Tigers Weekly round-up (1st November)

By Denise
November 1 2002

A week that saw Austin Healey promoted to kit boy, Tigers get their first away win of the season,and England captain named.

Andy Goode hyped himself up in the media all week and continued into the weekend, hoping the away losses were down to his departure and with tales of how his former team-mates would be out to get him making allegations of the forwards wearing illegal studs. A lot was made of the "mouthwatering" match ups between former foes Andy Goode and Austin Healey at fly-half and old pals Franck Tournaire and Christian Califano, neither of which materialised.

Darren Garforth was chosen in preference to Francky and Austin Healey withdrew from the game with injury on the Saturday before the game to give Sam Vesty his chance at fly-half and did he ever take it...

Sam made some lovely breaks and except for handing Sarries a try from his intercepted pass acquitted himself very well. Andy Goode after all his talking was fairly anonymous during the match and his confidence was drained by missing several albeit difficult kicks at the best of times during a howling gale whilst Stimpson nailed all his. Tigers went on to score three tries having one disallowed due to Jamie Hamilton's "rucking" of Richard Hill's head. Saracen's Castagneide scored a beauty in the corner but it was the kicking that was the difference and Stimpson managed a clean sheet with Geordan Murphy belting over a perfect drop goal from 40 metres out to secure Tigers' first away win.

Come the morning came the moaning from the Sarries fans at least. Claiming the referee was in Tigers' pocket and that if it weren't for him they would have won the game, all the Tigers' players should have been red-carded and that their player who was carded was hard done by...you know the usual stuff. The newspaper reports were all complementary about Tigers, with no mention of the referee and Martin Johnson was singled out for praise after a magnificent performance. A performance that was to secure him the England Captaincy yet again, well done Martin.

The Ireland squad for the game against Australia was named with Geordan Murphy not even considered due to injury even though he has come back as good as ever, Ireland's loss is Tigers' gain, he will be invaluable. The England squad was narrowed down to 30 men, all eight Tigers' still included. Five Tigers U21s were included in the England North squad to face France East.

The Player of the Month nominations were announced with Geordan Murphy, Tim Stimpson, Martin Corry and Tom Tierney all in the running and Geordan currently in the lead.

The Kiwi coaches Gatland and Shelford whinged about the number of cheapshots that take place in British rugby and the reliance on goal-kicking as opposed to try-scoring to win games.

Rugby Special is to reappear on our screens on Sundays starting Nov 10th, it will apparently include less inane chat and more rugby highlights which is nice, housewife's favourite John Inverdale to host.

Austin Healey appears to be in Deano's bad books after dancing all night on his injured foot and then doing England training on it before dropping out of the Saracens game. Deano has warned that Sam Vesty is pressing him hard for the #10 shirt.

Wasps have named their team with Howley on the bench after some stamping last week and Alex King out due to concussion. Paul Sampson is at fullback with Josh Lewsey on the wing. Joe Worsley is also out after pulling a hamstring. The mood in the Wasps camp is confident with many believing this is the best chance they have had of beating us for years.

This week the following articles were published: Wasps Preview; Sarries U21s match report, pictures x2 ; Saracens match report and photos; Ireland squad; Simon deputised for Lee with Heroes and Zeros and Nocker took the lead inthe Predictions League.