Leicester vs Sale preview

Meow!
By Glossopshark
October 2 2003

After a somewhat disappointing opening three games, what better way to kick start our season than beating a rapidly improving Tigger’s at Welford Road?

Our Record against them in the last few years has away is nothing to write home about and you always get the feeling with Leicester that when they are missing the superstars, there are a whole clutch of youngster, bursting to kick the old guard out.

Along with these young players, Leicester have made some very good close season signings such as Ramiro Pez, Dan Lyle, Darren Morris, Julian White and most interesting of all, former All Black, Daryl Gibson.

So how have the Tigger’s fared so far? Well, according to many Leicester fans, the new players have not quite gelled yet and the youngsters showing touches of inexperience, so they are not yet playing anywhere near their full potential, which sound not unlike our start. However, that is where the common threads of the respective campaigns end, as Leicester have made a solid start with 2 wins and a draw from their first 3 and are beginning to look like quite a decent side.

Youngsters such as Harry Ellis, Louis Deacon and Will Skinner are looking like they might be the genuine article, and with the influence of Josh Kronfeld and Graham Rowntree to support them, they may just be in for a decent ‘World Cup’ campaign. If Tim Stimpson can kick his goals and a backline including Austin Healey, Ollie Smith and Mr Tuilagi, can put some movement together, they are going to be a handful for any team, during or after the WC.

As for Sale, well, the time has now come for the boys to prove that the last 2 seasons have not been a rather long flash in the pan, but a long term improvement, and that the last 7 or 8 competitive games has been a mere (albeit, long) blip.

There have been a few plus points for Sale. Andrew Sheridan has made an impact (ask the Saints Pack!) and looks like the real deal, as did Matt Cairns at times. Whilst CJ has been a bit quiet, his partner in crime, Schoey, seems to have taken on his mantle of ball-carrying 2nd row, although, in slightly different style.

In the backs, Stan has already shown that when given the ball he is easily the best finisher in the premiership, and Vorgan has looked lively, if occasionally erratic. We certainly seem to be missing Dan the Man in the centre, as he gives us such presence in the midfield and a real target man for the forwards.

But it has been at halfback where we seem to be struggling. The loss of both Charlie and Basil is bad enough, but then our replacement 10, pics up an injury and doesn’t seem to have yet shaken it off. This has put extra pressure on young Wiggy, and this has shown.

If the halfbacks can convert some of the sale ball into chances for Stan and Frank, then tries are a definite. However, whether we can do this and improve our leaky defence is yet to be seen. Saturday’s game has now taken on even bigger significance

Incidentally, our league record in past 3 seasons against Leicester is:

Home – Played 3, Won 3, Lost 0

Away – Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1

So we will need to reverse the trend to get anything out of this game!

Glossopshark Prediction: Leicester to sneak it by less than 8

SAYUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!