Quintessential Tigers
By ChrisC
April 23 2010
The run in to the end of the league campaign should favour Tigers as they play both Quins and Saracens at Welford Road while Northampton lost their game in hand down at Bath. Saints are then home to the resurgent Saracens, who are trying to cement their place in the top four and away to London Irish who, after being done by Leeds, have it all to do to get into the top four at the expense of Wasps
I watched Quins and Sarries play away on the excruciatingly poor Wembley pitch and was left to wonder how far the marketing men and bean counters, which increasingly pervade our sport, are prepared to sacrifice the welfare of the players in pursuit of the almighty buck by playing on this widely condemned surface.
The welfare of Soccer players, let alone that of their more physical rugby colleagues, should not be sacrificed on surfaces as poor as that provided at Wembley in pursuit of money. It’s just plain wrong – very, very wrong.
Sarries gave Quins a real hiding on the score sheet but perhaps that had as much to do with Quins’ defence as Sarries’ newly vaunted attack .
Let me be clear in that in fielding the South African B Team with a few foreign imports from the UK Sarries are a compellingly good outfit however Quins defence was woeful at times as they fell off tackles and aligned in a sometimes bizarre way permitting Saracens more space than that to which they were entitled.
The bright spot of Quins effort was that of the pack where they exposed the shortcomings of media darling Schalk Brits in the execution of his basic scrummaging duties with the Sarries scrum in trouble and their lineout spending long periods in disarray. Nick Easter was typically robust, aggressive, intelligent and a totem for his team – wonderful, simply wonderful in an otherwise beaten team, he reminds me so much of our very own Cozza, another real honest player.
However without the superb Nick Evans Quins attack was witless and predictable and as good a prospect as Prince Harry lookalike Rory Clegg maybe (but perhaps he’s another crowd pleaser without substance as is his namesake Nick) his profligacy with the boot cost Quins dear as he missed kicks which would have put them at 18-17 and curtailed Saracens new found willingness to play rugby in a way that entertains the fee paying spectators.
Jordan-Hall and George Lowe were pretty ineffectual in the centre and this area only improved when Tiesi appeared late on as did the incisiveness of Quins’ attack when Ugo Monye replaced Tom Williams who’s selection over Monye mystified me, how Quins would have benefitted from Ugo’s skill, power and pace in attack and defence compared to the lightweight Williams
Up at Kingston Park a typically inclement Newcastle day (whatever happened to Global warming Mr Al Gore, or are you too busy counting the billions you’ve made from your ecological epiphany ?) Mr White, in denying a clear penalty try when Matt Smith was held back, couldn’t stop Tigers securing the bonus point win against a hapless Falcons before the half time oranges had been cut by when the visitors already led by 28 to 0. He set his face against Tigers in the early exchanges of the second half as Falcons rallied somewhat but with the stifling presence of Grindal the Tigers’ expansive game stopped and Tigers devoted themselves to pragmatism and the game ran out with Tigers coming out 31- 7 victors as Cockerill preserved his assets for the next task.
Quins front row were good against the star studded South Africa B at Wembley with the evergreen Welsh international Ceri Jones giving a really good account of himself in concert with the mobile Chris Brooker and the impressive John Andress, who I’ve not seen before but who looks one for the future.
However the Tigers’ front row is usually irrepressible and irresistible these days so I can’t see the Quins trio getting much change from Castro, Davies and Ayerza, who I assume will have recovered from his illness in time to appear at Welford Road, the Tigers’ triumvirate should also have more to offer in the loose than the Quins and of course the home side will have the likes of Chuter, Cole and Stankovich in reserve.
Similarly George Robson and James Percival put the Saracens line out under severe pressure. I have been an admirer of Robson for some time, he’s not a flashy player but rarely has a bad game, clubs need players like George Robson. It’s what rugby’s about – the collective over the individual.
Although the back row contest was dominated by the South Africans in Nick Easter there is a player who is an exemplar for youngsters wanting to play the game, he only knows one way and that’s forward, he tackles his heart out and has great soft hands it’s hard to think of a more complete #8.
Will Skinner is a player I really like, what on Earth is he doing messing about in the Big Smoke – get back to Leicester at once my boy – there’s a vacancy for an open side up at Tigers and with Deano long gone why are you still at Quins!!? Watching Skinner is to be transported to seeing Neil Back so similar is their play, not only is the ex Tiger superb on the ground but he is a great link man in the midfield, sadly on Saturday he nobody to link with.
Tom Guest had a brief spell as a darling of the rugby punditry but has drifted out of favour as the more fashionable celebrities such as the Ciprianis of this World take centre stage but I watched him on Saturday as he twisted, turned and wriggled and stayed on his feet as his team mates rallied around him and he is still as good as he ever was and that’s very good. Deano assembled as an impressive back row unit at The Stoop as any you’ll find anywhere.
Here again though the combination of Deacon and Parling together with the options offered by Croft and Moody I think will see Tigers dominate both the set piece and loose exchanges as they did against the Falcons. The scrap between Moody and Skinner should be a classic though.
Jordan Crane had a great match against Falcons and has run into some fine form in the end of the season run in and Croft remains a conundrum for the opposition while Moody is seeing out his time at Tigers in fine style, getting on the score sheet at Kingston Park.
The back row battle will be a real feast but I think Tigers will edge it largely due to the efforts of the front five securing bridgeheads for the light cavalry to attack from
Danny Care will face Ben Youngs, his young competitor for the England #9 shirt. It’s interesting to me the fine line between the entrepreneurial spirit that scrum halves must have and foolhardiness that compromises the team.
Oddly enough the more experienced Care seems more inclined to err on the side of foolhardiness than does the younger and less experienced Ben Youngs, who, as a consequence of his increased circumspection, loses nothing in his spirit, maybe that’s to do with the coaching ethos at the clubs or maybe the mindset of the individual. It’ll be interesting to see how these two go against each other as they vie for a ticket for the Summer touring party. They could both go of course but I find it hard to discount Paul Hodgeson as he presents a different style to that of Care/Youngs perhaps three scrummies will travel.
At fly-half it will depend if the superb Nick Evans is recovered enough to play as he is wonderful to watch and were it not for the presence of Daniel Carter I suggest it would be Evans’ name on everybody’s lips when the occupant of the World XV #10 shirt is discussed . When he is in play Quins look a different side, his kicking is usually pretty faultless, as is his game management and his own play can be simply immaculate.
If Clegg plays then I suspect his callowness could again be exposed as it was against Sarries.
Flood continued his excellent form both with the boot and with his own game management against Falcons before, as usual, being replaced by Staunton who closed out the match and as ever showed how his game has advanced since his arrival at Tigers.
The centre partnership of the impressive Tony Allen and Matt Smith should dominate Lowe and Jordan Turner-Hall although I will be surprised not to see Tiesi start this time in the centre. Turner-Hall has not really kicked on since he burst upon the scene– I initially thought him to be a real international prospect, especially given the paucity of centres but he’s suffered from the malaise at Quins who’s advance was cruelly stopped by the infamous “Bloodgate” saga but with the coaching team looking settled with the immensely likeable and savvy Conor O’Shea in charge I think 2010/11 will see Quins showing their class again – just one thing I beg them – please keep Mark Evans off the television – he so irritates me that he makes my teeth itch.
Out wide I assume Ugo Monye will start – how can he not? OK he has his faults but he is nothing if not committed and attracts defenders to him like bees to honey releasing space for his colleagues, something that Williams doesn’t do.
Strettle was pretty much invisible in the first half against Sarries but after the break he was much more in evidence as he sought work in the midfield – perhaps that was the boot print of Conor O’Shea I saw on the backside of the Quins’ winger’s shorts?
Hamilton and Tuilagi will be as aggressive as ever however Monye, and Sarries bound Strettle, can pose real problems if they’ve a mind and decent quick ball.
Star man of the Quins’ backs for me was Mike Brown, he was, in my view, unfairly given a ten minute breather by the otherwise excellent Martin Fox, when the ex England Full Back received a “team” Yellow Card. This to me is no different from my receiving a driving ban for getting three penalty points because my relatives had already accumulated another nine between them – another modern day refereeing nonsense – born out of weakness, just cut out all the warnings and card the offender straight away – it’ll stop the others transgressing.
Brown’s star in the international firmament has waned but he is no less a player for that, he’s elusive, robust and possessed of nimble feet and a massive kick.
Understandably he does like to kick and the immaculate Geordan Murphy will gratefully accept any ball he sends his way but the Tigers’ back three need not feel the need to provide Brown with the opportunity to run the ball back either as he is a master at creating open field chaos off which the likes of Monye and Strettle feed and which doesn’t suit the Tigers’ playbook.
Overall though I feel that the Tigers’ pack will deny Quins enough ball to enable their back three to prosper and that the London side will be unable to redress their woeful record on the road, so this should be another five point win for the home side and another step toward the league championship for the Tigers.
The welfare of Soccer players, let alone that of their more physical rugby colleagues, should not be sacrificed on surfaces as poor as that provided at Wembley in pursuit of money. It’s just plain wrong – very, very wrong.
Sarries gave Quins a real hiding on the score sheet but perhaps that had as much to do with Quins’ defence as Sarries’ newly vaunted attack .
Let me be clear in that in fielding the South African B Team with a few foreign imports from the UK Sarries are a compellingly good outfit however Quins defence was woeful at times as they fell off tackles and aligned in a sometimes bizarre way permitting Saracens more space than that to which they were entitled.
The bright spot of Quins effort was that of the pack where they exposed the shortcomings of media darling Schalk Brits in the execution of his basic scrummaging duties with the Sarries scrum in trouble and their lineout spending long periods in disarray. Nick Easter was typically robust, aggressive, intelligent and a totem for his team – wonderful, simply wonderful in an otherwise beaten team, he reminds me so much of our very own Cozza, another real honest player.
However without the superb Nick Evans Quins attack was witless and predictable and as good a prospect as Prince Harry lookalike Rory Clegg maybe (but perhaps he’s another crowd pleaser without substance as is his namesake Nick) his profligacy with the boot cost Quins dear as he missed kicks which would have put them at 18-17 and curtailed Saracens new found willingness to play rugby in a way that entertains the fee paying spectators.
Jordan-Hall and George Lowe were pretty ineffectual in the centre and this area only improved when Tiesi appeared late on as did the incisiveness of Quins’ attack when Ugo Monye replaced Tom Williams who’s selection over Monye mystified me, how Quins would have benefitted from Ugo’s skill, power and pace in attack and defence compared to the lightweight Williams
Up at Kingston Park a typically inclement Newcastle day (whatever happened to Global warming Mr Al Gore, or are you too busy counting the billions you’ve made from your ecological epiphany ?) Mr White, in denying a clear penalty try when Matt Smith was held back, couldn’t stop Tigers securing the bonus point win against a hapless Falcons before the half time oranges had been cut by when the visitors already led by 28 to 0. He set his face against Tigers in the early exchanges of the second half as Falcons rallied somewhat but with the stifling presence of Grindal the Tigers’ expansive game stopped and Tigers devoted themselves to pragmatism and the game ran out with Tigers coming out 31- 7 victors as Cockerill preserved his assets for the next task.
Quins front row were good against the star studded South Africa B at Wembley with the evergreen Welsh international Ceri Jones giving a really good account of himself in concert with the mobile Chris Brooker and the impressive John Andress, who I’ve not seen before but who looks one for the future.
However the Tigers’ front row is usually irrepressible and irresistible these days so I can’t see the Quins trio getting much change from Castro, Davies and Ayerza, who I assume will have recovered from his illness in time to appear at Welford Road, the Tigers’ triumvirate should also have more to offer in the loose than the Quins and of course the home side will have the likes of Chuter, Cole and Stankovich in reserve.
Similarly George Robson and James Percival put the Saracens line out under severe pressure. I have been an admirer of Robson for some time, he’s not a flashy player but rarely has a bad game, clubs need players like George Robson. It’s what rugby’s about – the collective over the individual.
Although the back row contest was dominated by the South Africans in Nick Easter there is a player who is an exemplar for youngsters wanting to play the game, he only knows one way and that’s forward, he tackles his heart out and has great soft hands it’s hard to think of a more complete #8.
Will Skinner is a player I really like, what on Earth is he doing messing about in the Big Smoke – get back to Leicester at once my boy – there’s a vacancy for an open side up at Tigers and with Deano long gone why are you still at Quins!!? Watching Skinner is to be transported to seeing Neil Back so similar is their play, not only is the ex Tiger superb on the ground but he is a great link man in the midfield, sadly on Saturday he nobody to link with.
Tom Guest had a brief spell as a darling of the rugby punditry but has drifted out of favour as the more fashionable celebrities such as the Ciprianis of this World take centre stage but I watched him on Saturday as he twisted, turned and wriggled and stayed on his feet as his team mates rallied around him and he is still as good as he ever was and that’s very good. Deano assembled as an impressive back row unit at The Stoop as any you’ll find anywhere.
Here again though the combination of Deacon and Parling together with the options offered by Croft and Moody I think will see Tigers dominate both the set piece and loose exchanges as they did against the Falcons. The scrap between Moody and Skinner should be a classic though.
Jordan Crane had a great match against Falcons and has run into some fine form in the end of the season run in and Croft remains a conundrum for the opposition while Moody is seeing out his time at Tigers in fine style, getting on the score sheet at Kingston Park.
The back row battle will be a real feast but I think Tigers will edge it largely due to the efforts of the front five securing bridgeheads for the light cavalry to attack from
Danny Care will face Ben Youngs, his young competitor for the England #9 shirt. It’s interesting to me the fine line between the entrepreneurial spirit that scrum halves must have and foolhardiness that compromises the team.
Oddly enough the more experienced Care seems more inclined to err on the side of foolhardiness than does the younger and less experienced Ben Youngs, who, as a consequence of his increased circumspection, loses nothing in his spirit, maybe that’s to do with the coaching ethos at the clubs or maybe the mindset of the individual. It’ll be interesting to see how these two go against each other as they vie for a ticket for the Summer touring party. They could both go of course but I find it hard to discount Paul Hodgeson as he presents a different style to that of Care/Youngs perhaps three scrummies will travel.
At fly-half it will depend if the superb Nick Evans is recovered enough to play as he is wonderful to watch and were it not for the presence of Daniel Carter I suggest it would be Evans’ name on everybody’s lips when the occupant of the World XV #10 shirt is discussed . When he is in play Quins look a different side, his kicking is usually pretty faultless, as is his game management and his own play can be simply immaculate.
If Clegg plays then I suspect his callowness could again be exposed as it was against Sarries.
Flood continued his excellent form both with the boot and with his own game management against Falcons before, as usual, being replaced by Staunton who closed out the match and as ever showed how his game has advanced since his arrival at Tigers.
The centre partnership of the impressive Tony Allen and Matt Smith should dominate Lowe and Jordan Turner-Hall although I will be surprised not to see Tiesi start this time in the centre. Turner-Hall has not really kicked on since he burst upon the scene– I initially thought him to be a real international prospect, especially given the paucity of centres but he’s suffered from the malaise at Quins who’s advance was cruelly stopped by the infamous “Bloodgate” saga but with the coaching team looking settled with the immensely likeable and savvy Conor O’Shea in charge I think 2010/11 will see Quins showing their class again – just one thing I beg them – please keep Mark Evans off the television – he so irritates me that he makes my teeth itch.
Out wide I assume Ugo Monye will start – how can he not? OK he has his faults but he is nothing if not committed and attracts defenders to him like bees to honey releasing space for his colleagues, something that Williams doesn’t do.
Strettle was pretty much invisible in the first half against Sarries but after the break he was much more in evidence as he sought work in the midfield – perhaps that was the boot print of Conor O’Shea I saw on the backside of the Quins’ winger’s shorts?
Hamilton and Tuilagi will be as aggressive as ever however Monye, and Sarries bound Strettle, can pose real problems if they’ve a mind and decent quick ball.
Star man of the Quins’ backs for me was Mike Brown, he was, in my view, unfairly given a ten minute breather by the otherwise excellent Martin Fox, when the ex England Full Back received a “team” Yellow Card. This to me is no different from my receiving a driving ban for getting three penalty points because my relatives had already accumulated another nine between them – another modern day refereeing nonsense – born out of weakness, just cut out all the warnings and card the offender straight away – it’ll stop the others transgressing.
Brown’s star in the international firmament has waned but he is no less a player for that, he’s elusive, robust and possessed of nimble feet and a massive kick.
Understandably he does like to kick and the immaculate Geordan Murphy will gratefully accept any ball he sends his way but the Tigers’ back three need not feel the need to provide Brown with the opportunity to run the ball back either as he is a master at creating open field chaos off which the likes of Monye and Strettle feed and which doesn’t suit the Tigers’ playbook.
Overall though I feel that the Tigers’ pack will deny Quins enough ball to enable their back three to prosper and that the London side will be unable to redress their woeful record on the road, so this should be another five point win for the home side and another step toward the league championship for the Tigers.
Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2010 15:09
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Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: TigerChick (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2010 15:13
Huge thanks to ChrisC, for another excellent preview and apologies for not getting it posted up earlier.
Will update the site with news stories and reports. Supporting the Tigers fans community
Email me via tigerchick "at" ymail "dot" com (No spam!)
Will update the site with news stories and reports. Supporting the Tigers fans community
Email me via tigerchick "at" ymail "dot" com (No spam!)
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: vicky_c (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2010 15:47
OMG, the return of the ChrisC match preview.
I've died and gone to heaven. Thanks Chris!!!
I've died and gone to heaven. Thanks Chris!!!
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: TigerChick (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2010 15:49
Vicky you've been away! There have been a couple of them before today! And yes, it is wonderful to read them again!
Will update the site with news stories and reports. Supporting the Tigers fans community
Email me via tigerchick "at" ymail "dot" com (No spam!)
Will update the site with news stories and reports. Supporting the Tigers fans community
Email me via tigerchick "at" ymail "dot" com (No spam!)
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: vicky_c (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2010 15:56
Nah Jen, just too time poor to read the site as much as I used to 
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: KevinR (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2010 16:17
Thanks, Chris! Just like old times ![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2010 18:06
I might read it this evening, I have a spare 2 hours !!
Thanks Chris.
Thanks Chris.
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: Stopsy (IP Logged)
Date: 24/04/2010 08:14
How's the blood pressure Chris? Good write up again, for which, my thanks. Should I send the Blood Pressure Czar round to check you are OK?
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: Salon Generali (IP Logged)
Date: 24/04/2010 09:38
That was a great article. Fancy coming on the Quins board and doing some for us too?
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: Rich W (IP Logged)
Date: 24/04/2010 09:52
Oh controversial...and not strictly on topic Chris you naughty boy! Excellent - thanks mate - another tour de force!
...
...
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 24/04/2010 10:20
How long have you been away Chris ? League Championship indeed !!
I finally managed to read it, and thanks, another superb effort !!
I finally managed to read it, and thanks, another superb effort !!
Re: Quintessential Tigers
Posted by: Spooner McPhee (IP Logged)
Date: 24/04/2010 11:39
Compelling
Compels me to say, thankyou
It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society [not original]. We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them [AE]
Compels me to say, thankyou
It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society [not original]. We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them [AE]
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