Match Preview: Leeds Tykes v London Irish
By apb on 5/2/2004
February 5 2004
So, another Friday night game (not my favourite time for a game, but if it brings in the crowds, who am I to argue?), and another long journey for a southern club to travel on a work day. Are we to have a dazzling display under the floodlights, or a dark, commitment-free night?
General Observations on Contrasting League Fortunes
London Irish have mildly surprised the cognescenti this year. Last year's "curates egg" performance saw them just avoiding relegation (they were in the mix right up until the last two weeks), but on occasions putting in some gutsy and determined performances to come out with wins. This year, however, they're riding high at the opposite end of the table, and look like they could make Heineken Cup qualification this year. Being only one of two clubs not to lose any players to the World Cup earlier in the season may have played its part, but the other club in that position - Rotherham Titans - certainly didn't get any favours from that direction, so international absences, or the lack of them, can only be attributed so much.
The fact of the matter is, London Irish are just plain better this year. Without a humungous change in squad, coaching staff or tactics, the Exiles have learned from last season and improved upon it, to the point where people are beginning to sit up and take notice of where they are.
Leeds Tykes, however, have done almost exactly the opposite. A large turnover of players (many of the leavers seem to be resurfacing at Sale at the moment!), and a huge change in style have brought them.... well, tenth at the moment, and that position would be more uncomfortable were it not for the aforementioned Titans propping the table up.
The influx of many new and talented backs and an all-new back row meant that the early season couldn't come fast enough for yours truly. An excellent line-up, and, on paper, possibly a championship challenging team.
But of course, the old maxim applies: Rugby is played on grass not paper, and the team have singularly lacked the all-round abilities that put points on the board. We have seen glimmers of it; the come-back in the first match of the season that won a try-scoring bonus point against Bath was a great second-half performance. An immense game just before Christmas to take the points against Gloucester. An honourable but deserved loss at home to Toulouse in the Heineken Cup showed that somewhere in there there is a team that can play 20-30 minutes of passion-filled, high-calibre, high-quality rugby. Its just a shame the game goes on for another 50-60 minutes!
So what Leeds will need to do now is to demonstrate that the passion, commitment, the drive, and most of all, the skills and execution are there for eighty plus minutes of the match. Only then will they be able to come away from the Headingley turf with their heads held high. And if they do that, they will surely win.
And what of the Thames Valley Irish? Well, I can't say I've studied them closely, but they have had a couple of weeks break after dropping out of the Parker Pen, and the fact that they are the very team that allowed Rotherham their first (and so far only) point in the ZP this season, there is a glimmer of hope for the Tykes to take a home win. I'll stick my neck out and go for a morale boosting, bonus point win for the Blue and Ambers.
Leeds Team for Friday
Anyway, enough of this generalisation, lets get down to some hard, cold analysis. The team that takes to the field against Irish on Friday is perhaps, with the exception of Rees - still out injured, the strongest they could possibly field. Matt Cardey is retained at full-back, and despite what a number of fans on this site say, I think he's OK. He hasn't proved to be brilliant yet, but he's not a bad player. A good strong three-quarter line, with Scarbrough and Albanese surrounding the hard yards Snyman and the tricky Christophers outside him, and Gordon Ross retains the 10 shirt again. Goggsy must be in a real mood after losing out on selection for the Scotland team against Wales on Saturday week, so he'll have something to prove. Alan Dickens gets a start again at scrum half.
A front row of Shelley, Regan and Kerr picks itself, likewise with Stuart Hooper and Tom Plamer at lock - look out though, for TykesRugby's Phil Murphy as replacement - we hope to get him, and therefore us, on the scoreboard at some time during the evening!
Back row has only one surprise, in that Colm Rigney starts at No. 8 in place of Alix Popham. (Mind you, this may just be down to my lack of research - is he injured, or off on Wales duty? Post on the Messageboard please!).
As replacements, the usual suspects are there, and you can rest assured that CSS will get some game time, as will little Murph, and, if Goggsy has anything other than a perfect game, surely Duncan Hodge will have a chance at fly?
London Irish have a team that's close to full strength, and it'll be interesting to see Dougie Wheatley, a Tykes loanee last season, plying his trade in a green shirt at tighthead. Special mention also has to be made of Chris Sheasby, ex-England international, back after that horrendous eye-injury.
Both teams will want to get their ZP season back into winning ways. It'll be difficult for Irish, but it won't be eay either for the Tykes, and whatever the result, the game should provide some good entertainment, as will the Long Room and the Skyrack afterwards!
Teams
Leeds Tykes
15. Matt Cardey
14. Dan Scarbrough
13. Phil Christophers
12. Andre Snyman
11. Diego Albanese
10. Gordon Ross
9. Alan Dickens
1. Mike Shelley
2. Mark Regan
3. Gavin Kerr
4. Stuart Hooper
5. Tom Palmer (c)
6. Scott Morgan
7. Dan Hyde
8. Colm Rigney
Substitutes:
16. Matt Holt
17. Rob Rawlinson
18. Phil Murphy
19. Matt Salter
20. Clive Stuart-Smith
21. Duncan Hodge
22. Tristan Davies
London Irish
15. Michael Horak
14. Paul Sackey
13. Geoff Appleford
12. Rob Hoadley
11. Justin Bishop
10. Mark Mapletoft
9. Darren Edwards
1. Neal Hatley
2. Naka Drotske
3. Doug Wheatley
4. Ryan Strudwick (c)
5. Bob Casey
6. Declan Danaher
7. Kieron Dawson
8. Chris Sheasby
Substitutes:
16. Adam Halsey
17. Adrian Flavin
18. Kieran Roche
19. Paul Gustard
20. Delon Armitage
21. Kevin Barrett
22. Barry Everitt