Beware of Greeks bearing Gifts

Always beware of Greeks bearing gifts.  After England’s humiliating group stage exit there have been a lot of siren voices in the media, usually with a southern hemisphere or Celtic accent, laying the blame on the clubs; too many foreigners they say, you need central contracts they reckon.

Cardiff Blues chairman Peter Thomas has called for regional rugby and Agustin Pichot insists central contracts are the answer.  Jeff Probyn called again for regions in this weekend’s The Rugby Paper.  All very certain it seems.

When Italy joined the Celtic League to form the Pro 12 we heard similar things.  Then FIR president Giancarlo Dondi said "I am sure that the Magners League will bring benefits to all Italian rugby and will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of our national team”, the late Stuart Gallacher said “the Italians will be a force to be reckoned with in our league and it will make the league much more competitive”.  Nick Mallet, a former favourite for the England role and then Italian coach said “The top ten in Italy is just not at the required level to produce players for international rugby” and the move “helps the Six Nations”.  The BBC went as far as to call it “the biggest boost for Italian rugby since the national team's entry into the Six Nations in 2000.”

So after all those great rugby minds declared that the move would be a huge success and that it would revolutionise Italian rugby has it work? Have results improved at either a club or national level?

6N record excluding 2000&2001

In a word no.  As this revolution was all down to improving the national side let’s look there first.  Italy’s record in the 6 Nations shows no discernible improvement.  They entered the tournament in 2000 and since then the average score in their games has been a 14-32 defeat, in the old era of the Super 10 the average score was 15-33 and in the new era of the Pro 12 it is 13-29.  In the first two years of the 6 Nations Italy’s attack was the best it has ever been and their defence the worst, remove those two years, see graphic right, and the average scores are practically identical.

At a club level the story is even worse.  Whilst the national team has improved, even if only slightly, the clubs have gotten worse.  Super 10 sides in the old Heineken Cup lost on average 16-39, since the move to the Pro 12 that has become 12-36.  As the graphic left shows when taken to 2 decimal places the difference is practically non-existent.

How can this be? Italy have taken all the prescribed remedies, they’ve got central contracts, they’ve condensed their league to 2 regional sides, killing off domestic rugby in the process and there are barely any foreigners left playing in Italy, only 13 this weekend.

The problem is that all these are fiddling around the side.  Italy have not improved their player pool.  Yes they have good young players, our own Riccardo Brugnara and Tiziano Pasquali among them, but Italy has always produced good players it needs to produce more really top end ones capable of dominating internationally.  Sacking foreigners and killing domestic rugby hasn’t helped that.  And it won’t help in England either.

We must resist these siren voices drawing us to the rocks.  Hansen, Thomas and Pichot do not really care about England and Jeff Probyn’s agenda of destroying independent clubs has been clear for some time.  England rugby will only improve as the player pool and, crucially, coaching of the senior side improves.

And now the end is near ..

Leicester Tigers face an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter finals and the chance of glory (or another April exit), the odds seem stacked against us, but just how could we qualify?  In a homage to the indisputable greatest film of the 20th Century, Wayne's World, The Ultra Submarines have been dreaming of their best alternate endings:

The Red Rose Ending:

Stuart Lancaster’s Red Rose Revolution continues as English Clubs back up their six wins in round 3, and five wins in round 5 with a perfect seven in round 6. Wasps and Quins start us off, with thumping wins over Leinster and Castres. Northampton thrash Racing at the Gardens. Steffon Armitage is to the fore with another hat-trick as Toulon run in a try bonus point at Scarlets and Tom Youngs and Geoff Parling get braces as Tigers stroll to the bonus point win at Ravenhill. 

On Sunday, Ford inspires Bath to a bonus point win. England reject Toby Flood has a nightmare, justifying Lancaster’s decision to alienate him and Toulouse limp to a loss in Montpellier. With the Prem Rugby twitter account exploding in delight, Saracens top off the weekend winning 40-10 at the Stade Marcel Michelin and sneaking their London neighbours Quins through in the final best runner up spot. At the end of a breathless day, heavyweights Toulouse, Clermont and Leinster are out and 6 of the 8 quarter finalists are English.

Group Winners:
Saints 24 pts PD +150
Toulon 23 pts PD +81
Sarries 22pts PD +66
Wasps 21 pts PD +80
Bath 20pts PD +53

Second Places:
Racing 19 pts PD +45
Tigers 18 pts PD +29
Quins 18 pts PD +22
Clermont 18pts PD +18
Toulouse 17pts PD 0

Third Places:
Leinster 18 pts PD +17
Glasgow 14 pts PD +9

Quarter Finals:
Saints vs Quins
Toulon vs Tigers
Sarries vs Racing
Wasps vs Bath

The French Connection Ending:

“L’Espirit de Clocher”, In France, no matter what the competition, what the tables say, you play for the honour of your home town, for the church bells. Castres defeat Quins 17-9, at the same time Leinster out class Wasps leaving Pool one irrelevant in the battle for second places. 

In Pool 5, Northampton thrash Racing at the Gardens taking them to 24 points. Tigers scrape the try bonus point on the final play and a 10 point victory. Seemingly, heading out still with Sarries and Bath favourites to be best runner ups. On the Sunday, the clock tower strikes again. Montpellier are inspired to victory over Toulouse, in a humdinger of a game Toulouse pick up both a losing and try bonus going down 35-32. Clermont inspired by a large crowd and stung by previous losses hurt Sarries hard with a 21 point victory.

Group Winners:
Saints 24 pts PD +150
Toulon 23 pts PD +81
Clermont 23 pts PD +69
Leinster 23 pts PD +67
Bath 20pts PD +53

Second:
Racing 19 pts PD +45
Tigers 18 pts PD +11
Toulouse 18pts PD 0
Sarries 17pts PD +15
Wasps 16 pts PD +30

Third:
Quins 13 pts PD 0
Glasgow 14 pts PD +9

Quarter Finals:
Saints vs Toulouse
Toulon vs Tigers
Clermont vs Racing
Leinster vs Bath


The Cream also rises Ending:

In Pool 2, Leinster beat Wasps and Quins beat Castres with 4 tries and a 21 point margin. Given a target, Tigers rise to the challenge, reaching 18 points and a points difference of 31. It is said that Mulipola in full flight is like watching the running of the bulls in Pamplona.  Toulouse see Montpellier off with a bonus point win to top their pool and Bath brush Glasgow aside. Finally, Clermont beat Saracens by 6 in a low scoring match.

Group Winners:
Saints 24 pts PD +150
Toulon 23 pts PD +81
Leinster 23 pts PD +68
Clermont 22 pts PD +54
Toulouse 21 pts PD +23

Second:
Bath 20 pts PD +52
Racing 19 pts PD +45
Tigers 18 pts PD +31
Sarries 18 pts PD +30
Quins 18 pts PD +29

Third:
Wasps 16 pts PD +29
Glasgow 14 pts PD +10

Quarter Finals:
Saints vs Tigers
Toulon vs Racing
Leinster vs Bath
Clermont vs Toulouse

The Scooby Doo Ending: 

Injuries and Warren Gatland force Llanelli to send a team of kids out against the might of Toulon. After 20 minutes Toulon are 21 points up and strolling to victory, however enter our hero. Referee Wayne Barnes keeps hearing things. Can they be saying what he thinks they are? Eventually he calls the captain over:

“Look, if you don’t stop swearing I’m going to have to use some cards”

“We’re Toulon, Mate, we swear when we want. Why have they put a load of %^$£!*% kids out anyway the disrespectful $%^”&”

10 minutes later the match is abandoned with Toulon down to 8 players. At the disciplinary hearing it emerges the Young Scarlets provoked matters, asking for autographs. Barnes is found to have acted entirely in order with the rulebook and Toulon are fined 10 points. Tigers win the group and Mourad Boudjellal is left saying "Et je aurais pris la fuite avec elle aussi, si ce ne était pas pour vous mêler enfants!".


Bath drown in a Ford Ending: 

Possibly less likely than the Scooby Doo Ending...

Wasps beat Leinster with Leinster getting a losing bonus point. Quins therefore crash out in third place. Saints beat Racing. Toulon win easily, Tigers limp to a one point victory in an awful game and seemingly out, the offy crashes as the "Cockerill out NOW!!!" thread gets to 100 pages by 10pm.

Then on Sunday, Glasgow beat Bath convincingly and Montpellier beat Toulouse by 4 points in an awful game. Clermont avenge their loss to Sarries in last season’s semi-final with a 45-0 victory.

Group Winners:
Saints 24pts PD +130
Clermont 23 pts PD +93
Toulon 23pts PD +79
Wasps 20 pts PD + 50
Glasgow 18pts PD +39

Second:
Racing 19pts PD +65
Leinster 19pts PD +44
Tigers 17pts PD +2
Toulouse 17pts PD -1
Sarries 17 pts PD -9

Third:
Quins 18 pts PD +30
Bath 15 pts PD +23

Quarter Finals:
Saints v Tigers
Clermont v Leinster
Toulon v Racing
Wasps v Glasgow

Reality:

Ultimately, there are many weird and wonderful ways we could qualify, including some not discussed here, Bath and Glasgow could draw for example. In reality, it’s easier to look at what results would knock us out.

Pool 1 – Anything involving both teams getting 2 points or Sarries winning and Clermont getting 1 point is curtains for us, but by the time that game is on we will know exactly what the scenario is.

Pool 2 – A Wasps win with Leinster getting 1 or more bonus points is the only result which stops us having a shot at overtaking second place in this group. They play first so we will know what we have to do.

Pool 3 – We have to win, almost certainly with a bonus point.

Pool 4 – Any combination of results which involves 3 points or more for Toulouse and either 4 points for Bath or 5 for Glasgow puts them out of reach.

Pool 5 – We can’t catch them so we don’t care. Technically one of Saints or Racing Metro could fail to qualify with very strange results elsewhere, but they will both be above Tigers regardless.

6 try Tigers keep Euro dream alive

A dominant Tigers performance kept our slim European hopes alive with a 6 try thrashing of an injury stricken Llanelli side.  Tries from Miles Benjamin, Jordan Crane, Adam Thompstone, Sam Harrison and a brace for Tom Youngs secured a 40-23 win for hosts.  Llanelli's tries came from prop Rob Evans and two late scores for wing Harry Robinson.

Tigers knew they needed the full 5 points.  I wish they needed 5 points every week.  Early indications were given when Tigers turned down the chance for 3 points and kicked the opening penalty to touch instead.  For the lineout Mulipola was withdrawn and fed for a rumble.  After gaining good front foot ball it was whipped away, Adam Thompstone's tight pass was crucial as Benjamin used his strength and trickery to beat two men for the finish.

Just 5 minutes later and Tigers again kicked an attacking penalty to the corner.  This time the pack kept the glory for themselves, rumbling forward for Jordan Crane to dot down.

Both tries were excellently converted by Freddie Burns.

Rhys Priestland had nibbled away at Tigers lead with two penalties to make it 14-6.  Tiger never make it easy for themselves though and just after coughing up a certain try, Ben Youngs' firing a bullet at Mulipola who was just a couple of feet from him and would surely have crashed over with a sympathetic pass, they found themselves down to 14 men.  Graham Kitchener was baffling yellow carded on the half way line and the Scarlets scored from their own maul, prop Rob Evans the beneficiary.

Into the second half and Tigers were still playing with ambition.  Croft and Kitchener combined on turnover ball inside our 22 to break out to half way, with Kitchener adding a glorious dink chip on the end.  Thompstone also made a strong break down the right and was rewarded on 46 minutes as he scored his first try since March 2014.  It came from an attacking move from a scrum.  Yes such things do still exist.  Llanelli were probably so surprised to see a first phase attack they didn't know what to do.

The bonus point was secured after the introduction of Ayerza and Tom Youngs saw the scrum go from secure to totally dominant.  A penalty at a scrum saw the ball kicked for the touchline.  Like the first half Tigers drove and were unstoppable.  This time Tom Youngs was sequestered at the back of the charging pack.

Youngs secured his first ever brace for the club 5 minutes later, picking a beautiful inside out line from his brother's snipe around the fringe of the ruck.

With the bonus point and match secure Tigers took their foot off the gas and allowed some excellent handling from Llanelli to slip Harry Robinson round the corner and in for a try.  Points difference is the new tie breaker this season for European Rugby, these late tries may still be the death of us.

Tigers struck one back through substitute Sam Harrison feeding off Robert Barbieri's break and pass before Robinson finished the scoring with another effort for the west Walians.

Tigers were impressive with Bai & Crane particularly to the fore.  If we can keep up the forward interplay of the last few weeks but combined with a more miserly defence we can still make a late season for the Premiership title.  Europe is in hit and hope territory.  Our best bets to better as second places all play after us next Sunday so we must simply win and win well.  If we are knocked out on a tie break then so be it.

Tigers tamed in Toulon

Tigers unbeaten streak of 6 competitive games came crashing to a halt with a dispiriting defeat in Toulon.  The defending double European Champions avenged their loss at Welford Road 6 days previous with a blistering opening 20 minutes where they romped to a 16-0 lead.  Tigers held the Red and Blacks from then onwards with the final 60 odd minutes yielding only seven more points, the game finished 23-8.

This was Tigers worst defeat since October's calamity at Kingsholm; and bore similar hallmarks.  A trip to a famously partisan atmosphere, a poor start snowballing into a unassailable lead before a gritty second half keeping the score respectable.

Tigers were simply out muscled for the first try.  A succession of negative tackles that halted the man but only after he gained ground eventually led to Ali Williams crashing over to the right hand side of a goal line ruck.  Some commentators have claimed there were "no missed tackles" in this move.  Bollocks.  If your tackle from 2 metres out hasn't stopped him grounding the ball then to me it's pretty obviously missed.

Whilst Toulon never got that momentum rolling again they were constantly knocking Tigers back in both attack and defence.  Tigers forwards were unable to gain ground and referee George Clancy's more classical (read lax) interpretation of tackler's release and Tigers inability to ruck them clear contributed to a stream of slow ball and penalties for holding on as Basteraud in particular wreaked havoc.  

The lack of a forward platform was exacerbated by a poor day with the boot from Owen Williams.  The usually reliable Welshman was off target with two of three kicks, costing the Tigers 5 points in the first half.  Were he successful with those kicks the half time score would have been 16-10 and if still a slim chance of the win then definitely the chance of the losing bonus point.  Williams punting was also askew with several kicks straight into touch and one penalty kicked dead.  The Welsh wizard did spark Tigers sole try, with a powerful burst up the middle setting up Jamie Gibson to put Blaine Scully away to the corner.

With Ulster losing away to Llanelli second place in the group is achievable but no bonus points in four games has left us behind in the race for one of three best runners up spots.

Team for Toulon named

Tigers head to Toulon this weekend looking to cause a major upset against the defending double European Champions in their own backyard.  Richard Cockerill has made three changes to the side that won at Welford Road on Sunday whilst Bernard Laporte, his Toulon counterpart, has reacted to Castrogiovanni's outburst by dropping the combustible Italian.

All three changes for Leicester come to the pack that laid last weekend's winning foundation.  In the front row Tom Youngs swops places with Italian international Leonardo Ghiraldini; at lock Graham Kitchener misses out injured giving Geoff Parling his first start since September; in the back row Robert Barbieri starts only his 4th game for the club as Jordan Crane is benched.

This means that Ben Youngs and Owen Williams continue at half back, with Matt Smith staying in the midfield and Goneva on the wing.  The back line is rounded out with Allen at centre, Blaine Scully on the wing and Mat Tait looking to match the performance of his last visit to Toulon from full back.

The bench sees a 6-2 forwards-backs split to accommodate the return to fitness of Tom Croft.  The Lion joins Tom Youngs, Sebastian de Chaves & Jordan Crane as additions to the bench whilst Miles Benjamin misses out.  Freddie Burns & Sam Harrison provide cover for the backs.

Toulon have reacted to their defeat by also making three changes.  Out go Castrogiovanni, Australian wing Drew Mitchell & Georgian flanker Mamuka Gorgodze.  In comes Leigh Halfpenny, South African World Cup winner Juan Smith and young Georgian tyro Levan Chilachava.  Former Bath man Michael Claassens comes onto the bench for Eric Esconde.

Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Dan Cole
4 Brad Thorn
5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Robert Barbieri

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Michele Rizzo
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian de Chaves
20 Jordan Crane
21 Tom Croft
22 Sam Harrison
23 Freddie Burns

RC Toulon:
15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Delon Armitage
13 Mathieu Bastareaud
12 Maxime Mermoz
11 Bryan Habana
10 Nicolas Sanchez
9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde
1 Alexandre Menini
2 Guilhem Guirado
3 Levan Chilachava
4 Bakkies Botha
5 Ali Williams
6 Juan Smith
7 Steffon Armitage
8 Chris Masoe (c)

Replacements
16 Jean-Charles Orioli
17 Florian Fresia
18 Carl Hayman
19 Mamuka Gorgodze
20 James O'Connor
21 Jocelino Suta
22 Michael Claassens
23 Romain Taofifenua

Guess Who's Back?

Tigers got their European Champions Cup campaign back on track this Sunday after dispatching double Euro & defending French Champions Toulon 25-21.  Welsh wizard Owen Williams was the star of the show slotting a sumptuous 20 points from the boot, as well as providing Toulon with their first try courtesy of a gift wrapped interception for Springbok Bryan Habana.

Tigers raced in a 13-0 lead after only 20 minutes as the Tigers ferocious defence forced key errors from a harried Toulon team.  Fast defence forced Bakkies Botha into a poor pass hacked on by Anthony Allen, Toulon recovered possession but from the ruck Owen Williams charged down Drew Mitchell’s attempted clearance to force a 5m scrum; the reunion between Marcos Ayerza and Martin Castrogiovanni was won conclusively by the Argentinean Ayerza forcing a penalty which Williams simply slotted.  Tigers lead was doubled quickly; Castro’s late entry to a ruck forcing the referee to reverse the penalty previously awarded to Toulon.

Similarly the first try was born from Toulon errors.  A series of areal ping pong seemed to have been won with Delon Armitage’s excellent clearance but Mat Tait’s hard chase of his own kick forced Sebastian Tilous-Borde into a sloppy pass to a shell shocked Mitchell.  The Australian simply went M.I.A. allowing Tom Youngs to sweep onto the ball and set Brad Thorn up for his first try in Tigers colours.

The 13-0 lead was short lived however, directly from the kick off Tigers were held up in a maul forcing a scrum and this time it was Toulon with the penalty which Nicolas Sanchez comfortably slotted.  Tigers were now the ones making errors, Jordan Crane’s pass and Mat Tait’s fumble gave Toulon terrific ball under the posts.  Were it not for Tait’s magnificent tackle a try was sure to be scored.  As it was an inevitable penalty was conceded as Toulon battered at the Tigers line with Sanchez again on the mark.

The scores were levelled when Williams flung his fateful pass, over the head of Salvi, too short for Kitchener it was just right for Habana to pounce.

Williams had also missed a tricky kick from right in front of the Crumbie just previously and missed a further testing penalty on the stroke of half time but made amends early in the second half.  Mat Tait’s scudding low kick found touch deep inside the 22, after forcing a knock on in the lineout the Tigers pack roared, marching Toulon backwards at a rate of knots to earn a simple three points for Williams to slot.

The next scrum was not to be so successful.  Tigers failed to hook the ball cleanly, the ball ricocheting off the front row’s shins into the Toulon side, Tilous-Borde caught Jamie Gibson unawares leaving Goneva with an impossible two on one to defend.  Ironically it was serial offender Mitchell who had the run in for the five.

Facing a tricky touchline conversion on Welford Road’s boggy side Sanchez went under the ball, floating the kick, just, short and wide.  This left Tigers within a score and was to prove crucial in the final reckoning.

Tigers were resilient.  And ambitious.  On loose turnover ball Tigers gained a fortuitous penalty for a high tackle on Ben Youngs.  The captain seeing the gap went quickly only a few yards from his line, the momentum gained another penalty and this one could be kicked deep into Toulon territory.  Some sure possession rugby was perhaps not so inspired but drew the necessary penalty and Williams made no mistake to ease Tigers back into the lead they had previously held for 40 minutes.

Tigers were really on song now, pinning Tilous-Borde into the corner and gaining the 5m attacking lineout.  Tigers’ forwards drove the ball over the line but never fully having it controlled failed to ground it, instead letting themselves be shunted to touch in goal and a relieving 22m drop out.

Toulon then wasted a golden chance inside the Tigers own 22 when they conceded the penalty for sealing off; Williams’ mighty boot bypassed the midfield and gave Tigers a lineout at the other end of the pitch.  Tigers were more patient than their opponents, again forcing the clumsy error from the Toulon defence.  This time it was Georgian goliath Mamuka Gorgodze getting pinned on the wrong side of a ruck.

Toulon though are not European & Top 14 champions for nothing.  Breaking through a quick tap from Ali Williams they played quickly and fluently moving into the Tigers 22 with ease, the move was only halted by a soft offside error from sub Robert Barbieri.  The Canadian-Italian flanker was offside after making an earlier tackle giving Sanchez the easiest opportunity to cut the arrears to a single point.

Tigers were calm though, Williams’ low slung kick again pinning Toulon deep into their own half before his up and under was claimed by Scully.  The kicking game may not be to everyone’s taste but was executed well enough so that when Bryan Habana risked an early charge at Ben Youngs the penalty was inches within the Welshman’s range.

The drama carried well over the 80 minutes; not only did Tigers make a meal of finishing off the game, requiring a Toulon knock on with 10 seconds left and again after losing that scrum, but also Martin Castrogiovanni’s expletive ridden tirade at Richard Cockerill’s behaviour over his transfer between the two clubs and Delon Armitage’s excursions which seem both many and varied at this point in time.

The off field stuff can wait for another day, the important points from Sunday were the four that Tigers bagged and perhaps the casual one that Toulon took with them too.

3 Star Tigers Take Ulster Scalp

A breath taking 20 minutes which saw Tigers score three tries was just enough to seal a crucial 25-18 European win against Ulster at Welford Road.

Tigers coped with losing talisman Manu Tuilagi on 14 minutes brilliantly by scoring tries from Owen Williams, Graham Kitchener and Freddie Burns in the next 20 minutes whilst Ulster crumbled from a solid 3-0 lead to trail 19-3 at the break.

And it could have been more had Tigers not started the day with the indifferent Burns attempting the kicks to the posts.

Ulster opened the scoring with a Paddy Jackson penalty on 8 minutes after Tigers had infringed at the ruck, and Tigers were lucky that the red haired Irishman was off target with an earlier kick or it could have been 6-0 down in almost as many minutes.

Tigers responded immediately as Blaine Scully leaped like a salmon to claim Burns' restart and power into the heart of the Ulster defence.  Eventually scragged down Ulster's last man looked to have deliberately knocked on in the following move but referee Poite was unmoved, not the only time Ulster were lucky to escape censure from the Frenchman.

Ben Youngs wasted two good opportunities in the 22 through a chip to no one and a floated pass that was intercepted but Tigers were not to be denied.  Julian Salvi broke down the right hand side before play was switched to Tuilagi rampaging down the left, drawing a penalty from Ulster on the 5m line; Manu re-injured his groin in the move though and was swiftly withdrawn as Tigers kicked for the corner.

From the lineout Tigers drove and were denied, the pack heaved again and were denied, before Owen Williams, warming to his role as a crash ball centre, took the ball at pace and with intent.  The Welshman slammed into three Ulster bodies and fought to successfully ground the ball.

There was no mistake with the conversion but Burns was off target with a later penalty skewing it badly wide right.  Again Ulster rode their luck with Mr Poite as Tommy Bowe's ugly challenge on Miles Benjamin in the air was punished with only a penalty.

Ulster challenged again but were unable to convert any possession to points; Tigers slowly won the kicking battle to gain good territory in the Ulster 22.  The conservative kicking strategy was vindicated when Youngs picked off an innocuous pass from the base of an Ulster maul setting Graham Kitchener up for the second try before the half hour mark.

Tigers extended the lead just 5 minutes later when Burns, now relieved of the goal kicking duties, dummied his way over bamboozaling four Ulster defenders in the process.  

Ulster were down to 14 men at this point following a yellow card to Craig Gilroy for yet another tackle on the man in the air.  Ulster were very fortunate that referee Poite did not produce a red card.  With these two incidents and the one last year against Saracens you have to ask is this a deliberate tactic from Ulster designed to intimidate opposition players?

Tigers looked to have taken full advantage from the extra man and the wave of momentum when Leonardo Ghiraldini twisted, worked, wrestled and squirmed his way over in the Crumbie corner on the stroke of half time but he was correctly denied by the TV ref; Ben Youngs foot just barely grazing the line before the final pass was completed.

Tigers won the lineout but were unable to finish the job off, forgetting how effective running hard, straight and flat to the gainline had been for Owen Williams' try instead we went wide and deep attempting to take advantage of the missing winger.  It did not work.

With the break for half time the momentum Tigers had built was lost and never to be regained.  The second half was almost all Ulsters.  The kicking game that was so effective in the first half was not so much over done as done much much worse.  Playing territory and forcing another mistake was a good strategy but badly employed.

For me much of the blame must go to Burns.  His kicking for territory was poor and when he did successfully earn us possession in their half he flippantly wasted it with his selfish and immature chips to nowhere and no one.  It was a real slap in the face when this alleged England contender was replaced by scrum half David Mele to see out the match.

But Tigers did start the half well extending their lead to 22-3 when Owen Williams converted a straight forward scrum penalty.  Ulster were a totally different team in the second half running the ball with vigour and verve, causing us all sorts of problems to our defence.  First they cut the gap with a penalty following Tigers collapsing an attacking maul.

Then they scored the try of the day, the first of two outstanding efforts; Ulster won 30 yards from a kicking duel between the back threes ending with a lineout on half way.  Sweeping a rare clean catching off the top they went through the hands, taking advantage of Miles Benjamin's poor decision to step in they raced into the 22 and smart running lines and sharp passing helped them evade the Tigers scramble defence for the try.

The score rattled Tigers.  They looked panicked.  Trying random 50m drop goals and retreating further into our shell.  A scrum penalty successfully converted by Williams helped calm the nerves, and of course eventually was the match winning score.

Ulster's second score had two parts, first was the delicious inside ball to British Lion Tommy Bowe who scythed his way forward, only stopped by a crunching Blaine Scully tackle.  Second was the finish by Franco van der Merwe, a huge swinging dummy was bought by all before the lumbering 6'6" beast dove over the ruck like an NFL running back diving over a pile of bodies.  In this game of course you've got to get back to ground the ball and the South African just about did despite the attentions of Ben Youngs.

Crucially Paddy Jackson was unsuccessful from the simple conversion.  Did the young man get a case of the yips and skew his kick you wonder?  No, the growing force of Jamie Gibson was sharp on the uptake and using all of his 6'5" frame, all of his wingspan and all of his vertical leap he managed to charge down the conversion!  I can't remember ever seeing that in a top level game before.

That left the gap at 7 points and Tigers in a bit of a quandary when a chance for 3 points came.  Are we battling with Ulster or Toulon in this group?  Do we take 3 points and deny Ulster the losing bonus, or are we challenging Toulon, do we go for the try and damn the risk of Ulster's point or possible draw?

We went for the ambitious.  We went for the try.  We went for Toulon.

We messed it up.  Twice.  Then again sort of a third time.  Well, you can't fault the ambition.   First line out was taken cleanly and the maul set up, but Ulster resisted and emboldened by Tigers spurning the kick infringed again.  This time we tried a trick line out.  Why?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Ulster cleared but only to the 22.  We tried another trick line out.  Why?  According to ESPN's stats these were 2 of only 3 line outs we lost all game, the other was a not straight call.

Ulster tried for the draw but Tigers defence was stout and held out.  Before the match I'd have taken a win, any win, 2 weeks ago I'd probably have taken a close defeat; but today and last night I'm gutted we didn't kill them off with the 4th try.

The Best Squad Ever?

Louis Deacon caused a bit of a stir last week when he boldly declared that this was “the best squad we’ve ever had”.  Whilst Deacon admits he “probably says this every year”, and I must admit it rings a bell, I can’t actually find any quotes from him saying it before. 

So is he right?  Is this squad the best one ever?  Let’s start by a walk down memory lane and quick glance at the competitors:

1994/95: Tigers’ second title win was celebrated with a final day win over Bristol; the Alliance & Leicester Stand was under construction and some significant moves happened in the Southern Hemisphere that changed rugby forever.

Tigers’ squad was deep and strong that year, the starting pack

1994/95 Squad

was full of future and current legends: Rowntree, Cockerill, Garforth, Johnson, Poole, Wells, Back and Richards all near their peak.  They were backed up by some stellar performers too: Derek Jelley needs no introduction; Chris Johnson was a reliable and consistent back up hooker; Tom Smith was Tigers regular until supplanted by some bloke called Johnson; Chris Tarbuck played for England “A” and was ever reliable back row cover after following Tony Russ from Saracens; Bill Drake-Lee was a combative openside flanker.

The half backs were Kardooni & Harris backed up by youngsters Niall Malone and Jamie Hamilton.  The strength in depth of the back three positions was remarkable: John Lily & Wayne Kilford at full back; Steve Hackney, Tony Underwood & Rory Underwood on the wings, with Barry Evans still in the Extras when needed.  The centres had Stuart Potter, along with Diccon Edwards and Richie Robinson.

1996/97: A great year, almost.  The original spilled treble.  Tigers destroyed Toulouse 37-11 to set up a trip to Cardiff to face Brive in the final.  Many people forget we were winning that match 9-8 at half time, most people remember the second half mauling that saw Tigers humbled.

That was the first miss.  The second was the league.  With professional rugby still in its infancy matches were scheduled for the knock out rounds of the European Cup; Tigers’ runs in the European and Pilkington Cups forced the club into a crazy schedule: 7 matches in 21 days.

The run started with a famous win in the Cup Semi.  Gloucester were vanquished 26-13 at Kingsholm thanks to 21 points from Joel Stransky; 4 days later Championship rivals Wasps were defeated 18-12 at a packed Welford Road putting the title back into Tigers hands and they thrashed Orrell 36-14 to make it 3 wins a week.

The next week was not so good.  Gloucester avenged their Cup knockout to seriously dent Tigers title hopes with a 2 point win at Kingsholm; 4 days later much the same side travelled to Bath and were hammered 47-9; the title dream was finally crushed with a first league loss to London Irish.  

1996/97 Squad

A last day draw with Sale secured European rugby for another season, denying the home side and provoking an attack on the Tigers mascot (to this day it’s not exactly clear how “good natured” this was).  Who were we to face in the cup final the very next week?  Why Sale of course!

The squad you say?  Oh yes I’ve sort of run away with myself and the memories there; the squad was a glorious mix of the old and the new.  John Liley, Rory Underwood, Aadel Kardooni, Matt Poole, Dean Richards and John Wells were still active first team players but so were Leon Lloyd, Will Greenwood, Austin Healey and Craig Joiner.  You had names to conjure with like Nnamdi Ezulike and Tim Barlow, plus probably Tigers biggest ever signing World Champion Joel Stransky, who arrived half way through the year. 

The pack contained the gems from 1995 as well as emerging players like Dorian West, Perry Freshwater, Will Johnson plus the league debut of Lewis Moody.

1998/99: Our third title and the beginning of the club’s most decorated era.  England’s only season as a 14 club league, with Swansea and Cardiff also providing opposition in their rebel season, there was no Europe.

Bob Dwyer had been sacked the year before as Tigers were racked with internal strife.  Appointed straight from the playing squad Dean Richards struggled initially as Tigers won only 6 from 14 at the end of the 1997/98 season. 

But the new season started strongly with wins against Quins, London Scottish, Saints and Bedford.  Andy Goode’s First XV starting debut was gained in a forgettable Cheltenham & Gloucester Cup loss to Rugby Lions (who also won the second leg at Welford Road!)

1998/99 Squad

10 successive wins from December to March included a crucial win at Franklin’s Gardens against second place Northampton and laid the foundation for a 3^rd English title.  7 Tim Stimpson penalties against his former club, and the previous year’s champions, Newcastle sealed the Title with one match to go.

The squad showed signs of the growing internationalisation of the game with the star signing of 20 cap Wallaby Pat Howard joined by Canadians Dave Lougheed and Harry Toews.  Fritz Van Heerdan joined the previous year and Joel Stransky played his final year.

In pack Martin Corry & Paul Gustard had joined the summer before from Bristol & Blaydon respectively; this season saw Moody, Corry and Back first establish themselves as first choice back rows, with Gustard and Will Johnson providing regular competition and a young Adam Balding beginning to feature from the bench.

The back line of Healey, Stransky, Lougheed, Howard, Joiner, Lloyd and Stimpson has a very good claim on being the best we’ve ever seen, certainly it bares strong comparison with a side like Kenny, Cusworth, Underwood, Dodge, Woodward, Evans and Hare.

2000/01: Paris, the treble, pretty much unarguably our greatest ever season.  The year started in middle of August with a thrilling win against Wasps at Loftus Road, Tigers led 17-6 before Wasps fought back to 22-17 lead.  It took an injury time try by Man of the Match Austin Healey to get the year started with a bang.

Ultimately Tigers won the title from Wasps by 8 points, the penultimate season of real league rugby showed that every match was vitally important with the very last act of the very first game having a crucial impact on the destination of the title 9 months later.

2000/01 Squad

The Title was sealed in March with 2 rounds to go leaving plenty of time to prepare for the assault on Europe.  Gloucester were the opponents at Vicarage Road with Tigers looking to right the wrongs from ’97.  It took a Lloyd try and 14 points from Tim Stimpson to see the Tigers through to the final against Stade Francais, and we all know what happened in that game!

The squad had evolved from the ’99 squad, West had supplanted Cockerill at hooker, with Ben Kay and Louis Deacon coming through in the engine room as Van Heerdan returned to South Africa.  The core 5 of Will Johnson, Corry, Gustard, Moody and Back were complimented with Adam Balding and Peter Short coming through.

In the backs James Grindal and Andy Goode come through the ranks to provide depth and competition to Jamie Hamilton and Austin Healey.  Pat Howard played his last season with Leon Lloyd his regular companion, a teenage Ollie Smith burst onto the scene with 13 starts and Glenn Gelderbloom provided under rated talent and consistency in the centres.

Probably the canniest signing in Tigers history, certainly in the long run, was winger Fereti “Freddie” Tuilagi who joined from St Helens in Rugby League.  He competed with Canadian winger Winston Stanley, another rugby league convert in Steve Booth.  Geordan Murphy and Tim Stimpson were cemented into the other two slots in the back three.

Read part two here: Click here for Part 2, where we look at the teams of the last 10 years plus the current squad

Best Squad ever? Part 2

Louis Deacon caused a bit of a stir last week when he boldly declared that this was “the best squad we’ve ever had”.  Whilst Deacon admits he “probably says this every year”, and I must admit it rings a bell, I can’t actually find any quotes from him saying it before. 

So is he right?  Is this squad the best one ever?  Let’s start by a walk down memory lane and quick glance at the competitors:

You can read part one here: where we look back at squads from the '90s and early 2000s

2004/5: After the twin triumphs of Paris & Cardiff, Tigers entered a rare rebuilding process.  Gone were Jelley, Freshwater, Cockerill, West, Garforth, Gustard, Balding and Jamie Hamilton.

Gone too was Dean Richards, sacked the previous year.  John Wells took the reins for a single season before coaching England’s age group sides.  This year was the last stand of Martin Johnson and Neil Back, the club’s only three time British Lions, and when a record 8 players toured New Zealand with the British Lions.

2004/05 Squad

Graham Rowntree was still around and joined Julian White and Darren Morris as Lions in the front row.  George Chuter was clear first choice at hooker with James Buckland his back up.  Johnson, Kay and Deacon were still the main locks; Henry Tuilagi joined the season before and Brett Deacon was an early season regular with Back, Moody and Corry.

Seru Rabeni was the summer signing from Otago and made an instant impact scoring 8 tries in 10 matches.  Injury in a game against Worcester ruled him out for the season & saw Tom Varndell score a hat trick on only his second start.  Alesana Tuilagi joined in the summer from Parma; working his way into the side and scoring 4 tries in 5 starts.

The season was one of early promise but ultimately came up empty; 4 losses in the first 24 games collapsed to 5 losses in the last 9 games to leave us pot less.  The need to peak for May had not yet been learned.  After emerging from the original Heineken Cup group of death Tigers travelled to Leinster in the Quarter Final; Ollie Smith had his best game scoring a brilliant try and sealing his place on that summer’s Lions tour.

It all went wrong against Toulouse in the semi final, a quick lineout went wide for Finau Maka to score in only the second minute.  It was 10-9 at half time but Tigers could not last the pace and wilted in the second half.  A last play consolation try by Varndell gave the 27-19 score line some unwarranted gloss.

Equally the Premiership final was over before it began, Tom Voyce pounced on a fumbled ball and raced away for a try to add to Mark Van Gisbergen’s penalty and it was 10-0 after 5 minutes.

2006/07: Tigers only ever League & Cup double ended the club’s longest trophyless spell since the initial John Player Cup win in 1979.

Pat Howard was back as coach and the playing squad had seen a lot of change.  Marcos Ayerza and Martin Castrogiovanni joined that summer, with Alejandro Moreno signed the season before & Julian White, giving us 4 international props.  Chuter and Buckland were still the hookers.  With Johnson gone and Louis Deacon spending the first 2 months of the season at flanker the locks were Leo Cullen, Jim Hamilton and Ben Kay; another 4 internationals. 

Tom Croft made his debut a season before but really emerged in 07 with 13 appearances, whilst Jordan Crane joined from Leeds in the summer.  Corry and Moody were still at their peak and were joined with Shane Jennings who earned his first cap for Ireland at the end of the year.  Luke Abraham and Brett Deacon were young, local and committed players.

2006/07 Squad

Fly halfs Andy Goode and Ian Humphreys divided the fans with Paul Burke a solid option who steered the side to a thrilling Cup Final win against Ospreys.  Scott Bemand & Harry Ellis were neck and neck at scrum half with Frank Murphy a competent 3^rd choice.   Ben Youngs made his debut that season at 17 during an injury crisis that forced Tigers into the Heineken Cup final with Murphy starting and no cover on the bench.

The wing options were scary with Rabeni, Tuilagi, Varndell and Lloyd plus Geordan & Johne Murphy.  The centres saw Dan Hipkiss have his annus mirabilis earning a spot in England’s World Cup squad; Ollie Smith was older, wiser and versatile filling in at 12 as often as 13.  Daryl Gibson was the main 12 with Matt Cornwell providing cover.  Rabeni & Lloyd of course could also cover the centres.

The season was one game from perfection; the Anglo-Welsh Cup was secured with wins against Sale and for my money the best final Twickenham has ever seen as we beat Ospreys 41-35 in a see saw game; the Premiership grabbed in decisive fashion as Bristol then Gloucester were dispatched.

The Heineken Cup was different.  It took a trademark Tom Varndell faint and go to beat Stade Francais in a classic quarter final; undefeated Llanelli were aggrieved at having to travel for the semi but sent home 33-17.  Having scored 40+ points on each visit to Twickenham and 7 tries the week previous Tigers were huge favourites going into their 4^th European final.  No tries and Tigers were mugged twice at the front of the line out as Wasps secured their second Heineken Cup & their second heart breaking win against the Tigers.

2009/10: Tigers completed a 3^rd title in 4 years when a late Dan Hipkiss try gave Tigers the lead in the Final for the 6^th and final time.  Saracens, the opponents, had sportingly let Hipkiss prove his fitness in an A League semi final against them when he was not technically qualified. 

Richard Cockerill’s first full season in charge and the now traditional injury crisis famously forced Craig Newby to the centres in a Heineken Cup match against the Ospreys that also saw Billy Twelvetrees given his First XV debut on 15 minutes notice. 

The crucible of the modern team, this year saw Anthony Allen & Geoff Parling’s arrival, Ben Youngs establish himself as first choice, Dan Cole overtake Julian White and Tom Youngs started his first game at hooker.

2009/10 Squad

The backrow saw Ben Woods and Lewis Moody battled it out at no.7, Jordan Crane and Tom Croft had the other backrow positions nailed down with Craig Newby and Brett Deacon providing cover.  Geoff Parling’s performance against South Africa saw him play every game for the rest of the season at lock, with Ben Kay, Louis Deacon and Calum Green his partners.

Lote Tuqiri was the major in season signing, injury dispensation in the salary cap when Geordan Murphy was injured meant Tigers had the room to splash the cash.  Aaron Mauger started the season as first choice at 12 but an ongoing back injury forced him out and Anthony Allen barely missed a step in his place.  Matt Smith came into the centres from the wing and of course Dan Hipkiss was still around.

Toby Flood was undisputed no.1 number 10 but Jeremy Staunton over saw an unprecedented 3 games tryless whilst Flood recovered from a snapped Achilles tendon.  George Ford became Tigers youngest ever First XV player on his debut against Leeds.

The injury ravaged draw with the Ospreys cost Tigers a place in the European knockouts, the first time in a non-Rugby World Cup year, but the season was not without highlights; World Champions South Africa visited to officially open the new 10,000 capacity Cat Stand.  Manu Tuilagi set up Lucas Amorosino’s try as Ben Youngs kicked 17 points for an unforgettable night.

Current Squad: The current squad sees 4 international props in Ayerza, Mulipola, Rizzo & Cole, backed up with Fraser Balmain, Tom Bristow and Tiziano Pasquali.  We have 2 international hookers with Youngs & Ghiraldini plus Neil Briggs, a Saxon, as 3^rd choice.

4 clear first choice locks are internationals Geoff Parling & Louis Deacon plus two men surely destined for higher honours in Ed Slater & Graham Kitchener.  5 internationals in Croft, Mafi, Crane, Barbieri & Matera are challenging for the back row plus uncapped Gibson & first choice flanker Salvi.

Ben Youngs is clear first choice at scrum half with support from David Mele and Sam Harrison.  Fly half sees intense competition between Owen Williams and Freddie Burns.

At centre Manu Tuilagi is a law unto himself, but Christian Loamanu has been signed to replicate him as much as possible.  Anthony Allen will be the first choice 12 barring unforeseen injuries with new old boy Bai providing cover along with youngsters Hepetema and Pohe.  Matt Smith provides his brand of unfussy team centred play.

The back three is jam packed with talent: Goneva, Morris, Tait, Scully, Thompstone, Benjamin, Camacho and Hamilton without even dipping into the academy or requiring a centre to cover.

Current Squad

So these are my suggestions; what do you think?  What was our greatest squad?  Can you look past the depth at hooker we had with Cockerill & West, are the 4 international props we have now better than the 4 we had in 2007?  Even with 5 internationals is our current backrow really comparable with Moody, Back & Corry? 

Currently wing has plenty of options but are the ones likely to play better than Hackney & the Underwoods or Lloyd?

There is a good case that this squad is not the strongest in any area but has very few weaknesses.  There is a school of thought that says Tigers should sacrifice depth for more world class talent.  I cannot agree with that; we have enough world class talent like Manu, Croft, Parling, both Youngs and various props we just have to get them onto the field for the Champions Cup group stages and then the knock out games after Christmas.

And that is easier said than done.

Know your Enemy: Champions Cup Pool Stage 2014-15

Ulster

Founded: 1879
Ground: Kingspan Stadium (a.k.a. Ravenhill; Capacity: 18,196)
Star Man: Ruan Pienaar

Transfers:

In: Wiehahn Herbst (Natal Sharks), Ruaidhri Murphy (ACT Brumbies), Dave Ryan (Zebre), Franco van der Merwe (Gauteng Lions), Sean Reidy (Counties Manukau), Ian Humphreys (London Irish), Louis Ludik (Agen) 

Out: John Afoa (Gloucester), Tom Court (London Irish), Paddy McAllister (Aurillac), Adam Macklin (Rotherham), James McKinney (Rotherham), David McIlwaine (Leeds), Niall Annett (Worcester), Johann Muller (Retirement), Sean Doyle (ACT Brumbies), Stephen Ferris (Retirement), Ian Porter (Connacht), Paddy Wallace (Retirement), Chris Farrell (Grenoble) 

Ins: 7

Outs: 13

We meet again.  For the third time in four seasons we will be making a trip to Belfast to meet what has become our European nemesis.  Embarrassed in 2004, humbled in 2012 we were at least close in Belfast in 2013.  Some were happy when we settled for a bonus point defeat.

But the home leg.  Oh the home leg.  A win and Welford Road would've hosted its first European knock out game since 2007.  We were ten points up, 25 minutes to play.  Ruan Pienaar, that genius, that bloody minded never-say-die Afrikaner, inspired a huge comeback.  He scored all the points.  He charged down Flood.  He nailed his kicks.  Nobody was happy with that losing bonus point.

Their European campaign ended at the quarter finals after defeat to Saracens and a red card to full back Jared Payne.

Ravenhill opened in 1923; all 4 stands have been redeveloped in recent years.  It also bears a new name after a sponsorship deal with local building materials firm Kingspan.

Ulster have lost two southern hemisphere powerhouses from their pack as Johan Muller retires and John Afoa moves to Gloucester. Irish international prop Tom Court also moves on as does long serving centre Paddy Wallace.  

Ulster's recruitment for this season is headed by a trio of South Africans; prop Wiehahn Herbst, one cap wonder lock Franco van der Merwe and full back Louis Ludik all join from the rainbow nation.

The most telling loss might not be on the field.  Long serving Director of Rugby David Humphreys has left to join Gloucester, like Dean Richards he left the day to day coaching to others but his experience will be missed.

As well as talisman Pienaar Ulster posses British Lion Tommy Bowe on the wing and emerging Irish fly half Paddy Jackson.  Darren Cave is a classy centre with Ian Henderson a growing force in the pack.

Toulon

Founded: 1908
Ground: Stade Mayol (Capacity:15,400)
Star Man: Take your pick

Transfers:

In: Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Simone Ferrari (Mogliano), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Romain Taofifenua (Perpignan), Andy Cramond (Edinburgh), Gerhard Vosloo (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Grenod (Aix-en-Provence), Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier), Eric Escande (Montpellier), Nicolas Durand (Perpignan), Jimmy Yobo (Aurillac), James O'Connor (London Irish), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff)

Out: Emmanuel Felsina (Lyon), Benjamin Noirot (Biarritz), Sébastien Bruno (Retirement), Pierrick Gunther (Lyon), Joe van Niekerk (Retirement), Jérémy Lenaerts (Narbonne), Jonny Wilkinson (Retirement), Quentin Lenfant (Albi), Alexis Palisson (Toulouse), Vincent Martin (Lyon), Dannie Russow (Retirement)

Ins: 13

Outs: 11

So you've just won back to back European Cups.  Your star full back, Delon Armitage, impresses again and signs new deal.  What's an aspirant club to do?

Obviously you sign Leigh Halfpenny.  Then James O'Conner.  Why have just one world class full back when you can have three?

Not content in the backrow with World Champion Juan Smith, All Black powerhouse Chris Masoe, Argentinean captain Juan Fernandez Lobbe and English Exile Steffon Armitage you go out and sign Mamuka Gorgodze, the Georgian Goliath.

They've lost Wilko though.

Toulon are funded by comic book magnate Mourad Boudjellal, though he claims the side is now self funding.  A scary prospect.  Boudjellal took over the side in May 2006 and promptly led them to relegation.  Promoted to the Top 14 on the second attempt the side only really started to hit the heights with the signing of Wilkinson.

It took 3 attempts to become French champions; losing finals in 2012 & 2013 before claiming the Bouclier de Brennus this year.  They were last champions in 1992; a 19 year old Yann Delaigue landed 2 drop goals to beat Biarritz in Serge Blanco's final game.

Tigers are no strangers to Toulon after visiting for the 2013 European Cup quarter final, a close 6 point defeat.  The Stade Mayol has a mythic property for the Toulonnais and the atmosphere can be electric, but is old and dangerous at times.  The stadium is an accident waiting to happen, two stands are accessed from a tiny side street with no room to move for hours before kick off.

Named for local music hall star Felix Mayol and opened in 1920 it is built entirely into the local city environment giving the ground its unique charm, atmosphere and making improvement all but impossible.  Mayol also gifted the club its emblem the Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis).

Toulon are coached by former French national team manager Bernard Laporte and have a galaxy of stars available to them.  Hayman, Castro, Bakkies Botha, Ali Williams, the back row mentioned above, Giteau, Bastareaud, Mermoz, Drew Mitchell, Habana.  Surely they have to get old sooner or later?

Llanelli Scarlets

Founded: 1875
Ground: Parc Y Scarlets (Capacity: 14,870)
Star Man: Rhys Priestland

Transfer:

In: Peter Edwards (London Welsh), Chris Hala'ufia (London Irish), Rory Pitman (Wasps), Regan King (Clermont), Harry Robinson (Cardiff)

Out: Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Deacon Manu (Retirement), Sione Timani (Tarbes), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff), Aled Thomas (Gloucester), Olly Barkley (London Welsh), Jonathan Davies (Clermont), Nic Reynolds (London Welsh)

Ins: 5

Outs:8

Another familiar rival.  Leicester have faced Llanelli 71 times stretching back to October 1896.  Tigers have taken 29 victories to the Welshmen's 37 with 5 draws.  In the professional era Tigers have won 6 to Llanelli's 3, the last two meetings in the LV Cup going the way of Llanelli.

The politics of Welsh rugby require Llanelli to go by the name "Scarlets" alone and pretend to be formed in 2003.  But the roots of this club go back to Victorian era and include celebrated victories over touring international sides including the 1972 All Blacks and against World Champions Australia in 1992.

The club opened its new home Parc Y Scarlets in 2008, the modern stadium is built on an out of town retail park.  It boasts modern facilities but the home club struggles to fill its 14,870 capacity regularly in the Pro12.  

The club is also famed for the song Sosban Fach (Little Saucepan), a tribute to the traditional tin plating industry in the town.  The club also celebrates the industrial heritage of the town with saucepans adorning the top of the goal posts.

Llanelli are coached by Simon Easterby, husband of TV presenter Sara Elgan, the former Harrogate, Leeds and Ireland flanker represented the club 180 times.  

The top name of his current charges is Rhys Priestland, the Wales international fly half.  He will be reunited with centre Regan King who rejoins the Scarlets from Clermont.

Winger Jordan Williams, small and agile, had a breakout season in 2013/14 as did lock Jake Ball.  Much like Ed Slater Ball is English, ignored by the academy system and spotted playing rugby in Australia.

Llanelli beat Harlequins at the Stoop last season with an exhillerating counter attacking game, so will be as dangerous opponent as ever.  Question marks will however linger over the pack.