Tigers v Wasps AP Match Preview
By ChrisC
April 7 2014
Looking for Sugar - Those who've stuck with me and my ramblings over the years will maybe recall that, after many visits, I have an interest in the USA so I regularly watch American TV news, ensuring that I balance the output of NBC, a channel so liberal as to make the BBC seem positively fascist, with that of Fox, which is so conservative that Genghis Khan could have his own show.
When they break for advertisements (which they frequently do so the domestic audience don’t miss any of “these important messages”) Fox instead show information clips on everything from the latest treatment for haemorrhoids to the dog that can walk a tightrope – eclectic I guess you’d call it.
Fox also show music videos and while I was fast forwarding I suddenly spotted a familiar face – it was our very own delectable Joss Stone. I halted the Sky+ box and backtracked to check and there she was singing a track from her latest album: Soul Sessions Volume2.
It really was very good and encouraged me to look at and then buy this follow up album, her first volume remarkably issued way back in 2003. How can more than a decade have passed since the talented Kentish lass first appeared with her breakthrough album?
For those who like soul music the latest volume is a gem of an album with some evocative tracks for those of a “certain age”, including Womack and Womack’s “Teardrops” from 1988 reminding me that the late 1980s weren’t all Stock, Aitken and Waterman, Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue.
The first time I heard Sam Cooke’s daughter Linda Womack singing the original with her late husband Cecil I was in my Rover Sterling thundering down the M50 to one of my businesses in south Wales.
Ah that Rover! What a car. It had electric everything and was a constant source of unwelcome surprises, from dumping its wiring loom on to my feet while driving along Manchester’s Corporation Street to just stopping for no apparent reason on the M1 before starting again, all of its own volition.
It also had the habit, thankfully while the car was stationary, of reclining the driver’s seat at random moments while at the same time opening the sunshine roof and activating the alarm just so nobody could miss me slowly disappearing below the window line as the seat reclined only to reappear a few seconds later as the seat returned to the upright. Sometimes I was distinctly dampened during the process as the weather didn’t curtail the pantomime.
Back to the Soul Sessions 2; Labi Siffre’s “I Got the..” is there, so is the Chi-Lites’ “More Power to the People”, “The Love We Had” first released back in 1971 by The Dells and the John Loudermilk composition “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” released by The Casinos way back in 1967 are also well recreated but my favourite is the haunting “While You’re Out Looking for Sugar” first released by Honey Cone in 1969.
“While you're out looking for sugar
Somebody's gonna take your honey and be gone
While you're out looking for sugar
Somebody's tryna take your honey and be gone
Buzz buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz buzz”
(Dunbar & Wayne)
Tigers’ annual infestation of Hymenoptera takes place this weekend and they will also be buzzing around looking for the sweetness of victory at Welford Road while Tigers will be seeking to steal the visitors’ honeyed hopes of qualification for the new senior European competition.
Last Wasps took on Gloucester in a quarter final of the Amlin Cup while Tigers were engaged down in Clermont in the same round of the senior competition.
The demands of Sky meant that while the Tigers’ match was at the reasonably civilised time of 4pm on Saturday Wasps had to wait until 7pm on Sunday evening to meet up with the Cherry & Whites. Bizarre! Who cares about supporters who want to go to see the match – not Sky, not ERC that’s for sure. So just over five thousand souls were at Adams’ Park for a quarter final of a European competition.
Hopefully, with it seeming that next season’s new competition will see BT handling the home matches of the English teams, some common sense or even consideration will break out – well “hope springs” and all that!
So this morning I watched last night’s match having already seen Tigers lose to Clermont the previous afternoon in a match that was eventually decided by the partiality of the Franco-Irish referee; Alain Colm Pierre Rollandwho brought back unhappy memories of when he whistled Tigers out of the Heineken Cup semi -final against Toulouse at the Walkers’ Stadium on another Spring day back in April 2005 in front of over 30000 spectators who witnessed Tigers’ defeat.
Wasps’ task was somewhat less daunting than that of Tigers a day or so earlier and they put away the hapless Gloucester who are just three points behind Wasps in the Premiership, who go into this weekend’s round of matches in seventh spot with thirty-nine points.
Tigers are nineteen points better off in third.
The major issue for Tigers ahead of next Saturday’s fixture is going to be the fitness of the front row with Mulipola leaving the Clermont pitch held together with tape and Ayerza barely able to walk, while Tom Youngs was just exhausted.
Wasps though have just five days to regroup after their efforts on Sunday evening so challenges, albeit of varying magnitude, for both clubs in coping with the dysfunctional fixture list that has less coordination than Frank Spencer.
While, from what I’ve seen, the Wasps’ scrum has not been their strongest suit this term, given that it has been Gloucester’s weakest I was surprised that Wasps didn’t get a decisive upper hand. I can only think that it must be the influence of Wasps’ erstwhile scrum coach; Trevor Woodman, that’s made the difference to the Cherry & Whites.
Mullan was very much the coming man when at Sixways and I have been surprised not to see him progress as much as I’d expected under the tutelage of Dai Young and being away from the odd atmosphere that seems to pervade Sixways. He’s been good but not superlative. In fact it’s the young Welshman; Jake Cooper-Woolley that’s been more eye-catching for me. This lad is muscular in the loose and provides excellent support play so I expect to see him again paired with Mullan and that maybe Italian international Carlo Festuccia; capped over fifty times for his country will again be preferred to Tom Lindsay.
Festuccia scored a try against Gloucester, largely due to the largesse of his compatriots who were officiating, as to my neutral eye the score was highly doubtful due to either a knock on during the approach work or the grounding being short but the referee’s mindset was clear when his question to the TMO was “any reason why I can’t award the try”. So the score stood and was reward for Wasps’ dominance although dubious in nature.
I would expect that Richard Cockerill will be inclined to have Tom Youngs, Marcos Ayerza and Mulipola on the Tigers’ bench and give starts to the hard scrummaging Boris Stankovitch and Rob Hawkins who are both leaving for pastures new at the season’s end with Fraser Balmain getting a deserved start.
Were the Tigers’ current first choice trio used I think it would prejudice their effectiveness later in the season, especially as they will have a short turn around before travelling to the Stoop the following Friday. In normal circumstances the Tigers’ likely starting trio would have a decisive advantage over Wasps but I still think Stankovitch, Hawkins and Balmain will have an edge and if things really go mammaries skyward the cavalry can be deployed.
Wasps’ second row will be a choice between the Kingsholm bound Tom Palmer and England star Joe Launchbury and I suspect it’ll be Palmer that gets the start at Welford Road with the dynamic Launchbury replacing him later to try and exploit any lead in the legs of the Tigers’ defenders.
Kearnan Myall, ex of Leeds and latterly Sale, has been a tower of strength in his team’s line out and some of his elusive carrying is excellent. I expect therefore to see him start again adding to his twenty-three first team appearances in this, his debut season, at Adams’ Park.
The venerable Louis Deacon has earned a rest and I’d like to see a Tigers’ second row of Kitchener and Slater, there’s also a rumour that Geoff Parling is nearing fitness; now that would be a fillip.
Aficionados of our sport bemoan the paucity of true open side flankers in the English game with the presence of hybrid flankers now the vogue. Why has there been this sea change? Just look at the treatment handed out to Kvesic and Salvi by match officials last weekend. Salvi was penalised for entering a ruck from the side by the hapless Rolland, even though a ruck hadn’t formed and Kvesic was repeatedly harshly treated by the second rate Marius Mitrea. And this calumny happens week in and week out.
Wasps’ back row was though superb with Haskell working hard all over the pitch and using his leg drive to make gain line busting runs while twenty-two year old Sam Jones was tireless as a replacement for South African Ashley Johnson who was part of the awful match at Sixways a couple of weeks ago but gives even more go forward from the blindside.
The standout player in the Wasps’ breakaways was young Kiwi Nathan Hughes who’s arrived from NPC outfit Auckland. Just twenty-three he looks a very astute signing by Young and was superb against Gloucester, completely outshining Ben Morgan. Hughes was all over the pitch: carrying, tackling, mauling – oh and getting a Yellow Card; his absence seeing his side leak fourteen points.
This could be another opportunity for Tigers to start Pablo Matera and give Salvi a rest after the depredations of last Saturday. Matera is a very modern open side in that he’s not a specialist and as Wasps don’t have a specialist either there’ll be little lost so Matera’s worth another start.
Jamie Gibson was once again splendid against Clermont, his approach work for Crane’s try was of the highest quality but as Mafi has been sighted then again he’s worth a start, as he’ll be a straight replacement for the ubiquitous Gibson who could be on the bench covering any back row position.
Whereas Dai Young has no issues over his #8 Richard Cockerill does. Crane carried tirelessly, ran superb support and seemed everywhere in France. He’s in some good form but could probably do with a rest however in reserve is only Thomas Waldrom who has been awful of late, already seeming to be ensconced in Devon and dreaming of eating endless cream teas. So Crane it may have to be unless Noone is drafted in.
The breakdown could be close and is an area decided as much (if not more) by the referee as the players. But I do hope that whoever is in charge stops this business where the players of one team run past the tackle area and clean out their opposite number before they join the ruck – it’s called obstruction or tackling a player without the ball. Surely that’s not another added to the pantheon of unenforced laws?
This weekend it has again been noticeable that once a driving maul has started the two most likely results are a try or a penalty to the attacking side, often accompanied by a Yellow Card. They’ve become almost default outcomes.
Although if Tigers do rest a number their current first choice forwards the contest will be closer I still sense a slight edge up front for the home side.
Behind the pack Wasps’ Joe Simpson was scurrying around like a Jack Russell terrier and some of his kicking was sublime, I just wish he’d rein in the histrionics a bit as has Ben Youngs of late and who played well behind a pack that struggled once the match had worn on and Clermont could deploy their next flotilla of Man o‘ Wars from the bench, who Mr Rolland pretty much permitted to do as they liked while he perhaps amused himself by whistling "La Marseillaise" as could have been taught him by his French father.
Mele is playing well but I rather expect to see Youngs start to face Simpson.
Andy Goode will be looking forward to returning to Welford Road having largely overcome the yips that beset him against Saracens a couple of weeks back. The question is whether he’ll be facing the similarly experienced Toby Flood or new kid on the block Owen Williams who once again showed he has iced water coursing through his veins as he seemed to take the febrile atmosphere at Clermont in his stride with another great display. As Flood is fit, available and rested perhaps he’ll start with Williams on the bench, the half backs would still be well matched although the departing Flood is still instinctively the more threatening on the gain line.
Wasps’ skipper; Chris Bell is a rock in defence but in attack it was replacement centre Charlie Hayter that caught my eye. He is a real crash ball merchant but with good hands and great pace but it’ll probably be Bell to start at inside centre for the visitors.
Tony Allen got little attacking ball to work with against Clermont but it’s a credit to the Tigers’ defence he orchestrated that in spite of periods of dominance the eventual victors only managed to cross the Tigers line once, relying on Rolland’s whistle to see them home. Even Clermont’s solitary try could have been disallowed by another referee as Rougerie cantered across field behind a positive reredos of colleagues who frustrated the defenders.
Even the aggressive Wasps’ defence would have struggled in that circumstance.
Aside from almost losing his head to a high tackle from Parra Manu Tuilagi had nothing to show for his efforts other than failing to put Goneva in for a try as he got white line fever. Nevertheless I expect to see him in harness with Allen come 3pm Saturday to face either Masi or Daly in Wasps’ outside centre spot.
With the elegant Hugo Southwell forced into retirement through injury Elliott Daly, Tommy Bell and Masi have all had a turn in the full back position for Dai Young. I must say I rather prefer Daly, with his Howitzer boot and high tempo running in broken play, than the more muscular seventy-eight time capped Andrea Masi who’s a marvellous player who would be better equipped to handle Tuilagi.
Masi has just had his thirty-third birthday and is not quite as fleet footed as when he won his first cap against England on 9th March 2003playing for sixty-three minutes in his country’s 40 point to 5 drubbing by the team that nine months later would lift the Webb Ellis Trophy but he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
Christian Wade was sidelined with injury at the end of November last year while Tom Varndell hasn’t played since the middle of January although the ex Tiger is rumoured to be ready for the match against Gloucester on 19th April which is at Twickenham. Styled the “Stinger” it’s another of those “occasions” that we seem to be cursed with these days. If Varndell is indeed due for a reappearance then he could be part of the Saturday’s match day squad although Wade looks unlikely to return before the end of the season.
Without these two Dai Young has borrowed the indefatigable James Short from Saracens to augment his depleted back three resources which includes sixteen time capped Tongan international Viliami Helu who’s been around a bit with; Limoges, Grenoble, Roma, Bristol and Manly on his cv before joining Wasps this term and is a real tough character who at times acts like a fourth back row.
Tigers will surely start with Goneva and if he’s fit and after being manhandled by Clermont, Scully who was excellent against the French behemoth with Tait, who looked rusty early on after his latest return from injury (how far is Lourdes from Clermont?) but if he joins with Goneva and Scully (or indeed Thompstone) then Tigers may have too much firepower for the visitors.
So a week of uncertainty but I’m expecting Tigers to prevail on home turf although it could need General Custer to come galloping over the hill if the hosts are not to get a nasty sting.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:19:22:00 by Tiggs.
The difference between Wasps and ourselves is nowhere near big enough to treat them as an easy fixture. No good saving big guns for later if we spill the points before we get to later.
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He is a loveable sort of a player but things can go badly wrong!
Hughes is Fijian and 22.
Can't see Launch not starting, the 2nd man will be one of Myall or Palmer, Myall most likely I'd have thought.
Other than being picky with a few facts, very nice preview
. I would agree that you've got enough quality in depth to be able to afford to rest a few key players, as long as you don't go the whole hog, though if you want to give Manu, Goneva, Williams and most your pack the day off, feel free .Quote:Stopsy
......... the replacements you suggest. Too many changes will give us the same unfamiliarity as beset the first 6 months of this campaign.
Actually Mike there's only one potential change in the backs where the early season disruption was most keenly felt and that's for Toby Flood to perhaps get a start and he's surely well enough integrated for it not to cause upset. Otherwise the changes I see as possible are in the pack.
Obviously if Cockerill thinks the side that played Clermont are well enough rested and fit then that's great.
Quote:Raggs
Cooper-Woolley is English, went to Cardiff uni and played a few minutes of 1 match for Cardiff Blues (got a long term injury, but very much English.
Hughes is Fijian and 22.
Well I don't actually know all this stuff about teams other than Tigers and have to research it.
I use ITS which is usually reliable and they show Cooper-Woolley as being Welsh - so maybe they're wrong.
Helu is shown as a Tongan international who, amongst other starts, did so on the left wing against Canada in the last World Cup. This is confirmed on Wikipedia. But they may all be wrong and you correct of course.
I think Kitch should start for Deacs and if Geoff is available give him a bench spot and let the old warrior have a rest week,
In the back row I think I'd start Matera with Salvi on the bench. I think Pablo is more of a specialist than you entirely credit Chris - not perhaps an out and out pedigree 7 like Julian but more so than, say, Robshaw for example so I don't think we'll lose much. I'd also look to get Steeeve into things - for either Gibson or Crane.
I know it's a lot of changes but I think we should have enough now to deal with Wasps (even though they are in decent nick) and with a settled midfield the cavalry on the bench I think it'll hold together ok.
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Problem with having Jules on the bench is that I'm not sure he brings the same flexibility as does Jamie who's played more frequently in all back row positions.
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Quote:ChrisCQuote:Stopsy
......... the replacements you suggest. Too many changes will give us the same unfamiliarity as beset the first 6 months of this campaign.
Actually Mike there's only one potential change in the backs where the early season disruption was most keenly felt and that's for Toby Flood to perhaps get a start and he's surely well enough integrated for it not to cause upset. Otherwise the changes I see as possible are in the pack.
Obviously if Cockerill thinks the side that played Clermont are well enough rested and fit then that's great.
Quote:Raggs
Cooper-Woolley is English, went to Cardiff uni and played a few minutes of 1 match for Cardiff Blues (got a long term injury, but very much English.
Hughes is Fijian and 22.
Well I don't actually know all this stuff about teams other than Tigers and have to research it.
I use ITS which is usually reliable and they show Cooper-Woolley as being Welsh - so maybe they're wrong.
Helu is shown as a Tongan international who, amongst other starts, did so on the left wing against Canada in the last World Cup. This is confirmed on Wikipedia. But they may all be wrong and you correct of course.
Interesting that the show CW as welsh, I would assume he is Welsh qualified, but all info I find has him down as English, he was associated with Harlequins before deciding to quit rugby (took it back up at uni).
And I did admit to being picky, so please think a little towards your tone, especially when it's attached to a comment about Helu, when both of us were talking about Hughes...
Sometimes the ITS site lists birth country and qualified country but not always. I go with what they say as to trawl back through every player's heritage would take too much time and these weekly pieces take a lot of research anyway and it's only for background colour after all.
This happens a lot with South Sea Islands' players and sometimes I know about them but not all obviously, there are just too many.
Glad you enjoyed the piece - thanks to you and the others who've voiced their appreciation for saying as much.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:08:15:41:37 by ChrisC.
South Sea islanders tend to have such mixed heritage, then all grow up in Aus/NZ anyway, just have to look at the number of countries Mako and Billy Vunipola qualify for! Doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the info on them isn't always 100%
I am a bit surprised by C-W though, I might look into that some more .You may wish to bleat about inconsistent refereeing but it cannot be as bad as Bledwyn's side-kick's apoplexy, and whilst your taste in 'music' may show a certain 'focus' on other things, you'd not be a d.j. thankfully; surely your input would dazzle an audience currently more mournful than a monochrome production of 1984 in a cupboard with the door shut, more confused than a rebuked Irish troll
Shall we have a vote, and petition RL?
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
If I came off my medication I'd be a like for like replacement for Steve on RL!
Ah!
Soul! 
Well, no, mine's Blues please .. has more soul than Soul
.. and you'd be good for RL
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
Who'd be an (amateur previewer!?)
My guess is that he was born in Reigate, played for Dorking and has Welsh qualification through residency. But just guessing.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:09:14:09:45 by ChrisC.
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Steve has had the Quins Preview but not had the chance to publish it yet - should be available from him later today - if anybody's interested - watch this space (well the new space - but you know what I mean!!)
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