Stockers reports from Welford Road, 25 Sep 2004.

By Stockers
September 26 2004

Rampant Tigers prevent three in a row victory at Welford Road for sorry Saints who have now won two and lost two in the Premiership. Back to the drawing board?

Leicester Tigers defeated a lacklustre and sloppy Northampton Saints team with a dominant and intelligent performance in front of a capacity home crowd yesterday. Although tigers had been sounding the warning bells during the week after fly half Andy Goode’s withdrawal through injury and his replacement with a 19 year old novice, you couldn’t see the join, as they say, with Austin Healey covering the first receiver position when needed.

 

The warning bells had also sounded one week before for Saints when being taken apart up front by Gloucester’s pack and this week was no exception. The summer signings of forward heavyweights by Saints seem to have made no difference to their ability to take on the stronger packs in English rugby and Saints were taught a lesson on srummaging by the Tigers front five. Steve Thompson seemed to end most scrums standing up. At least he got a good view of the Tigers attack formation at work!

 

Saints line out improved over last week however, although whatever ball Tigers failed to win in the air, they chased and harried after as soon as it left the line out, spoiling clean possession and attacking Saints moves with determination and quick witted defence.

 

Tigers won this match by 4 tries to one and the Saints consolation score from Wylie Human late in the second half was well taken by the replacement winger who at least looked a s though he wanted to be there, unlike his team mate on the other wing. Ben Cohen had one of those days when nothing went right and he dropped nearly every catch sent his way by Tigers kickers. As against Gloucester, he failed to stop a try in his corner this week by Healey and Ben will be taking a long look in the mirror this morning after another performance well below the level he knows he can attain.

 

It wouldn’t be an East Midlands derby match without some differences of opinion up front and, in a Saints line out on 8 minutes, none other than Martin Johnson was wading in to the maul with arms flailing as he wrestled for possession. He always seems surprised when an opposing forward takes exception to an elbow in the head and Damien Browne decided to dispense the justice of the jungle. Mr Spreadbury thought this was all very silly and issued yellow cards to both players but significantly the penalty went to Saints.

 

Another yellow card went to replacement Henry Tuilagi who apparently dropped both knees onto Corne Krige late in the second half but by then the game was out of Saints control and the extra man advantage was irrelevant.

 

Apart from Tigers front five, a strong performance came from Harry Ellis who scored one excellent close range try after a prolonged siege by his pack on the Saints try line and made another in the corner for Healey ( yes, the one Ben should have stopped!)

 

Also young Ross Broadfoot ( or should that be Broadshoulders) did what was needed and took his goal kicks with confidence. Admittedly, he was given plenty of time to play his own game, as Saints bizarrely decided not to try to put any pressure on him until late in the second half. Brett Deacon at blindside flanker also had a good game and kept the Saints back row contained.

 

Tigers other scorers were Neil Back who emerged from the bottom of a driving maul with the credit and Seru Rabeni who finished a Tigers attack by taking the ball at speed in midfield and running straight to claim the try.

 

For Saints, praise as ever goes to Bruce Reihana who won also won  the “Best Tackle of the Match” award, Johnny Howard who at least had a go in the second half, and the Saints back row for some huge tackles to try to contain the damage being inflicted by Tigers.

 

Disappointment two weeks running then for Saints and the early season promise has now been well and truly deflated by two of the strongest sides in England.  There is much work for the coaches to do in all departments of the squad before we entertain Wasps at home next Saturday, otherwise a mid table finish to the season and possible non qualification for the Heineken Cup are the expectations based on current form.