Come, Come!!
By ChrisC
September 30 2010
Come, come you unbelievers and verily the call went to the Northern lands, for the Special Ones had spoken forth. Come, come to the citadel and witness the Special Things that are happening here. And so they came, down from the hinterland, clad in their colourful robes of green and black and gold with their champions and they marvelled in awe at the scene that awaited them.
For the Special Ones were a fearful sight coming from lands across the oceans, their bodies adorned with decoration, much misunderstood and sinned against but their Chief had sat with the head of the heathen judiciary and they had broken bread together and the Chief had forgiven him his mistakes.
Fear not said the Chief, to the visitors, all are welcome here but you must obey the creed of the Special Ones as must the judges of the contest to be performed and the travellers from the Northern lands were calmed.
But the Special Ones smote the Champions of the Northern tribe and they were vanquished and so the Special Ones waited for the great tribe from the North to come to the citadel with their Champions who hold dominion over all the land.
This is a fictional tale and any similarities with persons, whether living or dead, or with actual events are purely coincidental.
I watched the match between Saracens and Saints and it was awful. The opposing serried ranks of players threw themselves at each other endlessly like First World War infantrymen with the tedium only broken by the incessant whistle of Dave Pearson, which, with the antediluvian surroundings, added to the early 20th century feel of the whole thing. Pearson seems to have invented a plethora of offences of such arcane complexity that everybody looked puzzled including Mr Pearson - maybe it was the rain?
Occasionally a brave cavalryman broke loose only to be cut down by the cover defence or Mr Pearson’s whistle.
While Pearson concentrated on penalising anybody remotely looking like contesting the ball, elsewhere throw ins were rarely straight, put ins to the scrum were almost always delivered by the scrum half to himself as the ball rolled through the legs of the back five ready for his collection at the #8 checkout, then to be scragged by the opposing back rows who relentlessly dropped their binds, although at least they had a bind in the first place, something which the front rows often saw as an option.
At last there was the odd penalty for attackers sealing off the ball when the defenders had the temerity to enquire if they could be please have their turn but this sanction was on a strict quota, probably some EU regulation or other. Poor old Geraghty fell foul as he received a Yellow Card for not rolling away from the tackle even though the little fellow was under a pile of 19 stone forwards, whereas moments later Borthwick again flopped over the ball sealing it off but just got a mild finger wagging from Pearson who’s “offence of the day” was early engagement at the scrum, as his “crouch, touch, hooooooooold, ENGAGE was found impossible to follow by both packs to a greater or lesser degree.
This, I fear, is what lays ahead for the Winter months – trench warfare – with defending teams committing as few players as possible to the breakdown as they’ll get penalised for competing for the ball anyway, so better to fan out, defend the fringes, force the attackers wide, defend the next attack and so on until somebody has a lapse of concentration or dies of boredom and a gap appears.
Saints’ big problem was that they kept trying to play rugby, albeit the Leagunion version, whereas Saracens just kept the ball and waited for Pearson’s whistle to give Hougaard another chance to kick some points. I think the home team could have trundled around all day without getting over the try line, the one try of the day being scored by Saints’ Paul Diggin when the Sarries defence bunched in the centre and left little Diggin an easy run in after some adept and accurate passing exploited the overlap.
Post match the Dr Venter applauded Mr Pearson and so he should, the Northumbrian having greatly aided the Sarries cause by his somewhat uneven interpretation of the laws.
So this was Leagunion but without the tries! Oh how I’m looking forward to the Winter – not!
Meanwhile 24 hours earlier Tigers comprehensively put Leeds to the sword with 48 points and eight tries – oh dear – I thought Leeds would make a better fist of it than that.
Tigers seemed to vent all the frustration and anger of the previous three weeks in an eighty minute flagellation of the team anchored at the foot of the Premiership.
Tigers played with intelligence and power, the only rain on this parade being the absence of a high percentage kicker now that Flood, Ford and Staunton are all in the sick bay.
This is a real problem as in Leagunion such a kicker is de rigueur as Saints found out on Sunday. I mused, when watching Nicky Robinson save Gloucester’s Old Spot bacon against Wasps the previous day, that it’s remarkable that a team can bring so little to a game and yet can still win as they have a kicker who can regularly bisect the posts when still well inside his own half.
On Sunday Leicester travel to Watford for the last match in the Premiership before a break in proceedings for the European competition, the operators of which Saracens have now upset by refusing to send Borthwick to the launch party as he’s otherwise included in a bonding session in Germany – I wonder do Saracens’ management go out of their way to be disliked?
Saracens started their last match with a front row of South Africans Deaon Carstens, who has eight Springbok appearances to his credit, Ethienne Reynecke who came from the Lions and 31 time capped Italian Carlos Nieto who was previously at Kingsholm.
Carstens had a tricky time against Mujati being warned for his reluctance to bind correctly and persistently walking the scrum round thereby playing Saints’ Tonga’uiha at his own game but he still lasted virtually the whole duration before being replaced by Parr just before the end, while Nieto was substituted just after half time in favour of South African born ex Nottingham player Petrus duPlessis, to the evident relief of Tonga’uiha who had been finding the Italian at bit of a handful. Nieto must have been injured to have been taken off as he had a fine game in an otherwise uninspiring set piece performance.
Reynecke was replaced by Brits at half time but the home side’s line out was still distinctly wayward, although as usual Brits gambolled about the park adding his admirable tackling to proceedings but looking distinctly unimpressed by having to be involved in the hurly burly of the set pieces.
In the front row only Nieto really consistently impresses but otherwise I can’t see any of the likely starters for Tigers being unduly troubled, it was good to see the mobile Hawkins at last get his chance against Leeds.
Tigers have their well documented issues at lock but Borthwick and English qualified Mouritz Botha got no change from the excellent Christian Day and Mark Sorenson, the latter standing in for the rested Courtney Laws. The home side’s cause not helped by erratic throwing from their hookers and most of their possession coming from crooked throws.
I have been much impressed by young Ed Slater who has shown prowess for Tigers at the set piece, and has a great defence and mobility. So with Croft in attendance and Skivington now settling into his senior line out role and in the hope that the match officials prevail upon the hookers to throw the ball in straight I am optimistic that the visitors shouldn’t have too many problems at either set piece.
The Sarries’ back row is a mightily impressive unit even without the injured Andy Saull, the fearsome Jacques Burger filling the openside role with his ferocious tackling and running in the loose, happily for him traditional openside play is largely unnecessary in Leagunion.
The Namibian was joined but the ever excellent Ernst Joubert, who surely, with Tom Croft, is the most complete modern day flanker on the domestic scene. Scottish international Kelly Brown completed the Saracens triumvirate and did his work in an effective understated way. This is however a breakaway unit that is just that, being tremendously effective around the park.
The Tigers unit seems to be settling down into a similarly effective unit with Ben Woods coming to terms with his new role and Waldrom showing us what all the fuss was about down in the land of the Long White Cloud. Tom Croft also looks to be hitting a rich vein of form and as a consequence I see this competition being very close.
Overall though, with Roman Poite slated to run the game, I expect to see a dominant performance by the Tigers’ pack.
Ben Youngs looks to be coming to his game now and it will be interesting to see how he gets on against that crafty old rascal Neil deKock. The Springbok is a typical assistant referee as are so many scrum halves but Poite is no mug and I wonder if the soon to be 32 year old will again get irritated with the precocious England incumbent and lose his discipline.
Ben Youngs aside things remain fraught in the half backs with the shelf marked Fly Halves now being almost empty and a shiny new model in Billy Twelvetrees is sharing duties with that wily campaigner Geordan Murphy as first receiver when in attack, this worked well against Leeds but Sarries will be another kettle of fish altogether and a better defensive system in the event of a turnover will surely be of major emphasis at Oval Park this week.
I assume that the pretender to the England fly half shirt, Alex Goode will return but if it’s wet, as expected, and Hougaard starts it’ll be a kick fest as the ex Tiger still offers little creativity whereas Goode will ask stern questions of the Tigers’ 9/10/12 defence.
I have concerns that the makeshift job share at fly half will make this a potential area of difficulty for Tigers – we’ll see.
I thought Matt Smith to be excellent at inside centre against Leeds and surely he’ll keep his place in partnership with Dan Hipkiss, the pair ask lots of questions in attack and are strong defensively which they’ll need to be.
South African born Brad Barritt continues to impress at inside centre. I think it fair to say that on Sunday he never failed to get over the gain line and he tackles like a flanker.
Fijian international, Ratuvou, was preferred at outside centre against Saints. He is a typical South Seas’ back but to my mind he is at his best when the ground is dry and play splinters and with a 60% chance of rain in Watford on Sunday I’d expect Adam Powell to be preferred to bring his tireless line breaking abilities to this week’s attempt to generate some much needed excitement to Leagunion.
Tigers back three of Alex Tuilagi, Geordan Murphy and ever present Scott Hamilton had a lovely time against Leeds but I reckon they’ll not find the sort of space next Sunday.
From what I’ve seen neither Nils Mordt or Chris Wyles look comfortable with the defensive duties of Full Back. Wyles and Mordt look great going forward and American Wyle has an enormous boot but really they don’t look a patch on Alex Goode who in turn hasn’t really looked comfortable at Fly half so a bit of conundrum here. Were it my choice though I’d put Michael Tagicakibau at centre, where, being so finely balanced a runner, he can cause chaos, and put Wyles at #15 unless Hougaard starts when it can be back to Goode.
New arrival David Strettle has made some typically sparky runs but as was the case when he was at Quins he’s a winger that doesn’t favour coming off his wing looking for work but if he gets himself going then the Tigers’ defence will need to be on top form.
All in all with the issues at Fly half and the lack of a high percentage kicker it’s hard to see Tigers prevailing on a wet afternoon in Watford but I reckon they’re good for a bonus point.
Oh and finally, and this is not generally known, so keep between us, Saracens’ Dr Venter is actually a medical doctor! Remember you heard it here first!
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Will Will be diluted by the prospect of an Italian sojourn the following week, though?
Excellent stuff Chris, thanks
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
Venter, a medical doctor indeed !!
Overall though, a very fair preview, the problem is you guys have rested so many of the players you earmarked as being influential (Waldrom, Woods, Murphy, Youngs, Tuilagi). Maybe they are injured, or is Cockerill focussing on the HC??
I'd also add that with Poite's much more adept refereeing at the scrum, Cole will not be able to get away with what Mujati did last week to Carstens (e.g. illegal binding on the arm).
Finally, I know you guys dislike Venter after the episode at WR last year, but the whole thing (I thought) was done and dusted now, and the 'Good Doctor' joke is becoming a little tiresome.
Maybe we could rewind to last year's semi between yourselves and Bath. The referee dares to penalise Leicester at a scrum - Cockerill acts responsibly and in line the core values of the sport by calmly accepting the decision. Wait, hang on, he slams his fist on his desk and starts hurling abuse at the ref. The Sky cameras replay the whole thing - what an example to those children who are being introduced to rugby, and now think it's acceptable to react in such a way to a ref's decision you don't agree with.
Funnily enough, that episode isn't mentionned so much here...
Anyway, rant over. Here's to a good game, and a focus afterwards on the rugby itself not the antics of our respective DORs. Good luck on Sunday...
Quote:the 'Good Doctor' joke is becoming a little tiresome.
Fair comment. I have no objection to referring to him in future as "The Non Doctor"
Quote:saracens4life
I know you guys dislike Venter after the episode at WR last year
Not me. If you were to omit the words from "after" to the end, though, that would hit the mark.
Odd, really. I rather like Sarries and Sarries fans, and a lot of their players. Just can't stand Venter and Griffiths.
Quote:I'd also add that with Poite's much more adept refereeing at the scrum, Cole will not be able to get away with what Mujati did last week to Carstens (e.g. illegal binding on the arm).
I take it that the technicalities of scrummaging are beyond you?
Oh and as for Cockers' reaction - did he abuse any members of the crowd? Did he assault any of them? Did he subsequently ridicule those in authority? Did he refuse to apologise afterwards?
No - but he;s only a cabinet maker!
The Doctor however would like a different standard applied to him!
When he earns it he'll get our respect - until then...on your way!
...
...
Anyway, good to see you back in full flow again Mr C, your words were very much missed in your absence.
Quote:Rich W
Quote:
I'd also add that with Poite's much more adept refereeing at the scrum, Cole will not be able to get away with what Mujati did last week to Carstens (e.g. illegal binding on the arm).
I take it that the technicalities of scrummaging are beyond you?
Oh and as for Cockers' reaction - did he abuse any members of the crowd? Did he assault any of them? Did he subsequently ridicule those in authority? Did he refuse to apologise afterwards?
No - but he;s only a cabinet maker!
The Doctor however would like a different standard applied to him!
When he earns it he'll get our respect - until then...on your way!
Yes, I do play prop, and I like to think I have a reasonable grasp of the technicalities of front row play. I would suggest you expand your point that sweeping statement, but you may just end up digging yourself a hole. If you have access to a replay, there is a scrum quite early on in the game from which Carstens is penalised for not binding - the replay clearly shows Mujati binding on the arm of Carstens (which is illegal, if you weren't aware), and this visibly restricted Carstens from binding.
Did Venter assault anyone? In Britain, there is a convention whereby one tends to adopt the principle of "innocent until proven guilty". Just because an allegation of something is made, it does not necessarily mean that that something actually happened.
Was Cockerill ever made to apologise? No, funnily enough, the Tigers supporters around him didn't kick up so much of a fuss about that little incident.
Quote:Tigergeezer
Quote:
saracens4life
I know you guys dislike Venter after the episode at WR last year
Not me. If you were to omit the words from "after" to the end, though, that would hit the mark.
Odd, really. I rather like Sarries and Sarries fans, and a lot of their players. Just can't stand Venter and Griffiths.
May I ask what brought about this disrespect for Venter in the first place?
By the way, I appreciate the comments you make about the positive aspects of our club, and Rich's comments on another thread, and I have a great deal of respect (and envy) for your setup and obviously your previous success.
I'm not trying to wage war with Leicester Tigers, but I do wish the whole Venter/Cockerill issue could be swept under the carpet. If Venter, a man for whom I have a great deal of respect, having met him personally, is maligned on this board, I will argue in his favour. It's great that our two clubs have built up a rivalry, and I genuinely hope it can be a reasonably amicable rivalry, and our two sets of supporters can get on well.
So, once again, good luck on Sunday...
More than that - the Leicester fans didn't object to Cockers' behaviour because, I would suggest, it didn't impact on their view - unlike the good Doctor's. Nor did he 'come into contact' with a member of the crowd - something which Venter did - as established by the hearing - in these terms he was found 'guilty' - though it was accepted that he did so accidentally. Something I certainly hope he did - but his refusal to apologise either immediately or subsequently still eaves most observers uncomfortable.
As for the scrum - if you are such a technical expert I suppose that you must have seen Cole binding illegally...or maybe it's just that on a given day a prop gets away with one thing and not another?
...
It has never been explained why he let Sarries squad members sit in the seats at the front of the Crumbie which give an uninterrupted vie of the whole playing area.
I refer of course to the seats that every other DOR/HC uses.
Quote:saracens4life
May I ask what brought about this disrespect for Venter in the first place?
.
You mean what, apart from his being a dirty player (try our East Mids buddies for chapter and verse on that), or a swivel-eyed type generally who doesn't half whinge about the ref when his team loses, or the fact that his CEO just cannot shut up about his being a Medical Doctor as if that excused him from all the above and more? Apart from that, nothing, really. His boorish behaviour at WR and the RFU thereafter just tended to confirm what I thought before.
Bring back Large, I say.
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget