And in The Red Corner.......................

By Chris Chaplin
October 24 2002

Your olde retainer has been pulled off the Previewer's bench, sharpened his quill and given some thought to this next encounter for the Tigers.

As we all remember it was this fixture last season that led to several rainforests being destroyed in pursuit of the vilification of Johnno after he retaliated at the unwelcome attentions of a Sorries player (what was that fellow doing fiddling around on Johnno's back anyway!?).

I don't think either side can take much from their HEC matches last week either to guide us now the real stuff starts again.

But enough of the past - I hope! What of Sunday?

I didn't see the game at Kingsholm but have taken sage and totally unbiased input from my pals down here and I did see the Sorries/Piglets game a few weeks ago.

The Sorries team at Glaws was still without it's most influential playmaker, Tim Horan, although in Sorrell I would have thought they had an able replacement albeit one of earnest endeavour rather than Horan's brilliance and Glaws centres are not the strongest part of their formidable team, mind you they're no mugs either!

In the pack Messrs Flatman and Quinnell were still absent, with Califano on the bench and Williams was again preferred to Bracken. Having said all that I understand that until Kershaw was binned just before the break the Sorries pack did well enough, however during Kershaw's 'rest period' Glaws scored three tries and by the time he reappeared the gap was 30 - 11. However the fact is that even with a full strength side, in numbers anyway, Sorries still leaked a further 14 points while securing just three on their own account. Goode having one of those days that we know so well.

I think Castaignede is probably still working his way back to full match fitness although I expect he will play on Sunday to replace the more statuesque Whinnan.

When I watched the Piglets play Sorries the Sorries pack was pretty much under the cosh and it was only the strange lack of invention and penetration behind the pack that we've seen from our pals at Franklins Gardens this season that denied them a victory. Well that and Andy Goode's boot!

With the exception of the wonderful Richard Hill I felt the pack that day was workmanlike although that will all change if Flatman, Quinnell and Califano make an appearance which seems highly likely as they are now fit and how is it that Benazzi doesn't start, when he came on against the Piglets the whole tempo of the Sorries pack changed - for the better and of course Califano and Quinnell will probably provide Tim with plenty of kicking practice!

The Williams/Goode half back combination looks to be settling down but the link and inspiration provided by Horan has been sorely missed but he too is now back.

I was impressed by Shanklin last season but for the aforementioned reason he and the wings have not really been able to show their paces yet, but with Horan back that will all change and a confrontation between him and Rod Kafer will be interesting to say the least as will that between Califano and Franck surely the two best props that Les Bleus have had in recent times.

So to the Tigers who are still looking for their first away victory this term.

Deano has to decide whether to stick with the pack that played against Calvisano and put the returning England contingent (always assuming Woody's not broken them again) on the bench as the Blue Light Brigade (no chance of a strike there - oops!! political comment) or let loose with the full pack to secure the away win that must be so important to morale ahead of the very tough Autumn International period which we need to enter with a better league position than at present.

I've an uneasy feeling that Deano will go with the Calvisano pack anyway. If he does I think the Tigers front row of Perry, Franck and Chuter would have it all to do with the returnees for Sorries fired up and chomping at the bit. The second and back rows will be a closer contest but I still see Tigers having the edge, with the potential contest between Josh and Hill one to savour.

Tierney should be more than a match for either Williams or the out of sorts Bracken. and at 10 we have another interesting confrontation should Oz start there, although I hear he has recurrence of his groin injury which may sideline him altogether. If Vesty gets the nod again he and Andy will both feel they have something to prove and of course Kafer vs Horan could be a cracker.

If Deano goes full the full strength side then I think it will be a close game with the relative form of Andy Goode and Stimmo being the deciding factor and in spite of our terrible away form one we could just edge, although Vicarage Road is hardly a happy hunting ground for us, last February's encounter being an honourable exception. I'll leave it to you all to decide what is the full strength side and will not prolong this diatribe by giving my view now.

If the 'Tigers lite' option is used, even for a short opening period then things could go horribly wrong and see us in irretrievable disarray and I reckon it'll be a fourth away defeat on the trot in the league and maybe by a fair margin.