Exeter v Tigers Match Preview

By ChrisC
September 23 2013

Summertime Blues Up here in the Peaks we’ve had a welcome last flush of summer weather. The warmth is especially welcome since we missed pretty much all of the true summer months as once we had safely seen the Knock Out Cup safely into Tigers’ hands we set of for Spain to support our ailing friend.

Nothing brings one’s mortality into sharp focus as does that of others.

Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” was a particular favourite of mine and it remains so now. Cochran, with Holly, were arguably two of the greatest influences on the bands of the 1960s with many covering their songs as their own acts burgeoned.

As a kid the perception is that only old people died and then of “old age” and thus was it for me until first Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in February 1959, although that was something that happened in the USA and so to me, in urban Essex, a remote, albeit terrible, event.

It was just over a year later when on 17th April 1960 Eddie Cochran, aged just 21, while on a tour of the UK, was killed in a traffic accident that, with its relative geographical proximity, the realisation dawned that bad things happened to young people here as well.

He’d been sharing the bill with such as; Gene Vincent, Billy Fury, Georgie Fame, Joe Brown, Vince Eager and Johnny Gentle.

Ironically it was after the last date of Cochran’s tour in Bristol, which had started that January, when, unable to get a lift back to London with fellow performer Johnny Gentle, Cochran and Gene Vincent hired a taxi to take them back to London. The cab crashed near Chippenham with Cochran later dying of his injuries at St. Martin’s hospital in Bath.

Now just Eddie Cochran’s music and a plaque at the site of the fatal crash remain to remind us of a true great.

The road where the tragedy occurred was well known to me as every year we used the very same piece of highway on our annual family summer holiday pilgrimage to Devon. All this was before the widespread advent of motorways so we would leave home in the early hours of the morning, the journey taking around eight hours, with Exeter our final stop before the final leg down to Paignton.

Tigers are making their own stop at Exeter’s Sandy Park this weekend after demonstrating a new and dramatic rotation policy for the home fixture against Newcastle Falcons, the Tigers’ coaching team rotating nine players in the starting line up from the previous week.

This was in stark contrast to Rob Baxter’s mindset where, for the third week running, he fielded a largely unchanged starting fifteen and, for that matter match day twenty-three, parading thirteen players that had started the previous two matches.

In both instances the strategies worked out with Tigers marching to victory against a poor Newcastle while down in Reading Exeter squeaked home to gather an invaluable away win in a mediocre sort of match with London Irish.

Tigers’ much changed line up did enough but I was left with the impression that they should have done better although the much used shibboleth about only being able to play what’s in front of you will doubtless be run out for an airing.

Falcons lacked much in the way of attacking guile and need to be better schooled in the defensive art if their attacking abilities are so constrained.

In prelapsarian days some of us Tigers’ supporters used to boast that we didn’t have a first XV and that any fifteen man combination from the first team squad could take the field as the first choice starting line up. Of course it was a view through blush monocles but if it were true then it could be again soon, if ever Tigers’ squad is fit and available.

It would seem counter intuitive for Cockerill to abandon the nexus of last Saturday’s side when his charges travel south next weekend, it comprising a mixture of emerging players and those returning from injury that need game time for the sterner challenges to come from the likes of Northampton the following weekend, the danger is that Tigers could win the battle but go on to lose the war.

Tigers then have an awkward trip to Ravenhill to meet Ulster in the first round of the benighted Heineken Cup, its death throes painful to watch as the ERC cling desperately to such vestiges of power as they have. Respect and dignity long since having given way to naked self interest in the halls of their Dublin lair. A location they share with the IRB in forming some kind of ghastly diptych.

If it has been too much noise, much too late from Dublin then it’s been pretty quiet down at Sandy Park as far as new signings are concerned with arrivals being far outweighed by departures.

In the front row Rob Baxter has kept faith with the established trio of Sturgess, Yeandle and Tui for the opening three rounds of this year’s Premiership and, with new signing Greg Bateman from the relegated London Welsh sidelined with injury, there must be a good chance that Brett Sturgess will remain at loose-head from where he made seventeen Premiership starts last term having previously been signed from Connacht where he spent just one season after leaving Northampton hoping for more game time but once again found himself down the pecking order, making just half a dozen starts for the Irish provinces’ poor relation.

If, as I suspect, Samoan international Mulipola, who has played at the top level on both sides of the front row, starts on the tight-head for Tigers, with new signing Jerome Schuster mysteriously still waiting to make his Premiership debut, then I can see the hard working Sturgess having a tough time of it.

With Welsh international tight head Craig Mitchell injured after he came on as a replacement at Reading, and looking like he’s destined for a long lay-off, Hoani Tui looks the default choice to face Boris Stankovitch as the return of Marcos Ayerza is awaited and Mulipola is otherwise engaged, with new signing from London Welsh; Tom Bristow seeming likely to be in support from the dug-out alongside British Lion; Dan Cole. I am assuming that Cockerill will want to keep Cole up to match speed without taking any undue risks given what’s looming on the horizon.

Similarly young Jack Yeandle, late of Cornish Pirates and Doncaster Knights, will probably be on duty again at hooker for the Chiefs.

The Exeter scrum has looked uncharacteristically uncertain from what I’ve see of it thus far and although Australian Dean Mumm has been magnificent in claiming restart ball, in open play and around the breakdown the Chiefs’ lineout has also looked hesitant and unsettled somehow even though the aforesaid Mumm and his partner; ex Scarlets’ lock Damian Welch who, while making just eight Premiership appearances last term managed to score four tries, are also much in evidence when it comes to defending around the breakdown, making the fringes of the tackle area something of a no go area other than for the most assertive of opponents.

It seems that some referees have already abandoned management of the put in with just a desultory sanction to show willing but otherwise it’s a Catherine Tait inspired “Am I bovvered” for much of the time as the ball is introduced at the feet of the scrum half’s hooker. Shambolic, just shambolic.

Graham Kitchener, back from surgery, was quite splendid against the Falcons. Is there a more athletic lock than the ex Worcester player, now so imbued with Tigers’ DNA? With Ed Slater continuing his impressive and similarly athletic contribution I’d favour the same starting line up in Tigers’ second row come Sunday with Parling maybe having some time off the bench just to keep him up to speed.

Ex Cardiff Blues and ACT Brumbies flanker Aussie Ben White got the nod on the blind side against London Irish with his first start of the season, seeing Tom Johnson moved to #8 which isn’t a spot that I think sees him at his foraging best.

Johnson featured in England in last year’s Autumn tests against Australia and Fiji following three starts in England’s tour of South Africa. However he didn’t feature in the ensuing Six Nations due to a knee ligament injury or the trip to Argentina this summer, when Rob Baxter was on the coaching team.

The ever excellent James Scaysbrook never disappoints and reminds me of Tigers’ Julian Salvi in his work on the ground, as link man and ability to run some lovely support lines, typified by the try he nabbed against Wasps last time Chiefs were at Sandy Park.

Thomas Waldrom got a start albeit on the blind-side and carried well in reprising his unlikely partnership with Crane. Even if Steve Mafi is fit Waldrom should keep his place. He looked a bit rusty at times but should go well against Chiefs who may find his direct approach, together with that of the resurgent Jordan Crane, something of a challenge.

Jamie Gibson made his starting debut and didn’t seem to do much wrong against a less than dynamic Falcons’ outfit and he’ll doubtless, given match time, confirm his London Irish form in the #7 shirt. Here again I’d be tempted to keep Salvi under wraps and just keep him warm in readiness for the face-offs with Saints and Ulster where he’ll be key to success at the breakdown.

Chiefs will want the breakdown and indeed the match to be a bit of an arm wrestle and hope to get a sympathetic hearing from the match officials. Tigers would then be well advised to move the ball away from the tackle area with as much dispatch as they can muster, putting pace on their attacking game. Not only do the Chiefs look less comfortable in that environment it also avoids the increasingly random decision from match officials.

It’s also worthy of note that match officials mainly seem to have decided that the only way a rolling maul can be stopped is illegally. It was such a decision that saw London Irish reduced to fourteen men and give a down and out looking Chiefs the opportunity to mount an unlikely comeback with Ben White making the most of the ensuing hole in the hosts’ defence

Ben Youngs also made his season’s debut and I’d expect him to retain his place to get the practice he needs having been denied a pre-season by the mores of Warren Gatland. The Tigers’ British Lion will be opposite Haydn Thomas who has been joined by Dave Lewis as his understudy.

Thomas had spells at both Bristol and Gloucester before finding what seems to be his spiritual home further down the M5. Thomas struggled for game time at Kingsholm getting just seven Premiership starts with Peter Richards being preferred. Dave Lewis suffered a similar experience at Castle Grim after initially enjoying some starts he dropped behind Rory Lawson, Jimmy Cowan and Dan Robson.

I hope Lewis gets more opportunities from Rob Baxter as he’s a player who deserves better and like Thomas can threaten whenever he gets the ball.

Toby Flood was yet another returning from injury to make his Premiership debut and played in his usual assured way. Tremendously brave in his challenging of the gain line I expect to see him get another start next Sunday to further sharpen his brain in the match day environment, taking the ball to Chiefs’ Gareth Steenson who, having seen off the challenge of Mieres, sending him up the M5 to Sixways, is looking more complete a player these days. His kicking, on which Exeter are so dependent, has been augmented by some good running lines and a willingness to be direct even in traffic, which is offering more opportunities to his outside backs but they need to straighten their attack as it’s manna to drift defences.

If Tigers play with pace I can see their half back pairing causing Chiefs’ defence problems but Tigers had better maintain their good defensive record or Steenson will kick them to defeat.

The giant Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki has been injured although now rumoured to be fit again. If so it remains to be seen whether he’ll be back into front line action or first be tried out in an A team fixture, which is what I suspect will be the case.

Chiefs do miss his bulldozing presence which invariably meets with gain-line success however the abrasive Kiwi and ex Highlanders’ centre; Jason Shoemark, who I prefer at inside centre to the outside berth, can and will do a good job. Of late though ex Cornish Pirate nineteen year old Sam Hill has been preferred by Rob Baxter.

One of the great irritants for me is when promoters of one player seek to denigrate the talents of another. So it has been and is when it comes to Dan Bowden and Tony Allen. Bowden played very well against a Newcastle side who were complaisant toward him, so he was an attacking threat of great potency. Defensively he’s good but some ill informed commentary seems to equate making tackles to being the defensive organiser par excellence that Tony Allen is – they are wrong in their analysis.

On the other side of the argument Allen is accused of lacking an attacking component to his game – again they are wrong as is evidenced by Tigers’ record for repeatedly being the Premiership’s top try scorers.

Tigers are fortunate in having two centres that represent “horses for courses”. If, as I believe, Naqelevuki is excluded Bowden will probably make the most of what can be an erratic Exeter defence and be likely as not to break their onrushing, but sometimes imprecise, line thus allowing the release of Manu Tuilagi who is yet another key player needing game time. I’m not at all sure Bowden would be the horse for the Northampton or Ulster courses but he could be for Exeter.

Out wide Matt Jess seems to have fallen from favour and been consigned to the bench with Sam Hill filling the starting berth. Jess had a fine run of form this time last year but with Hill preferred the Chiefs’ midfield has been re-jigged with Shoemark shuffling to outside centre where, if the policy continues, he’ll have to face Tuilagi who looks to be approaching his irrepressible best and likely to give Shoemark plenty to try and hang on to.

This rearrangement in the Chiefs’ attack has seen Irishman and ex Ulster back Ian Whitten return to the wing where he played a lot of his rugby for the province although I’m more used to seeing him at outside centre since his arrival at Sandy Park and in fact his two caps for Ireland were won at inside centre. There’s something not quite right about the attacking balance with him on the wing instead of Jess.

There’s plenty right on the other wing though where new boy Thom. James has arrived from Cardiff. The media wax lyrical about George North but James is a sight to see when he’s in full flight and his defence is robust to say the least, his likely as not to strip the ball out of the arms of his prey. A real talented danger man and when young Nowell is back from injury they’ll be a very dangerous combination.

Things are still sparse in back three options for Tigers but with the return of Tuilagi it has permitted Goneva to go to the wing. The prospect of Goneva and Tuilagi bearing down must give even the staunchest defender pause for thought. With Adam Thompstone thankfully also remaining fit I expect to see him once again in the #11 shirt so it will be an interesting contest between the respective wingers.

Tigers seem to have again mined a rough diamond in USA Eagle Blaine Scully. His presence enables the jewel Niall Morris to be preserved. As Tait, Benjamin, Camacho and Hamilton are all injured the talented Morris should again be rested and Scully given another opportunity and last week’s back line the chance to gel as a unit.

With Rob Baxter likely to be without the services of regular full back Luke Arscott the Welshman Phil Dollman, most usually seen in the centres or on the wing last term, has played many times at the back and looks accomplished. Rock solid under the high ball, plenty of pace and a good kicking game he’ll be looking to come into the line with James to cause problems so Tigers defensive set up better be good.

Always tricky is Sandy Park and given the priorities that must guide selection Tigers may not have quite enough to take the spoils but I reckon it’ll be very close. It’s just a case of “C’mon Everybody”

Exeter v Tigers Match Preview

Posted by: TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk (IP Logged)

Date: 23/09/2013 20:24

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:30:21:05:09 by Tiggs.