LEICESTER TIGERS v SARACENS: post match related comment here
By The Saracens
January 4 2024
Saturday sees the team travel to Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers in the first of January’s tough series of games. Saracens welcomed back Roti Segun, Ben Earl, Nick Isiekwe and Eliott Daly last weekend while a number of regulars had a well-deserved break so in theory the team should be fresh, strong and raring to go! In theory anyway.
Tigers are currently in 7th with 25 points, 6 points behind Sarries in 5th. Both will be looking to advance their play-off credentials. Sarries had a comfortable if not convincing win over struggling Newcastle Falcons on Saturday while Tigers took advantage of a weakened Bath side to record a reasonably comfortable 5 point victory on Sunday (although they leaked a couple of tries in the last 5 minutes to make it look more respectable for Bath. I know another team quite good at doing that).
Tigers are well martialled by South African Handre Pollard at 10 with either Ben Youngs or former Sarrie Tom Whitely at 9 assuming the continued absence of Jack Van Poortvliet). Tigers have some handy backs but they too have injury problems with Ollie Hassle-Collins (who has given Sarries a hard time recently), Anthony Watson, Guy Porter, Matt Scott & Josh Bassett all missing last weekend possibly joined by Solomone Kata. Freddie Steward, Dan Kelly, and the veteran Mike Brown are still in the mix. Tigers have a pretty handy pack (although something of a Hooker injury crisis with Julian Montoya carrying the load) though with the likes of Dan Cole, Francois Van Wyk, Ollie Chessum, George Martin, Hanro Liebenberg, Jasper Wiese and Tommy Reffell. The scrum has been a huge challenge for Sarries in recent games (principally due to the loss of Riccioni and Mawi) and things won’t get any easier against this Tigers’ pack! Mako’s 4 week ban just adds fuel to the fire! However unjust we think it is, we have to accept the judgement and get on with it. The next 4 weeks are going to be tough. Might be worth bringing your boots on Saturday if you can play loosehead!
So it looks like we have a team a bit light up front facing a team a bit short at the back which could make for an interesting contest!
“Tigersimon” (who knows far more than I do) has suggested the following lineup: Shillcock, Simmons, Steward, Kelly, Brown, Pollard, Youngs (JVP/Whitely); Cronin, Montoya, Cole, Wells, Martin, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese.
I think Mark McCall will go full throttle for this one and utilise those players who have returned from injury. So probably something like: Daly, Segun, Tompkins, Hartley, Lewington, Farrell, Van Zyl; M Mulipola, George, Clarey, Itoje, Isiekwe, Gonzales, Christie, Earl
Our referee is Luke Pearce so everyone needs to watch what they say and leave the talking to Faz!
The next 4 weeks are huge for both clubs. 2 Premiership matches, after which only SIX will remain, and 2 European Qualifiers. Any slip ups by either side and the season effectively ends here. For non 6 Nations Internationals, there is a 2 month break at the end of January to look forward to. That in itself will be interesting to manage: a toss up between some R and R and staying fit. (No wonder Faz decided he needs a break). Meanwhile the main advice for Saturday has to be “hang on to the ball and whatever you do don’t knock it on!”
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:01:18:08:11:57 by Darraghgirl.
Also given its Pearce maybe Jamie George rather than Farrell doing the only talking!
Hoping for a couple of returnees but that was almost a worse case scenario team and had assumed Hanro & Ben Youngs available!
Had benched O. Chessum because of the schedule for the International players and a 6 day turnaround for Tigers (getting my excuses in early)
Christie has played every week so could be one to sit this week out. Theo M too has played a fair bit.
Quote:tigerburnie
Shouldn't this be a pre match related comments thread?
Unfortunately SNW limits the number of characters in the title page and "Leicester tigers" takes up too many so had to abbreviate the rest. We know what we mean!!!!
Of course you can come back with your after match comments tomorrow, if you wish.


Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
1 Sam Crean
2 Kapeli Pifeleti
3 Christian Judge
4 Maro Itoje
5 Hugh Tizard
6 Theo McFarland
7 Juan Martin Gonzalez
8 Ben Earl
9 Gareth Simpson
10 Owen Farrell (c)
11 Lucio Cinti
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Elliot Daly
14 Rotimi Segun
15 Tom Parton
Replacements:
16 Theo Dan
17 Logovi’i Mulipola
18 Ollie Hoskins
19 Nick Isiekwe
20 Andy Christie
21 Ivan van Zyl
22 Manu Vunipola
23 Alex Lewington
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:01:05:12:04:45 by Sarriebone.
15 Freddie Steward [79]
14 Harry Simmons [36]
13 Dan Kelly [70]
12 Solomone Kata [9]
11 Mike Brown [18]
10 Handré Pollard [22]
9 Tom Whiteley [19]
1 James Cronin [24]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [49] *
3 Joe Heyes [134]
4 George Martin [71]
5 Ollie Chessum [50]
6 Matt Rogerson [12]
7 Tommy Reffell [107]
8 Jasper Wiese [68]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Finn Theobold-Thomas [4]
17 Francois van Wyk [43]
18 Will Hurd [35]
19 Harry Wells [187]
20 Kyle Hatherell [10]
21 Olly Cracknell [31]
22 Ben Youngs [308]
23 Jamie Shillcock [15]
The only returnee is Youngs on the bench, but at least Kata is fit and Mike Brown has extended his contract 👍
Looking at the starting 23 it feels like if the XV can still be in touch once the bench come on then Sarries have a chance despite Tigers also having a strong bench too.
Hopefully Pifeleti has spent the some of his recovery time practicing his darts. We have very strong lineout options and exciting quick backs to release off those set plays but we have to be able to hit our jumpers. Great to see McFarland at 6 and with he, Sarries locks, JMG and Christie we have some great lineout options in attack and defence.
Both wings but Segun especially chased brilliantly last game but I hope this is one that we keep the ball in hand more and test Tigers defence wider out. My preference would be to see Sarries, when we do kick, vary that more but I also feel we could put pressure of Tigers by kicking off the field to force them to take lineouts in their half at which we compete.
If we can cope with Tigers scrum, physicality and Reffell slowing and stealing ball at the breakdown then we have a chance!
Huge game for both Simpson and Crean. Good luck to both and the whole team. COYS.
Unlike COYS I feel Tigers have a very obvious advantage in terms of a nearer full squad but we play with the teams available! Hoping yesterdays news doesn't factor in our performance unless its in a positive way (I think that's all the excuses bases covered!!)
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
Quote:OldMarovian
I feel Tigers have a very obvious advantage in terms of a nearer full squad but we play with the teams available! Hoping yesterday’s news doesn't factor in our performance unless it’s in a positive way (I think that's all the excuses bases covered!!)
Nice try OM but can’t let you have that excuse
Injuries whilst in different positions for those that would get in a 23, roughly about the same number.
Saracens
Mako (Banned)
Mawi
West
Riccioni
RAH
CHH
Willis
Loz
And probably a couple I have missed!
🐯
Centres/Wings
Scott
Porter
OHC
Bassett
Watson
Hooker
Clare
Dolly
Vanes
Other Positions
JVP
Cam Henderson
Liebenberg
Cole
As were seeing without at least parity up front Rugby is a very difficult game! I think you have a similar issue at hooker.
Quote:OldMarovian
It's where the injuries are for us tigersimon. Our prop resources and until recently lock too.
As were seeing without at least parity up front Rugby is a very difficult game! I think you have a similar issue at hooker.
Appreciate it’s all in the Front row (& was at lock)
Hooker is 1st choice starting but then probably 5th for FTT with no disrespect to the guy!
The other is the centre/wing with Brown out on the wing and being forced to play Kata/Kelly again when Kata could probably do with a rest. As we discussed earlier in the week my worst case scenario team was Steward starting at 13 and it’s quite likely we have gone 6-2 today because of the number of backs out.
Just don’t knock the ball on and I will hope Pollard can control the game without putting the ball into touch unless it’s a 50/22 or from a PK!
Enjoy the game (but not too much)!
Quote:Stopsy
The lad Montoya looks promising 😊
I think given time he might prove himself Stopsy

Quote:🤣Stopsy
The lad Montoya looks promising 😊
Quote:Nosher1979
My daughter is at the game and tells me the fans were booing Farrel at the half time whistle with ‘le Boo’! Imaginative to say the least.
If he hasn’t made his mind up yet that’ll do it
Quote:#wolfpack1
Does anyone have the figures on the number of penalties we’ve conceded at the scrum this season? I think it will cost us a spot in the play offs.
It is a coaching issue this.
I know we’re missing plenty, but it doesn’t really matter who plays- every week we shuffle the cards and every week we get battered.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:01:06:16:35:06 by #wolfpack1.
A great game between two good squads on the day.
The number of penalties conceded probably reflects the pressure we put you under and as you know, refs tend to favour the side applying the pressure.
With 7 games to go and next three against front runners, we need get the strategy and discipline right.
Healey was wrong, plain and simple.
OPPOSING TEAM AT A PENALTY OR FREE-KICK
When a penalty or free-kick is awarded, the opposing team must immediately retreat 10 metres towards their own goal line or until they have reached their goal line if that is closer.
Even if the penalty or free-kick is taken quickly and the kicker’s team is playing the ball, opposing players must keep retreating the necessary distance. They may not take part in the game until they have done so.
If it is taken so quickly that opponents have no opportunity to retreat, they will not be sanctioned for this. However, they may not take part in the game until they have retreated 10 metres from the mark or until a team-mate who was 10 metres from the mark has moved in front of them.
The opposing team may not do anything to delay the kick or obstruct the kicker, including intentionally taking, throwing or kicking the ball out of reach of the team awarded the penalty.
Given the distance Wiesse travelled I thought Maro was a bit unlucky to get the yellow but probably didnt make any difference. We never looked like scoring in the second half.
Maro didn't retreat far enough and there wasn't a team mate moving forwards to put him onside. Often the scrum half hares back when there's a chance of a quick penalty and then advances. We were caught napping, but we had been put so much on the back foot that it was hard to be ready.
Too many things like that went wrong and we couldn't take our chances. But Tigers' handling was poor, so we can't complain too much. At least we didn't lose from 26 - 0 up after 20 minutes!
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
I hope we can keep Cinti and Gonzalez but we need a prop or 2 and a good 10 to replace OF
We can make the playoffs (with a good run post 6N) but I can’t see us getting far in Europe nor to a Prem final this year. Had to come eventually, key is how we rebuild. Will be interesting to watch as we still have a lot of great players
Willis and Mawi particularly can’t come back soon enough. It was always going to be a massive ask of Crean to step up from Ampthill to Tigers away.
Really sorry for Kapelli, waited months for a chance and injured in 5 minutes.
Quote:The Bard
Really sorry for Kapelli, waited months for a chance and injured in 5 minutes.
Agree. That's really unfortunate for the big lad. Also hope the others who took knocks are ok. Steward played on but looked uncomfortable after the collision with Cinti (which I felt we were lucky not to be penalised for)
Quote:The Bard
On the positive side we generally handled Wiese well, Parton and Roti did well and Daly looked class. There were glimpses were weren’t far off, but we lack a heavy duty ball carrier
Agree on Weise the problem was he wasn't their only heavy carrier! Kata had a good game too.
Daly had a very good game. Beautifully played in attack for the try and holding up Kelly was exceptional.
Obviously it is great to have heavy duty carriers and I agree that it will help hugely when they return but we seem determined to play as if we have them rather than embracing that we have a lighter, athletic backrow and playing to space.
For me there were a few pivotal Sarries moments. Farrells poor throw for the interception (imagine if Manu had done that) Dan going for the line and getting isolated (he has form for that and needs to think in terms of support if he doesn't make it) and McFarland straightening the line when we had a 5 on 3 overlap. All those were things in our control rather than the referees.
I felt like Sarries did a lot right but ultimately I was left with the same feeling as against Bath and Saints that we just need to play a bit more ball-in-hand. We have both the backs and the forwards for it (if not the dominant platform) but yet again we are seemingly happier to play without the ball and continue to kick away good possession just outside the opposition 22 when we had a fast back kicking and a fast back outside them. Is it really a better % play to kick away rather than attack the line especially with players like Segun, Cinti, Daly etc? We had genuine pace up against two of the slower backs in the league in Brown and Steward but we never tested them.
Not sure there is an answer to playing behind a struggling scrum but I think Healey was spot on that it probably involves "playing" a bit more.
I love Owen and hopefully we make the playoffs but he deserves the chance to play in another competition and make more money. I agree with the previous comments hopefully we can now keep JMG and his compatriot if Faz leaving opens up a bit more money. But the problem is finding another 10 like him isn't going to be cheap but I like the idea of Loz at 10. I think he played there for Wasps on a few occasions.
I think we kicked far too much and should have kept it in hand a bit more and made them tackle a hell of a lot more. Ben was unlucky a few times being on the ball and the ref taking an age to award him for the turnovers and a few in at the side. But that's rugby and hopefully we make the playoffs.
Supporting Saracens for over 55 years.
Guardian/Observer started with a headline of
“ Owen Farrell blunders help Leicester edge to victory against Saracens”
But has now changed it after a social media backlash.
[www.theguardian.com]
But still some insensitive comments considering the situation!
“ Not content with stepping away from England …”
“Farrell, though, proved far more generous barely 10 minutes into the match. His pass, straight from a scrum, was easily intercepted by Dan Kelly”
“His sliced clearance outside the 22 set up Leicester’s position just before the break. “
It’s almost like there wasn’t 45 other players involved, nobody has ever thrown an intercept pass or sliced a kick before & Faz was packing down in the scrums to give away 4 scrum penalties and involved at every breakdown! Also no mention that an Onfield try was ruled out after TMO review!
The headline in the Independent is slightly better but the report is still insensitive
[www.independent.co.uk]
“ Errors by the 32-year-old contributed to two of Leicester’s three tries”
No wonder he his considering a move to 🇫🇷!
On the matter of Faz leaving - we will be worse off for his departure IMHO but I can't blame him. The media and general so called rugby fans have made his life really very unpleasant (did you note the wry smile & head shake as he came out of the tunnel at the beginning of the match? We assumed something unpleasant was being said by so called fans as he ran out). I must confess I am very disillusioned with rugby at the moment and find my joy in the game fading away.
Also whilst Sarries had a number of fairly significant issues dealing with Tigers yesterday it is fair enough comment, in my view, to point out that some poor play from Farrell was instrumental in giving them both a Try and a platform for one. Equally he played some great rugby and those reports seem to mention that too. His communication with Pearce was good too as was the teams and that was one of the positives from the game.
Undeniable it was a big of a mixed bag game for Owen, some sublime work at times, but its simply a statement of fact that he directly gifted one try and significantly contributed to the platform for another.
I had said elsewhere a few weeks ago that for all Owen's fantastic marshalling of matches this season he has also made several big errors (e.g. charged down kicks, missed tackles) which have led to points against. It is, probably understandably, a strange season for him - at times his kicking off the tee hasn't been great either.
Seems it could be a vicious circle, the scrutiny leading to some doubt in decision making and a mistake, which only leads to more scrutiny etc.
Going somewhere else for a break and a reset may be the best thing he could do, as sad as it would be for us.
Quote:MonaghanBoy
....and IVZ seems to be struggling a bit this season.
IVZ really thrived last season, and was able to develop a fast game based on quick recycling of the ball at the breakdown. If I recall we had the fastest recycling stats in the league - well under 2 seconds at times which is pretty unplayable. We seem to have lost the ability to recycle that quickly and it has undermined a key plank of his game
Yes understand the Headline writers are the ones looking for Click bait!
Quote:TigerSimon
A disgusting click bait original headline from a sub editor…
VillageSarrie
Not sure about the start of the game but I did read that when Faz was taking a place kick near the Crumbie Terrace there was light hearted banter counting down in French of the shot clock and renditions of La Marseillaise etc from the crowd, after the successful kick Faz turned to the terrace and smiled.
BartyII
Absolutely they have to be mentioned, but Faz wasn’t the only one to make mistakes! Scrums, penalty count etc. Wouldn’t expect any better from the headline writer but do think the rugby journalists could have been more sensitive, because the social media muppets will jump on the bandwagon and escalate, but that doesn’t get clicks or sell newspapers!
Quote:Agree but would be a loss to the Premiership and such a shame that abuse has partially caused it.Going somewhere else for a break and a reset may be the best thing he could do
One of the lovely scenes of the day was post match of Faz with the child who had drawn the Don’t go sign.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:01:07:09:15:54 by tigersimon.
Quote:tigersimon
BartyII
Absolutely they have to be mentioned, but Faz wasn’t the only one to make mistakes! Scrums, penalty count etc.
I don't disagree. But to a point it does come with the territory if you're one of these:
- a fly half
- a captain
- a marquee player / international
...you see where I'm going with that.
In a way its similar to being a goalkeeper in football. Your team could be playing dreadfully for 90 minutes but if you drop a clanger then its you that's the headline and on the highlights reel. Not entirely fair at all but to some extent understandable.
It's also the 'curse' of a player who has been at such a high standard for a long time that when they have an off moment its more obvious. I'll admit I have a very similar filter with Theo McFarland - because of how he took the place by storm when he first arrived, when he has a solid 7/10 game without doing anything flash my immediate thought is that he's been quiet, when in reality he's probably played as well as anyone else.
A really good barometer for how well we play these days is how involved Tompkins is. The more he is involved the better we seem to do. I appreciate that's a bit chicken and egg but it "feels" right even-so.
I kind of disagree re IVZ. I think he is one of our most consistent players and he's been playing with an awful lot of poor ball. I also think his contribution outside his basics is off the charts. The number of times he creates a break or try or stops one seems pretty significant to me.
On a last note how satisfying was it to hear George call the Reffell break and see it happen. A future in coaching? or will he be concentrating on his physio business after rugby?
Quote:Stopsy
With regard to Maro’s yellow card, it was because he tackled Wiese having not retreated behind his goal line.
Healey was wrong, plain and simple.
OPPOSING TEAM AT A PENALTY OR FREE-KICK
When a penalty or free-kick is awarded, the opposing team must immediately retreat 10 metres towards their own goal line or until they have reached their goal line if that is closer.
Even if the penalty or free-kick is taken quickly and the kicker’s team is playing the ball, opposing players must keep retreating the necessary distance. They may not take part in the game until they have done so.
If it is taken so quickly that opponents have no opportunity to retreat, they will not be sanctioned for this. However, they may not take part in the game until they have retreated 10 metres from the mark or until a team-mate who was 10 metres from the mark has moved in front of them.
The opposing team may not do anything to delay the kick or obstruct the kicker, including intentionally taking, throwing or kicking the ball out of reach of the team awarded the penalty.
Stopsy, unfortunately rugby is never quite as simple as one rule. You are right that all those players less than 10 yards away or not behind the goal line are offside. But there is a separate law that says once a player has advanced 5 yards then defensive players are played onside and can then advance and tackle the player. Some call it the Dupont loophole as he uses it all the time during periods of kick tennis . So it is a simple example of Pearce simply not knowing the laws. Healey was right which is not a sentence I have ever written before! Thus, what Itoje did was quite legal within the laws of the game and should never been a penalty let alone a yellow card!
If my memory serves me right wasn’t it Pearce that refereed Wales vs Fiji in what was the worst refereeing performance of the whole World Cup by a country mile? He really is not very consistent or accurate in his breakdown decisions,
I appreciate that there were things that were missed for both sides but one that grates a touch was Browns turnover on their line. He's never legal and as he'd just given away an incredibly cynical penalty near the line about 60 seconds earlier a yellow card wouldn't have been a stretch. Instead Pearce gave him a turnover

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:01:08:15:24:16 by OldMarovian.
Quote:CoS
So it is a simple example of Pearce simply not knowing the laws.
Oh dear! I usually manage to stay out of Laws debates since I've not read them fully for over 30 years and am aware that I don't see guidance/interpretation advice, but when one of our best referees receives abuse such as this I feel the need to correct. I'd suggest you read Law 20.13, unchanged since my day.
You are confusing offside from a punt (open play) with offside from a penalty. Although even with the former the laws allow a referee to penalise players who stand still rather than retreat - 10.4c, though perhaps guidance states otherwise as few (none?) do.
Itoje was correctly carded. The only question should be was it a penalty try?
(fwiw I think the referee certainly made the correct call in giving a penalty in this case and I'm in favour of more yellow cards for cynical play so I wasn't that het up about it at the time)
Quote:OldMarovian
That's interesting COYS I didn't know that although they referred to that ploy during the interminable kick-tennis in the Bath/Glaws game. Does it apply everywhere then? It's not just from kicks?
I appreciate that there were things that were missed for both sides but one that grates a touch was Browns turnover on their line. He's never legal and as he'd just given away an incredibly cynical penalty near the line about 60 seconds earlier a yellow card wouldn't have been a stretch. Instead Pearce gave him a turnover
Was it an apple one?....................I do like an apple turnover....................................

Quote:nedrichards
Yeah, it's an interesting one because 20.12 20.13 and 20.14 seem pretty clear on their own! [www.world.rugby] and I'm not entirely sure that 10.7 does apply in that circumstance [www.world.rugby] unless I'm reading this wrong it would actually be a good one for a law clarification because I certainly hadn't fully understood the implications of all of law 20.
(fwiw I think the referee certainly made the correct call in giving a penalty in this case and I'm in favour of more yellow cards for cynical play so I wasn't that het up about it at the time)
Fairly clear in that there is a distinction between open play offside, law 10, & offside at a penalty, law 20.

The decision I absolutely hate is when refs randomly give obstruction at an attacking lineout even though the offence was regularly being committed before and afterwards. It just looks like vindictiveness.
Quote:The Bard
The decision I absolutely hate is when refs randomly give obstruction at an attacking lineout even though the offence was regularly being committed before and afterwards.
Its one of those where you definitely feel they either need to referee it the entire game or not at all. The same as the once in a blue moon a crooked feed to the scrum gets called up.
Thank you. It would appear I owe Mr Pearce two apologies (one for mixing him up in my memory with Mr Carley!) and the other for believing Mr Healey - I really should have known better!
