The Tait Gallery - Tigers v Falcons Preview
By ChrisC
November 23 2010
British Lions stalwart Alan Tait this week brings his prize exhibits to Welford Road for a meeting with the singularly weakened Tigers and will be hoping for an historical upset. Last weekend Quins heeded my call for a charitable contribution to Tigers in Need by butchering a number of chances to cross the Tigers’ whitewash and instead were punished by Billy Twelvetrees for their lack of discipline as Tigers pressurised them more and more as the game progressed and at last Geordan Murphy displayed some pragmatism endlessly pegging the visitors back inside their own half.
The Tigers’ scrum was under pressure on the loosehead side as Peter Bucknall struggled to cope with the giant Samoan, James Johnson, who appeared to be alternately engaging early or boring in, although on the tight head Julian White coasted through the game dominating his opposition without breaking sweat and with Wayne Barnes in charge of the scrum what more can be expected.
All in all a creditable performance from a side so beset by absences through international call ups and injury.
Meanwhile, a day or so later, Newcastle hosted Gloucester up at Kingston Park where it seems that the wind always blows, the rain always falls and brass monkeys fear to tread.
By rights such an inhospitable venue should be a fortress for Newcastle as I rather think few visiting players relish a visit but last week at least the home side triumphed in a dreary game on a dreary day with the home side scoring four penalties to the visitors’ two.
It’s a few weeks since I saw Newcastle play and that was against Saints down at Franklins Gardens and on that day they had seemingly upset little Nigel Owens who had come all the way from Wales to officiate and promptly carded Bobo for a deliberate knock on which I thought was a very doubtful call and then later, when Saints’ Tong’uhia really did deliberately knock the ball on to frustrate a promising Newcastle attack and did so bang to rights in clear view of Mr Owens the transgression was ignored. There was also some blatant blocking by Saints, which led to one of their tries, again in front of Mr Owens and again ignored.
Newcastle for their part had some major problems at scrum time and with John Golding still suffering from a stubborn achilles injury and not expected back until Christmas/New Year time and now Tim Ryan having a pulled hamstring with the ever present hooker; Rob Vickers, having an injured leg I expect to see the aforesaid 20 year old Kieran Brookes with Joe Graham and Scot Grant Shiells in the front row facing a default trio of Bucknall, Chuter and Julian White.
The Falcons pack has been in difficulty in the two matches I have watched, those against Quins and Saints, and while Saints pack is something of a juggernaut Quins are not renowned for their prowess at scrum time and by all accounts the trend continued against Gloucester.
Notwithstanding the reduced circumstances in which Tigers find themselves in the front row I expect them to have the better of the visitors in spite of their scrum statistically being second in efficiency only to that of Tigers – just goes to prove what they say about statistics!
In the second row the superb James Hudson returned from injury and was outstanding in the line out and as we’ll recall from when he was at London Irish his work in the loose is a wonder to behold as he gallops about like Champion the Wonder Horse and he paired up with another ever present this term; Londoner Tim Swinson.
With this pairing we can expect the Tigers’ duo of George Skivington and Ed Slater to be given a thorough examination at line out time and I can’t see much advantage accruing for Tigers in this area.
In the back row Kiwi Brent Wilson is great around the breakdown and seems to have got the hang of this Leagunion stuff, maybe not the greatest carrier of the ball but he has remarkable defensive talents.
On the open side will probably be the wonderfully named ex Bristolian player Redford Pennycook – what a great name, redolent of an American general in the War of Independence. He has impressed me with his mobility and ability as a link man to the Falcons half backs as well as providing something of a redoubt in defence, which Falcons have needed this season.
At number 8 is Falcons’ big signing of the closed season, Scottish international Ally Hogg, who carries the ball so well and defends like a demon but it’s interesting to note that he has conceded more penalties when in attack than any other player this term which suggests that maybe his colleagues don’t support him as well as they should. As big hitting, Brisbane born Tongan international, Josh Afu is back from injury he may start with Hogg on the bench or vice versa.
After the performance of Thomas Waldrom, Craig Newby and Jordan Crane against Quins when they bludgeoned their way through, round and over the opposition like a squadron of Panzers assaulting the Maginot Line I can’t see any reason to fix what ain’t broke and I can see some leeway here for them behind what I expect to be a front five with a degree of dominance.
Tigers remain without the England half backs Ben Youngs and Toby Flood as the Autumn Internationals have their last hurrah against the Springboks, so once again Grindal and Billy “The Boot” Twelvetrees will be on parade.
I thought Grindal, an ex Falcon, had a good game against Quins. His service was quicker and he sought out opportunity behind a pack that, thanks to the esoteric influence of Wayne Barnes found itself in some difficulty at times. Twelvetrees kicked penalties from all points and you could believe he could have been successful from the car park of the LRI!
I also thought his game management improved and it was good to see Geordan Murphy coming in as first receiver on occasion and helping out with the kicking.
The two default Tigers’ half backs will face the ever ebullient Micky Youngs who is a live wire and will spot a gap the size required of a door mouse to dash through. He’ll be joined by the generator of most of Falcons’ points this season and last – Jimmy Gopperth, although in 2009/10 he missed 24 penalties he had plenty to take as back then the Falcons’ scrum, with Golding and Hayman, put in some fearsome performances an generated penalties aplenty.
Statistically Gopperth is the most likely to kick from hand and he is good at it however when he does pass he has a poor record being third only to Ben Youngs and Rory Lawson in providing bad passes who are both Scrum Halves who’s default setting is passing. So given that the Falcons’ #10 kicks more than any other fly half it suggests that his pass leaves something to be desired and he can blow hot and cold with his kicking although against Gloucester he and Youngs played the conditions very well, ably assisted by Hogg.
I see the Tigers’ back row giving Gopperth plenty of attention and looking to force errors in the knowledge that he conceded the most turnovers last season
At inside centre I expect to see Tony Allen continue for Tigers, assuming he returns from his latest day trip to Pennyhill Park. Tigers will then hope that the vastly improved Allen will find a way between the six time Springbok outside centre Gcobani Bobo, of whom I don’t think the best has yet been seen, as he has been occupied in a largely defensive role since his arrival, an so not having crossed the whitewash in the Premiership, and the returning Tongan Tane Tu’ipulotu, who made his first appearance in this year’s competition against Gloucester.
Bobo and Tu’ipulotu are very physical and it will take all of Matt Smith’s defensive robustness to resist Bobo in particular but in concert with Allen, Twelvetrees and Manu Tuilagi I think there’ll be a way through the Falcons’ midfield and the Tigers’ defence has thus far been robust.
In the back three ex Quin, Charlie Amesbury, has been getting the game time he craved at his old club but he sustained what was originally thought to be a broken cheekbone against Gloucester so he may be unfit for Saturday, if so maybe Danny Williams, who scored six tries in the 2008/9 season but hit a real barren patch last term, not once crossing the try line in fourteen Premiership appearances, will get his first start having had a pipe opener in Newcastle’s development match against the Scottish Exiles on Sunday before he was substituted .
What’s for sure is that the excellent ex Munster player, New Zealand born Jeremy Manning, won’t be going anywhere other than Welford Road wearing the #15 shirt.
I have been very impressed with what I’ve seen of the talented 25 year old. He comes into the line very well with superb timing, he’s also an intelligent kicker from hand, seemingly trying to threaten the Space Shuttle with some of his steepling kicks of which I expect Tigers will have an opportunity to inspect at close quarters.
The Newcastle backs do kick a lot of ball and provided that Tigers are more accurate than were Gloucester in dealing with them there should be plenty of attacking opportunities for the hosts.
For Tigers I can see no conceivable reason for Manu Tuilagi not to retain his spot on the wing after his bravura performance against Quins and his defensive qualities will not be wasted either.
Scott Hamilton will doubtless continue on the other wing and relish the chance to run back the likely Newcastle aerial barrage.
Geordan Murphy was much more involved last week and I think he was pleased to have Jordan Crane back taking some of the decisions off his ever broadening shoulders. He too is off on an extended away-day but to Eire where I hope he’s keeping his hand on the Sterling in his wallet as the Irish will take all they can get!
Quite why Geordan doesn’t retire from international rugby I don’t know as the idiotic Declan Kidney only calls upon him in the direst of emergencies and he has as much chance of getting in the Irish World Cup squad as I have of getting that long awaited call from Penelope Cruz – come on Penny you know you want to!
In any event if Geordan is cooling his heels on the bench in Dublin I expect to see Hamilton at 15, which will not weaken the position, and that in the absence of Amorosino or Agulla Lee Robinson will get a start on the wing.
If Tony Allen also doesn’t reappear then expect Tuilagi and Smith to move in one position and if there’s no Amorosino or Agulla either that Will Hurrell will get a start – more disruption – poor Richard Cockerill, he must feel that he’s eaten too much cheese and having a nightmare from which he can’t wake up.
This week’s referee is Greg Garner who I have never seen before and about who I know nothing other than this will be his tenth Premiership fixture – he’ll be the one wearing a L Plate.
Alan Tait and his charges will, like Conor O’Shea and Quins last week, believe that this is the best chance they’ll ever get to turn over Tigers at Welford Road for the first time since 1997 and in that they are undoubtedly correct however I reckon that Tigers will prevail but not with a 10-83 score line as was the case back in 2005 and with the weather on Saturday forecast for Leicester as being 3 degrees with scattered snow showers I also think the match will be brutish enough for the Tate Modern.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:29:18:45:31 by Stephen Bath.
I think the 8 billion loan should be conditional on Geordon being in the world cup squad!
excellent as ever.Enjoy the game but hoping the Falcons improvement continues!
NursePete
I think we may also hope to see our R2 resources bolstered again this week - though one hopes Louis' return proves less traumatically brief than Geoff's!
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Our back three could leave large gaps if they imitate Panzers attacking the Maginot Line as, I believe, they didn't, they went around.
Such trite observations pale in the face of such astute writing, however, so accept a mere 'thanks' for yet another masterpiece.
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
Quote:hope you are right about the front row because I rather felt that Julian was also under pressure last week and whilst I accept Mr Barnes' vicissitudes were part of that I'm not sure we should expect widely different this week. It will be important to get a nudge on at scrum and breakdown because Young is, as you say, a livewire and needs to be afforded the close attention of Craig Newby to keep him quiet.
Ah - well I was at least right in part!
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