Leicester Tigers
Tigers v Saints AP Final Match Preview
By ChrisC
May 20 2013
Encore! They were enormous and we were getting closer and closer to them as we made our way forward. I didn’t know theatre speakers could be that big but there they were flanking the stage at the Dominion in London’s Tottenham Court Road like a pair of bouncers, where we’d arrived to see “We Will Rock You” the Ben Elton contrivance using the music of Queen.
We took our seats, which were barely ten feet from the mammoth speakers, and the opening music began. It felt as if I was being lifted out of my seat by the waves of sound and I wondered what would give first; bladder, bowels or brain. Thankfully all remained under control but my auditory senses were soon blown.
After endless pummelling the show’s conclusion eventually arrived. I hadn’t really enjoyed the show and neither had my friend who mouthed the magic word; “pub” over the heads of our respective spouses who had found the show entertaining. We started to rise from our seats and were in that transitory stage of crouch (no pause or engage/set though) and the music started again – I caught my friend’s eye and grimaced; “bloody encore” and off we went again taking the David Haye-like blows of sound until it was over once and for all.
It was an unwelcome addition to proceedings so with relief we staggered out into the cool summer evening reeling from the assault and headed for the nearest bar where we found that we were all deaf (although mercifully temporarily so) and were bellowing our order at the bemused bar maid.
Some who read my mutterings will perhaps be pleased to see this end of season encore others will doubtless feel as we did that summer’s evening.
It’s no secret to those who read my stuff that I am not a fan of the end of season knock out cup which is itself a prolonged end of season encore in which Tigers always participate. I have only provided my physical presence to one such match and that was the final that marked the retirement of Martin Johnson and Neil Back and we know how that ended!
This year’s encore opened with the arrival at Welford Road of last year’s victors; Harlequins who stood toe to toe with the perennial participants as they slogged it out for the first forty minutes only to find themselves behind at the break. In the second half Tigers just blew Quins out of the almost full stadium. It was proper rugby played in the right spirit and mercifully free of gimmicks and tomfoolery.
The following day Northampton Saints produced a high intensity first half similarly blowing the unfocussed Saracens off their plastic pitch. Where Saints had that hard edge about them the hosts seemed distracted. Maybe it’s all the “innovations” at Allianz Park that did it. Slogans, PA systems blasting out ersatz club songs, gatherings, fat ladies singing, rent-a-crowd, dancing girls, WAGs and players’ children lining the pitch for the grand entrance of the Saracens’ players who seemed to think it was just a royal procession to Twickenham with them already cast as conquering heroes.
In the end for Saracens, as for Quins twenty-four hours earlier who came to Welford Road with a good, albeit short term, track record against Tigers, it went horribly wrong.
It is ironic that the “Champions of England” will be the club that were either second or fourth best over the league season. Notwithstanding the nonsensical nature of the whole edifice what’s for certain is that the tawdry pot will be coming to the East Midlands, the home of rugby.
The match at Twickenham will be a valedictory occasion for three giants of the scrum as Tigers’ beloved Martin Castrogiovanni makes his final appearance in a Tigers’ shirt while in the opposition pack Brian Mujati and Soane Tonga’uiha take their leave in pursuit of the Euro in France . As I write Castrogiovanni’s future looks less settled in what seems a bizarre set of circumstances which currently finds him without a club for next season and, as it stands, makes his objective in leaving Tigers “to play more rugby” a bit tricky to achieve . There are to be no further encores from the trio, these will be their final appearances for their respective clubs.
Unlike Tonga’uiha and Springbok Mujati the Italian prop is probably destined to mark his departure with a cameo later on as Dan Cole, surely the best tight-head around with his full range of skills, will be starting for Tigers and opposing the big Tongan who has been a controversial figure for many outside the confines of Franklins Gardens.
It remains to be seen if Messrs Barnes, Garner and Doyle demand he binds correctly, pushes straight and doesn’t stand up to engage in his preferred chest to chest pushing contest with the opposition tight-head. With the taller south sea island giant weighing in at 147kgs compared to Cole’s relatively slight 115kgs it would be a contest the British Lion would be hard pressed to win.
Tonga’uiha does not favour a low scrummage so it’s this style Cole must impose if he’s to prosper and it would be useful if match referee Wayne Barnes could spot Saints engaging early in a way that J P Doyle did not for much of the time at Barnet.
Were the same packs to be deployed at Twickenham as were in the previous round of matches Northampton would enjoy a 69kgs advantage, so Tigers will need to be at their very best and get the ball moving in a way that Saracens failed to do.
On the other side there is a close physical match between Mujati and Samoan international Mulipola but Mujati will be pleased not to see Ayerza trotting onto the pitch. It is though on the Tigers’ tight-head side that the front row battle will be won or lost. Always assuming that Mr Barnes permits meaningful scrummaging to take place!
Dylan Hartley had a first class match against Saracens as did Tom Youngs against Quins and the rivals for the England #2 shirt and now that of the British Lions will be facing each other again come Saturday in a contest designed to stake their claims. It will be a feisty confrontation and Saints’ supporters will hope that their man is not so fuelled with adrenalin that his recently improved discipline and line out work does not desert him.
It’s hard to see why Jim Mallinder, or Richard Cockerill for that matter, would make changes, save for any occasioned by injury, to the back five in their respective packs. Although the Tigers’ coaches may feel disposed to deploy the heavier Ed Slater, if he’s fit, as the additional 19kgs he would bring to scrum time could be invaluable and nothing would be sacrificed in the line out or open play. Kitchener has played splendidly but the heavy horse will be needed against the Saints’ gargantuan pack.
The Saints’ breakaway forwards are no less a heavyweight prospect. While there’s little to choose between the likely respective flankers at #8 the giant American Samu Manoa weighs in at a massive 122 kgs compared to the increasingly all court player that is Jordan Crane, who’s a positively sylphlike 103kgs.
Callum Clark went off injured at Allianz Park to be replaced by Phil Dowson who did a magnificent job during his vignette as the self styled Saracens’ “Wolf Pack” were subjugated to the status of Wolf Cubs – except of course that they weren’t prepared as Baden-Powell instructed.
By then Lawes had also been crocked and replaced by Gerrie Van Velze with that man Manoa moving to lock. Saints lost little from the reshuffle with the South African, who’s proven to be an excellent signing with his pace and tackling both note worthy, scampering down the Saracens’ blind side for an unopposed try.
The Saints bristled with aggression and intent throughout and wiped the floor with Saracens at the breakdown in the first half much as did Tigers Quins in the second period at Welford Road the day before.
It will of course depend on the interpretation of Mr Barnes but as he appears to not be a great fan of heavily contested breakdowns, seemingly having a mission to turn the senior code into “Leagueunion”, the ball and players will not need to tarry around the tackle area.
I don’t see the impressive Tom Wood as a traditional open-side in the mould of the outstanding Julian Salvi but more the modern utility back row player now so popular. I can therefore see Salvi again causing problems for Saints at the breakdown. The Aussie will though need copious support from his forward colleagues if Lawes and Manoa are to be prevented from unceremoniously clearing him out of the rucks and here again Slater’s presence could be useful.
Lawes and Manoa are veritable tackling machines but first they’ll need to catch Tom Croft who scored his third consecutive try in as many games when he sprinted down the wing after taking a pin point pass from Anthony Allen.
Tigers cannot afford to lose the contact area as they did in the first half against Quins although Saints’ own first half prowess dwindled slightly after half time against Saracens as did that of Quins to a greater degree against Tigers.
Saints will once again look to burst through the central defence behind the breakdown and Tigers will be looking to do the same although probably moving the ball away from contact with more alacrity than their opponents who will be looking to Manoa and Lawes to do the hard carrying into the Tigers’ midfield.
Ben Youngs settled matters of scrum half pecking order with Danny Care last Saturday in spite of his pack not having things all their own way and there’ll be fireworks between him the arm waving, overly vociferous Dickson who was razor sharp in north London, his spotting of Saracens’ uncharacteristic failure to protect their blindside being pounced upon for his side’s final try particularly good. All he needs to do now is shut up and cut out the histrionics!
I fancy both scrum halves will need to be at their very best to prevail in the face of a close contest up front and their box kicking will need to have laser guided accuracy.
Both Stephen Myler and Toby Flood struggled with their kicking early on in their respective matches against Saracens and Quins but both settled well and became increasing influential as the matches wore on. Myler’s defensive work has really improved of late and he is no more the “revolving door” of the past although in terms of taking the ball to the gain line and distribution the erstwhile first choice England fly-half has the edge.
Once Charlie Hodgson limped off any pretence of creativity from Saracens disappeared with the arrival of the petulant and over hyped Farrell who asked few questions of Saints’ defence.
Flood will be far more demanding and the ball should not be mindlessly kicked away as Tigers prefer to keep the ball in hand these days, nor will Flood go hunting for a fight at every opportunity. He’ll be focussed as always but have to be on top form and get his backs moving as it’s out wide I sense the best rewards will be found. From the first whistle his aplomb and quietly assured captaincy skills will be tested to the full.
It was a sensible call by Jim Mallinder to deploy Luther Burrell, who joined Saints from Sale where he had a very unhappy season making just two Premiership starts to add to one as a replacement.
Hodgson was his target and must have felt as if he had a bulls-eye on his chest. Sure enough he didn’t last long. There’s not much subtlety about the 102kgs, 1m 85cm Burrell who will be remembered for his time in the struggling, relegated Leeds’ side of Stuart Lancaster but he knows the way to the try line having scored eight tries in all competitions where he’s made nineteen appearances.
For all that though it must be tempting for Mallinder to use the experience of the soon to depart Tom May to go around rather than through the Tigers’ defence, as just bashing away at Flood and Allen is likely to bring scant return. As indeed may have been the case had Barritt not be absent from the Saracens’ defence last time it faced Saints. May’s more varied game with hand and boot could be beneficial in trying to unlock the Tigers’ redoubtable defence that has leaked just twenty-nine Premiership tries in the league. This and their return to the top of the try scoring stats where they scored just one more than Saints during the league season but conceded seven fewer will doubtless give the Saints’ coaches food for thought.
Allen had another fine outing against Quins, not only marshalling the Tigers’ defence in his usual peerless manner but making perfectly weighted and directed passes for the tries from Croft and Tait and Saints will be aware of his ability to break the gain line bringing Manu Tuilagi into action.
Last time out Saints were denied the services of Samoan international George Pisi who’s replacement; Kiwi James Watson, played really well using his kicking skills to great effect in pinning back Saracens. His Premiership starts in his debut season with Saints have been on the wing or at full back but he’s the ultimate utility back having played in all outside back positions during his career as well as at fly half.
If he’s fit though I’d expect George Pisi to be back in the #13 shirt to try and shackle Tuilagi although it didn’t go too well for him in that department last time they met and Watson does provide a great kicking option.
Out wide young Jamie Elliott has enjoyed a fine break-through season now that Chris Ashton is history. The Bedford born twenty year old has slotted ten Premiership tries from his sixteen appearances this term. He has that knack of popping up in just the right place at the right time as is the wont of all high class wingers and Tigers will need to prevent him being brought into action – although that’s easier said than done as he goes looking for work.
On the other flank Ken Pisi plays a more of a supporting role, the Samoan international having managed just three tries from eighteen Premiership appearances this term.
Ben Foden still seems to be searching for his form and in his quest is carrying the ball just that bit too often and that bit too far with turnovers the inevitable consequence when he becomes isolated. He’s a prodigious talent and his touch will return – Tigers will just hope it’s not on 25th May!
Niall Morris looks to have been another good spot from the Emerald Isle by Tigers and the departing Matt O’Connor has done a fine job in developing the ex Leinster winger. It’s to be hoped that now O’Connor is himself bound for Leinster Morris is not top of his shopping list, although I wouldn’t count on it.
Morris has joined with Tait in a fine collective defensive effort and it was good to see them also linking in attack for Tait’s well taken try against Quins. When Morris is in tandem with him Tait looks the picture of confidence and the defensive collegiate, so stupidly abandoned against Bath in a loss that probably cost Tigers top spot in the league, has borne real fruit as the season has worn on. The ex Newcastle, Sale, England and international Sevens player is giving his own encore to a career that looked to be foundering before his surprise signing by Tigers, who’ve patiently brought him back to fitness, the talented player now in the payback business.
Richard Cockerill has a conundrum when it comes to the other wing though. If fit does he go back to Adam Thompstone who’s had a fine season, scoring eight tries from his twenty-one appearances in Tigers’ colours or does the much improved Fijian international Goneva get the starting spot after his good display against Quins both in defence and attack where he scored a beautifully balanced and pivotal try?
Tough one. Personally I’d start with Thompstone and have Goneva on the bench covering wing and centre where he’s played both at club and international level as he’d be devastating later on in the wide open spaces of Twickenham against a Saints’ defence that can tire and lose focus.
Happily it’s not my decision.
That’s it then – no further encores from me (enough of the jeering at the back and cries of “thank goodness for that”) I’m taking my final bow and leaving the Previewer’s stage for another season.
I hope you all have a great summer.
Now all we need is for Tigers to get us off to the perfect start which I think they may just do.
But whatever the result: Rugby’s coming home!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:06:01:10:01:03 by Tiggs.
Look forward to seeing you all Sat'dy.
Just not too far up the M1, hopefully.
R.
Missing you already.....
One point on the article, I think it would be harsh on Smith to be dropped for the final when he's not let us down all season. I think the decision between Thompstone and Goneva or Goneva and Smith will depend on the weather. Dry and I think Goneva will be in the 23. Wet and Smith will be on the bench. As you say, happily it's not my decision either.
I agree wholeheartedly with the above comments and with the praise for all your previous reviews. They are the best posts on this site in my opinion, amongst many fine posts. I love your meanderings at the start of the reviews, but that could be because we are obviously of similar vintage.
Have a good summer and roll on your next review.
Now let's hope your politely worded prediction is correct!!
The good news is that in about 4 weeks the nights start to draw in again - which can only mean your next preview isn't that far away !
I hope you have a great summer as well.
Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to your musings in September.
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
Have a nice summer.
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