Goode Watches as Tigers Devour Berger
Courtesy of Tiggs
By TigerR
December 9 2008
I drove to Leicester on a cold sunny day ideal for good rugby. On arriving on the terrace I discovered that Harry Ellis was a late withdrawal at scrum-half, with Julien Dupuy stepping in. I was a little surprised to notice that two away from me was Andy Goode in company with a couple of mates enjoying a drink as kick off approached.
One of the mates tried to get Geordan Murphy’s attention during the warm up. But the terrace is a good place to hide, not to be seen.
Why was Andy there: to spend time with friends, to see his old mates play or to spy on rivals Perpignan? Probably all three.
Early Tigers pressure lead to Toby Flood kicking a penalty from 40m to put Tigers 3-0 ahead. Tigers continued to dominate territory and forced another penalty in front of the posts; 6-0. Tigers made a mess of the restart, a weakness all match, but David Mele scuffed his kick. Tigers made their way up the pitch and Toby Flood Flood sidestepped off both feet to score next to the posts. The fly-half converted to extend the lead to 13-0 after 20 minutes.
Perpignan then came into the game with a penalty. Mele pushed another penalty past the right-hand post but as Tigers were penalised in front of the posts, the lead was reduced to 13-6. Tigers pressed again to force a line out on the Perpignan 22. Perpignan gambled and threw very long for Maxime Mermoz, the inside centre, to catch the ball and race through a stunned Tigers ¾ line. He sidestepped Geordan Murphy to run the length of the pitch untouched. Mele added the conversion to make it 13-13 against the run of play.
Tigers responded to press Perpignan again and regained the lead with the last move of the half. Hipkiss’ broke the Perpignan defence but was stopped just short of the line. Quick ball gave Tigers a 3 on 3 from 10m out and Aaron Mauger cut back to score. The try was converted by Flood to put Tigers 20-13 ahead.
The Tigers pack was on top in the scrum, with Julian White prominent, but they were second best in the line out. Flood to extend the lead immediately after the restart kicking a penalty awarded at a scrum. He added another penalty on 49 minutes when Burger, under pressure from a fast chasing Tom Croft, failed to release the ball.
Tonita brought the visitors back into the game with a try from a grubber kick to the corner. Mele added the conversion to reduce the lead to 26-20. Tigers pressed again and Berger knocked on 12m out. The Perpignan front row splintered and Jordan Crane controlled the ball at the back of the scrum to touch down for a push over try which went unconverted to leave Tigers 31-20 in front.
Matt Smith was then set free by some fine back-line passing involving Flood, Mauger and Marcos Ayerza. He raced 30m to wrong foot Berger to score Tigers fourth try of the game and gain a bonus point. Flood converted from the sideline to put Tigers 38-20 ahead and impress the on looking Goode.
With the game heading into injury-time Perpignan pressed with flowing back moves and referee Nigel Owens awarded Danny Hipkiss for failing to roll away. Two scrums followed from penalties with the next stoppage due to bring the final whistle. Dan Cole had replaced Julian White and that gave the Perpignan scrum the edge for a change. A penalty try was awarded for the second collapse by Tigers. This seemed to me justified, but a number in the crowd decided to boo, which was a pity. Next week sees the return match in Perpignan. Tigers forwards will be working on restarts and the line out. Perpignan will be trying to work out how to nullify Julian White. I recommend that Tigers backs work out how to tackle Mermoz out of the match.'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget