Brive 29 17 Leicester
Courtesy of KevinR
By KevinR
August 9 2010
A balmy night in Brive; Tigers players strolling around the manicured lawn of a pitch in flip-flops and Cockers, striking a familiar bristling pose as he surveyed the scene this was the setting for the first amicale of the new season. The Brive team, sharp in black and white, began their drills and looked like a team one week away from a Top 14 opener against Racing Metro.
This urgency was carried into some ambitious play during a first half in which our lads – internationals lolling on the touchline as if by the pool – fought to repel a series of attacks. In the 7th minute, Grindal bought a simple dummy in midfield, which led to a try under the posts for Jamie Noon. The Brivistes were sharp and combative at the breakdown and their backs spread the ball from side to side at considerable pace, although, mercifully, the final pass often went astray.
Bucking the trend, Amorisino made a searing 50 metre break from full-back, but – as he was to do again in the second half – ignored Lee Robinson on his outside and the try opportunity was wasted.
Worryingly, the Tigers’ scrum was clearly under some pressure. Apart from a couple of well-timed hits, which bucked the trend, our lads were frequently penalised as they went into reverse or went to ground.
New boy, Rob Hawkins, suffered a calf injury as early as the 7th minute and was replaced by Tom Youngs. He, in turn, received a yellow card after 25 minutes for taking out the Brive jumper at a restart, so our boys were down to 14 until just before half-time. There was one uncontested scrum, but ten minutes of extra toil for the pack. Lack of numbers certainly contributed to a straightforward blind-side try by Brive after half an hour. There were also fears of a second yellow, when Julian allowed himself to be wound up by the Brive hooker – plus ca change!
Back to a full complement, a series of scrums near the Brive line led to a typical drive and try from Jordan Crane, who had been launching himself at the French in familiar fashion. This brought the score to 15 – 10 at the break.
I am a little disadvantaged in essaying a report of the second half – the number of substitutes would have had Sven gasping in envy. More seriously, the need to feed hungry boys could be delayed no longer. Some of you may complain about substandard catering arrangements at Welford Road. Au contraire, our Gallic friends had organised a super little market of local producers, but this was all part of a DIY regime: buy your sausages, buy your bread, take said saucisses to huge BBQ and – hey presto – un repas delicieux! Unfortunately, this operation took at least 20 minutes and I could only glimpse further Brive tries as our line was broken in the 44th and 57th minutes.
We regained our seats in the main stand and weathered good-natured repartee from the locals – all ‘Allez, allez!’ for their lads and complaints about the opposition at the ruck ,‘Il plonge, il plonge!’
Surveying the scene, it was clear that even more of the ‘Tiger Cubs’ had replaced some of their elders. The scrum was still going backwards – by now Julian and Stanko were shaking their heads on the touchline knowingly, having been withdrawn from more of a trial than they really wanted at this stage of the season. However, Sam Harrison had introduced much more sharpness behind and was coping really well, the ball zipping to young George Ford, who looked composed and elusive. Billy Twelvetrees had given it his all since the start, and was still making breaks and trying to set up a bristling Danny Hipkiss, newly arrived on the scene. Will Hurrell also made a good impression. Now that Crane and Waldrom had been withdrawn, it was a chance for Woods and Pienaar to shine.
In the final minute, Lee Robinson scored a deserved try in the corner, beautifully converted by Ford. Our big winger from Bristol had looked much more than just a bish-bosh merchant.
When the referee blew his whistle, the crowd spilled onto the pitch to mingle with their heroes. There were, perhaps, 50 Tigers fans amongst the 5,500, now swapping stories or developing on the entente cordiale. Castro and Alex were in great demand for photo opportunities and they were happy to oblige. Slowly, the Tigers players emerged from the changing rooms for a communal feast ‘en plein air’, spectators looking on!
It was time to find the autoroute – 80 minutes to our campsite; for the Tigers, the beginning of a long road on a new campaign. I predict that we may have to grit our teeth for the opening Premiership fixtures. We will miss our internationals up front particularly and I saw signs that the lack of a true 7 may hinder us. Cockers has some interesting choices to make behind the scrum. On the (slender) evidence of this match, I might just give the kids a go (Harrison, at least) as I think they have more class than their elders and plenty of fight.
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However, the Tigers were soon under no illusions that this would be a gentle baptism. There was every bit as much intensity as a Premiership game - maybe even more - with some huge hits, some off the ball business and a big punch-up involving half of the players, with Julian and their hooker to the fore!
The Tigers' pack wasn't far off the one we will have to put out at the start of the season: Stanko, Hawkins, White, Green, Skivington, Waldrom, Woods, Crane. I'm not sure who is fit or eligeable to add - Deacs, Ayerza? We were in trouble at the scrum and second best at the break-down. When Hawkins was injured (calf strain - we sat just behind the Tigers' bench) and Youngs came on,that was it - no more cover at hooker. I can't help thinking that, with the way the game is being played since the new interpretations, Backy would be the best player in the world at the moment. We don't have anyone in that mould and I think it shows. Of course, these worries aren't new on this board!
Although the game had lost a little intensity, Harrison clearly made a huge difference when he came on. Grindal was being caught at the base time and again. Staunton played just as you'd expect - pretty much OK, but a bit of a curate's egg. I don't think Ford will get the nod but, my word, the boy doesn't lack guts or confidence! He started to make things happen immediately, with little breaks and shimmies and a behind the back pass that didn't quite come off. He is also one of those fly-halves that seems to demand the ball and it's drawn to him wherever he's moving at each break-down. on the other hand, he doesn't half look young and slight when you see him close to!
I was very impressed with 36 - no shrinking violet when it became clear that the Brive guys meant business. Amorisino's two breaks were out of the Jason Robinson school of rugby, but he'll need to learn to pass!
Holiday's are nearly over, but this was one of the highlights - so glad we made the effort to go!
1st XV v 1.5 XV
End of pre season v start
14 men for 10 minutes
Away from home (in France)
It would be nice to replace both with international players of course, but then who would play when the international matches are being played ? You can not have, or even remotely afford, a squad of international players - end of.
However you can clearly get a better second choice scrumhalf than Grindal, this must be the first (and hopefully only season) where we are wishing we could have Jamie Hamilton as the reserve scrum half again!
Last season Toulouse had Kelliher, Ellisade, Michalak and that young up and comer, Munster had O'Leary and Stringer these are our compotition and these are the people we should be comparing ourselves against.
As for 'lets play Harrison and 12trees' - drivel, unless unlike most people, you don't care if we lose the odd match? Otherwise you're an idiot who fails to see the work players do.
In my report, it was my intention to inform readers about how well Sam Harrison played. I did feel that he made a difference. I would be very wary of throwing George Ford into too many high pressure games at this stage of his career, but he is skilful and gutsy.
As mentioned above, we don't see the whole picture. In view of our continued success, I will trust Cockers and his team to make the hard choices.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:14:21:09:53 by KevinR.
Vesty was , in my opinion, of the same ilk as Grindall and Staunton, reliable, solid, never let you down, but because he was local not a word against him.
For all the experts on here, me included, Cockers makes a pretty good job out of all his wrong decisions!
B**h's gain is our immeasureable loss imo.
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Quote:Rich W
I think the point with Sam is, unlike TV, about style and effort. He wasn't a reliable solid jiurneyman because he played with a brivo and ambition beyond JS and JG whilst making incalculably more in terms of graft than the more gifted TV.
B**h's gain is our immeasureable loss imo.
He did this at the back end of the season before last. Since then he didn't, and represented poor value for money. Simple decision to let him go really.
Sam is a gifted player with a great work ethic - he may not be good value given other constraints (salary cap, international demands, etc) and his recent injury history - but he is a better player, in every sense imo, than either Grindall or Staunton. And that's before I get to his very 'Leicesterness'!
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Whilst Vesty may have been Leicester through and through, clearly the coaches felt Staunton was a better investment, possibly because his wage demands will be considerably lower, whilst Vesty had received an England cap since his last contract. Why is it the club should honor loyalty, while players are never hauled over the coals? Off on a tangent, whilst Moody was, and is a great player, maybe he should have taken less money to repay the seasons where he's hardly played for the club, yet made numerous international appearances? Likewise, I'm sure if Vesty had accepted a renewal on old terms of his contract, he'd still be here, but he wanted more money and game time. Does anybody get certain game time at Leicester? They shouldn't, and again Staunton's attitude marks him out.
One thing with Vesty and Grindal is that we might as well keep them, because change for chages sake is worse than having a ropey scrum half for an extra season.
That said whilst I agree with SK88 - change for change's sake is foolish - I will be disappointed if Harrison is not ahead of Grindal in the pecking order by the turn of the year.
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