Match Preview - I'm all out of LVE
By Ed Scott
February 2 2011
Everyone enjoys a trip away to Leicester , don’t they? Even more exciting is that this Friday we get to do it with a depleted squad , in a competition that defies all reason or logic in its set up , and that very few people care about! Although I would love it if we were progressing (it is silverware as well as route into Europe), I am not sorry to think that this is the last time I will probably have to write about the LV Cup this season .
They are various mathematical circumstances by which we could progress, but essentially they boil down to the fact that we have to beat Leicester at Welford Road and probably score four tries in the process. This is all whilst relying on losses for Quins (by more than seven points), Exeter and the Ospreys. Although not impossible, it seems highly unlikely.
What is of course most frustrating (as discussed last week), is that if all of the afore mentioned teams win on Saturday (including us), Newcastle would progress through to the Semi-finals, having won one game from four but topping their group! We would finish bottom with three wins from four and a losing bonus point! An obscene situation in my opinion. All in all, this competition could not have dragged itself further away from the knockout cup of old that we all adored in the 80s and 90s. Surely something must be done next season to change this?
The Tigers are yet to win a game in their group so it may seem that they care little about this competition. We can read nothing into this, it is after all a home game against Bath. The psychological effect of beating Leicester would certainly be considerable and give us valuable momentum. That said, this could be outweighed by the risk of more injuries ahead of key Premiership games during the Six Nations.
With large numbers of front line and fringe players unavailable, it is more of a list of guys who can physically start rather than who gets selected this week. Ovens and Jarvis are clearly out. Catt, Lilley and Mercer are still injured, while Luke Watson has a dead leg. Van Der Giessen has gone back Stateside, and our Scotland, England and Saxons contingent are still missing. There is a chance that Cuthbert, Banahan or Adendanon will be released, but there are no guarantees.
As we are playing first in our group, a win could put added pressure on all the other teams to perform, so you never know what might happen. It is certainly an opportunity for our younger players to get game time, and boy will they be up for it. For some of them there may not be many more 1st XV opportunities this season. I particularly look forward to watching the progress of Ben Williams and hope that Ross Batty is fit as he deserves his chance to shine.
Progression or not this week, with a key game against Sale in the Premiership next Friday, I hate to admit that my main priority is that all 23 of our squad get back on the bus with nothing more than a few bumps and bruises! The thought of victory against Leicester away is difficult to not dream about though.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:05:18:50:28 by Susanne.
