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Leicester Tigers fans already fearing the worst two games into season

By Josh Raisey
A Leicester Tigers fan at Welford Road

English and European giants Leicester Tigers endured their annus horribilis last season, finishing eleventh in the Gallagher Premiership and being perilously close to relegation at times.

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After a summer which saw a number of signings at Welford Road and a restructure of the coaching team, Geordan Murphy’s side were expected to bounce back this season. However, after two games, the Tigers sit at the bottom of the table and are yet to register a point, and fans are starting to fear a repeat of last season.

This may be a hasty reaction, as Dan Cole, Ellis Genge, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Manu Tuilagi and Jonny May are all to return from the Rugby World Cup with England, where they face South Africa in the final this Saturday.

New signing Tomás Lavanini is also yet to play after his RWC with Argentina, as is Tongan fan-favourite Telusa Veainu, and Midlands-bound Jordan Taufua is soon to arrive after his exploits in the Mitre10 Cup in New Zealand.

While such an influx of players should ease many fans’ worries, the majority of those players were part of Leicester’s disastrous campaign last season. Moreover, after two games, fans on social media have not seen anything to suggest there has been an improvement.

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The Tigers have lost away to Worcester Warriors so far, and at home to reigning champions Saracens last Sunday. A depleted Leicester were always going to struggle against Saracens, who, despite having a host of players at the RWC, can still boast a powerful side, but to come away empty handed from both games has caused concern.

Upon their return to the Premiership, London Irish have invested a lot in new players, some of which are household names in world rugby, including Sean O’Brien and Waisake Naholo. There does not look to be the token relegation candidate this season, which means four or five teams are in danger of the drop, and after two games, some Leicester fans fear it may be their side.

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This is what has been said:

https://twitter.com/ShutUpStott/status/1188571783835856898?s=20
https://twitter.com/dragonfiretiger/status/1188517786491985921?s=20
https://twitter.com/TTweds/status/1188509900562939904?s=20
https://twitter.com/Samo4Rowe/status/1188499094861426689?s=20
https://twitter.com/rickybissex/status/1188525580888743936?s=20
https://twitter.com/patrickspillane/status/1188499878193876992?s=20
https://twitter.com/DeanMancini1/status/1188509569343000578?s=20

Theoretically, with the class of players that are set to return to Welford Road from England, many of whom have been stars of Eddie Jones’ side, this will help them surge up the table. But the question is how long Leicester will need to wait for them to return after what has been a taxing year. In the meantime, the Tigers have to do as best they can to ensure the likes of Ford do not need to save the day again when they return.

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A
Adrian 13 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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