Thursday, 18 October 2012
Nuneaton net Tony the Tiger
Tigers and England centre Tony Allen has joined National 3 Midlands side Nuneaton as a backs coach. The stylish centre has committed to coaching the amateur side on Tuesday and Thursday nights, international commitments providing. His first session was last week and is said to be settling in well.
3 Tiger Cubs named in England youth squads
Flanker Will Owen and Full Back Tom Hudson have been named in England's U-18 squad for this year whilst Scouse Lock Charlie Beckett has been named in the U-17 squad. Congratulations must go out to those three individuals.
Overall Tigers will be disappointed with the low numbers, even remembering age group recognition is no guarantee of success, as Northampton lead the way 9 players of the 2 squads whilst Bath and Wasps both have 8. Tigers tie 10th with Worcester, out of 14, in terms of pure numbers only Gloucester, Newcastle and Bristol have fewer players selected. Maybe the new U-18s league will provide a few players a platform to prove the England selectors wrong.
Overall Tigers will be disappointed with the low numbers, even remembering age group recognition is no guarantee of success, as Northampton lead the way 9 players of the 2 squads whilst Bath and Wasps both have 8. Tigers tie 10th with Worcester, out of 14, in terms of pure numbers only Gloucester, Newcastle and Bristol have fewer players selected. Maybe the new U-18s league will provide a few players a platform to prove the England selectors wrong.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
A League seasons ends with victory
The official Aviva A League season is already over, just 7 weeks into the season, as Tigers Extras have failed to progress to the semi finals stage. Gloucester beat Northampton to ensure both sides progressed at Kingsholm on Monday night.
In the last round of fixtures Tigers traveled to Sale with a strong side featuring both Deacon brothers and Matt Tait. They romped to a 10 try 61-20 victory with a hat trick from burgeoning winger Alex Lewington and a brace from the impressive Irishman Michael Noone. Other scores came from Andy Forsyth, Henry Purdy, Micky Young, Matt Tait and Pat Phibbs. Matt Cornwell added 11 points with the boot.
Over the course of the 5 game season Tigers used 43 players, with 31 different starter, 9 have been involved in all 5 games but only 3 players (Matt Cornwell, Fraser Balmain and Alex Lewington) have started every game. 11 players have featured a single time, from Louis Deacon and George Chuter at one end of the spectrum to Tom Bellak and George Oliver at the other.
Top try scorer has been summer signing from Wasps Henry Purdy who has touched down 6 times in only 4 starts. Alex Lewington scored 4 and Michael Noone scored 3. Matt Cornwell notched 20 conversions from 31 attempts and was also succesful with 2 penalties for a grand total of 46 points. Overall 17 players a scored a try and a penalty try was also scored when Alex Lewington was taken out with the line begging.
Tigers outscored their opponents 201 to 142 points over the 5 games, including winning the try battle 31 to 17.
This has been a mixed season for Tigers Extras. They lost against the only 2 decent sides they faced but romped to massive victories against the weaklings in the group. They looked pretty handy in the two home games I saw but the standard of the competition has collapsed from a high point of the mid noughties. It used to be a better standard than the Championship but now resides somewhere around National League 1's mid table. So it is very difficult where to place even the standout players like Henry Purdy, Alex Lewington or the two young props Fraser Balmain or Kieran Brookes. Are they ready for the first team or not? Who knows and with Cockerill's less than progressive use of the academy we may never find out. It's definitely a grim life for the ones that struggle at this level.
Really the A league has evolved into a joke tournament. England is a small country and a regional competition is unnecessary and makes the competition weaker. It is frankly a shame that Tigers can't play the likes of Harlequins, Saracens or Exeter on a regular basis and instead have to schlep to Sale to put 61 points on a side that isn't fit for competition. Last year we put 80 points on Leeds. We could get games as uncompetitive as that by playing Nottingham, Moseley and Bedford and save a lot of money on diesel for the team bus. Instead the A league should move to two national divisions of 6 with promotion and relegation between the divisions, and playing a full 10 game double round robin fixture list. This could be supplemented with friendlies and local derbies as desired by the individual clubs. What ever happens it can't, surely, stagger on with this ridicules micro schedule for much longer.
In the last round of fixtures Tigers traveled to Sale with a strong side featuring both Deacon brothers and Matt Tait. They romped to a 10 try 61-20 victory with a hat trick from burgeoning winger Alex Lewington and a brace from the impressive Irishman Michael Noone. Other scores came from Andy Forsyth, Henry Purdy, Micky Young, Matt Tait and Pat Phibbs. Matt Cornwell added 11 points with the boot.
Over the course of the 5 game season Tigers used 43 players, with 31 different starter, 9 have been involved in all 5 games but only 3 players (Matt Cornwell, Fraser Balmain and Alex Lewington) have started every game. 11 players have featured a single time, from Louis Deacon and George Chuter at one end of the spectrum to Tom Bellak and George Oliver at the other.
Top try scorer has been summer signing from Wasps Henry Purdy who has touched down 6 times in only 4 starts. Alex Lewington scored 4 and Michael Noone scored 3. Matt Cornwell notched 20 conversions from 31 attempts and was also succesful with 2 penalties for a grand total of 46 points. Overall 17 players a scored a try and a penalty try was also scored when Alex Lewington was taken out with the line begging.
Tigers outscored their opponents 201 to 142 points over the 5 games, including winning the try battle 31 to 17.
This has been a mixed season for Tigers Extras. They lost against the only 2 decent sides they faced but romped to massive victories against the weaklings in the group. They looked pretty handy in the two home games I saw but the standard of the competition has collapsed from a high point of the mid noughties. It used to be a better standard than the Championship but now resides somewhere around National League 1's mid table. So it is very difficult where to place even the standout players like Henry Purdy, Alex Lewington or the two young props Fraser Balmain or Kieran Brookes. Are they ready for the first team or not? Who knows and with Cockerill's less than progressive use of the academy we may never find out. It's definitely a grim life for the ones that struggle at this level.
Really the A league has evolved into a joke tournament. England is a small country and a regional competition is unnecessary and makes the competition weaker. It is frankly a shame that Tigers can't play the likes of Harlequins, Saracens or Exeter on a regular basis and instead have to schlep to Sale to put 61 points on a side that isn't fit for competition. Last year we put 80 points on Leeds. We could get games as uncompetitive as that by playing Nottingham, Moseley and Bedford and save a lot of money on diesel for the team bus. Instead the A league should move to two national divisions of 6 with promotion and relegation between the divisions, and playing a full 10 game double round robin fixture list. This could be supplemented with friendlies and local derbies as desired by the individual clubs. What ever happens it can't, surely, stagger on with this ridicules micro schedule for much longer.
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Scott Steele takes part in Scotland Under 20s camp
Last week Scott Steele took part in a three day camp as Scotland Under 20s prepare for the Six Nations and the IRB Junior World Championship.
Steele missed last years World Championship with injury so will be hoping for better luck this time around.
Steele missed last years World Championship with injury so will be hoping for better luck this time around.
Logo named in Samoan November Tests Squad
Logovii Mulpola has been named in Samoa's squad for this November's Autumn Internationals. They play Canada (in Colwyn Bay, which is a bit of a joke) on November 9th, Wales on November 16th and France on November 24th. He will miss 4 Tigers games but only 1 in the Premiership (Wasps Away on November 24th), and he could make that if he fails to gain selection in the final test.
Once again there is a suspicious lack of Northampton players in a "minor" nations test squad as Ken and George Pisi are both left out. Consider Tongahuia not playing for Tonga between the 2007 and 2011 World Cups and American Samu Manoa not representing USA at the 2011 World Cup and very dodgy pattern emerges. Whether these are genuine selection stinkers by the respective nations or undue politiking from the "Saints" is surely for PRL and the IRB to investigate. It undermines the Premiership when one side has its international players available and its rivals doesn't and it undermines international rugby when a nations best representatives are being barred from playing.
Harlequins have Maurice Faasavalu selected but James Johnston misses out in a competitive front row to Mulipola and his elder brother Census Johnston of Toulouse.
Another notable name is of course Alesana Tuilagi who will be part of the touring party.
1. Sakaria Taulafo - UK
2. Logovii Mulipola – UK
3. Census Johnston – FRA
4. Viliamu Afatia – FRA
5. Tii Paulo – FRA
6. Ole Avei – FRA
7. Daniel Leo – FRA
8. Faatiga Lemalu – NZ
9. Joe Tekori – FRA
10. Filo Paulo – NZ
11. Taiasina Tuifu’a – UK
12. Ofisa Treviranus – UK
13. Maurie Faasavalu – UK
14. Tivani Foma’I – NZ
15. Kane Thompson – JPN
16. Ropeti Lafo
17. Kahn Fotualii – Wales
18. Jeremy Su’a – NZ
19. Auvasa Falealii – NZ
20. Tusi Pisi – JPN
21. Ki Anufe – NZ
22. Setaimata Sa – UK
23. Seilala Mapusua – JPN
24. Paul Williams –UK
25. Robert Lilomaiava – Samoa
26. David Lemi – UK - Captain
27. Reupenna Levasa – Samoa
28. Paul Perez – SA
29. Faatoina Autagavaia – NZ
30. Alesana Tuilagi – JPN
Once again there is a suspicious lack of Northampton players in a "minor" nations test squad as Ken and George Pisi are both left out. Consider Tongahuia not playing for Tonga between the 2007 and 2011 World Cups and American Samu Manoa not representing USA at the 2011 World Cup and very dodgy pattern emerges. Whether these are genuine selection stinkers by the respective nations or undue politiking from the "Saints" is surely for PRL and the IRB to investigate. It undermines the Premiership when one side has its international players available and its rivals doesn't and it undermines international rugby when a nations best representatives are being barred from playing.
Harlequins have Maurice Faasavalu selected but James Johnston misses out in a competitive front row to Mulipola and his elder brother Census Johnston of Toulouse.
Another notable name is of course Alesana Tuilagi who will be part of the touring party.
1. Sakaria Taulafo - UK
2. Logovii Mulipola – UK
3. Census Johnston – FRA
4. Viliamu Afatia – FRA
5. Tii Paulo – FRA
6. Ole Avei – FRA
7. Daniel Leo – FRA
8. Faatiga Lemalu – NZ
9. Joe Tekori – FRA
10. Filo Paulo – NZ
11. Taiasina Tuifu’a – UK
12. Ofisa Treviranus – UK
13. Maurie Faasavalu – UK
14. Tivani Foma’I – NZ
15. Kane Thompson – JPN
16. Ropeti Lafo
17. Kahn Fotualii – Wales
18. Jeremy Su’a – NZ
19. Auvasa Falealii – NZ
20. Tusi Pisi – JPN
21. Ki Anufe – NZ
22. Setaimata Sa – UK
23. Seilala Mapusua – JPN
24. Paul Williams –UK
25. Robert Lilomaiava – Samoa
26. David Lemi – UK - Captain
27. Reupenna Levasa – Samoa
28. Paul Perez – SA
29. Faatoina Autagavaia – NZ
30. Alesana Tuilagi – JPN
Same same but different
I met a very wise man on Saturday night. He was a tallish man, all skin and bone with what can only be described as a traveler's beard. He took me and my friend to a bar and introduced these Englishmen to "Mad Dogs"*. As we downed more of these shots he told more and more stories. How the French had killed Occitane culture "50 years ago if I want to speak my language, they would, how you say, cut off my arms!" he said. How he had traveled to Edinburgh, to Cardiff and to Manchester. How he lived behind the train station in "how you say, a Car-a-van, it has the wheels, yes?". Then he told us about a saying he learned when he was traveling around Arabia. In English it was "same same but different" in arabic it was something like "Al rouge al magash". I'm sure the avid ultrasubmarines that speak arabic can correct that. Either way the meaning of this saying was that things can seem the same on the surface but actually be very different.
This brings us to the match. I'm sure you know the blow by blow account of how it happened. The close half hour then the dismal second half in weather that seemed to have followed us from last weekend in Manchester.
In many ways it was the same as last week. Tight first half then the better side upped the ante and pulled away with canny game management and a huge forward effort, whilst the opposition looked on impotently.
In many ways it was the same as last year. Away in Clermont we gambled with some penalties and a simple error just before half time, then a dropped high ball from Alesana Tuilagi now a knock on from Thomas Waldrom, allowed the French to open up a gap they never relinquished.
But it was different. We never looked like challenging their try line. Even when Flood was presented with the equivalent of an open goal, a clear run to line from 15 metres, he somehow managed to dilly dally and get tackled into touch. Up in Sale we turned the screw in the tight and really dominated them, Toulouse might have got back to square but never dominated us in the same manner.
Maybe that philosopher with his caravan, his beard and his Mad Dogs was right. Same Same but Different.
* A Mad Dog is a Vodka shot, topped up with Grenadine and finished with a couple dollops of Tabasco.
This brings us to the match. I'm sure you know the blow by blow account of how it happened. The close half hour then the dismal second half in weather that seemed to have followed us from last weekend in Manchester.
In many ways it was the same as last week. Tight first half then the better side upped the ante and pulled away with canny game management and a huge forward effort, whilst the opposition looked on impotently.
In many ways it was the same as last year. Away in Clermont we gambled with some penalties and a simple error just before half time, then a dropped high ball from Alesana Tuilagi now a knock on from Thomas Waldrom, allowed the French to open up a gap they never relinquished.
But it was different. We never looked like challenging their try line. Even when Flood was presented with the equivalent of an open goal, a clear run to line from 15 metres, he somehow managed to dilly dally and get tackled into touch. Up in Sale we turned the screw in the tight and really dominated them, Toulouse might have got back to square but never dominated us in the same manner.
Maybe that philosopher with his caravan, his beard and his Mad Dogs was right. Same Same but Different.
* A Mad Dog is a Vodka shot, topped up with Grenadine and finished with a couple dollops of Tabasco.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Teams named for Toulouse Challenge
Tigers make 5 changes from the side that dispatched Sale last Friday night as they go to Toulouse on Sunday looking for their first win on French soil since 2006. Scott Hamilton replaces Adam Thompstone in the back three in the most controversial of the changes. Hamilton has been in poor form for the best part of the year whilst Thompstone set Welford Road on fire with a debut hat trick. The side is named with Morris on the wing and Hamilton at full back but I hope that is the other way round in practice. Morris has been superb at the back in the last 2 games. The other talking point is the switching of Thomas "The Tank" Waldrom to 7 to accommodate both Steeeeeeeeeeve Mafi and JC in the back row. These are definitely are 3 best fit back rowers but a lack of balance has to be a worry. The other changes see Geoff Parling return from an EPS enforced rest, at the expense of Man of the Match Ed Slater rather than Graham Kitchener, Dan Cole does his usual swap with Castro and Toby Flood returns to replace George Ford. The big news on the bench is that Marcos Ayerza is straight into the fold after a disappointing Rugby Championship, poor early form meant he ended up missing out the later weeks altogether, though now he has in effect had a very long high quality preseason which will hopefully pay dividends in May. Boris "The Finger" Stankovitch makes way.
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Niall Morris
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Thomas Waldrom
8 Jordan Crane (c)
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Ed Slater
20 Richard Thorpe
21 Sam Harrison
22 George Ford
23 Matt Smith
Toulouse are sitting pretty in 2nd in the Top 14 and after thrashing Toulon in their last match at Le Stadium will be in high spirits for this encounter. Toulouse name a real mixed bag of youth and experiance with 18 year old school boy Gael "Fickou" Fuckyou starting at 12, 21 year old JM Doussain starting at 9 and then old war horses Vincent Clerc and Clement Poitrenaud filling out the back three. Fuckyou is a summer signing from Toulon after impressing for the French Under 20s and will be making his "H Cup" debut. Up front we have a mighty Samoan encounter as Logovi'i Mulipola will be proping against former Sarrie Census Johnston. Girthro Steenkamp knows all about the Tigers and will hope for a better game than he had in the famous "Glory Day" win for Leicester against his touring Springboks. The back row of Nyanga and Duisatoir looks dangerously pacey compared to Tigers. On the bench 18 year old hooker Christopher Tolofua is one to watch. A French Polynesian he went on this summers tour to Argentina. I think when when Dan Cole was told to look out for an 18 year old hooker in Toulouse he had something else in mind. Aging general Yannick Jauzion still has a touch of class and will still cause problems if he can get his hands free to off load.
Toulouse:
15 Clément Poitrenaud
14 Vincent Clerc
13 Florian Fritz
12 Gaël Fickou
11 Yoann Huget
10 Luke McAlister
9 Jean-Marc Doussain
1 Gurthro Steenkamp
2 Gary Botha
3 Census Johnston
4 Romain Millo-Chluski
5 Yoann Maestri
6 Yannick Nyanga
7 Thierry Dusautoir
8 Louis Picamoles ,
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Antoine Guillamon, 19 Patricio Albacete, 20 Jean Bouilhou, 21 Yannick Jauzion, 22 Luke Burgess, 23 Timoci Matanavou
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Niall Morris
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Thomas Waldrom
8 Jordan Crane (c)
Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Ed Slater
20 Richard Thorpe
21 Sam Harrison
22 George Ford
23 Matt Smith
Toulouse are sitting pretty in 2nd in the Top 14 and after thrashing Toulon in their last match at Le Stadium will be in high spirits for this encounter. Toulouse name a real mixed bag of youth and experiance with 18 year old school boy Gael "Fickou" Fuckyou starting at 12, 21 year old JM Doussain starting at 9 and then old war horses Vincent Clerc and Clement Poitrenaud filling out the back three. Fuckyou is a summer signing from Toulon after impressing for the French Under 20s and will be making his "H Cup" debut. Up front we have a mighty Samoan encounter as Logovi'i Mulipola will be proping against former Sarrie Census Johnston. Girthro Steenkamp knows all about the Tigers and will hope for a better game than he had in the famous "Glory Day" win for Leicester against his touring Springboks. The back row of Nyanga and Duisatoir looks dangerously pacey compared to Tigers. On the bench 18 year old hooker Christopher Tolofua is one to watch. A French Polynesian he went on this summers tour to Argentina. I think when when Dan Cole was told to look out for an 18 year old hooker in Toulouse he had something else in mind. Aging general Yannick Jauzion still has a touch of class and will still cause problems if he can get his hands free to off load.
Toulouse:
15 Clément Poitrenaud
14 Vincent Clerc
13 Florian Fritz
12 Gaël Fickou
11 Yoann Huget
10 Luke McAlister
9 Jean-Marc Doussain
1 Gurthro Steenkamp
2 Gary Botha
3 Census Johnston
4 Romain Millo-Chluski
5 Yoann Maestri
6 Yannick Nyanga
7 Thierry Dusautoir
8 Louis Picamoles ,
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Antoine Guillamon, 19 Patricio Albacete, 20 Jean Bouilhou, 21 Yannick Jauzion, 22 Luke Burgess, 23 Timoci Matanavou
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