By ChrisC
September 22 2010

So now it's Backy's Leeds who look to further injure the wounded Tigers. I have to confess that I'm getting bored with watching Leagunion, we're only three weeks into the season and the bland diet being served up as a consequence of the IRB's meddling with the interpretation of the laws is starting to pall already.

There are the first signs that my disquiet and dissatisfaction is spreading with previous apostles of the new religion starting to realise that the lack of shade, intelligence and drama inherent in the union code has been lost in this the bright new World of Leagunion which, when the mud arrives, will see teams just retain the ball and it will be dire, making us long for the aerial kicking tennis of last year . 

It’s  all about possession now with the minimum of competition for the ball at the breakdown and to which end the attacking teams are flopping all over the place sealing off the ball, almost always without sanction, yet only last season sealing off was the most heinous of crimes at the breakdown, now referees are so hamstrung and focussed on penalising the defenders this offence is common place, just like feeding at the scrum, where the ball is more often than not placed at the feet of the second row and throw ins to the line out being squint but again with no sanction.

The coaches are speaking out against Leagunion, many of the players don’t like it, the rump of the traditional paying public who are not southern hemisphere lumpenkinde don’t like it, witness the declining attendances at the best time of the season with warm days, firm pitches and the dawn of a new season, even the pundits are starting to realise that all’s not well after this latest attempt at genetic engineering of the sport to suit the intellectually challenged.  Surely those poor folks can watch the real rugby league or soccer if they need something simple to comprehend, just as do the administrators of the sport in search of that impossible goal – the perfect game – it don’t exist but this latest incarnation is awful, just awful.

Onward though.

Against a distinctly average Wasps our heroes managed to concede 19 unanswered points after the half time break, when they had led by 12 points, to end 7 points adrift.

Setting aside the genius of tactical kicking to Tom Varndell, who has his faults but he can catch and run very fast if there’s nobody about to tackle him.

 Tigers just joined in the general melee and when in the second half the Wasps coaching staff had the sense to get Walder to kick behind Tigers they just obliged by trying to run the ball back and then give it to the other side through incompetence or falling foul of Mr Barnes who seems to have let the plaudits, obtained while on his sojourn to the basketball competition down under, go to his head, these Foresters are simple souls and easily get their heads turned.  He had no control of the set piece at all, penalising at random and then he played an outrageous advantage to Wasps when they messed up a clear scoring chance by Rees dropping the ball when in the act of grounding – why bother Mr Barnes , just give them the points and move on if this was not an advantage.

Up at Headingly just 4774 souls turned out to watch Leeds play the “Special Ones” from Vicarage Road and they had to see the home side lose again to Saracens 14 – 26 for whom Schalk Brits and David Strettle scored the tries with Hougaard contributing the other 16 points.

Leeds have not yet won a match this season in spite of two of those being at home, in fact the closest they came was by losing by a single point at Kingsholm.

So Andy Key and Neil Back have their hands full.

I’ve only seen highlights of the Leeds matches but it seems that with the sparkle of Exeter the Leeds side may already be on another survival mission.

In the pack, Leeds look to have a good front row with Mike Macdonald, the 58 time capped American Eagle, alongside World Cup winner Steve Thompson and Juan Gomez who has been capped for Argentina on 4 occasions.  So on paper that’s an experienced front row that theoretically should give the Tigers trio a run for their money, so it is to be hoped that Ayerza has recovered from his knock, although it may be that Stankovitch  will be rotated and will start with Cole, in which case little will lost in the scrummaging department but something in go forward in loose play, especially if Andy Titterell  comes off the bench for the visitors.

In the second row our very own Marco Wentzl, who was the cornerstone of Leeds’ successful 2009/10 season and who was partnered by Tom Denton, another product of the Leeds Academy but on Saturday I wouldn’t be surprised to see the more experienced Kiwi  Sean Hohneck start and bring in his premiership experience with that gained by representing the New Zealand Maoris. In Wentzel Leeds has a player who knows Tigers’ system and my guess is that Neil Back will firmly target the Tigers’ lineout and give it a sterner test than did Wasps.  Tom Croft’s return has vastly improved Tigers’ options but as he takes almost every Tigers’ throw  he’ll be a target to stop – easier said than done but I bet that’ll be the plan.

I thought Ed Slater gave a good account of himself against Tigers and I’d be surprised to see him lose his place, expecting him to start with George Skivington who, by now, I’m wanting to be showing his class.

On paper therefore the front five looks a good contest however in the Leeds’ players minds will be the push over try they conceded to Sarries last week who are not the strongest scrummaging side and I think Tigers will get them on the back foot.

In the back row academy boy Kearnan Myall started at blindside against Sarries although he is perhaps better known as a lock and gave way to Welsh international Rhys Oakley on the hour mark, Oakley can play anywhere in the back row and takes the ball up strongly so I’d expect him to bring his international experience to the party and join one of the great hopes for England, Hendre Fourie, who’s an openside in the Lewis Moody mould and goes to those dark places of which sensible folks steer clear.  The South African is a player who’s impressed me greatly, a true #7, great over the ball and in loose play but is there a place for such players in Leagunion where 50/50 competition at the breakdown is verboten?

Recruited in the close season from Bath Daniel Browne is another Kiwi and another big ball carrier in which, if my guess is right, a back row combination in the Backy style.

They will face Tigers’ Tom Croft, the British Lion making an enormous difference in the line out and open play since he returned from injury and seen by some as the physical template for a Leagunion player. He’ll doubtless be joined by Thomas Waldrom who butchered at least two good try scoring chances against Wasps but I have to say in his defence that he lacked support players when he made his numerous line breaks.  I know it’s early days but Waldrom was known for and indeed signed for this very attribute so maybe his colleagues need to get on the same page.  At openside presumably Ben Woods will play which at least gives the back row the settled look so important to a breakaway unit.

Again on paper the likely Leeds’ breakaway trio look likely to give the Tigers a good contest and to me at least on current form here too looks even.

All in all then I feel the Tigers’ pack will get an advantage in the set pieces assuming Chris White permits such a thing but if Ayerza and Castro don’t start then the visitors may be the more dynamic in the loose.

As I write this Staunton is thought to be fit to play on Saturday and maybe his injury that day affected his usuaI kicking form and I also sense that he’s standing flatter.  I really don’t understand why this player is so maligned by some as he has done a good job for Tigers during Flood’s frequent absences. The likely Leeds’ duo is of South African Scott Mathie and the impressive Chris Lewis-Pratt, who joined from Saints for 2010/11, and with 19 points already this season has been the only reliable source of points for the Yorkshire team.

Billy Twelevetrees did quite well at inside centre before being press ganged into fly half although his spacial awareness gives me palpitations at times so I’d like to see him get more game time from the bench as for me, Matt Smith is a shoo in at 12 if Dan Hipkiss is fit but Tony Allen isn’t.

 Tigers will , in all probability, line up against ex League player Scott Barrow who came from St Helen’s by way of Glasgow and looks to be very strong defensively and able to carry the ball up and I suspect he may team up with Huddersfield born Luther Burrell who scored a try at Kingsholm.  This is a key area for Leeds too as they are sorely missing the defensive prowess and gain line crossing talents of Seru Rabeni.  I think that the Tigers’ pair may have the edge.

Out wide Scott Hamilton had a rare less than perfect day on Saturday but he will surely and deservedly keep his place but on the other wing I’d drop Alex Tuilagi to the bench at best and give Lee Robinson his opportunity.  The Samoan power house is looking off his game to me and Robinson should get his chance.

The Leeds’ wide men will probably include ex Rotherham player Lee Blackett who is a prolific try scorer and runs lovely support lines, he’ll possibly be paired with either new recruit, Fijian Semi Tadulala, signed from Gloucester for the new season, or more likely the experienced Samoan international  Henry Fa’afili, in either case the Leeds’ wingers could be a handful – if they get the ball of course.

At full back expect another new signing to continue for Leeds, a Mr Michael Stephenson, late of Bath and England and if he’s fit then there’s no reason why Geordan Murphy shouldn’t start but I’d like to see Agulla given some game time from the bench.

I am forecasting Tigers to prevail but knowing how crafty Backy is I hope we’re checking they don’t send down the Rhinos’ team as ringers – as they can actually play League!

No Ringers Please Mr Back

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 22/09/2010 21:24

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
22/09/2010 21:24

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Tigergeezer
22/09/2010 21:48

Good preview. Lined up row by row like that, you realise Leeds have a got a decent line-up and absolutely not to be taken lightly. I hope Tigers give this the whole shebang, kitchen sink and all. I read that Lewis-Pratt may be broked as well, which might shift the balance a bit if true.

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Johns
22/09/2010 21:49

Thanks Chris, a brilliant start and the rest is very good as well.

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Tiggs
22/09/2010 22:27

If Leeds have no fit fly-halves, and Staunton isn't fit, it could be fun !

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Duncan Keene
22/09/2010 23:43

The last line of the article was a good sign off!

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Stopsy
23/09/2010 07:57

Thanks again Chris

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Tukey
23/09/2010 08:39

Good preview. Just like to point out that the Rhinos have their own injury worries going into the Challenge Cup so they won't be coming to Welford Road.....mores the pity.

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

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Mark_C
23/09/2010 09:37

Good One!

Miserati - and Proud to be!

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SSh-yke
23/09/2010 10:34

Very comprehensive and balanced review. Thanks. See you all Saturday for what is shaping up to be a very competitive game.

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