A preview, compiled before the team announcements
By Nev
April 28 2006
Who'd 'ave thought, 30 days ago, we'd 'ave been sat 'ere talking about T'einiken cup.Eee, in them days we'd 'ave just been glad to 'ave avoided relegation.
Gentle Reader, i venture to suggest that that appraisal is a fair and truthful one.
After 4 wins on the bounce you can forgive those of us who are hankering after more days like our home game against HC finallists
Now that we’re safe we should get a better idea of where we are when the Tigers begin to prowl at the Vic on Friday night. We are no longer scrapping for survival as we were in each of our last 4 winning games.
Anybody who thinks that Eddie Jones’ influence has ensured that we have our best chance of beating them since the night the old king died should take a look at their results this year. They may not be the best team in
Mind you, yesterday against Waspies we had the unusual sight of Andy Goode, late of this parish, at 15 and Motormouth at 10. One or two unfamiliar names appeared. Are they a team in transition? It may be so.
This is our last home game. Quite how he has done it is unknown, but Eddie Jones has transformed our season and, just as crucially, transformed the club, from an entity badly structured and managed to something recognisable as a proper rugby club. The players are transformed too and are finally playing heads-up rugby and playing to their potential. And they have lots of that. It’s great to see.
And we’ve better times under Alan Gaffney to look forward to, I’m sure, haven’t we?
Its s**t or bust at home to Leics. Either they stick 40 points on us and Jonno beats up our hooker, or we sneak past em and Ben R beats up Jonno.
Leics’ problems are twofold. Jonno isn’t there and Corry isnt Jonno. Jonno won’t be there on Friday, but Ben R will be.
Ches has been even Mightier than usual at 6 and Hugh is back to his rampaging best at 8.
All across the field men and boys are responding to EJ. An example of his thinking being, say slightly ahead of mine was his selection of The Mercurial one on the right wing last week against Wasps.
"TC on the wing" they cried ( well I did) "Tis madness".
But of course wingers dont get the ball against Wasps, not in the Grand Manner anyway. Not after the Inside centre has passed it to the bloke outside him who, after assessing all options decides to pass to the winger. Not that way. It hardly gets past yer outside half before they’re climbing all over you.
TC must have been selected to come infield at 4th or 5th phase and rip apart Wasps in broken play. And thats exactly what happened. And it won us the game.
So with Jones tactical nous allied to his obvious motivational skills we will go into what will ever be a notoriously difficult fixture with realistic confidence we can win, but knowing that Leics are as tough as old boots to beat.
There are some nice match ups. Those two Angels Julian White (LOTP) and Yatesy go head to head. How our front row deal with theirs will as ever go a long way to deciding who will have the opportunity to win this game.
How will Tom Ryder fare against his old club. Very well indeed, I believe.
And Jacko against Fat boy, assuming he’s back at 10, or The Ego, if he’s not.
Three areas stand out for me. Taine against that walking penalty Moody. The latter is, like Taine, really a 6 in a 7's clothing. But hes younger and faster.
Varndell - cocky, arrogant, devastating. If he gets good ball and space we may be in for a long evening
And TC. Where ever he plays he can, and like last year might well, win the game for us.
Finally this is KB's final home league game for us. Has there ever been a more loyal servant of our club? To hear him on TRC saying how peed of about life he was, and how he’ll be glad to finish was heartrending. He deserves the kind of send off reserved for the likes of Phillippe Sella and God in '99.
I don’t know if the teams will line up to salute him but the best way of giving this great scrum half a proper send off will be to beat