for the off-load is a delight but some of his decision making remains debateable and his kicking from hand is more often mis-judged than not. Tony Allen looks our best centre at present and must now be hoping again to attract the eyes of he national selectors. One wonders whether Danny Hipkiss may have gone from an England starter to club squad man in 4 months. Scott Hamilton looks tired and had a game that he may wish to put behind him. Hopefully it was a temporary glitch because in losing Lote Tuqiri to the blandishments of the Aussie sunshine and a generous contract to play Rugby League we will be shorn of the sort of quality it is hard to replace. He was excellent yet again on Saturday and will be a loss to us and to our sport.
A worthy mention should go to Wayne Barnes. I think we have now established that the break-down under current laws is un-refereeable but Mr Barnes did as good a job as any I’ve seen lately – albeit largely by not interfering excessively. His more laissez-faire approach allowed an open game. He is an occasionally maligned official but he was largely excellent on Saturday. More of the same please.
It was good to be back at Welford Road for the real business of the rugby season after the fripperies of the previous weeks’ Invitational Games. It was good to see old rivals back in town – in form and threatening an upset – and it was good to despatch them.
9 more times we have to go to the well this term. I’m quietly confident.
The game however began in stuttering mode and Gloucester were first on the scoreboard - in fact they were second too - as Leicester’s early discipline let them down and Nicky Robinson’s kicking made them pay as the visitors held the upper hand. But soon enough Tigers began to assert themselves as the Gloucester line-out and scrum started to wilt.
I have to admit that in England hopeful Nick Wood and former All Black luminary I had expected a sterner test of Tigers’ tight five than was presented to Leicester’s own front five boosted by the return of Castro, but occasional non-prop Olivier Azam had something of a horror show at the lineout and Deacon and especially Parling made hay. What lineout ball they didn’t pilfer they made frequently unplayable for the visitors whose experience at scrum time was perhaps worse as the always heartening and increasingly commonplace sight of the Leicester scrum asserting itself began to show.
Though Flood had aimlessly kicked away go forward ball after one of these scrums (I’m sure his forwards were delighted - perhaps one of them might have a word!) he was less profligate from the tee and it was from a penalty arising from one of those scrums that he nailed the first of a sequence of three flawless penalty kicks to establish a 9-6 lead. With these steadying scores and a seemingly endless supply of possession the final portion of the half featured a seemingly inevitable progression towards the first try.
The only fly in our ointment at this stage appeared to be Danny Hipkiss failing to run off an early ankle injury, eventually leading to Jeremy Staunton’s introduction and the sight of Flood and Allen moving one place out.
And it was Allen who was the catalyst for the first try. Having decided that the stuff around the opposition shirts was softer than the stuff inside them, he ran at space and tried to beat men with his footwork. Perhaps Gloucester should have known better how to neutralise him but looking rather more an outside centre than the current England incumbent he made yards and if his support wasn’t always sharp enough track him he had the wit and pace to open up the opposition midfield more than once. With the best move of a half that was beginning to heat up only after half an hour he crafted the break that moved Tigers effortlessly towards the first score with it only breaking down when his scoring pass, that should have put Toby Flood in to finish in the corner was high and too far in front of his now fellow centre who knocked on with the line at his mercy. Still it was one of the few blemishes in an excellent performance by the returning Allen.
The knock-on however provided scant relief for Gloucester. They were shunted back again on the scrum and the ensuing turn-over gave Tigers a golden chance to open their account. They took it - though not perhaps in the brutally efficient way we had expected.
The scrum was rampant and surged too far, too quickly. Jordan Crane was unable to control the ball at the base and it bounced out in that irksome way that egg shapes do – that’s why we love ’em!. But having made the mistake Crane was calm and assured enough to tidy it up. He secured it and made it available and when it was moved out to Flood at first receiver he opened the space with a feint before passing back inside to find Lote Tuqiri on a brilliantly angled run which took the big Fijian through the hole to posts. Neat! A nicely crafted, nicely taken try created off the cuff as the set piece planned move faltered and it sent us, after a late Gloucester foray into the Tigers 22 that ended eventually with fumbled ball and a turn-over, into the half time Bovril with a healthy 10 point lead.
The second half began brightly.
Again it was set piece dominance that created the opportunity.
A lineout on the Gloucester 10 metre line was tapped down to Youngs who saw half a gap and went for it but the door slammed shut just in time. However there is more substance now to Youngs than there was a year ago. His frame is beginning to resemble his father’s! He had the strength and power to take the contact, stay on his feet and drive with his forwards around him. Tigers were into the 22. Another breakdown and Youngs was out of the pile up to move ball into the midfield. Hamilton took it on a lateral run behind the three-quarters and fired a flat pass to the flying Geordan Murphy on a burst towards the line. Coming onto the ball at pace he had a 20 metre run to score.
Joy! Geordan’s back!
And how! He had been imperious in the air, devilish as always with ball in hand, secure in defence and apart from a couple of loose kicks back to his best in all ways. Marvellous!
It’s also worth noting that his opposite number almost single handedly kept Gloucester in the game. What Olly Morgan has to do to get back into the England reckoning I’d like to know. He’s quick, brave, good in the air and has excellent footwork to underpin his attacking ambitions. He runs good well-timed lines at space and knows how to bring on his support runners. He kicked quite beautifully out of hand when he chose to and I don’t see many flaws in his game at all.
Anyway back to the game.
Geordan’s score took Tigers into a commanding 23-6 lead and thoughts of bonus points were in all our minds.
The game entered a frenetic period with Tigers searching too hard for the next score. They lost some shape and Gloucester began to prosper in the less structured game. Tigers discipline slipped a little as chances weren’t capitalised on and they began to retreat into a more negative mindset with a bout of the sort of kick-tennis that presently blights the game.
I know I sound like a broken record (for those of you who remember records) but I don’t mind kicking – in fact done well – pinning back opponents with maddeningly accurate, angled kicks in behind them, pulling their back three around their 22 – it’s a thing of beauty! But pumping the ball aimlessly up the park in the hope that your opponents will foul it up ain’t! If you are going to kick it – kick it well. Use the touchlines!
I hate to admit there is anything that we can learn from the round-ball code but I understand that there was once a famous soccer manager whose axiom went along the lines that you only get one ball – don’t give it away.
You know – can someone explain to me why such a fine striker of the ball as Toby Flood can’t kick angles to the corners? He should be able to land the ball on a six-pence!
It was as if, having struggled to make their supremacy tell after Geordan’s try had threatened to open the flood-gates, Tigers went into a containment pattern with 20 minutes to go.
Gloucester were understandably delighted and they showed an admirable willingness to run back some of the gifted possession they received from Leicester boots. Rather like Italy they put men behind the ball and chanced their arm. Unlike Italy they had the acumen and penetration to make something of it. And it was that man Morgan again who was the catalyst. Running from deep and under pressure in his 22 he found space and support in the midfield. The ball went through numerous hands and was recycled quickly as Tigers retreated until finally Johnny May was on hand to finish (albeit that replays suggest that the finish may not have been applied in truth) to cap a good day for the young centre.
It was no more than either side deserved and Glaws tried to maintain their momentum continuing to strive for that sort of play. Unfortunately their skills perhaps were not the match of their ambition and the score seemed to rouse the home team again.
The forwards asserted themselves anew and secured further penalty chances. Whilst the first were kicked to the corner attempting to push for the third try brave Gloucester defence kept them out and finally Flood lined up his 6th kick of the day. Given his current run of form from the tee and a current kicking streak of 12 successful kicks he was not about to miss taking Tigers beyond two scores clear going into the final 5 minutes.
It was as if the home team had woken up and the last 5 minutes was marked by them striving again for the third and fourth tries. With a couple of minutes left on the clock it was that man Youngs again with another of his searing half-back darts from the base of the scrum that gave them hope of the bonus. Taking the ball on an arc from the base he spotted the gap between outside half and centre and he went for it. With the faintest of shimmies he held the inside man and had the pace and power to shake off the despairing tackle to scorch past Morgan and score under the posts.
Flood drop-goaled the conversion but with only 2 minutes to go there was little hope for more and the game ended lamely in a sequence of errors from both sides on half-way with Gloucester finally kicking the ball dead to end the game.
It wasn’t a classic but there was plenty that was good in the game from both sides. In Morgan Gloucester have a gem – and since his England ambitions appear to be on hold they should get good value from him – as long as he stays fit. In Robinson they have one of the most under-rated 10’s in Britain and whose kicking out of hand was almost exemplary. But their forwards let them down. In the loose Delve and Narraway again disappointed. Lateral and lightweight I’ve rarely been impressed either and Saturday was no different. Brett Deacon’s arrival may well help them no doubt but as long as their tight five underperforms they will struggle. Still when they tried to play they were threatening and their cause is hardly helped with the well reported injury problems of James Simpson-Daniel and Mike Tindall. However it still remains a mystery to me to see their persistence with Vainikolo whose contribution was minimal and whose desperate lack of pace and craft make his former, controversial elevation to the England team seem the decision of a lunatic.
For Tigers Geordan looked a cut above all around him and will play for Ireland next week if there is any justice. Youngs takes strides with every game. He is threatening and he has learned to discipline himself. His service and his kicking game are much improved and he now has the confidence to boss his forwards and the physicality to mix it. A white shirt awaits this summer we imagine. Again the Tigers forward pack bullied an opposing 8, if not into submission then into a state of ineffectuality. Parling, Crane and Ayerza were imperious and Castro showed a welcome return to form. Scotland beware – they say form is temporary but class permanent. Toby Flood gave us something of a curate’s egg – he carried well, his distribution is of the highest order and his willingness to look for the off-load is a delight but some of his decision making remains debateable and his kicking from hand is more often mis-judged than not. Tony Allen looks our best centre at present and must now be hoping again to attract the eyes of he national selectors. One wonders whether Danny Hipkiss may have gone from an England starter to club squad man in 4 months. Scott Hamilton looks tired and had a game that he may wish to put behind him. Hopefully it was a temporary glitch because in losing Lote Tuqiri to the blandishments of the Aussie sunshine and a generous contract to play Rugby League we will be shorn of the sort of quality it is hard to replace. He was excellent yet again on Saturday and will be a loss to us and to our sport.
A worthy mention should go to Wayne Barnes. I think we have now established that the break-down under current laws is un-refereeable but Mr Barnes did as good a job as any I’ve seen lately – albeit largely by not interfering excessively. His more laissez-faire approach allowed an open game. He is an occasionally maligned official but he was largely excellent on Saturday. More of the same please.
It was good to be back at Welford Road for the real business of the rugby season after the fripperies of the previous weeks’ Invitational Games. It was good to see old rivals back in town – in form and threatening an upset – and it was good to despatch them.
9 more times we have to go to the well this term. I’m quietly confident.
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Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 16:37
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Re: Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: Stopsy (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 16:52
Praise for the Ref - what have you done with the real RichW? You alien fiend.
Great write up Rich, for which, my thanks.
Great write up Rich, for which, my thanks.
Re: Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: Downsey (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 19:32
Thanks Rich - although it took longer to read than the game lasted!!
And I echo Stopsys comment about the ref - tell Andrea to dial 999
-----------------------------------
Lest we forget
And I echo Stopsys comment about the ref - tell Andrea to dial 999
-----------------------------------
Lest we forget
Re: Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 19:48
Thanks Rich, it was like being there without the moaning !!
Re: Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: ra (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 19:53
great report Rich.
Re: Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: GoFasterStripes2 (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 20:51
Thanks, Rich. Totally agree with your view on Vainikolo's selection for England.
Re: Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: Yorkie (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 21:30
Wow. The only thing missing is the size of boot worn by each player!!
Re: Geordan’s back and all’s well with the world!
Posted by: Rich W (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 21:31
It was going to be a his and hers report but Lewis wasn't playing so Andrea left me to it...
..........................................................................
For the avoidance of all doubt please note that the views expressed above are the opinions of the author. I do not make any claim as to their veracity beyond that I believe them to be true. I do not believe that they take precedence over anyone else’s but I maintain my right to question and to refute any opinion expressed on here which runs contrary to mine. Please note that I expect nothing else in return. Please do not, however, be offended should I express doubt as to the accuracy or value of any contribution made by another poster.
Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
..........................................................................
For the avoidance of all doubt please note that the views expressed above are the opinions of the author. I do not make any claim as to their veracity beyond that I believe them to be true. I do not believe that they take precedence over anyone else’s but I maintain my right to question and to refute any opinion expressed on here which runs contrary to mine. Please note that I expect nothing else in return. Please do not, however, be offended should I express doubt as to the accuracy or value of any contribution made by another poster.
Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
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