Exeter v Tigers Preview
By ChrisC
February 6 2012
Running Bear As my holiday drew to a close I wondered what to write about this week for, as those who read my pieces will know, I have a ramble through my brain before getting to the matter in hand. I know that this indulgence on my part annoys some people who just prefer a recital of the players but c’est la vie.
Before the advent of The Beatles and the explosion of pop groups the music us kids enjoyed had a more eclectic flavour with individual artists holding sway. I was reminded of this when, while carrying out my annual cull of paperwork to make room for documents moving from the warmth of my office to the limbo of the attic where they are destined to languish untroubled with the other administrative old lags for six years, I delved into the box that contains my vinyl record collection.
There, blinking in the light, were a whole crowd of old friends just waiting to sing their little hearts out for me.
Apart from such famous stars of the day as; Elvis, Cliff, Billy Fury, Adam Faith and Buddy Holly there were the others who, on a whim, had found their way home with me; Emile Ford and the Checkmates, Karl Denver, Frank Ifield, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Vinton, Helen Shapiro and many more, all just waiting for me to rescue them from their dark exile.
The one that caught my eye though was “Running Bear” by Johnny Preston which was written by J P Richardson (better known as the “Big Bopper” and who’s life came to an end in the same plane crash which claimed that of Buddy Holly)who also sang backing on the record.
When I listened again to the 1960 #1 I was transported back to a wet Saturday afternoon when I bought the hit of the day from a record shop (remember those??) in Romford’s South Street. They were wonderful shops where it was possible for two or three of us to crowd into a booth and listen to records before surrendering our pocket money or more often making a run for it, a pastime made so much easier when a school mate, the delectable Linda Hudson, got a Saturday job at the shop!
In the song; “Running Bear” was a young Indian Brave and the song is the story of his love for a young Indian girl called “Little White Dove” but being from different warring tribes their love was not to be and their final illicit tryst saw them going to the happy hunting ground together.
So there I had it; my penchant for nostalgia and a link to the rugby this weekend as on Saturday two other warring tribes will meet at Sandy Park when Tigers travel down to the West Country to meet Exeter Chiefs at what is rarely a hunting ground holding any happiness for visiting teams.
The last time I saw Exeter Chiefs play in the league was back at New Year when Quins galloped into sight and had a frustrating afternoon in the West Country. Exeter, that day, offered little attacking threat and having watched Saracens, during the match at Twickenham the previous week, commit all manner of illegalities at the breakdown, had determined to do the same and thus slow down the Quins’ ball for they knew that if the table toppers were permitted to play their preferred high tempo game the hosts could be facing a thumping.
On the face of it the tactic should’ve worked especially as early on the Chiefs’ scrum had the visitors, who’d benched Samoan international James Johnson in favour of Tim Fairbrother, on toast.
However there was a missing factor, the infinitely variable refereeing of the breakdown by Wayne Barnes, who the previous week had seemingly only spotted the indiscretions of Quins, with those of Saracens largely ignored, this week J P Doyle was in charge and continued his good, consistent, work from the previous week at Sixways and penalised both sides for their misdemeanours around the tackle area of which Exeter’s were copious.
Exeter were very fortunate that Quins’ half-back maestro; Nick Evans, was absent with an injury and the stand-in; Rory Clegg, had a nightmare with his kicking boots, missing fourteen points and in the process handing Exeter a losing bonus point.
Since that weekend Exeter got an away victory against the struggling Falcons in the Premiership, precipitating the demise of Alan Tait, and have been putting themselves about in the Amlin Cup with some success, securing a quarter final spot against Stade Francais in Paris.
They have however treated the LV= Cup as the development competition it’s supposed to be and as a consequence have no further interest in proceedings.
Tigers, during the same period, stumbled to victory over Sale in the Premiership and eventually put Wasps to the sword with the soon to depart Billy Twelvetrees scoring all the home side’s 29 points.
The twice European champions had a less successful time in their European campaign, being humiliated in Belfast and initially struggling to overcome Aironi before being dumped out of the competition, not even earning a shot at the Amlin consolation prize.
Both of this Saturday’s sides have rounded off the period with a couple of LV Cup matches that saw a strong Tigers’ team progress to the semi-finals with an away fixture at The Recreation Ground. How costly might that opening match debacle at Parc y Scarlets prove?
Exeter are untroubled by having to play through the Six Nations period and Rob Baxter will enjoy a luxury that Richard Cockerill can only dream of; the ability to pick a settled team.
I expect that Brett Sturgess, who has cemented his place after being a bit part player at Saints for so long, to start on the loose head side to face Julian White or new signing Mulipola who, with Dan Cole and Martin Castrogiovanni absent on international duty and Kieren Brookes still injured, are to all intents and purposes, the last men standing for the Tigers’ #3 shirt. The vastly under rated Neil Clark should be at hooker for the home side linking up with Andress, signed this term from Quins, in a settled and strong front row.
Happily both Marcos Ayerza and Boris Stankovitch are available for the Tigers’ loose head berth and I hope that Hawkins gets a start at hooker to bring his physicality and pace to the Tigers. I don’t see the Exeter trio dominating Tigers in the way they did Quins but it’ll still be a stern test for the visitors.
As Geoff Parling has now been sucked into the England squad and Deacon is injured the odds are that the soon to depart George Skivington will be on parade. I was saddened to learn of Skivington’s decision to head back south as I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him, although I think I rate him more highly than many others and how refreshing to see his dignified demeanour in announcing his decision to join London Irish.
Ed Slater has survived exposure to the toxicity of the England set up and I expect to see him line up and bring his grunt to proceedings with Kitchener dropping to the bench as his development continues.
The Chiefs’ ever present Premiership performer Tom Hayes will doubtless be back in front of the adoring Sandy Park crowd and what a stalwart he is as a vital component in providing steam to the Chiefs’ scrummaging engine and a key presence at the breakdown. Tigers’ old boy; Peter Short has been absent injured for a long while but has recovered and could well start ahead of ex Glasgow lock; Aly Muldowney who’s been filling his place with some distinction.
The Chief’s line out has been robust and with Tom Croft missing on international duty it will fall to Tigers’ likely blind side; Steve Mafi, to bolster the visitors’ line out and I see an even contest here.
With Tom Johnson also freed from the England set up I assume he’ll resume his spot on the blind side for the Chiefs. I really like Johnson, he’s strong at the breakdown and dynamic in the loose with the pace of a centre. Ex Bath open side James Scaysbrook, who joined Exeter for their inaugural Premiership season, invariably starts in key matches and I don’t see any difference next Saturday. Scaysbrook is a real old time #7 and, with Richard Baxter looking odds on to join this settled and accomplished back row, Tigers will have to be much improved at the breakdown, which has been an ongoing area of concern for the Leicester club.
Hopefully Tigers will not lose Thomas Waldrom to the importuning England management and he’ll be available for Tigers to join the admirably mobile Mafi and the dogged Julian Salvi, who may be preferred to the back in form Ben Woods, in presenting a challenge to the Chiefs’ triumvirate, who know every trick in the book so the visitors will quickly need to establish the demeanour of the referee at the breakdown and adjust to compensate for whatever’s the law of the day, otherwise they could find themselves at a disadvantage to Chiefs’ expertise in slowing down opposition ball.
With Ben Youngs absent in Italy and still struggling to find some decent form young Sam Harrison is surely now the first choice scrum half for Tigers and with Micky Young the latest victim of the ERC’s Kangeroo Court where, against the tenet of common justice, a player is guilty of any offence he’s accused of whether or not there is supporting evidence, James Grindal will be on the bench in support if he’s recovered from the knock he sustained against the Falcons.
Exeter’s Haydn Thomas, who I saw play for Gloucester a few times, is another player who, previously consigned to that of perennial bridesmaid at Kingsholm, has flourished and blossomed under the tutelage of Rob Baxter , the Midlander scoring a lovely individual try against the Falcons. He’s sharp as a West Country adze and will need Harrison’s close attention as he’s more adroit than the Tigers’ tyro around the breakdown and could well cause trouble if left unfettered.
My heart sunk when I read that Toby Flood was to train with England this week. My cynicism of the England set up leads me to worry that he’ll either get injured or be deemed to have “proved his fitness” by playing less than half an hour of LV rugby.
I expect that Charlie Hodgson, after playing his full part in a mediocre performance against Scotland, one which incidentally had Martin Johnson been in charge, would have led to calls for him to be hung, drawn and quartered, will, if fit, start anyway against Italy but my concern is that the inherent stupidity of England in the area of player welfare, will see Flood on the bench or even starting, fit or not, if Hodgson sends a sick note so not to have tackle those nasty Italians, although why this should be necessary with the media’s latest pin-up; Owen Farrell, on hand to cover fly half for England would be a mystery.
Richard Cockerill would then need to decide whether to trust the burgeoning George Ford with the Tigers’ #10 shirt or stick with Staunton, who seems to have given a good account of himself last weekend. On balance I’d like to see young Ford get the nod in the knowledge that if it goes awry the reliable Irishman is in reserve.
In the four time capped Argentinian international Ignacio Mieres Rob Baxter has real find. He’s a deadly kicker and usually manages to get the Chiefs over the gain line. Mieres is one of those players I just enjoy watching as he has that strange calmness about him even when in the middle of a maelstrom.
The problems for Exeter come after Mieres has done his work as without Sireli Naqelevuki the Sandy Park team just don’t seem able to generate go forward other than through their grisly pack. Kiwi Jason Shoemark is a good honest player and has a couple of tries to his name in this year’s Premiership to show for his dozen starts, both coming against Falcons when they visited Sandy Park back in early September, but he just doesn’t present the threat of the Fijian powerhouse which Tigers’ supporters witnessed first-hand when he was the architect of their team’s downfall in the opening match of the season.
I expect Shoemark to again be in double harness with Frenchman Nic Sestaret, who is justifiably a favourite with the Chief’s supporters. The Frenchman looks as if he could hold his own in a brawl in a Marseille bordello and is a real tough customer in defence but again struggles to make enough telling breaks in attack.
Tigers meanwhile have Tony Allen back from injury and settling into the rough and tumble of rugby instead of that in the local A&E department and he will be hoping to get amongst the home side’s backs to release the incisive Matt Smith who will surely continue if the now back in training Manu Tuilagi is still sending in his sick notes. I think that it’s possible that the Tigers’ centres, in the absence of Naqelevuki and especially if Tuilagi junior is fit, will have an edge, always assuming the Tigers’ half backs get them onto the front foot.
It will be interesting to see what role Billy Twelvetrees plays for the rest of the season given the dirty linen that both sides saw fit to air in Twelvetrees taking his leave of Welford Road and as Forsyth is in the wings ready for the development that Twelvetrees has eschewed and with young Symons, who was the only good thing to come out of the rout at Llanelli in the opening round of the LV Cup, still to return from injury, there’s young talent that is willing to remain and contest for the #12 position. I know enough of Gloucester to be sure that Twelvetrees won’t get the #12 shirt by default and his exploits with the Saxons hardly seem to have otherwise promoted his claims at Kingsholm anymore than they would at Welford Road.
Out wide for Exeter Matt Jess and another Argentinian international; the ex Quin Gonzalo Camacho, who scored the try that saw his erstwhile employers through to the Heineken Cup by way of their victory in last season’s Amlin. I was impressed by this lad when he was at Quins as he’s fast, elusive and tough in the tackle so I was surprised they let him go but he’s certainly been another good signing by the astute Rob Baxter.
Coventry born Matt Jess is one of those players that doesn’t feature in the stats too much but has the ability to pop up in the most unexpected places and cause chaos in opposition defences so it’s a pity for the Chiefs that they don’t have the weight of support to get more tries from his efforts, the Exeter club finding tries relatively hard to come by. However their achievement in amassing six losing bonus points, which with Gloucester is the best in the league, is key to their league position and underscores their largely impermeable defence.
Nippon bound Alex Tuilagi will probably be on one wing for Tigers with the “not wanted on voyage” Horacio Agulla on the other. I hope Tuilagi senior is not already mentally in Tokyo but expect that Agulla will be keen to show off his wares to prospective employers. Personally I’m sorry to see the Agentinian go but with his native country’s involvement with SANZAR making him unavailable for the first third of the season it was probably an inevitable outcome. Of course were Tigers not fettered by the anti competitive and corrosive salary cap I’m sure Agulla would have been retained, as it is I expect to see him playing for a European club not similarly constrained – there are plenty of them, they’re just not, as far as we know, English.
Luke Arscott will probably be wearing the Chief’s #15, the big ex Memorial Ground player will run the ball back time after time and invariably make good yardage but his side’s attacking limitations have seen him cross the whitewash just once in this year’s Premiership.
Geordan Murphy enjoyed something of a New Year’s renaissance, even scoring in the ritual slaughter at Ravenhill, and he’ll be back as the last line of defence for the visitors.
So this will be no time for the Tigers, having been part of the “Two Tribes” going to war, to follow the other entreaty of Holly Johnson and “Relax” as Chiefs are just five points behind them in the league.
With their pack shorn of key players I think Tigers may find the home side’s eight limiting decent possession at the set piece and it’s hard to tell what set of laws will apply at the breakdown although Tigers’ record here is already lacklustre, so I can see the backs living off poor ball but if they do get some go forward then I reckon they have the edge over the Chiefs but it’s hard to see anything but a close fought victory for the home side and a bonus point for the visitors.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012:02:13:22:16:18 by Tiggs.
Thanks and a warm (ha! ha!) welcome back. Your efforts have been missed. Hope you had a great holiday.
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Running Bear used to be part of the pre-match playlist but seems to be out of favour, maybe we can get it back for Saturday
Despite all the mewling and puking over the "death of English rugby" there's something exciting about reading an Exe fans quite reasonably hoping for doing the double over Tigers.
It should be a cracking game between two worthy adversaries.
Considering coming down for it actually, as I'm only the other end of the M5, but fear it may be snowing again.
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I dare say there was angst as you left the warmth of the Blue Rinse State for the blues of our late winter, albeit snow free in better parts of Hants.
Sad to say there may be lashings and lashings more angst come Saturday [why an 1800 k.o?] as [1]5 go mad in
'Profit Motive' .. the Vaseline of genocides.
'Reality' .. the new cynicism
I reckon it'll be a tight win for Tigers but, apart from a facination for music made before I was born, little else wrong with your analyse as always.
'Profit Motive' .. the Vaseline of genocides.
'Reality' .. the new cynicism
I thought they moved the ball better and despite being a bit too lateral at times they were at least more often in motion. I accept that the opposition was ordinary but it seemed better to me.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:02:08:18:16:03 by Purebob.
Hope it's not a decade of angst.
Not Jim Reeves wondering why his dog has slashed it's wrists and is laying it's head on the railroad track [listen to your singing, man!]
It's just one result, isn't it? Not an era?
'Profit Motive' .. the Vaseline of genocides.
'Reality' .. the new cynicism