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.

5 Things Tigers can learn from the Rugby World Cup

So the group stage is over and the Rugby World Cup now goes on for another three weeks of knock out rugby.  I've loved it and its been great.  Well not if you're a hooray Henry in red corduroy trousers and a tweed jacket.  Then you're probably still frothing at the mouth over England and banning Alesana Tuilagi for bending his knee when he runs.

But what can Tigers learn from the last month of rugby? What new ideas, or maybe old ones, can we take for this festival of rugby?

1. The Quick Heel

Look I know better people than me insist that it can't be done but the evidence is before our eyes.  The quick heel, channel one ball, is back.  The Japanese scrum has been a revelation, with Canada also excelling, in getting the ball in and away quickly.  This is an invaluable tool when your scrum is under the cosh or you just fancy your chances out wide.  Against Samoa the Japanese also showed that a quick heel can be combined with a dominant pack, choosing an 8 man shove near the Samoan line and earning a penalty try.

2. New Zealand do not have a monopoly on quality players

Admittedly hardly a revelation for a club that picked up Dave Lougheed from Canada in 1998.  Georgia's props are well known but their centres Sharikadze and Mchedlidze have impressed hugely with lion like defence and clever attacking brains.  Both are 22 and play in Pro D2, the division from which we signed Vereniki Goneva.  Namibia's Johan Deysel and Renaldo Bothma have caught the eye, whilst Romania's Florin Vlaicu's nerveless kick to win against Canada will have caught the eye of scouts.

3. Error free rugby is possible

In Japan's wins against South Africa and Samoa they only dropped the ball 11 times in total, won all 18 of their scrums and 24 out of 26  of their lineouts.  Last year Tigers did win 92% of their own lineouts so we know that can be done but Japan also conceded just 4 penalties in their win against Samoa.  You can play without conceding penalties.  You can play without errors.

4. Experience is crucial but no guarantee

England showed that nothing can prepare you for the white heat of the battle; South Africa and Tonga picked their oldest and most experienced sides ever but were beaten by vibrant sides offering something new.  Radically different to each other as Japan and Georgia are they shocked their opponents with tactics or an intensity their opponents just weren't expecting.  Tigers have experience of winning Premiership titles but little in Europe's later stages.  The only starting players remaining from our last European knock win are Marcos Ayerza and Tom Croft whilst Jordan Crane came off the bench.  That win was in 2009, or 7 seasons ago.  It is time the Youngs bros and Dan Cole tasted European success, do we have the experience necessary or the ability to surprise a team with out tactics or intensity?

5. Match day build up can be improved

One thing that has massively impressed me at the Rugby World Cup games I've been to is the match day presentation team.  Basically its having a TV presenter and pundit pitch-side as usual but they are presenting to the crowd in the stadium.  They show the history of the two nations involved, highlight players to watch and generally preview the game.  At half time they offer a bit of analysis and insight and after the final whistle they interview the captains and the man of the match.

Tigers now have the two big screens and could really use them better.  We have a never ending supply of injured players to provide the punditry, or we could turn to a recently retired legend, and there is always highlights and news to share with the crowd.  Tigers could show great moments from history on the screen, preview that day's opponents, show highlights from previous weeks, youth team & reserve games or other teams games that weekend.

New Laws Trial Set to Change the Game

Be warned.  The Australians are coming after our game again and are intent on ruining it.  Ashamed of their inability on the field and wielding disproportionate influence in World Rugby, a nation with only 5 professional side and only 42,000 registered players, less even than Kenya, seek to change the game.

Coming out of their constant desire to jigger the rules to their own benefit they launched a raft of rule changes in their National Rugby Championship.  Now they seek to impose these on the rest of the world.

World Rugby announced the trial and the full package can be read here.

The laws broadly fall into three categories; scoring, scrum and touch.  Easily the most controversial is the desire to fundamentally change the game by devaluing kicking at goal and simultaneously increasing the value of a try.

As they would have it:

9.a.1 - Following extensive union feedback, the LRG recommended to Rugby Committee that the following values attached to methods of scoring be trialled to promote the continuity of the match and reward scoring tries over penalties.

•  Try: 6 points
•  Conversion: 2 points
•  Penalty Goal: 2 points
•  Dropped Goal: 2 points

I can't believe this has seriously been proposed and want to fight it tooth and nail.

Key reasons:
1.) There are no other sports that I have ever heard of that change their scoring systems so regularly. Rugby try inflation is running only slightly behind real inflation in the UK! Something worth £3 in 1992 would now be worth £6, almost matching the 4-6 increase in try value. It makes the game look like a joke and divorces us from our history.

2.) There has been no proper evidence or research that shows how many tries have been scored across a season and how that value changes in different leagues.  The Premiership, Pro12, Top 14, Super Rugby have a wealth of data available. How have try rates changed? What effect did moving from 4 point tries to 5 point tries have? We have data before and after in France, Italy and English leagues it should be incumbent on those seeking change to make the case properly not on airy fairy notions of what might happen. We have a very similar change 23 years ago, what DID happen after the last change?

They are trialling these scores in the Welsh Principality Premiership.  What were the number of tries last season?  The distribution? The number of penalties?  Without these numbers we will have no idea if this has even been a success or not.

3.) Why the assumption that the game is all about tries? What is entertaining is a tight and compelling game where the lead is uncertain. The current odd scoring system encourages that as a game can see-saw: 3-0;3-5;10-5;10-12;13-12 etc. In new scoring that would be: 2-0; 2-6; 10-6; 10-14; 12-14. So one fewer change of lead and in case 1 a penalty changes the lead yet again whilst in case 2 it leads to a draw. Going to a 2-6-8 scoring system would also surely increase draws particularly in a deep European winter when a lack of tries is as much down to the weather as the players.

This is a fundamental change to the game that I don't want and don't see why we need it. Rugby is booming world wide particularly in France and the UK with both signing record contracts for the TV rights of their leagues.  Given this has emerged from Australia this has the stink of throwing good money after bad and trying to turn around a failing market at the risk of souring bigger and growing markets.

Changing the risk-reward ratio makes a fundamental change to tactics at every stage of the game and is taking  huge risk when rugby is under going massive and sustained growth.

Other changes are:

3.5(H) - To discourage teams from going to uncontested scrums, if, because of a sending off or injury, a team cannot provide enough suitably trained front row players, the match continues with uncontested scrums, the scrums have to be played with eight players per side.

Comment: A positive move.  Key part is that teams are forced to keep 8 men in so removing a possible advantage a team has from going to uncontested scrums.  Should open the wider spaces without any obvious negative effects.

5.7(e) - In order to increase the penalty for infringing in the dying moments of the game, if time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty kick is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue. If time expires and a player then kicks to touch from a penalty kick anywhere in the playing area, the referee allows the throw-in to be taken, and play continues until the next time that the ball becomes dead.

Comment: Not sure on this one. Gives referees significantly more room to impact the end of a match as 2 penalties after 80 minutes can now march you down the field from your own goal line and into a scoring zone. Previously you would have had to make a line break to gain such territory.  Giving referees more room to controversially affect a result is not something I want to see.

I also have a question about a side leading after the 80 who get a penalty. Can they kick to touch to end the game? Do you have to tell the referee before you kick it? Adds a layer of confusion for little reward.

8.1 (a) - "For multiple penalised infringements, the referee has the discretion to allow the captain of the team for whom the penalty has been awarded, to choose from which of the points of penalty on the field, the penalty may be taken. 8.1 “(a)” Add sentence (italics): (a) The referee is the sole judge of when a team has gained an advantage. The referee has wide discretion when making decisions. The referee may consult with the team captain in deciding which the greater advantage to his team is. The rationale can best be outlined by an example. Reds v Blacks. Red attack on Black 22, 5 metres from touch. Referee plays advantage to Red. Play moves to mid-field/some forward progress. Black infringe again, no advantage possible, referee awards PK. Depending on the score/time, the most advantageous position for the PK may be at place of first infringement (kick to touch and line-out) OR at the place of the second infringement (kick at goal.) It seems reasonable and positive for the referee to consult with the captain in such instances."

Comment:  Like this one. Effectively where you have two penalties the infringed against side may choose which one it wants. No obvious down sides I can see.

9.A.1 - "If a player would probably have scored a try but for foul play by an opponent, a penalty try is awarded. The conversion kick shall not be taken after a penalty try is awarded. Value = eight points as above."

Comment:  Have no burning opinion on this one. You literally never see the conversion missed anyway so pointless change, on the other hand you never see them missed so has no effect on the game anyway. Leaning towards being against as feels like change for changes sake.

Kick off laws various: "To increase ball in play time, penalise poor kicks and reduce scrum time, the sevens variations for kick-off sanctions will apply: Free kick at the centre of the halfway line. There is not a scrum option from this free kick."

Comment:  Don't like this but only mildly. The kick off is a contest. The restart should be a contest too, even if it has failed. Also part of the slow eroding of the scrum from the game. Will be interesting to see what effect it has. The biggest will be we no longer getting 10 point swings where a try is scored, a team kicks off into touch and then concedes a penalty at the scrum. Not sure that is really a positive or a negative.

17.6 (d) and (e) Unsuccessful end to a maul - "In order to avoid the ball being out of vision and to promote fair contest, a maul must start moving forward within five seconds it was started. If it does not do that and if the referee can see the ball, a reasonable time is allowed for the ball to emerge but the maul is ended. If it does not emerge within a reasonable time, a scrum is ordered."

Comment:  Seems to again look to de-power the maul/pack. I preferred the old ELV of being allowed to collapse mauls. Unfortunately a panic over injuries that was never really properly analysed and proved saw that shelved after only one year before we really got to see what teams would do with it.

19 Touch - Simplify the law relating to touch for officials, players, coaches and fans, promote consistency across the game and increase ball in play time. Who has taken the ball into touch is determined by who last had possession or played the ball before the ball went into touch.
a) Clarify the existing law definition at the front of the law book so that a player who is attempting to bring the ball under control is deemed to be in possession of the ball. This is existing practice and means that a player does not have to be in contact with the ball at the moment the player touches the touchline for the ball to be in touch. This clarification makes it easier for the match officials to judge whether or not the ball is in touch if the player is “juggling” with it in an attempt to bring it under control
b) Permit a player to jump from the playing area and return a ball to play that has reached the plane of touch provided the player does so before he or she lands in touch.
c) Permit a ball carrier whose momentum takes him or her over the touchline, to return the ball to play provided that neither the player nor the ball lands in touch before the ball is released.
d) Change the law so that a player who is in touch who catches or picks up a ball that has not reached the plane of touch is deemed to have taken the ball into touch.

Comment:  This is basically what most people think the laws are already, especially b). 100% behind these ones.

Law 20.1(g) Forming a scrum - While the ‘crouch, bind, set’ engagement sequence has achieved its objective of reducing scrum injuries by reducing forces on engagement by 25 per cent and reducing front row injuries by 50 per cent the rate of completions remains low at the elite level of the game. The following law amendment trial is designed to promote stability and speed of ball availability, reducing the number of collapses and resets.

• The referee will call “crouch” and then “bind”
• In the “crouch” position the front rows will be shoulder to shoulder with their opponents, stable and supporting their own weight without pushing
• On the “bind” call the props will position their arms in the correct ‘bind’ position. [The correct ‘bind’ is as outlined in current Law 20.1 (g)]
• The front rows (+ back 5 players) will tighten binds and set themselves for the throw-in.
• The ball is then thrown-in without delay, Law 20.5

Comment:  I just don't get what they think this will achieve?

A positive is "In the “crouch” position the front rows will be shoulder to shoulder with their opponents" seems to be formalising what size gap between the packs there should be.

A big negative is "The front rows (+ back 5 players) will tighten binds and set themselves for the throw-in." (my emphasis)  So hands up who thinks front rows getting to call their own engage is a good idea? I genuinely can't think of one reason? This will only lead to the team with the ball trying to get in before the opposition, set and then push on for a penalty.

It seems to be in because they want another scrum change but don't have the nads to make all scrum offences the same level as pushing early e.g. free kick then penalty if persistent.

Law 20.5 Throwing the ball into the scrum - "The rationale is that the scrum-half (No.9) may receive a signal from his hooker (No.2) that the hooker is ready. This may encourage the No.2 to prepare to strike for the ball. The proposal is intended to give the advantage to the team throwing-in the ball. The scrum must be stable prior to feed, and the ball fed without delay in accordance with current Law."

Comment:  Again can't see what this is trying to achieve other than more instances of foot up.

Law 20.6(d) How scrum-half throws the ball into scrum - "The scrum half must throw the ball in straight, but is allowed to align his shoulder on the middle line of the scrum, therefore allowing him to stand a shoulder width towards his side of the middle line. This is designed to further promote scrum stability and enhance player welfare by reducing the pressure on the hooker striking the ball."

Comment:  I've no real issue with this. I'd prefer to move away from hooking all together and making the scrum more into a shoving contest but this still leaves a team open to being shoved off it whilst giving a weaker scrum a chance to get it back.

Law 20.11 Wheeling the scrum - "In order to promote, quicker, completed scrums and enhance player safety, the law trial is aimed at discouraging the team not in possession from wheeling the scrum. 20.11 (b) will be applied as follows: The new scrum is formed at the place where the previous scrum ended. If neither team win possession, the ball is thrown in by the team that previously threw it in."

Comment:  At the moment if the scrum wheels deliberately it is a penalty but if it is accidental then possession switches. This puts the ref into a difficult situation and they are very very rarely turning over possession anyway. I like this one as it makes the rules more consistent and reduces a fairly perverse incentive currently in the rules.

Law 22.13 Attacking infringement with scrum sanction - "If an attacking player commits an infringement in the in-goal area which would have resulted in a scrum had it occurred within the field of play, and a defending player has made the ball dead or it has gone into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, play is restarted with either a five-metre scrum and the defending team throws the ball in OR a five-metre line drop out. The five-metre line drop out will be treated as per the 22m drop out. The 5 metre drop out can occur anywhere along the five-metre line."

Comment:  As far as I'm aware currently this would result in a 22m? Why the change? What's the benefit? Seems really odd.

Law 22.16 Infringements in goal - "AMEND THE SECOND PARAGRAPH TO READ: A knock-on or a throw forward by the defending team in the in-goal results in a five-metre scrum opposite the place of infringement and the attacking team throws the ball in. ADD A THIRD PARAGRAPH: A knock on or a throw forward by the attacking team in the in-goal results in either a five-metre scrum and the defending team throws the ball in or a five-metre line drop out taken anywhere along that line."

Comment:  As above really. I don't get the need for it?

More Questions than Answers as Pumas rampant in Ayerza Testimonial

Tigers started the new season on Saturday with Marcos Ayerza’s testimonial and a visit of the Argentina national side preparing for the World Cup.  Unsurprisingly the Pumas machine was better oiled but Tigers management will be concerned at the ease with which they shredded the home defence for 9 tries in a 55-34 victory.

The first try was from a scrum and a simple loop move saw Catchpole, Loamanu and Camacho all bite and Argentina take advantage by shifting the ball to the wing for the try.  The second came as Marcelo Bosch stepped through Tigers inside defence from a 5m ruck with the third a flowing move that Imhoff finished giving the Pumas a 21-3 lead after only 20 minutes.

Tigers came back into the game and started putting Argentina under some pressure, with Betham bursting down the right hand flank.  Tigers had a spell of pressure from lineouts on the left side of the pitch and Riccardo Brugnara burst through the side of a goal line ruck to secure Tigers first try.

The coaching staff will be disappointed with Catchpole and Loamanu each wasting good positions with grubber kicks to nothing but Tigers were increasing their fluency and making ground at most rucks.

Argentina though were to strike next as Tommy Bell had a moment to forget.  With the field opening out in front of him he chose to throw a wild 20 metre plus pass towards the Crumbie touchline, which was skilfully intercepted by former Bordeaux and Toulon fly half Nicola Sanchez and returned for 7 points.

Both sides made changes at half time, Tigers made 12 with only De Chaves, Pearce and Bell returning whilst Argentina made 14 hooker Julian Montoya the only man left standing.

Argentina went to their maul to create the first try of the half.  Tigers contested the lineout 10 metres from their line but were unable to disrupt the ball.  With the Argentinian pack set they rumbled forwards, Montoya scoring from close range shrugging off the attentions of Adam Thompstone.

The second of the half was similar to the first of the match, a simple handling move finding space on the opposite wing, but from much closer in.  Bell will be disappointed he didn’t make Agulla work harder for the finish.

The second half XV was better structured for large parts of the game and responded well scoring the next three tries and taking the score from 38-13 to 38-34.  Harry Thacker started the come back with a charge down that he regathered for the try before Freddie Burns followed Sanchez’s example by returning an intercepted pass for a try.  This time Argentina were going back towards the blindside touchline following a lineout when Burns pounced.

The final Tigers try will be one that winger Paulo Odogwu will never forget.  On his first major start at Welford Road Odogwu took the ball just before his own 10m line from a long cut out pass by Tommy Bell.  Given the outside by his opposite winger he took it.  All of it.  He gassed the first man, threw in a subtle swerve on the second to have him too before just keeping out of reach of the covering full back for long enough to ground under his tackle.

Unfortunately that was the last time he got the ball and Tigers struggled to contain the Pumas for the final period.  The inside defence went missing more than once and Soccino and Leguizamon ran riot.  By this time Ayerza had re-appeared in Tigers colours earning the biggest cheer of the day. 

Tigers will need to sharpen up their defence considerably after this game; being that stand offish, static and passive will be as cruelly treated in the Premiership as it was on Saturday and no one will be so understanding in a proper game.  The attack though showed some sparks, Mauger’s arrival heralding a flurry of inside passes whether they were particularly on or not, but the attack created only two tries and one of those a pick and go effort from the forwards.

Don’t let the positive spin much of social media has given the match hide the fact that this game raised a lot more questions of our abilities than gave answers.

Scully takes Flight and Tigers set to face Russian Test?

Scully set to miss run up to Quarter Final

Tigers are set to miss Blaine Scully for the final two weeks build up to the monumental trip to Clermont in the Heineken Cup Quarter Final.  Winger-cum-full back Scully has been named as part of Mike Tolkin’s US Eagles squad that takes on Uruguay in a two legged Rugby World Cup qualifier.

The first leg is set for this Saturday in Montevideo with the return fixture at Kenneshaw State University in Atlanta a week later.  That rules Scully out of the Exeter game this Sunday as well as the visit to Northampton.  The Saints will be missing Samu Manoa who is amongst 11 players from the top three divisions of English rugby selected.

Scully’s absence deals the Californian wingers chances of playing in Clermont a body blow.  Cemented in the First XV at present his national service will give Adam Thompstone or a fit again Miles Benjamin a chance to press their claims.  You cannot begrudge a man an international cap but the creep of the international rugby continues unabated.

USA Squad:

Forwards: Todd Clever (NTT Shining Arcs), Tom Coolican (Richmond), Cam Dolan (Northampton), Eric Fry (London Scottish), Olive Kilifi (Seattle-OPSB), Titi Lamositele (Saracens), Scott LaValla (Stade Francais), Samu Manoa (Northampton), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Lou Stanfill (Seattle-OPSB), Kyle Sumsion (BYU), Phil Thiel (Life), Tai Tuisamoa (OMBAC), Nick Wallace (James Bay)

Backs: Miles Craigwell (Seattle-OPSB), Luke Hume (Narbonne), Seamus Kelly (Cal), Toby L'Estrange (London Welsh), Tim Maupin (Olympic Club), Folau Niua (Glasgow), Mike Petri (NYAC), Blaine Scully (Leicester), Robbie Shaw (London Scottish), Andrew Suniula (London Wasps), Shalom Suniula (Seattle-OPSB), Chris Wyles (Saracens)

 

Tigers to play Russian Champions?

Brown’s Sport & Leisure Club in Vilamoura, Portugal, have been advertising that they will be hosting a match between Russian Champions Krasny Yar and English Champions Leicester Tigers on Friday April 11^th.  

Link Here 

And another here 

And Facebook Here 

As part of the “Algarve Rugby Festival” Krasny Yar will also be playing the British Army the week before.  Last season London Irish faced the Army in the 2013 edition of the “Algarve Rugby Festival” so this is not perhaps the wild fantasy it appears to be.

Tigers have not confirmed the fixture or the level of team being sent.  It is unclear whether the invasion of Crimea by Russian forces will affect this event.

Krasny Yar features a professional squad with the most recognisable names to western fans being ex-Northampton wing Vasily Artemyev and ex-Wasps flanker Victor Gresev.  They topped the regular season table in Russia before beating cross town rivals Enisey-STM in a two legged final.

World Cup Woe for Welford Road

England 2015 today released the long list of 17 venues hopping to host Rugby World Cup games.  Controversially Welford Road has been snubbed in favour of the King Power Stadium on Raw Dykes Road, the home Leicester City Football Club.

Welford Road is said to have missed out because of a reluctance to up grade infrastructure in a stand that is due to for redevelopment at some point in the near future and concerns that the pitch, at 90x63m, would have been comfortably the narrowest and also the smallest pitch in the World Cup.  

It is an indictment of the club and its conservatism that they have missed the opportunity to host a major worldwide sporting event because of a refusal to spend money and improve their facilities.  This could have been the perfect excuse to redevelop the Crumbie Stand improving facilities for our hardiest of fans and getting worldwide attention on our club too.  Instead of the imposing CAT stand frontage and the prison walls the world will see the spectacular glass frontage of the King Power Stadium shining over the canal.

This Ultra-SubMarine has been in meetings with Simon Cohen where this has been discussed and if he showed the same lack of enthusiasm and out right indifference to the bid auditors it is no surprise that England 2015 has decided to go elsewhere.

However it must be remembered that for the Leicester rugby fan this is a positive day as Leicester has been chosen as host venue and Sir Peter Soulsby has finally started to show the benefits of a elected mayor by going into bat for the city.